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Between Land and Sea #1
Between Land and Sea
Why can’t sea witches have their happily ever after?
Calypso, the sea witch, was unjustly convicted of using blood magic and banished by the crown prince she was destined to marry. She now finds herself cursed, a hideous beast forced to live in shame with only a surly crab for company.
When she discovers her best friend, Princess Luna, is missing, she reluctantly teams up with the crown prince, the merman she hates, to save the mermaid she loves.
The search leads the feuding pair ashore, thrusting them into a harrowing race against time, one that holds the fate of the princess and the entire merkingdom in the balance.
In this enthralling tale of magic, love, and transformation, a perilous adventure will test the heroes’ resolve, reshape their destinies, and unearth an ancient evil that has been laying in wait for centuries.
Calypso, the sea witch, was unjustly convicted of using blood magic and banished by the crown prince she was destined to marry. She now finds herself cursed, a hideous beast forced to live in shame with only a surly crab for company.
When she discovers her best friend, Princess Luna, is missing, she reluctantly teams up with the crown prince, the merman she hates, to save the mermaid she loves.
The search leads the feuding pair ashore, thrusting them into a harrowing race against time, one that holds the fate of the princess and the entire merkingdom in the balance.
In this enthralling tale of magic, love, and transformation, a perilous adventure will test the heroes’ resolve, reshape their destinies, and unearth an ancient evil that has been laying in wait for centuries.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2023
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 4, 2023
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely 💥
This might be a great read for fans of YA fantasy, The Little Mermaid, and those looking for an easy read with a good dash of romance, but no spice.
It's fast paced and a really quick read, so I finished it more or less in one day.
For my personal taste the 4 people romance (as in 4 people ,2 torn between two possible partners) felt a bit like musical chairs, where you switch who you kiss until everyone ends up with the right partner in the end. Also quite some of the typical tropes here as well. So yeah, that part really did not work for me at all. But then I'm very much not a "kissing book" kind of person, so it might be perfect for others.
I liked how the merpeople and human society were intertwined, and even though The Little Mermaid inspiration was at times just a bit over the top for my liking, that was one of the strengths of the book for me. Some might see the references as great little easter eggs and like it ever more for it, for me it broke immersion. From "kiss the boy" to even Ursula, there's a lot of little things to be spotted everywhere.
The plot was interesting and there's plenty of action to keep you hooked all the way through.
This might be a great read for fans of YA fantasy, The Little Mermaid, and those looking for an easy read with a good dash of romance, but no spice.
It's fast paced and a really quick read, so I finished it more or less in one day.
For my personal taste the 4 people romance (as in 4 people ,2 torn between two possible partners) felt a bit like musical chairs, where you switch who you kiss until everyone ends up with the right partner in the end. Also quite some of the typical tropes here as well. So yeah, that part really did not work for me at all. But then I'm very much not a "kissing book" kind of person, so it might be perfect for others.
I liked how the merpeople and human society were intertwined, and even though The Little Mermaid inspiration was at times just a bit over the top for my liking, that was one of the strengths of the book for me. Some might see the references as great little easter eggs and like it ever more for it, for me it broke immersion. From "kiss the boy" to even Ursula, there's a lot of little things to be spotted everywhere.
The plot was interesting and there's plenty of action to keep you hooked all the way through.
July 21, 2023
Between Land and Sea(A Little Mermaid Retelling) by Paul Mouchet is a very enjoyable book and I definitely recommend. Calypso, the sea witch was unjustly banished by the crown prince she was to marry and now spends her days with only a surly crab for company. When going on an errand for her, Luna, her best friend who happens to be the princess of the kingdom, she reluctantly leaves her sea cave to find her. She is forced to team up with the prince to find her along with the company of a crab and an octopup. Will they succeed in the mission?
August 2, 2025
Glad I came across this book.
I love retellings, especially Little Mermaid ones, since she was always my favorite. Unfortunately, most Little Mermaid retellings I’ve encountered have fallen short. They try too hard to be unique and it ends up ruining the story. This one, however, I truly enjoyed. I was skeptical about reading a mainly female dominated story written by a male author, but he does really well. The dialogue is great and I loved all the few references to Disney’s Little Mermaid, but the “poor unfortunate souls” one was my favorite. Wasn’t crazy about how fast Calypso and Luna seemed to fall in love, though it remains true to the Little Mermaid story, that part just always irked me. Guess I’m getting old. The book was a good blend of unique and retelling. The ending, while predictable, was nice, even if it went by a little fast. I feel like this book could have gone into more detail at times of import, but still, o really enjoyed it.
I love retellings, especially Little Mermaid ones, since she was always my favorite. Unfortunately, most Little Mermaid retellings I’ve encountered have fallen short. They try too hard to be unique and it ends up ruining the story. This one, however, I truly enjoyed. I was skeptical about reading a mainly female dominated story written by a male author, but he does really well. The dialogue is great and I loved all the few references to Disney’s Little Mermaid, but the “poor unfortunate souls” one was my favorite. Wasn’t crazy about how fast Calypso and Luna seemed to fall in love, though it remains true to the Little Mermaid story, that part just always irked me. Guess I’m getting old. The book was a good blend of unique and retelling. The ending, while predictable, was nice, even if it went by a little fast. I feel like this book could have gone into more detail at times of import, but still, o really enjoyed it.
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June 3, 2023SPFBO 2023
June 19, 2023
I do not particularly enjoy re-tellings so found this YA story to be a cute and cozy surprise.
June 12, 2023
I thought this needed a hint more magic, and more of a "re-telling" vibe than a direct interpretation of The Little Mermaid. I was hoping it would get into the original vibe of the meaning of the Little Mermaid lore--however it fell flat.
I also thought this was more middle grade than YA Fantasy. It struck me that it would be suited to a 10-12 year old reader. As a matter of fact, I think my own age kind of got in the way of enjoying this! It was just a hair too childish for most of what is being pushed as YA fantasy right now.
Overall I gave it 2.5 ⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ❤️
I also thought this was more middle grade than YA Fantasy. It struck me that it would be suited to a 10-12 year old reader. As a matter of fact, I think my own age kind of got in the way of enjoying this! It was just a hair too childish for most of what is being pushed as YA fantasy right now.
Overall I gave it 2.5 ⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ❤️
June 11, 2023
Loved this retell definitely recommend classic fans to read this for a twist
October 12, 2023
I almost didn't pick this one up, but the cover with a gorgeously red-haired mermaid in the moonlight absolutely pulled me in. I didn't know what to expect from this Little Mermaid retelling, and I am pleased to say that while there are nods to the Disney version of the tale, this is not the story of Ariel.
Synopsis
Calypso, the Sea Witch, has been banished from the merkingdom for committing the heinous crime of blood magic. She claims that she would never do something so evil, but that doesn't stop her fiancé, King Triton's son and crowned ruler, from banishing her. Calypso is not alone in her banishment; her mentor, a giant red crab named Arion, has also been banished for the same crime. During her banishment, Calypso is drawn to the land above and a human that she has taken a special interest in. When Arion learns that she has been meddling in the affairs of humans, he curses her, changing her into a hideous tentacled creature.
Unable to leave her human to starve because of his physical disability, she sends her best friend Luna to check on him. However, when Luna does not return, her brother Prince Draven demands that Calypso help him find his sister. In spite of her feelings and thirst for revenge on her ex for how he treated her, she agrees to help him. Now they must put aside their differences and race against the clock to find Luna before it is too late.
Impressions
"Between Land and Sea" is a fast-paced, multiple point-of-view story that seamlessly weaves the different narratives together, creating a gripping tale. The fight scenes were action-packed and read more like a movie than a book. Actually, I would love to see this as a movie. While Calypso, Luna, and Dylan are the main characters that share their POVs, the side characters were a lot of fun as well. I especially enjoyed Luna's mini Kraken chaperone named Octavius.
This book's underlying theme is that you should never act in anger. Calypso was taught by Arion never to cast spells in anger because there can be unforeseen consequences, namely curses, that can occur as a result. When the opportunity for vengeance or revenge arises, there is always a voice of reason that reminds the characters that justice is more important. These are very positive themes that I like to see in YA books, especially when the characters seem to fly into a rage quite easily. Overall, this book is a perfect summer read and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
I received an advanced review copy for free and I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.
For more book reviews check out my blog wwww.renaevsbooks.com
Synopsis
Calypso, the Sea Witch, has been banished from the merkingdom for committing the heinous crime of blood magic. She claims that she would never do something so evil, but that doesn't stop her fiancé, King Triton's son and crowned ruler, from banishing her. Calypso is not alone in her banishment; her mentor, a giant red crab named Arion, has also been banished for the same crime. During her banishment, Calypso is drawn to the land above and a human that she has taken a special interest in. When Arion learns that she has been meddling in the affairs of humans, he curses her, changing her into a hideous tentacled creature.
Unable to leave her human to starve because of his physical disability, she sends her best friend Luna to check on him. However, when Luna does not return, her brother Prince Draven demands that Calypso help him find his sister. In spite of her feelings and thirst for revenge on her ex for how he treated her, she agrees to help him. Now they must put aside their differences and race against the clock to find Luna before it is too late.
Impressions
"Between Land and Sea" is a fast-paced, multiple point-of-view story that seamlessly weaves the different narratives together, creating a gripping tale. The fight scenes were action-packed and read more like a movie than a book. Actually, I would love to see this as a movie. While Calypso, Luna, and Dylan are the main characters that share their POVs, the side characters were a lot of fun as well. I especially enjoyed Luna's mini Kraken chaperone named Octavius.
This book's underlying theme is that you should never act in anger. Calypso was taught by Arion never to cast spells in anger because there can be unforeseen consequences, namely curses, that can occur as a result. When the opportunity for vengeance or revenge arises, there is always a voice of reason that reminds the characters that justice is more important. These are very positive themes that I like to see in YA books, especially when the characters seem to fly into a rage quite easily. Overall, this book is a perfect summer read and I cannot wait to read more from this author!
I received an advanced review copy for free and I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.
For more book reviews check out my blog wwww.renaevsbooks.com
May 18, 2023
First off I would like to state I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving this review of Between Land and Sea: A Little Mermaid Retelling by Paul Mouchet.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I absolutely love retellings, so when I noticed this one I had to give it a chance. I have read much better retellings and I also have read much worse retellings. This story happens to move at such a fast pace and I guess takes place over a day or so. But there is just so much happening at once it does take away from the story at times. Not to mention there are three main perspectives we see from. So a lot of bouncing around as well.
Some things I was able to call early on in the book and others not so much. And it is crazy how one little request from Calypso to Luna made this whole event happen. I do have to say my favorite was the octopup, he was a rather fun character. I do think some things were rushed but it was probably because this may be the only book for these characters. I do say it was a fun read at least one time around. Would not mind reading more from this author as well. Just be prepared for so much to happen at one time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I absolutely love retellings, so when I noticed this one I had to give it a chance. I have read much better retellings and I also have read much worse retellings. This story happens to move at such a fast pace and I guess takes place over a day or so. But there is just so much happening at once it does take away from the story at times. Not to mention there are three main perspectives we see from. So a lot of bouncing around as well.
Some things I was able to call early on in the book and others not so much. And it is crazy how one little request from Calypso to Luna made this whole event happen. I do have to say my favorite was the octopup, he was a rather fun character. I do think some things were rushed but it was probably because this may be the only book for these characters. I do say it was a fun read at least one time around. Would not mind reading more from this author as well. Just be prepared for so much to happen at one time.
July 9, 2023
"Life had a way of surprising you. Sometimes in ways that could crush your soul. Other times, it lifted your spirit to the stars and granted you your wildest wishes."
I absolutely loved this unique take on The Little Mermaid and I fell in love from the cover alone.
Calypso, our main character, enlists the help of her best friend, Luna, to help Dylan with his catch and prayers to their Goddess. Thus, ensuring the fates of those intertwined with them all.
I would've loved to see more of this world fleshed out; more of the mermaid world; how their magic works. Even an entire story to see how Draven was working with the humans to attempt to create peace.
The majority of the characters were an absolute treasure to read, I think was the octopup.
There are so many themes and life lessons displayed throughout this novel, and it was such a fun time reading.
tropes // mermaids, royalty, cursed, magic
Between Land and Sea was a fantastic, quick ya fantasy read. Highly recommend for any Little Mermaid, mermaid, fantasy or ya lovers.
I absolutely loved this unique take on The Little Mermaid and I fell in love from the cover alone.
Calypso, our main character, enlists the help of her best friend, Luna, to help Dylan with his catch and prayers to their Goddess. Thus, ensuring the fates of those intertwined with them all.
I would've loved to see more of this world fleshed out; more of the mermaid world; how their magic works. Even an entire story to see how Draven was working with the humans to attempt to create peace.
The majority of the characters were an absolute treasure to read, I think was the octopup.
There are so many themes and life lessons displayed throughout this novel, and it was such a fun time reading.
tropes // mermaids, royalty, cursed, magic
Between Land and Sea was a fantastic, quick ya fantasy read. Highly recommend for any Little Mermaid, mermaid, fantasy or ya lovers.
September 13, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I for one enjoy classic retellings and Between Land and Sea did not disappoint.
Mr. Mouchet added his own little twist to the tale, making it more magical and daring. Although it is classified as a retelling, I feel that it is a loosely based on The Little Mermaid. Considering the different perspectives throughout the story, Between Land and Sea is a tale of its own.
My only complaint is that there was so much going on all at once, and it felt quite rushed. Not sure why that was but, I would've liked the story to have been drawn more. With more details and possibly more back story for each of the characters and maybe even more world building. I feel like there wasn't enough details and information on the Merkingdom, let alone Triton and his role in all of it.
I definitely recommend giving Between Land and Sea a chance. Especially if you enjoy loose retellings, mermaids and magic. I look forward to reading more from Paul.
I for one enjoy classic retellings and Between Land and Sea did not disappoint.
Mr. Mouchet added his own little twist to the tale, making it more magical and daring. Although it is classified as a retelling, I feel that it is a loosely based on The Little Mermaid. Considering the different perspectives throughout the story, Between Land and Sea is a tale of its own.
My only complaint is that there was so much going on all at once, and it felt quite rushed. Not sure why that was but, I would've liked the story to have been drawn more. With more details and possibly more back story for each of the characters and maybe even more world building. I feel like there wasn't enough details and information on the Merkingdom, let alone Triton and his role in all of it.
I definitely recommend giving Between Land and Sea a chance. Especially if you enjoy loose retellings, mermaids and magic. I look forward to reading more from Paul.
July 19, 2023
I really really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was great. The story had me captivated from the first page. I truly fell in love with all of the characters of this novel. I loved the romance in it. I also really loved that it was a little mermaid retelling, so the references to that were great. There was a lot of action in this novel and I was so worried for the characters but so grateful for the ending. This author is an amazing one and this book made me subscribe to his newsletter and want to read more of his books. Truly a great novel down to the descriptions of everything, I felt like I was actually in the novel (because of the vivid descriptions) I was able to picture myself there. This novel made me feel every motion, it made me laugh, almost cry, scared, happy. I felt every motion with these characters. I would highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 4, 2023
I enjoyed this book, but I would consider it YA in the scope of elementary schools, which is for ages 10-12. A loose retelling of The Little Mermaid; I read this book in one day.
In general, I did really like this book, but I had some issues with the character Dylan. I personally feel like modern names mixed in fantasy books ruins the immersion for me. I don't understand why both Calypso and Luna are so suddenly in love with him. I found myself yelling at the book "He's literally just a guy!" I think someone who is younger and looking for an intro to fantasy would enjoy this book much more. I will be purchasing a copy for my library upon publication.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens for providing this ARC for review.
In general, I did really like this book, but I had some issues with the character Dylan. I personally feel like modern names mixed in fantasy books ruins the immersion for me. I don't understand why both Calypso and Luna are so suddenly in love with him. I found myself yelling at the book "He's literally just a guy!" I think someone who is younger and looking for an intro to fantasy would enjoy this book much more. I will be purchasing a copy for my library upon publication.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens for providing this ARC for review.
June 19, 2023
I don’t usually read retellings, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this. But there is just so much happening at once, very fast paced and a quick read, but it does take away from the story at times. Also there are 3 povs and a romance between a few people which I think took away from the story but I don’t like when people can’t pick one partner (just my taste) and feels like they didn’t know what they wanted.
The mixing of the merpeople and humans I liked, the hints of The Little Mermaid I liked. The plot was good, but I do feel some things were rushed and I do wish me had more backstory also. But I did like it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The mixing of the merpeople and humans I liked, the hints of The Little Mermaid I liked. The plot was good, but I do feel some things were rushed and I do wish me had more backstory also. But I did like it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 24, 2023
The Little Mermaid is not my favorite fairy tale, so I was delighted to see how Paul Mouchet reinterpreted almost every part of it - honestly, by the end I'm not even sure who the sea witch is.
Calypso is cast out by the mer-prince, helps a human, is cursed by her crabby mentor into "some sort of horrid squid monster," and then has to rely on the help of her best friend, who happens to be the mer-prince's sister and who is accidentally not very helpful. Anyway, all kinds of hijinks occur, lots of mer-people get cursed, and eventually a fair amount of redemption and forgiveness come to the forefront of the story. It was fun. I was left constantly guessing and frequently laughing.
I received an ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Calypso is cast out by the mer-prince, helps a human, is cursed by her crabby mentor into "some sort of horrid squid monster," and then has to rely on the help of her best friend, who happens to be the mer-prince's sister and who is accidentally not very helpful. Anyway, all kinds of hijinks occur, lots of mer-people get cursed, and eventually a fair amount of redemption and forgiveness come to the forefront of the story. It was fun. I was left constantly guessing and frequently laughing.
I received an ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
June 30, 2023
I am a sucker for a good fairytale retelling and I have to say I really enjoyed this little mermaid one. The author has put his own unique twists on this tale as we meet Calypso the sea witch who has been banned from the mer kingdom by her own fiancée. It’s an exciting read which ends up with the ex enlisting the help of the sea witch to find his lost sister who is also the sea witches best friend. The have to bury the hatchet so to speak to work together to save Luna before it is too late. It’s a fantastic, well written gripping read that pulls you in and teaches us a lesson or two along the way. Action packed, full of adventure and with incredible world building this definitely captured my attention.
September 4, 2023
3.5/5
The cover of this book is just gorgeous! It's the reason I picked it up. While the story overall isn't bad, it's a bit too childish for my taste, especially since I was expecting a bit more on the adult side of YA. I absolutely think kids around 10 and up would love this book, and it's a great introduction to fantasy. The story, while more of a little mermaid copy than retelling, is fast-paced and kept me interested. The writing is easy, and the characters are adorable. One of my biggest issues with the story was the love triangle/square, whatever you want to call it between 4 characters. It was a bit much, and even though Calypso and Luna ended up with the right one, it was annoying getting them to that point. Still beautiful cover and enjoyable story.
The cover of this book is just gorgeous! It's the reason I picked it up. While the story overall isn't bad, it's a bit too childish for my taste, especially since I was expecting a bit more on the adult side of YA. I absolutely think kids around 10 and up would love this book, and it's a great introduction to fantasy. The story, while more of a little mermaid copy than retelling, is fast-paced and kept me interested. The writing is easy, and the characters are adorable. One of my biggest issues with the story was the love triangle/square, whatever you want to call it between 4 characters. It was a bit much, and even though Calypso and Luna ended up with the right one, it was annoying getting them to that point. Still beautiful cover and enjoyable story.
July 12, 2023
I had a difficult time starting the novel. However, I did embrace my feeling of nostalgia and finish the novel. Most of the time with retellings I do find myself comparing it to the original and other adaptations which I should have kept in mind while reading the novel. Overall I thought that the writing was well done and that while it was a retelling it still had its own unique flair to it. I gave three stars because I believe that the beginning could have been more inviting. However, overall I enjoyed the book and would read other books by this author.
June 18, 2024
I've read a few retellings; they attract me like a moth to a flame. Most of them are of the same type of retelling in some way. There isn't too much you can do to make them different while still being the same in the story.
This was a new take on both the sea witch and the little mermaid. I truly enjoyed this rendition of the classic fairytale.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a new take on both the sea witch and the little mermaid. I truly enjoyed this rendition of the classic fairytale.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2023
I liked this retelling of the Little Mermaid. I really think the author did such a great job keeping it unique and different, but with enough grace to keep Disney og in mind. Loved the action, the character dynamics and quite frankly, I love seeing the diff pov. Can't wait to see what the author will bring to the table next! Great read!
July 28, 2025
I could have read this whole book in 1 sitting if my kindle hadn't died halfway through. This was such an exciting story that held my attention entirely throughout. This was a thrilling adventure filled with action and romance. I do feel bad for these characters though. All this adventure in a single day, I hope they got a nice, long, peaceful vacation afterward.
May 17, 2023
Enjoyed.
This is a marvelous retelling of the story of The Little Mermaid.
I received this as an ARC.
This is a marvelous retelling of the story of The Little Mermaid.
I received this as an ARC.
June 27, 2023
Very cute and actiony tale based on Little Mermaid. I loved all the characters and the story kept me reading. I definitely would reread it!
March 9, 2024
Told from multiple first person narratives, Mouchet’s fantasy draws inspiration from Disney’s animated classic: The Little Mermaid.
August 6, 2023
This is a Little Mermaid retelling and right off the bat I was loving Calypso then he through in an octopus and I was reading putty. I loved the different POV’s and the art at the top of each chapter. The cover for this book is so eye catching and beautiful. The end was everything I could have wanted!!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews