amybraunauthor 's review for:

The Mermaid by Christina Henry

5.0

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Gah, my heart! I honestly can't get enough of Christina Henry's retellings! And this one might just be my favourite! THE MERMAID was a beautiful story of love, adventure, betrayal, sacrifice, trust, independence, and self-discovery. The story opens with a beautiful romance and leads to main character Amelia being convinced to join P.T. Barnum's circus. From there, she struggles with her identity in this new human world, the friends she begins to make, and the way she is seen as a truly alien being. The writing is gorgeous as ever, and the story is compelling, but it was the characters were the highlight. Barnum is a little more humane here than he would become later, Levi has a great tortured conscience, but it's Amelia who of course steals the show. She is AWESOME. She's strong, independent, unashamed, and never bowing to Barnum's demands. I was worried that the ending would be a heartbreaker, but it turns out to be the perfect ending to a truly amazing book. I cannot recommend it enough. This is the perfect summer read for anyone looking for a spellbinding, character driven story, sweeping romance, and a love for mermaids and magic. THE MERMAID is an incredible read, and should not be missed!