A review by mxsallybend
The Lonely Merman by Kay Berrisford

5.0

Okay, so I knew from the blurb that I was going to love The Lonely Merman. I mean, a magical ruin, an enchanted pool, and a flamboyant merman with tentacles? Yes, please! What I did not know, however, was how deeply I would fall in love with Lyle, or how deeply I would get lost in the world Kay Berrisford created.

The setting alone is worth the price of admission, a secluded little spot, deep inside the forest, that has remained magically hidden from view for over a century. There is a single tower, seemingly torn from a castle and dropped into the trees, topped by exquisite stone dragons. A little further away there is an even lovelier pond, crystal clear, and prone to unusual aquatic frenzies. Haunting them both is a man by the name of Lyle, a Gothic beauty who is as enchanting as he is enigmatic.

The romance between Lyle and Ben is quite lovely, a slow-burning passion that brings two worlds together. Just as they have found one another, though, the cruel hand of progress threatens to tear them apart, with Lyle's curse promising a sad end to his cursed exile. This is a magical tale, with all the power and excitement of a fairy tale, driven by a love that is sweet, and kind, and just plain delightful. Lyle's story is a sad one, but that mythology is a big part of what makes the story so perfect.

Fittingly, The Lonely Merman is a fairy tale romance full of erotic promise, but with the sex left largely off the page. It is a story that is full of emotion, with a happily-ever-after that will leave you smiling for the rest of the day. Just an altogether lovely read.


As reviewed by Sally at Bending the Bookshelf