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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was not expecting this to be as good as it was. Like what is it about sea creature books this year? I thought "To Kill a Kingdom" and this book were gonna be neat but they went SO HARD. Everyone is flawed, the story is compelling, Celeste wasn't just physically strong—and as someone else who ALSO cries easily and due in frustration—I have never felt so seen.
Hell yes, I wish I had read this sooner. Love
Hell yes, I wish I had read this sooner. Love
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Man was this a good retelling of the little mermaid. I love that it took the take on secrets and ran with it as they are many above and below the see. The addition for sirens instead of just mermaids was just so well done. The FMC Celeste continuously makes the wrong choices as the youngest siren princess but is trying to redo a wrong she made. I loved that instead of going against her family and leaving to the human land she is trying to right a wrong. I enjoyed the overall plot and pacing of the story!
The audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus and she did an amazing job transitioning between different genders and characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
The audiobook was narrated by Natalie Naudus and she did an amazing job transitioning between different genders and characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.
It took me some time to get into this, but once I did, I was quite engaged in the plot! I was a little bored by the similarities with The Little Mermaid, but I became more invested when the story started to incorporate new elements such as pirates, drama, and the found-family trope. A good found-family will always win me over, and I liked the Red Revenge crew, for better or worse (the worst being their boomerang ideals and attitudes, especially those of the main couple).
Nevertheless, Celeste was an decent main character, as she reflected a lot on her emotions and how they were perceived as a weakness. I liked how she developed and learned to accept and embrace her emotions. I also think she had panic attacks, and I welcome the visibility of this issue.
I cannot finish talking about the positive aspects without mentioning the cover. It's stunning and makes a great first impression on anyone curious to pick this one up! Drop dead gorgeous!
Sadly, I couldn’t connect with the writing at all. It felt a bit stiff to me and the humour felt a bit contrived. This unfortunately took away some of my enjoyment, especially at the beginning. By the time the plot picked up at the end, I had warmed to the writing. Regardless, I did enjoy the nautical vocabulary and the playful use of water- and sea-related terms to express feelings.
Furthermore, I think it could have done with a little more revision. I don’t know if it was just me, but I noticed some repetition of expressions that must surely have come from the time period when the writer submitted the chapters. You could sense the different time intervals in which the chapters were written, if that makes sense.
By the last 10 pages, I was quite agitated, wondering how the author was going to resolve everything in such a short space of time. And then… an open ending? A cliffhanger? Was that a hint for a companion novel or a sequel? I don’t know, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that. Especially from a retelling, but it is what it is! I can't say for certain if I'll read the next volume, but I might if it has a beautiful cover like this one!
Nevertheless, Celeste was an decent main character, as she reflected a lot on her emotions and how they were perceived as a weakness. I liked how she developed and learned to accept and embrace her emotions. I also think she had panic attacks, and I welcome the visibility of this issue.
I cannot finish talking about the positive aspects without mentioning the cover. It's stunning and makes a great first impression on anyone curious to pick this one up! Drop dead gorgeous!
Sadly, I couldn’t connect with the writing at all. It felt a bit stiff to me and the humour felt a bit contrived. This unfortunately took away some of my enjoyment, especially at the beginning. By the time the plot picked up at the end, I had warmed to the writing. Regardless, I did enjoy the nautical vocabulary and the playful use of water- and sea-related terms to express feelings.
Furthermore, I think it could have done with a little more revision. I don’t know if it was just me, but I noticed some repetition of expressions that must surely have come from the time period when the writer submitted the chapters. You could sense the different time intervals in which the chapters were written, if that makes sense.
By the last 10 pages, I was quite agitated, wondering how the author was going to resolve everything in such a short space of time. And then… an open ending? A cliffhanger? Was that a hint for a companion novel or a sequel? I don’t know, but I certainly wasn’t expecting that. Especially from a retelling, but it is what it is! I can't say for certain if I'll read the next volume, but I might if it has a beautiful cover like this one!
First of all, thank you for the ARC!
But why did you give this to me to read?
Now I want the second part!!!
You can check out my aesthetic for this book on Instagram @nika.ex.libris
But why did you give this to me to read?
Now I want the second part!!!
You can check out my aesthetic for this book on Instagram @nika.ex.libris
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What is love without heart break