A review by starrysteph
The Fate of Stars by S.D. Simper

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I’m really really bummed that I wasn’t head over heels for this sapphic mermaid romance.

We’re following young mermaid Tallora. She’s captured from her home by the mercurial Princess Dauriel who presents her to her mother Empress Vahla in the hopes of finally gaining her approval. Tallora is tortured, mocked, and forced to be a pet for all the kingdom to see. But after an unexpected act from the god she worships, Tallora strikes up a strange alliance with Dauriel. And as politics get messier in the wider world, the two must learn to survive together (and maybe fall in love). 

It’s totally possible that it may be an “it’s not the book, it’s me” thing here; I’m really picky about the romance books I enjoy. 

I generally eat up enemies to lovers, but the shift from an INTENSE power imbalance to declarations of love gave me whiplash. Dauriel views Tallora as a beast, not a person – and that cold way of thinking can’t just shatter in an instant. The hatred to adoration moved so quickly that all interesting character growth was skipped & their relationship isn’t able to even out. One supporting character actually does mention the manipulation/power imbalance, but it’s only a sentence or two.

Tallora, girl, you HAVE to do better. She accepted her fate so easily, on all fronts! In regards to romance, I think I can see the intention here of building a relationship where someone has deep trauma and depression. It just doesn’t quite work when that person (Dauriel) - amidst their journey of healing themself - captures you with the intention to be sold into slavery/sex slavery and TORTURED. And the ability for any depth was limited by cheesy dialogue that felt like it was being plucked from a bucket of classic romance lines.

And the other elements that Tallora just sort of went with? She didn’t have nearly enough questions about land - she wasn’t really a deep thinker at all. For example, she took on feelings of shame around nudity instantly when we’d previously been told that showing your body was no biggie underwater. And there were sprinkles of potential body inclusivity that were unfortunately tossed aside.

One thing that is still gnawing at me is the framing of sex workers as people that need to be rescued - or to clarify a bit further, the muddled plot lines around the difference between being sold into sex slavery and choosing sex work.

And the ending just made me laugh. No spoilers, but it was a lazy “tie-it-with-a-bow” sort of deal, and it gave me lots of questions in regards to the plot and worldbuilding leading up to that point.

Anyway - points for interesting deities, sapphic mermaid vibes, and the potential of an interesting mental health arc. But this was ultimately a bit of a mess for me. 

CW: kidnapping, torture, slavery, self harm, sexual harassment, mutilation, confinement, child abuse, suicide, death of parent, mentions of rape/sexual assault, attempted suicide, infertility, fatphobia

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