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Beautiful Nightmares #3
Sacrifice the Sea
Deserted by a father I can no longer remember, I’m used to being alone, my only companions the cheerful sea nymphs who frequent my shipwreck. But lately, something powerful brews inside me—an aching restlessness to explore the dark depths beyond my cave.
Then I meet Ari, a beguiling merman who tempts me past the edges of my territory. He introduces me to the glittering world of the Sea Syndicate and its ruler, King Triton. But the sea is a far more dangerous place than I realized, and together, the males rule it with a heavy hand. What’s more, they want to rule me, too. Each dominant in their own way, they teach me all about my body—and theirs—introducing me to unfathomable pleasure and sinful obedience.
But there’s a dark side to their world. I can’t shake the feeling Triton and Ari aren’t the devoted males they seem. When a predatory darkness rises from the ocean’s depths, we have no choice but to confront sins of the past to keep the Sea Syndicate safe. But once the silt settles, will the weight of age-old secrets be too much to repair our broken bonds?
Then I meet Ari, a beguiling merman who tempts me past the edges of my territory. He introduces me to the glittering world of the Sea Syndicate and its ruler, King Triton. But the sea is a far more dangerous place than I realized, and together, the males rule it with a heavy hand. What’s more, they want to rule me, too. Each dominant in their own way, they teach me all about my body—and theirs—introducing me to unfathomable pleasure and sinful obedience.
But there’s a dark side to their world. I can’t shake the feeling Triton and Ari aren’t the devoted males they seem. When a predatory darkness rises from the ocean’s depths, we have no choice but to confront sins of the past to keep the Sea Syndicate safe. But once the silt settles, will the weight of age-old secrets be too much to repair our broken bonds?
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
229 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
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August 12, 2025
I’ve read a handful of MMM books and so far they have all worked out. But I was a bit disappointed in this one. Triton is lord of the Sea Syndicate, having stepped into that role during a war against the dark, mighty leviathans who threatened to tear apart the entirety of his home. Eventually the war was won by Triton with Ari (his second) and Challek (his third) standing right by his side.
However, Crallek is a sea witch with the haunting ability to control others by simply speaking to them. And over the years his power had consumed his mind and in order to ensure that the sea stay safe Ari and Triton killed Crallek and stole his power as an aid to keeping the levianthans at bay. Everything then settled into peace and quiet, apart from one problem and that was Crallek’s son, Ursan.
Yes, Ursan becomes the main love interest since Triton and Ari are already partners. Technically it shouldn’t be weird since they are all mythical beings with the gift of immortality and once they meet Ursan he is a fully grown adult. But I just couldn’t quite shake the fact that it’s a little odd how they fall into a relationship with the son of their dead friend. Plus I just felt that the three of them didn’t truly fit. The whole story is them trying to figure out if they can trust Ursan not to turn out like his father. There was a lot of deceit and lies, ultimately for a good cause but I felt it made a barrier between them and their relationship.
In my opinion I think the story would be much more interesting if it were Ari and Triton. Don’t get me wrong I loved Ursan as a character, he’s sweet and very curious all the time. Like one giant golden retriever with tentacles instead of legs who attracts playful stingrays whenever he goes. But Ari’s backstory was so incredibly heartbreaking and intriguing, especially the part where he and Triton meet.
Ari came from the deep sea which basically labels him a peasant while Triton was born into higher class with blue blood coursing through his veins. They don’t always get along but they are fiercely loyal to each other and I wanted a deeper dive into their past. I wanted to witness Triton fight to prove that Ari is more than just a low born and watch as they steadily fall in love, Ari accepting that he is truly welcome by Triton's side.
Overall, I don’t think this story needed to be an MMM even though I loved Ursan. I’m going to set this series aside for now but I won’t be surprised if I come back to it eventually since I still want to read Jasper’s story.
However, Crallek is a sea witch with the haunting ability to control others by simply speaking to them. And over the years his power had consumed his mind and in order to ensure that the sea stay safe Ari and Triton killed Crallek and stole his power as an aid to keeping the levianthans at bay. Everything then settled into peace and quiet, apart from one problem and that was Crallek’s son, Ursan.
Yes, Ursan becomes the main love interest since Triton and Ari are already partners. Technically it shouldn’t be weird since they are all mythical beings with the gift of immortality and once they meet Ursan he is a fully grown adult. But I just couldn’t quite shake the fact that it’s a little odd how they fall into a relationship with the son of their dead friend. Plus I just felt that the three of them didn’t truly fit. The whole story is them trying to figure out if they can trust Ursan not to turn out like his father. There was a lot of deceit and lies, ultimately for a good cause but I felt it made a barrier between them and their relationship.
In my opinion I think the story would be much more interesting if it were Ari and Triton. Don’t get me wrong I loved Ursan as a character, he’s sweet and very curious all the time. Like one giant golden retriever with tentacles instead of legs who attracts playful stingrays whenever he goes. But Ari’s backstory was so incredibly heartbreaking and intriguing, especially the part where he and Triton meet.
Ari came from the deep sea which basically labels him a peasant while Triton was born into higher class with blue blood coursing through his veins. They don’t always get along but they are fiercely loyal to each other and I wanted a deeper dive into their past. I wanted to witness Triton fight to prove that Ari is more than just a low born and watch as they steadily fall in love, Ari accepting that he is truly welcome by Triton's side.
Overall, I don’t think this story needed to be an MMM even though I loved Ursan. I’m going to set this series aside for now but I won’t be surprised if I come back to it eventually since I still want to read Jasper’s story.
June 26, 2024
‘I thought him simple when I first met him—a still surface never disturbed. Now I think there might just be oceans inside him.’ 🧜♂️ 🧜♂️ 🦑
🏳️🌈 Queer retelling of The Little Mermaid. In the third installment we travel to the Sea Syndicate and meet King Triton and his second in command a red head merman named Ari’ and finally a lonely and isolated sea witch named Ursan. This was cute but parts didn’t make sense to me. Ari and Ursan were lovely together and same with Ari and Triton but I didn’t believe Ursan and Triton 🤷♂️
The smut scenes with the tentacles were so HOT though! Rent free momma rent free 🤣 but yeah MMM doesn’t always work for me and I think this was one of tbis instances! Excited to read the rest of the series!
🏳️🌈 Queer retelling of The Little Mermaid. In the third installment we travel to the Sea Syndicate and meet King Triton and his second in command a red head merman named Ari’ and finally a lonely and isolated sea witch named Ursan. This was cute but parts didn’t make sense to me. Ari and Ursan were lovely together and same with Ari and Triton but I didn’t believe Ursan and Triton 🤷♂️
The smut scenes with the tentacles were so HOT though! Rent free momma rent free 🤣 but yeah MMM doesn’t always work for me and I think this was one of tbis instances! Excited to read the rest of the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 28, 2024
MMM Romance
The Little Mermaid Retelling
3 Stars ⭐️
🎵 Narrated by Kirt Graves & Tor Thor🎵 🥵💗
So I have really been enjoying this series especially book two, Steal The Sky, and while I liked this story, characters and how similar to the original this book was, I felt underwhelmed by the time I finished it. I’ve been trying to figure out why for a week now and I still don’t have a lot of answers.
The narration was great as always in this series. KG narrated both Ari and Ursa and TT narrated Triton. The sex scenes were wicked hot 🥵 Ursa’s tentacles were a good time and I loved the mermen and kraken anatomy. I felt the love between all of them which can get a bit iffy in poly romances. Ari and Triton had been lovers for decades but they never mated and it was obvious there was some animosity towards each other and a missing piece. That missing piece was Ursa and he fit very nicely into their dynamic. I fully believed that Ari and Triton would never have fully mated or been truly happy without Ursa.
I think the issue for me was the withholding of information once everyone started being honest. It wasn’t miscommunication but leaving out some important info that caused dumb drama later. There have been fight scenes of some sort in all the books but this one was just a bit ridiculous and could have been prevented had Triton just told the whole fucking truth. However, I enjoyed the ending and felt it was fitting and I loved the love the 3 had for each other. I also loved how precious Ursa was in all the ways. 💗
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. The fire syndicate is next and I’m excited!
The Little Mermaid Retelling
3 Stars ⭐️
🎵 Narrated by Kirt Graves & Tor Thor🎵 🥵💗
So I have really been enjoying this series especially book two, Steal The Sky, and while I liked this story, characters and how similar to the original this book was, I felt underwhelmed by the time I finished it. I’ve been trying to figure out why for a week now and I still don’t have a lot of answers.
The narration was great as always in this series. KG narrated both Ari and Ursa and TT narrated Triton. The sex scenes were wicked hot 🥵 Ursa’s tentacles were a good time and I loved the mermen and kraken anatomy. I felt the love between all of them which can get a bit iffy in poly romances. Ari and Triton had been lovers for decades but they never mated and it was obvious there was some animosity towards each other and a missing piece. That missing piece was Ursa and he fit very nicely into their dynamic. I fully believed that Ari and Triton would never have fully mated or been truly happy without Ursa.
I think the issue for me was the withholding of information once everyone started being honest. It wasn’t miscommunication but leaving out some important info that caused dumb drama later. There have been fight scenes of some sort in all the books but this one was just a bit ridiculous and could have been prevented had Triton just told the whole fucking truth. However, I enjoyed the ending and felt it was fitting and I loved the love the 3 had for each other. I also loved how precious Ursa was in all the ways. 💗
I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. The fire syndicate is next and I’m excited!
Read
January 25, 2024No voy a puntuar esta reseña porque siento que no sería justa con la autora ni conmigo misma. Reitero como en las otras reseñas que no recomendaría esta saga de primeras.
-Me han caído mal dos de los protagonistas aparte de parecerme unos hipócritas de cajón.
-No me he sentido cómoda con el argumento, que sea pareja de tres me da igual si está bien hecha, sino por alerta spoiler que el tercer protagonista fuese el hijo del ex-mejor amigo de los otros dos protagonistas.
-Al final me lo he leído para leerme el cuarto y el quinto.
-Me han caído mal dos de los protagonistas aparte de parecerme unos hipócritas de cajón.
-No me he sentido cómoda con el argumento, que sea pareja de tres me da igual si está bien hecha, sino por alerta spoiler que el tercer protagonista fuese el hijo del ex-mejor amigo de los otros dos protagonistas.
-Al final me lo he leído para leerme el cuarto y el quinto.
April 25, 2024
Little mermaid retelling but its MMM, well yes.
Ursa was so innocent and sweet. He must be protected at all cost.. i loved him.
My feelings were all over the place with this one. I felt so sad sometimes for him but his connection with ari felt organic and real. As did triton and Ari. The only thing that felt like a little off was triton and ursans relationship. I felt it wasnt as strong romantically as the others. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I’m really enjoying this series. Im so sad This is the last audiobook available for now.
Ursa was so innocent and sweet. He must be protected at all cost.. i loved him.
My feelings were all over the place with this one. I felt so sad sometimes for him but his connection with ari felt organic and real. As did triton and Ari. The only thing that felt like a little off was triton and ursans relationship. I felt it wasnt as strong romantically as the others. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I’m really enjoying this series. Im so sad This is the last audiobook available for now.
November 8, 2023
I had a whole long review written for this, and then my phone died, so attempt #2...
Now I NEVER write -glowing- reviews like this, but this truly is a special case.
1.2☆ rounding it to 2☆ because Ursan is perfection and all things pure and good in this world, and not a damn one of these jerks deserved him... And, Jasper, of course. Gotta love that slutty pixie popping up everywhere. ♡
I had such high hopes for this. I was invested until about 30% when it all went to shit. Now, let me be clear. There were many things I hated... and only a few small things I liked. So let me point out where it all went wrong...
⚫️ SPOILERS BELOW ⚫️
Poor, beautiful Ursan finally gets to leave his home where he's been trapped for the last 2 decades... by a couple of jerks for doing NOTHING, simply for existing, they locked a child of 6 years old away from all beings in a cave he could not escape.... Keep in mind this poor little tentacled cloud hasn't seen any merfolk before, ever. So now he's 26, completely alone with only tiny nymph creatures watching over him... He's never seen people, or had sex, or experienced anything other than his cave and some human artifacts for 2 whole decades, where he survived off of kelp... fucking cursed kelp... but anywayyy -- Ursan gets to leave his prison with a merman he met 24 hours ago, who he has briefly seen only 2 times.... And the first place these IDIOTS take him is to a sex club in a massive city, surrounded by tons of myth people and flying dick acrobats, where they give him alcohol and a cigar then have a mutual jack off session on a public balcony... What? Yes, you read that correctly. Now if it sounds funny, I promise that's all me... reading it felt gross. And I say IDIOTS because Triton and Ari both agreed to this bullshit, where Triton gives permission for Ari to fuck the virgin Ursan within 24 hours of meeting him... moments after they finally let him out of his cage... that they put him in.... since he was a child.... 😒👌
And then there's the forced "fix my garden!" scene which felt rather rapey, and super confusing tbh... And I like dub-con and CNC, so the fact that this gave me the ick is saying something.
And then they had the opportunity to be honest with him, swore they finally told him the whole truth. He accepted it graciously... just for the whole thing to be a lie. Then to make themselves feel better about the lie and to distract him, they beg him to fuck... Ursan cares about them so of course he agrees, needing closure after finally "learning the truth"... and then they leave him there, and he wakes up alone and confused because there's still several unanswered questions, and now he has concerns that they’re still lying to him, while they're off fucking in a castle somewhere!? "We'll go back to him tomorrow... Yes, tomorrow... Tonight it's just us." GAG.
And then not a lick of groveling? Man, these mermen should have been on their knees kissing Ursans tentacles for WEEKS, begging for forgiveness to even think of making up for the 2 decades of solitude they forced that baby into, forget all the other trash they put that poor boy through.
There was just too much wrong and too much ick. The sex scenes were unique and, on their own, hot AF 🔥 -- but paired with the storyline, the whole thing just gave off gross vibes. They are unworthy of Ursan, any of his incredible charm, huge heart, blessed tentacles, and baseball bat sized dick. He should have pushed Ari off him at the club and accepted Jasper's offer. Bing bang boom. That would have been a 5☆ read, I'm sure of it.
Now I NEVER write -glowing- reviews like this, but this truly is a special case.
1.2☆ rounding it to 2☆ because Ursan is perfection and all things pure and good in this world, and not a damn one of these jerks deserved him... And, Jasper, of course. Gotta love that slutty pixie popping up everywhere. ♡
I had such high hopes for this. I was invested until about 30% when it all went to shit. Now, let me be clear. There were many things I hated... and only a few small things I liked. So let me point out where it all went wrong...
⚫️ SPOILERS BELOW ⚫️
Poor, beautiful Ursan finally gets to leave his home where he's been trapped for the last 2 decades... by a couple of jerks for doing NOTHING, simply for existing, they locked a child of 6 years old away from all beings in a cave he could not escape.... Keep in mind this poor little tentacled cloud hasn't seen any merfolk before, ever. So now he's 26, completely alone with only tiny nymph creatures watching over him... He's never seen people, or had sex, or experienced anything other than his cave and some human artifacts for 2 whole decades, where he survived off of kelp... fucking cursed kelp... but anywayyy -- Ursan gets to leave his prison with a merman he met 24 hours ago, who he has briefly seen only 2 times.... And the first place these IDIOTS take him is to a sex club in a massive city, surrounded by tons of myth people and flying dick acrobats, where they give him alcohol and a cigar then have a mutual jack off session on a public balcony... What? Yes, you read that correctly. Now if it sounds funny, I promise that's all me... reading it felt gross. And I say IDIOTS because Triton and Ari both agreed to this bullshit, where Triton gives permission for Ari to fuck the virgin Ursan within 24 hours of meeting him... moments after they finally let him out of his cage... that they put him in.... since he was a child.... 😒👌
And then there's the forced "fix my garden!" scene which felt rather rapey, and super confusing tbh... And I like dub-con and CNC, so the fact that this gave me the ick is saying something.
And then they had the opportunity to be honest with him, swore they finally told him the whole truth. He accepted it graciously... just for the whole thing to be a lie. Then to make themselves feel better about the lie and to distract him, they beg him to fuck... Ursan cares about them so of course he agrees, needing closure after finally "learning the truth"... and then they leave him there, and he wakes up alone and confused because there's still several unanswered questions, and now he has concerns that they’re still lying to him, while they're off fucking in a castle somewhere!? "We'll go back to him tomorrow... Yes, tomorrow... Tonight it's just us." GAG.
And then not a lick of groveling? Man, these mermen should have been on their knees kissing Ursans tentacles for WEEKS, begging for forgiveness to even think of making up for the 2 decades of solitude they forced that baby into, forget all the other trash they put that poor boy through.
There was just too much wrong and too much ick. The sex scenes were unique and, on their own, hot AF 🔥 -- but paired with the storyline, the whole thing just gave off gross vibes. They are unworthy of Ursan, any of his incredible charm, huge heart, blessed tentacles, and baseball bat sized dick. He should have pushed Ari off him at the club and accepted Jasper's offer. Bing bang boom. That would have been a 5☆ read, I'm sure of it.
June 19, 2023
Ursan, a lonely tentacled sea witch meets Ari, a beguiling merman and Triton’s second, and King Triton, the Lord of the Sea Syndicate, who rules the sea with a heavy hand. Until Meeting Ari and Triton, Ursan has led a sheltered, naivete about the dangers of the sea, as he has been kept isolated by Triton and Ari due to his father's lust for power. Ursan's journey takes unexpected turns as he uncovers the true nature of Triton and Ari's dominion over the sea with betrayals, dark elements, and tantalizing moments that leave you wanting more. Triton, Ari, and Ursan explore their complex and evolving relationship with each character bringing a different dynamic to the trio, and Ursan's influence serving as a bridge between the two lovers. The hot and steamy scenes are sizzling, and the unique dynamics between the characters and their different bodies add an extra layer of excitement. There are elements of the original Little Mermaid story that are woven into a completely new tale with male characters and unique twists, so don’t expect to know what going to happen. An enchanting, spicy MMM story with an underwater twist.
June 29, 2023
When I say this book might become my entire personality, I mean it. At this point I don’t know how to stop thinking about this thing!
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Sacrifice the Sea, the third book in the Beautiful Nightmares series by Anna Fury and Amy Pennza.
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Fairytale retelling, MMM
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Triton and Ari have been together for decades, but with Triton under intense pressure leading the sea syndicate and Ari dirtying his hands as his second, things have been strained. To make matters worse, a young sea witch has come into his power - which could ruin everything they’ve worked for.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’m not shocked - that’s the wrong word… because I’ve loved Anna Fury’s work before and shouted it from the rooftops to you guys. But I guess I didn’t think I’d finish this book and have to sit for a minute in silence to let it sink in.
Fantasy retellings can be a craps shoot, but this one was absolutely excellent. All of the little details and how characters were reimagined but incorporated gorgeously… it was nostalgic but also unique and that’s what I beg for.
But honestly, I’d be crazy if I didn’t mention that Ursan might be one of my favorite characters ever. He’s pure and innocent, while at the same time one of the most powerful beings in the world.
Then you add a great plot and spice that’s off the charts… and I’m loving this book. The series has been great, but it just keeps getting better!
🔮 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗲: Easy. The duo really makes it easy to understand these worlds, the politics and the creatures.
📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁��… you could read this as a standalone, but it’s way better to read all three books. And they’re worth it!
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🆓️ on KU
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Sacrifice the Sea, the third book in the Beautiful Nightmares series by Anna Fury and Amy Pennza.
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Fairytale retelling, MMM
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Triton and Ari have been together for decades, but with Triton under intense pressure leading the sea syndicate and Ari dirtying his hands as his second, things have been strained. To make matters worse, a young sea witch has come into his power - which could ruin everything they’ve worked for.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’m not shocked - that’s the wrong word… because I’ve loved Anna Fury’s work before and shouted it from the rooftops to you guys. But I guess I didn’t think I’d finish this book and have to sit for a minute in silence to let it sink in.
Fantasy retellings can be a craps shoot, but this one was absolutely excellent. All of the little details and how characters were reimagined but incorporated gorgeously… it was nostalgic but also unique and that’s what I beg for.
But honestly, I’d be crazy if I didn’t mention that Ursan might be one of my favorite characters ever. He’s pure and innocent, while at the same time one of the most powerful beings in the world.
Then you add a great plot and spice that’s off the charts… and I’m loving this book. The series has been great, but it just keeps getting better!
🔮 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗲: Easy. The duo really makes it easy to understand these worlds, the politics and the creatures.
📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁��… you could read this as a standalone, but it’s way better to read all three books. And they’re worth it!
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🆓️ on KU
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.
June 21, 2023
3.5 stars!
I wasn't sure I was going to like Sacrifice the Sea because I'm not used to reading MMM. A lot of authors aren't able to convince me that there is an equal amount of love when three people are involved in a relationship whether it be male or female. Reverse harems without MM works differently but ultimately I am always weary going into romances like this. I'd have to say that I do think Ursan, Triton and Ari's triad worked. There were a few times I felt like Triton and Ari had the more deeper connection but pulling Ursan into the fold didn't feel forced or fake. Their steamy moments together were sweet and hot and really just all around well written. The plot was unique and entertaining and I couldn't put the book down.
So what bothered me? Well there was a huge opportunity for an explosive grovel in this story and it wasn't taken. Triton and Ari together did something basically unforgiveable in my eyes and Ursan was
1. too quick to forgive
AND
2. didn't make Triton and Ari work hard enough to get back into his heart
I wanted Triton and Ari on their knees groveling and Ursan to give the cold shoulder for a bit. I needed Triton and Ari to hurt a little more. Ursan was such a cinnamon roll and he deserved so much more.
That's what really felt flat for me for this story. However, I really did enjoy it and I adored Ursan.
I wasn't sure I was going to like Sacrifice the Sea because I'm not used to reading MMM. A lot of authors aren't able to convince me that there is an equal amount of love when three people are involved in a relationship whether it be male or female. Reverse harems without MM works differently but ultimately I am always weary going into romances like this. I'd have to say that I do think Ursan, Triton and Ari's triad worked. There were a few times I felt like Triton and Ari had the more deeper connection but pulling Ursan into the fold didn't feel forced or fake. Their steamy moments together were sweet and hot and really just all around well written. The plot was unique and entertaining and I couldn't put the book down.
So what bothered me? Well there was a huge opportunity for an explosive grovel in this story and it wasn't taken. Triton and Ari together did something basically unforgiveable in my eyes and Ursan was
1. too quick to forgive
AND
2. didn't make Triton and Ari work hard enough to get back into his heart
I wanted Triton and Ari on their knees groveling and Ursan to give the cold shoulder for a bit. I needed Triton and Ari to hurt a little more. Ursan was such a cinnamon roll and he deserved so much more.
That's what really felt flat for me for this story. However, I really did enjoy it and I adored Ursan.
May 8, 2024
A dark retelling of the little mermaid .
In this book we meet the Sea Syndicate, ruled by Triton, who in his fight against another clan, achieves power, but must end the life of his best friend, the sea witch. He leaves a young son, Ursan, who is condemned to live locked in a cave because of his powers.
Triton has a open relationship with Ari, another male mermaid. Years later, decide to check whether the son of their dead best friend, Ursan, is dangerous or not. Here they start a three-way relationship.
In this book we meet the Sea Syndicate, ruled by Triton, who in his fight against another clan, achieves power, but must end the life of his best friend, the sea witch. He leaves a young son, Ursan, who is condemned to live locked in a cave because of his powers.
Triton has a open relationship with Ari, another male mermaid. Years later, decide to check whether the son of their dead best friend, Ursan, is dangerous or not. Here they start a three-way relationship.
dnf
January 23, 2024DNF. I didn’t realize the established couple were in an open relationship. Not really in the mood for it.
July 10, 2025
Honestly the whole thing was more Average than I thought it would be. I was fascinated by the similarities to the original little mermaid story but when it comes down to it, this is just about a bunch of horny as hell sea creatures😭
April 10, 2024
This was way sadder than I thought. In fact, I didn't think it would be sad 😢
I liked it, but there were a lot of questions left unanswered.
Why did Triton or Ari have to wear the necklace at all times? Couldn't they put it away and take it out only when they were going to use it?
Same with the mermaids blood... Wasn't it safer to keep the vials hidden and search for it only if necessary?
Why didn't Reena reinstate the contracts once Triton apologized and explained his motives? I mean, she forgave him and even gave him her blood and told him that he could ask for more if necessary, but she didn't reinstate the breeding agreements... Why?
I know Bastian was wrong with what he did, but I feel sorry for him. He is the only one of his kind. Condemned to see everyone find a partner and have children, everyone but him... So sad 😢
I liked it, but there were a lot of questions left unanswered.
Why did Triton or Ari have to wear the necklace at all times? Couldn't they put it away and take it out only when they were going to use it?
Same with the mermaids blood... Wasn't it safer to keep the vials hidden and search for it only if necessary?
Why didn't Reena reinstate the contracts once Triton apologized and explained his motives? I mean, she forgave him and even gave him her blood and told him that he could ask for more if necessary, but she didn't reinstate the breeding agreements... Why?
I know Bastian was wrong with what he did, but I feel sorry for him. He is the only one of his kind. Condemned to see everyone find a partner and have children, everyone but him... So sad 😢
November 28, 2024
3.5 stars✨
I’m feeling all over the place with this one. Like it was addicting but not LOVED by me. I felt that Triton was stupid when it came to everything regarding Ursan. Good lord. Thank god he gave his title to Ursan in the end lmfao dudes not really the best leader. I also loved all the relationships but Triton and Ursans felt just a bit off. I loved Ari through it all! If Ursan wasn’t the sweetest guy in the sea then Ari would be my favorite🥹
I’m feeling all over the place with this one. Like it was addicting but not LOVED by me. I felt that Triton was stupid when it came to everything regarding Ursan. Good lord. Thank god he gave his title to Ursan in the end lmfao dudes not really the best leader. I also loved all the relationships but Triton and Ursans felt just a bit off. I loved Ari through it all! If Ursan wasn’t the sweetest guy in the sea then Ari would be my favorite🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2024
This was my least favorite of the series.
I didn't feel like the MMM relationship was built well enough.
Triton was a douchebag
Ari and Ursin deserved better.
I didn't feel like the MMM relationship was built well enough.
Triton was a douchebag
Ari and Ursin deserved better.
June 13, 2025
Stunning. Brilliant. This was the one of the best fairytale retellings I’ve ever read. MMM done so so so well. Literally a million stars
June 16, 2025
✓ Multiple pov's
✓ Little Mermaid Retelling
✓ Entertaining plot - 3 / 5
✓ Interconnected standalone
✓ Mature language
✓ Fast paced
✓ Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶.5 / 5
✓ MMM romance
✓ Merman x Octopus 🐙
✓ PNR
✓ Enemies to Lovers
✓ Fated mates
✓ Age gap
✓ HEA
Similar to the previous book, I found the plot to be lacking, but I still enjoyed it. It was entertaining, fast-paced, and full of smut.
✓ Little Mermaid Retelling
✓ Entertaining plot - 3 / 5
✓ Interconnected standalone
✓ Mature language
✓ Fast paced
✓ Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶.5 / 5
✓ MMM romance
✓ Merman x Octopus 🐙
✓ PNR
✓ Enemies to Lovers
✓ Fated mates
✓ Age gap
✓ HEA
Similar to the previous book, I found the plot to be lacking, but I still enjoyed it. It was entertaining, fast-paced, and full of smut.
June 20, 2023
favorite of the series
So far this was the best of the series. the story flowed much better than the previous books. Love a series that gets better as you go. Really enjoying this world.
But I think Ursan forgave waaaaaaay too quickly at the end
So far this was the best of the series. the story flowed much better than the previous books. Love a series that gets better as you go. Really enjoying this world.
But I think Ursan forgave waaaaaaay too quickly at the end
June 30, 2023
Triton, Ursan, and Ari will forever be my favorite throuple. The passion. 😍😍
August 13, 2025
Dnf at 47% I just couldn’t do it! I was so excited for a mm retelling of the little mermaid and this let me all the way down.
September 27, 2023
Okay, so this one is frustrating for me cause I've read the other books and I loved them, and I started reading this one....and I really just can't. DnF at 42%
I've edited this three times now, cause I didn't know what to say, but after reading a few reviews and sitting down on it, I can finally put a finger on what I didn't like about this book.
First of all the fact that Ari and Triton killed Ursa's only family and then imprisoned him for the rest of his life. (How did he even survive that long?) Then Triton's unjustified hate for Ursa, killed me, cause what the fuck did he have to be mad for.
Then we have The whole them being together as a whole that didn't make sense to me. The first time they got together was just cringe and the entire time I read through everything, I kept thinking...like, how can you people even stand to touch this poor man after all that you don't to him and plan to do to him? The only reason Ari touched him in the first place was so he could test him, the only reason they touch him at all is so they can test him and that fucked me up cause that's not ideal to start a relationship and further more,Ursa really actually liked them in the beginning but they...they idk they did what they did and I hated that.
I really liked the first and loved the second book, so maybe it's just this books characters that I don't like so much. And the fact that the imbalance of power, cause Ari and Triton killed Ursa's father and everything. But I'm off to read the next book.
I've edited this three times now, cause I didn't know what to say, but after reading a few reviews and sitting down on it, I can finally put a finger on what I didn't like about this book.
First of all the fact that Ari and Triton killed Ursa's only family and then imprisoned him for the rest of his life. (How did he even survive that long?) Then Triton's unjustified hate for Ursa, killed me, cause what the fuck did he have to be mad for.
Then we have The whole them being together as a whole that didn't make sense to me. The first time they got together was just cringe and the entire time I read through everything, I kept thinking...like, how can you people even stand to touch this poor man after all that you don't to him and plan to do to him? The only reason Ari touched him in the first place was so he could test him, the only reason they touch him at all is so they can test him and that fucked me up cause that's not ideal to start a relationship and further more,Ursa really actually liked them in the beginning but they...they idk they did what they did and I hated that.
I really liked the first and loved the second book, so maybe it's just this books characters that I don't like so much. And the fact that the imbalance of power, cause Ari and Triton killed Ursa's father and everything. But I'm off to read the next book.
June 22, 2023
SNF at 40%. Couldn’t get into this one.
July 12, 2023
"What do you think it's for?" I turn it this way and that, examining it from different angles. "A weapon, maybe."
"It's a fork," a deep, irritated-sounding voice says.
This was one of the best retellings I've read lately. The authors took some great inspiration from The Little Mermaid and gave us this fun, smutty M/M/M retelling that was hard to put down! I loved the nods to the original story and how the authors worked in little details. The underwater world was so fun and refreshing, and entirely different than the other two books in this series.
"You're beautiful," a deep voice says. My eyes fly open. I lift my head and meet the brilliant blue gaze of Triton, Lord of the Sea Syndicate. But he's more than that. To the merfolk, he's a king - the supreme ruler of all the various clans of mermen and sirens and other seafolk.
"And you're blocking my sun," I tell him.
I love when we open a book into an existing relationship, and Ari and Triton and so beautiful and sad in the beginning. I love that despite spending These two mermen carry the weight of the ocean around their necks - literally - and you can feel that weight and tension coming off the pages in the beginning of the read.
And as I make my way back to the castle, I know Triton and I have a major problem on our hands. Because Ursan isn't the villain I expected him to be.
The rest of the book leans heavily on the spice, but the plot progression is in the background and I enjoyed how the ending came about. Overall this was a great, low-angst story!
I can't wait to take on Temper the Flame, an M/M Beauty and the Beast retelling next in August!
May 23, 2025
Darling, if you think you’ve seen everything the ocean has to offer—think again. “Sacrifice the Sea” is not your grandmother’s Little Mermaid. It’s what happens when you toss a classic fairytale into a storm of longing, betrayal, and tentacles—and then pour a gallon of spice on top for good measure.
Meet Ursan, our soft-hearted, tentacled sea witch who has been more or less bubble-wrapped his whole life, sheltered from the sea’s murky politics by none other than King Triton and his right-hand (right-fin?) man, the mesmerizing Ari. But don’t let the pretty faces fool you—these two rule the depths with the kind of iron-finned authority that would make Poseidon weep into his trident.
The dynamic between Ursan, Ari, and Triton? Absolutely dripping in tension, tenderness, and temptation. It’s like watching a tidal wave flirt with a bonfire. Each character brings their own flavor to this ménage à mer, and as their entanglement deepens (in every sense of the word), Ursan emerges not just as a pawn but as the anchor tying everything together—emotionally, politically, and quite literally during some of the ahem more “heated” moments.
Yes, the scenes are spicy enough to turn seawater to steam. But what truly elevates this tale from fantasy fling to literary treasure is its emotional undercurrent. Power, manipulation, innocence lost and reclaimed—this book doesn’t just splash in the shallows; it dives deep.
And the retelling? Chef’s kiss. It nods to The Little Mermaid without ever depending on it. Instead, Pennza and Fury craft a world that feels familiar but entirely fresh, like stumbling into an underwater speakeasy where the cocktails are forbidden and the clientele dangerously hot.
In short: “Sacrifice the Sea” is seductive, subversive, and sea-slick with emotion. Whether you come for the romance, the reimagining, or the salt-soaked smut, you’ll be hooked by page one—and drowning in feels by the last.
Bring a fan. And maybe a life vest. 💦
Meet Ursan, our soft-hearted, tentacled sea witch who has been more or less bubble-wrapped his whole life, sheltered from the sea’s murky politics by none other than King Triton and his right-hand (right-fin?) man, the mesmerizing Ari. But don’t let the pretty faces fool you—these two rule the depths with the kind of iron-finned authority that would make Poseidon weep into his trident.
The dynamic between Ursan, Ari, and Triton? Absolutely dripping in tension, tenderness, and temptation. It’s like watching a tidal wave flirt with a bonfire. Each character brings their own flavor to this ménage à mer, and as their entanglement deepens (in every sense of the word), Ursan emerges not just as a pawn but as the anchor tying everything together—emotionally, politically, and quite literally during some of the ahem more “heated” moments.
Yes, the scenes are spicy enough to turn seawater to steam. But what truly elevates this tale from fantasy fling to literary treasure is its emotional undercurrent. Power, manipulation, innocence lost and reclaimed—this book doesn’t just splash in the shallows; it dives deep.
And the retelling? Chef’s kiss. It nods to The Little Mermaid without ever depending on it. Instead, Pennza and Fury craft a world that feels familiar but entirely fresh, like stumbling into an underwater speakeasy where the cocktails are forbidden and the clientele dangerously hot.
In short: “Sacrifice the Sea” is seductive, subversive, and sea-slick with emotion. Whether you come for the romance, the reimagining, or the salt-soaked smut, you’ll be hooked by page one—and drowning in feels by the last.
Bring a fan. And maybe a life vest. 💦
June 20, 2023
3.5 STARS ✨
Rounded up to four stars.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Sacrifice the Sea from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Although Sacrifice the Sea is the third book in the Beautiful Nightmares series, it is a standalone and you do not need to read any of the other books before reading this one. It's MMM and focuses on:
• King Triton, the Lord of the Sea Syndicate
• Ari, his second from the darker depths of the sea who was desperate have a life different than his dire heritage to see both the sea city and above the waves. He and Triton are in a pre-established open relationship
• Ursan, the son of Triton's previous third, Crallek, whose life was taken by Triton and Ari after his lust for power grew too malicious to contain
This was incredibly interesting to read because it was an incredibly interesting spin on what is one of my childhood favourites; the world building is intricrate and Fury done a great job of having both the traits of Ariel in Ari, who has a similar appearance to Ariel and also makes a similar deal, but also in Ursan, who has an extensive collection of items from the surface and a naiveté to the dangers of the depths he has been sheltered from his whole life in fear of him following his father's footsteps. The 'villain' in the tale also takes a different direction from canon that I wasn't expecting.
I did find it hard to get into at first — I think I was expecting for the perspective to simply be Ursan's and that the plot twists would be revealed through his portrayal so that the reader remained in suspense, but I do understand why it was dual POV and once I got to the 40%(ish) mark, I breezed through. Ursan was a complete cinnamon roll, and I loved him, but Triton and Ari were also two good characters.
I would recommend this one to any Little Mermaid fans!
Rounded up to four stars.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Sacrifice the Sea from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Although Sacrifice the Sea is the third book in the Beautiful Nightmares series, it is a standalone and you do not need to read any of the other books before reading this one. It's MMM and focuses on:
• King Triton, the Lord of the Sea Syndicate
• Ari, his second from the darker depths of the sea who was desperate have a life different than his dire heritage to see both the sea city and above the waves. He and Triton are in a pre-established open relationship
• Ursan, the son of Triton's previous third, Crallek, whose life was taken by Triton and Ari after his lust for power grew too malicious to contain
This was incredibly interesting to read because it was an incredibly interesting spin on what is one of my childhood favourites; the world building is intricrate and Fury done a great job of having both the traits of Ariel in Ari, who has a similar appearance to Ariel and also makes a similar deal, but also in Ursan, who has an extensive collection of items from the surface and a naiveté to the dangers of the depths he has been sheltered from his whole life in fear of him following his father's footsteps. The 'villain' in the tale also takes a different direction from canon that I wasn't expecting.
I did find it hard to get into at first — I think I was expecting for the perspective to simply be Ursan's and that the plot twists would be revealed through his portrayal so that the reader remained in suspense, but I do understand why it was dual POV and once I got to the 40%(ish) mark, I breezed through. Ursan was a complete cinnamon roll, and I loved him, but Triton and Ari were also two good characters.
I would recommend this one to any Little Mermaid fans!
July 1, 2023
“Change flows around us. Something is different. Everything is different.”
Let me start by saying, this series is amazing. Seriously. While they are technically fairytale retelling stories, there is so much incredible creativity they are truly so much more. If anything, the references to their specific fairytale are more like subtle Easter eggs.
This one is, of course, the Little Mermaid. Yes, I can see it. Mermen Triton & Ari (Arial), sea witch Ursan (Ursula), and crab Bastian (Sebastian) are all here. There’s even a Flounder although in this version he’s a sea nymph named Dash. My favorite nod to the first, original version of the story is the habit Ari has of perching on his rock in the harbor. (I loved the visual!) But the similarities end there. The story itself has nothing in common with the fairytale. I’m not going to summarize the plot or spoil all the wonderful, intriguing and often unexpected surprises. I’m just going to say it’s an incredible ride!
Even more than the fantastic plot is the true story being told, a love story, because that’s what this is. I adored all three of the unique, original and very different males. They each brought something special to their growing relationship and changed the others. They truly are better together than separate. And don’t even get me started on their unbelievable chemistry! My tablet is still smoldering. So hot and also so creatively different. Wow!
While this is the third book in the series it is very easy to read it as a standalone. You’ll miss some of the references, which are so much fun, but the truth is, they aren’t necessarily to understand this book. That being said, why not go ahead and enjoy it as it was meant to be and read the other books first, in order. And then be prepared to stick around for the future books as well. This series is most of all irresistible. Anna, Amy, keep them coming!
Let me start by saying, this series is amazing. Seriously. While they are technically fairytale retelling stories, there is so much incredible creativity they are truly so much more. If anything, the references to their specific fairytale are more like subtle Easter eggs.
This one is, of course, the Little Mermaid. Yes, I can see it. Mermen Triton & Ari (Arial), sea witch Ursan (Ursula), and crab Bastian (Sebastian) are all here. There’s even a Flounder although in this version he’s a sea nymph named Dash. My favorite nod to the first, original version of the story is the habit Ari has of perching on his rock in the harbor. (I loved the visual!) But the similarities end there. The story itself has nothing in common with the fairytale. I’m not going to summarize the plot or spoil all the wonderful, intriguing and often unexpected surprises. I’m just going to say it’s an incredible ride!
Even more than the fantastic plot is the true story being told, a love story, because that’s what this is. I adored all three of the unique, original and very different males. They each brought something special to their growing relationship and changed the others. They truly are better together than separate. And don’t even get me started on their unbelievable chemistry! My tablet is still smoldering. So hot and also so creatively different. Wow!
While this is the third book in the series it is very easy to read it as a standalone. You’ll miss some of the references, which are so much fun, but the truth is, they aren’t necessarily to understand this book. That being said, why not go ahead and enjoy it as it was meant to be and read the other books first, in order. And then be prepared to stick around for the future books as well. This series is most of all irresistible. Anna, Amy, keep them coming!
July 4, 2023
I absolutely loved the first two books of this series. And I was extremely excited for this one. I’ve read it and although I liked it a lot there were a few things that disappointed me unfortunately.🙃
Don’t get me wrong this had great smut, plot, and I ADORED the main characters. However the imbalance of the dynamics in the relationship kinda threw me off. This is an MMM book where all of the men are supposed to be lovers. Not just two focusing on one. They’re all together sexually and emotionally.
Let me start off by saying two of the 3 main characters (Ari & Triton) are already together and in an established open relationship. And when they meet Ursan they both fall for him. And it’s been made clear that not only does Ari want Ursan but Triton does as well. Unfortunately for me it felt like Ari’s relationship with Ursan was paid more attention to rather than Ursans relationship with Triton as well.😭
So this story would switch between intimate moments between Triton and Ari, and then Ari with Ursan. Then Ursan with Triton would be left on the backburner and there would be rushed development with them. Which made me really disappointed and sad because Ursan and Triton CLEARLY had steam and love for each other. Unfortunately it just wasn’t fleshed out well like how it was between Ursans relationship with Ari😭😭
Unfortunately I’ve noticed this tends to happen with some throuple relationship books where there are some imbalances between certain characters and their love development. This book was great like I said but sadly this is one of those cases where the throuple relationship didn’t really hit for me🤷🏻♀️and I’d like to add that even though this is a fast paced book there were some things that seemed rushed in their relationship to the point where it wasn’t enjoyable
Don’t get me wrong this had great smut, plot, and I ADORED the main characters. However the imbalance of the dynamics in the relationship kinda threw me off. This is an MMM book where all of the men are supposed to be lovers. Not just two focusing on one. They’re all together sexually and emotionally.
Let me start off by saying two of the 3 main characters (Ari & Triton) are already together and in an established open relationship. And when they meet Ursan they both fall for him. And it’s been made clear that not only does Ari want Ursan but Triton does as well. Unfortunately for me it felt like Ari’s relationship with Ursan was paid more attention to rather than Ursans relationship with Triton as well.😭
So this story would switch between intimate moments between Triton and Ari, and then Ari with Ursan. Then Ursan with Triton would be left on the backburner and there would be rushed development with them. Which made me really disappointed and sad because Ursan and Triton CLEARLY had steam and love for each other. Unfortunately it just wasn’t fleshed out well like how it was between Ursans relationship with Ari😭😭
Unfortunately I’ve noticed this tends to happen with some throuple relationship books where there are some imbalances between certain characters and their love development. This book was great like I said but sadly this is one of those cases where the throuple relationship didn’t really hit for me🤷🏻♀️and I’d like to add that even though this is a fast paced book there were some things that seemed rushed in their relationship to the point where it wasn’t enjoyable
June 18, 2023
This is probably my favorite of the series so far! Triton and Ari have been lovers for a long time but are harboring a massive secret for the ‘good’ of their Syndicate. I’m usually not excited for the third act betrayal and confrontation, but in this book the whole time I could not wait for the truth to come out. Ursan is so sweet and was judged from birth and confined based off that judgement. Then he was deceived from the beginning and their relationship was built on half truths. It’s not that I wanted their relationship to fail, but every time Ari wanted to tell the truth and Triton insisted they continue to lie I kept thinking ‘it’s gonna be worse if you wait’. Ursan handles the entire situation spectacularly though, because he’s the best character in the whole dang book in my opinion!
You can tell by the writing (I thought) that Teiton and Ari worked ok as a pair, but worked much better once they welcomed Ursan into their lives. It seemed like every time they left him behind and went back to just the two of them tensions rose and they fought over something. Ursan had a way of tempering both men and bridging all sides.
This was a really great retelling and I liked it ALOT. It’s gonna be hard to beat this one, as The Little Mermaid was always my favorite Disney movie, but I have faith in the next one because I always loved Beauty and the Beast too!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You can tell by the writing (I thought) that Teiton and Ari worked ok as a pair, but worked much better once they welcomed Ursan into their lives. It seemed like every time they left him behind and went back to just the two of them tensions rose and they fought over something. Ursan had a way of tempering both men and bridging all sides.
This was a really great retelling and I liked it ALOT. It’s gonna be hard to beat this one, as The Little Mermaid was always my favorite Disney movie, but I have faith in the next one because I always loved Beauty and the Beast too!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2023
Triton, Ari and Ursan are fire together. They have a lot to overcome as a throuple. The plot was interesting and intriguing and I loved the take on the little mermaid. My dislikes? Well the blurb led me to believe that Ursan would be submissive to Ari and Triton, and that Is what I thought especially since before they meet Ursan, Triton and Ari both act dominant. But, Ursan is dominant too, yes sometimes he likes to be “good boy”, but he’s more dominant than he is submissive. And Ari becomes a bottom boy and submissive where in the beginning he likes the fight and I was really excited about that but that stopped really early on. So I felt like their personalities hadn’t been set in stone from the start of writing. And yes, I get sometimes personalities change but it wasn’t like that. This felt like the author didn’t know the characters and their personalities from the start and gave us mixed signals. But that’s a really small part of it, not the biggest deal. I just don’t like to expect one thing and get another.
There’s a lot of lying and betrayal in this one, which is similar to the previous books. Lots of internal angst. I loved how all their emotions and insecurities were brought to light, the way it was done was beautiful. Poor Ari needed it to happen to move forward. He had a lot of baggage from his time in the Deep.
Another small complaint, sometimes this felt too on the nose with the little mermaid. Ursan might not have broke out into song like Ariel did when talking about her surface stuff, but parts of the song and movie were definitely taken. The previous books it was just taking the flavor and concepts of the fairy tales and twisting it to the authors own creative spin, and we got that here but since there was a popular movie, the author took parts of that. Obviously the author still did their own spin cause Ari is knocking fins with Triton, and Ursan isn’t an evil sea witch and they all end up entwining their fins and tentacles.
In the end I enjoyed the story and the take on it. Ursan and Ari have been through a lot that just makes your heart squeeze. They both had crappy childhoods that left them lonely and wanting more. And the end was beautiful and definitely the right move. Especially the way the sea loves Ursan. It was a well done retelling of a great fairy tale
There’s a lot of lying and betrayal in this one, which is similar to the previous books. Lots of internal angst. I loved how all their emotions and insecurities were brought to light, the way it was done was beautiful. Poor Ari needed it to happen to move forward. He had a lot of baggage from his time in the Deep.
Another small complaint, sometimes this felt too on the nose with the little mermaid. Ursan might not have broke out into song like Ariel did when talking about her surface stuff, but parts of the song and movie were definitely taken. The previous books it was just taking the flavor and concepts of the fairy tales and twisting it to the authors own creative spin, and we got that here but since there was a popular movie, the author took parts of that. Obviously the author still did their own spin cause Ari is knocking fins with Triton, and Ursan isn’t an evil sea witch and they all end up entwining their fins and tentacles.
In the end I enjoyed the story and the take on it. Ursan and Ari have been through a lot that just makes your heart squeeze. They both had crappy childhoods that left them lonely and wanting more. And the end was beautiful and definitely the right move. Especially the way the sea loves Ursan. It was a well done retelling of a great fairy tale
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