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A review by theresidentbookworm
Tales of the Sea Witch by Lou Wilham
3.0
Okay, so who is going to tell Ariel that her mom was a lesbian (bi?) and completely in love with Ursula? Am I going to have to do it? Or maybe Flounder can? Alright, I'm out of The Little Mermaid jokes. Moving on...
I like a good fairytale retelling and especially ones that have a specific, new take on the material. And a sea witch (again, a la The Little Mermaid) falling in love with her best friend? I love to see that sort of sapphic content in my fairy tales. I really enjoyed Irsa and Aislin's story, but be warned. This does NOT have a happy ending.
Ultimately, Tales of the Sea Witch is more interesting in its premise than its execution. I was engaged with the plot and the characters, but I felt like the writing was too simplistic. And since it's a relatively short book, plot threads (particularly Irsa's relationship with her abusive mentor Calypso and the Council's investigation of Irsa for Calypso's murder) are either undeveloped or wrapped up too quickly. Still, if you're looking for a new, queer take on Ursula, Tales of the Sea Witch will do!
I like a good fairytale retelling and especially ones that have a specific, new take on the material. And a sea witch (again, a la The Little Mermaid) falling in love with her best friend? I love to see that sort of sapphic content in my fairy tales. I really enjoyed Irsa and Aislin's story, but be warned. This does NOT have a happy ending.
Ultimately, Tales of the Sea Witch is more interesting in its premise than its execution. I was engaged with the plot and the characters, but I felt like the writing was too simplistic. And since it's a relatively short book, plot threads (particularly Irsa's relationship with her abusive mentor Calypso and the Council's investigation of Irsa for Calypso's murder) are either undeveloped or wrapped up too quickly. Still, if you're looking for a new, queer take on Ursula, Tales of the Sea Witch will do!