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A review by mallorypen
Priddy's Tale by Harper Fox
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Another spin on the wheel of free Audible offerings! I enjoyed the setting (huzzah for Cornwall!) and the integration of myths and mermaid legends into the story. I liked some of the magic concepts as they were presented, and found the story arc to be more complex than I’d anticipated.
That said, there were definitely some things that took away stars. The pacing felt jumpy, and there was an attempt to foreshadow some backstory we learned about later that felt a little clumsy. The romance between Meru and Priddy felt a little unbalanced from a power dynamic perspective, but it did align with stories of mermaids having an emotional upper hand on their lovers. I also felt the ending tried too hard to wrap everything up in a perfect happy ending bow that felt trite instead of satisfying, but overall it was a fairly enjoyable listen. The narrator did a lot to maximize the best parts of the storytelling and help smooth over the rough bits!
That said, there were definitely some things that took away stars. The pacing felt jumpy, and there was an attempt to foreshadow some backstory we learned about later that felt a little clumsy. The romance between Meru and Priddy felt a little unbalanced from a power dynamic perspective, but it did align with stories of mermaids having an emotional upper hand on their lovers. I also felt the ending tried too hard to wrap everything up in a perfect happy ending bow that felt trite instead of satisfying, but overall it was a fairly enjoyable listen. The narrator did a lot to maximize the best parts of the storytelling and help smooth over the rough bits!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse