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The Silent Prince
*See all of the books in the Once Upon a Prince Series HERE.*
A voiceless prince. A desperate princess. A sham romance that turns heart-breakingly real.
When cocky Mer prince Kaerius impulsively saves the human princess from drowning, he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her. Yet her human fragility is so unexpectedly sweet that he is soon head over tails. So he bargains his voice to the lord of the deep for a chance to court her on land. He's confident that he can win her affection--he's irresistible, after all.
But he is a fish out of water in the human world. He didn’t expect it to be so difficult to make Marin appreciate his charms. Her father is ailing, her kingdom is threatened from multiple directions, and she must choose from among several foreign suitors to keep her people free. Thinking Kaerius no more than a mute stranger, she asks him to pose as her suitor to give her leverage with the foreign lords vying for her hand. But not all of them are so easily deterred, and they won't take no for an answer.
Kaerius will have to show the princess that his love is not just an act, but how can he win her, much less save her, without a word?
The Silent Prince , a gender-swapped retelling of The Little Mermaid , is part of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
A voiceless prince. A desperate princess. A sham romance that turns heart-breakingly real.
When cocky Mer prince Kaerius impulsively saves the human princess from drowning, he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her. Yet her human fragility is so unexpectedly sweet that he is soon head over tails. So he bargains his voice to the lord of the deep for a chance to court her on land. He's confident that he can win her affection--he's irresistible, after all.
But he is a fish out of water in the human world. He didn’t expect it to be so difficult to make Marin appreciate his charms. Her father is ailing, her kingdom is threatened from multiple directions, and she must choose from among several foreign suitors to keep her people free. Thinking Kaerius no more than a mute stranger, she asks him to pose as her suitor to give her leverage with the foreign lords vying for her hand. But not all of them are so easily deterred, and they won't take no for an answer.
Kaerius will have to show the princess that his love is not just an act, but how can he win her, much less save her, without a word?
The Silent Prince , a gender-swapped retelling of The Little Mermaid , is part of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2023
About the author
C.J. Brightley
28 books255 followersC. J. Brightley lives outside Washington, D.C., with her husband and their two young children. When she's not busy writing, she teaches karate, bakes too many desserts, and makes jewelry. She loves to connect with readers!
Follow C. J. Brightley at https://www.facebook.com/CJBrightley and https://www.instagram.com/cjbrightley/
Follow C. J. Brightley at https://www.facebook.com/CJBrightley and https://www.instagram.com/cjbrightley/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 27, 2024
solid 4 (maybe even 4.5?) stars ✨
🐠 Little Mermaid retelling (but he’s the little merman)
🐠 Fish out of water trope
🐠 He falls first
🐠 Cultural Differences
Oh, he’s arrogant arrogant; This was great fun. 😂 At first, I wasn’t sure about him because he comes across as a juvenile and coddled prince so his emotions, thoughts, and actions were a bit 🤨🫠🫢🥴 as he’s absolutely clueless about the human world and so I read with utter amusement, but as the book progresses and character development happens, I enjoyed it so much!
Speaking of his lack of knowledge on anything to do with humans, the author hit it out of the park with the descriptions and things he goes through, it was great and truly sold this book and the prince’s perspective! It was fascinating because Kaerius comes off so much as a…spoiled prince (which he is) in the beginning and the writing style really showcased that, but as that character development happens while he’s on land, the writing shifts to being a bit more humble and yet keeping his personality and merman quirks. It was really well done and this book amused me the entire time while reading.
Usually Typically Always when I read a “romance” book and there’s only one half of the couple’s perspective, I will typically always usually comment in my review “I wish we had *other half’s name*’s POV”, so let me just say that just having Kaerius’ POV for this book was absolutely perfect for this book. Marin was sweet and while yes, I don’t feel like I knew much about her, I ended up caring for her because of how he viewed her and seeing him smitten by her.
I was grinning like a ninny during the entire book, but especially at his insults that no one could understand. 😁 The gender-swapped version of thistail tale worked so well and it was such a delight to read! I was so amused the entire time. 🥰 My only compliant that I wish it went on longer at the end with more of them discovering about the other’s worlds.
Not only did I find my new favorite Sleeping Beauty retelling this week, I’ve also found my new favorite Little Mermaid retelling!
Main Content-
Kaerius goes to the Lord of the Deep (a magical kraken) to do the classic switch of his voice for legs and lungs to go woo his love on land, so there’s that magical element along with the deal keeping him from talking/making any sound and then Kaerius and other mer folk have their songs which have magic in them; Kaerius uses his singing to keep predators away from humans, call out to them and his kind, to encourage certain emotions (either uplifting or warning) to humans (which causes them to do as was suggested in the songs; This could also ben used to lure people to their deaths by throwing themselves into the water, but Kaerius does not do that).
No major language; A mention or two of curses (said, but not written out); “Good heavens! is exclaimed once, but other than that there’s nothing else; Some eye rolling; Kaerius butts heads with his father.
Fighting, Being hit and stabbed, Being held at knife/sword-point, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, Illnesses, & Finding injured humans (up to a few sentences); Due to the importance of their voices, mer folk place an importance on their throat and keeping it safe, threatening someone’s throat is a thing and we see Kaerius wishes to rip out a man’s throat to means harm to Marin and also wishing to murder the man; Someone threatens with killing a person’s loved one in front of her.
Mentions of wars, threats and threats of war, fighting, & scars/injuries from the wars; Mentions of possible drownings & the pain of it; Mentions of attacks, injuries (including major ones that should cause the person to die), blood/bleeding, pain, passing out, & throwing up; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of alcohol & drinking at balls; A couple mentions of sirens of old dats eating human flesh & Kaerius giving the image in a song about mer folk eating humans to keep a group away; A mention of a rumor of a mermaid being caught in a net and killed by humans.
2 hand kisses,
1 kiss lasting a sentence,
1 kissing session lasting a couple sentences and multiple kisses;
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Warmth, Smelling, & some noticing (up to a couple/few sentences); Jealousy.
Kaerius is naked when transformed, is told by others to cover himself (somewhat often), and by the end thinks that humans are “funny about which body parts were acceptable to bare”; At the beginning, Kaerius is arrogant and determined to have the human princess (not because of her crown, but because of falling for her);
A mention of kisses; A mention of a man only wanting a certain woman because she’s young enough to give him an heir; A mention of Kaerius’ mother dying in childbirth.
🐠 Little Mermaid retelling (but he’s the little merman)
🐠 Fish out of water trope
🐠 He falls first
🐠 Cultural Differences
Oh, he’s arrogant arrogant; This was great fun. 😂 At first, I wasn’t sure about him because he comes across as a juvenile and coddled prince so his emotions, thoughts, and actions were a bit 🤨🫠🫢🥴 as he’s absolutely clueless about the human world and so I read with utter amusement, but as the book progresses and character development happens, I enjoyed it so much!
Speaking of his lack of knowledge on anything to do with humans, the author hit it out of the park with the descriptions and things he goes through, it was great and truly sold this book and the prince’s perspective! It was fascinating because Kaerius comes off so much as a…spoiled prince (which he is) in the beginning and the writing style really showcased that, but as that character development happens while he’s on land, the writing shifts to being a bit more humble and yet keeping his personality and merman quirks. It was really well done and this book amused me the entire time while reading.
I was grinning like a ninny during the entire book, but especially at his insults that no one could understand. 😁 The gender-swapped version of this
Not only did I find my new favorite Sleeping Beauty retelling this week, I’ve also found my new favorite Little Mermaid retelling!
Main Content-
Kaerius goes to the Lord of the Deep (a magical kraken) to do the classic switch of his voice for legs and lungs to go woo his love on land, so there’s that magical element along with the deal keeping him from talking/making any sound and then Kaerius and other mer folk have their songs which have magic in them; Kaerius uses his singing to keep predators away from humans, call out to them and his kind, to encourage certain emotions (either uplifting or warning) to humans (which causes them to do as was suggested in the songs; This could also ben used to lure people to their deaths by throwing themselves into the water, but Kaerius does not do that).
No major language; A mention or two of curses (said, but not written out); “Good heavens! is exclaimed once, but other than that there’s nothing else; Some eye rolling; Kaerius butts heads with his father.
Fighting, Being hit and stabbed, Being held at knife/sword-point, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, Illnesses, & Finding injured humans (up to a few sentences); Due to the importance of their voices, mer folk place an importance on their throat and keeping it safe, threatening someone’s throat is a thing and we see Kaerius wishes to rip out a man’s throat to means harm to Marin and also wishing to murder the man; Someone threatens with killing a person’s loved one in front of her.
Mentions of wars, threats and threats of war, fighting, & scars/injuries from the wars; Mentions of possible drownings & the pain of it; Mentions of attacks, injuries (including major ones that should cause the person to die), blood/bleeding, pain, passing out, & throwing up; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of alcohol & drinking at balls; A couple mentions of sirens of old dats eating human flesh & Kaerius giving the image in a song about mer folk eating humans to keep a group away; A mention of a rumor of a mermaid being caught in a net and killed by humans.
2 hand kisses,
1 kiss lasting a sentence,
1 kissing session lasting a couple sentences and multiple kisses;
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Warmth, Smelling, & some noticing (up to a couple/few sentences); Jealousy.
Kaerius is naked when transformed, is told by others to cover himself (somewhat often), and by the end thinks that humans are “funny about which body parts were acceptable to bare”; At the beginning, Kaerius is arrogant and determined to have the human princess (not because of her crown, but because of falling for her);
A mention of kisses; A mention of a man only wanting a certain woman because she’s young enough to give him an heir; A mention of Kaerius’ mother dying in childbirth.
Read
December 15, 2023I admit to not usually being super intrigued by mer stories or The Little Mermaid, but this was delightful. I loved the merfolk physiology and culture differences and how this addressed a lot of complications of a merperson with zero human interaction and unused to legs suddenly being human. Brightley managed to make Kaerius incredibly cocky without making him insufferable and in fact making him likeable, while still giving him an arc of learning humility and deeper regard for other people without losing his self-confidence. Lots of humorous moments and a romance that ended up being very sweet and believable despite the potential for it to be obsessive or unrealistic.
January 7, 2025
This was so much better then I thought it’d be! Because, okay, how in the world is this guy so arrogant yet charming and funny at the same time?!?! This seriously should be a crime, he should not be able to be this way!
I went into this book with the lowest of expectations to end up being wildly impressed and flabbergasted at just how much I enjoyed it and how hard I fell for these characters. Kaerius, as I’ve already said, is an arrogant little charmer with a wicked sense of humorous insults (to men who truly deserve it, let’s be real) in sign language (so cool how that aspect was used!) who I have no doubt would have spoken said insults to their faces if he could (and I totally would have supported him), but somehow this merman charmed his little way into my heart, and I love him because he didn’t stay that way but GREW—oh BOY did he grow!—and became a man I’m so insanely proud of.
And while we never see Marin’s POV I didn’t have to as Kaerius’ view of her and love for her endeared me to her while also being able to see her true character through their interactions which helped me to love and greatly admire her. Brighton was great too and I love his and Kaerius’ brother bond/friendship, it was so great and not something I was expecting to see!
The worldbuilding of both the mermaid and human kingdoms/cultures was so fleshed out but never once took over the story and even though I had heard of, ahem, Kaerius’ panache for licking stuff to identify it or who had touched it (this being the main reason I was wary of the book to begin with, lol), it actually didn’t turn out to be as gross or weird as I thought it would be.
…or I’m just weird, who knows, lol. 😆
This book shocked me in the best way possible and I would be delighted and thrilled to read it again! Such a good, fun, and unique gender flipped Little Mermaid retelling!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: injuries and blood (not to semi detailed); two men are found bloody and wounded after being left for dead (not detailed); fighting with weapons and hand to hand (not detailed); a man bites another’s throat (not detailed); men fall off a cliff and into the sea to their deaths (not detailed); a broken body is pulled from the sea (semi detailed)
Sexual: a man walks around naked and is unperturbed about it for a bit (not detailed); kissing (not detailed)
Other: mermaids; magic; a kraken; a man is looked down upon by some for not being able to speak; death and grief
I went into this book with the lowest of expectations to end up being wildly impressed and flabbergasted at just how much I enjoyed it and how hard I fell for these characters. Kaerius, as I’ve already said, is an arrogant little charmer with a wicked sense of humorous insults (to men who truly deserve it, let’s be real) in sign language (so cool how that aspect was used!) who I have no doubt would have spoken said insults to their faces if he could (and I totally would have supported him), but somehow this merman charmed his little way into my heart, and I love him because he didn’t stay that way but GREW—oh BOY did he grow!—and became a man I’m so insanely proud of.
And while we never see Marin’s POV I didn’t have to as Kaerius’ view of her and love for her endeared me to her while also being able to see her true character through their interactions which helped me to love and greatly admire her. Brighton was great too and I love his and Kaerius’ brother bond/friendship, it was so great and not something I was expecting to see!
The worldbuilding of both the mermaid and human kingdoms/cultures was so fleshed out but never once took over the story and even though I had heard of, ahem, Kaerius’ panache for licking stuff to identify it or who had touched it (this being the main reason I was wary of the book to begin with, lol), it actually didn’t turn out to be as gross or weird as I thought it would be.
…or I’m just weird, who knows, lol. 😆
This book shocked me in the best way possible and I would be delighted and thrilled to read it again! Such a good, fun, and unique gender flipped Little Mermaid retelling!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: injuries and blood (not to semi detailed); two men are found bloody and wounded after being left for dead (not detailed); fighting with weapons and hand to hand (not detailed); a man bites another’s throat (not detailed); men fall off a cliff and into the sea to their deaths (not detailed); a broken body is pulled from the sea (semi detailed)
Sexual: a man walks around naked and is unperturbed about it for a bit (not detailed); kissing (not detailed)
Other: mermaids; magic; a kraken; a man is looked down upon by some for not being able to speak; death and grief
December 27, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
How can someone so cocky be so endearing?! Kaerius walked that line but Brightley never had him become so overbearing I felt the need to rearrange his pretty face.
Losing one’s voice is the main pillar of the Little Mermaid, and this gender-bent retelling lent for some interesting reading. Because we only get the story from Kaerius’s POV, while he can’t speak all we get is his inner monologue and sign language attempts—and the monologue is hilarious.
He falls first and is dead gone on Marin… it’s a bit sappy, haha, but if you love the completely infatuated lover type, Kaerius is your man.
He’s a total fish out of water and his habit of *ahem* licking things to ascertain them killed me. 🤣
With hard-won friendships (love Brighton, btw), a unique Mer culture unlike anything I’ve ever read, and a heart changed by courage, this gender-bent Little Mermaid retelling is one I know I’ll come back to!
Content: vague mentions of Kaerius being naked after he shifts from a merman into a human as he has no concept of needing clothing
How can someone so cocky be so endearing?! Kaerius walked that line but Brightley never had him become so overbearing I felt the need to rearrange his pretty face.
Losing one’s voice is the main pillar of the Little Mermaid, and this gender-bent retelling lent for some interesting reading. Because we only get the story from Kaerius’s POV, while he can’t speak all we get is his inner monologue and sign language attempts—and the monologue is hilarious.
He falls first and is dead gone on Marin… it’s a bit sappy, haha, but if you love the completely infatuated lover type, Kaerius is your man.
He’s a total fish out of water and his habit of *ahem* licking things to ascertain them killed me. 🤣
With hard-won friendships (love Brighton, btw), a unique Mer culture unlike anything I’ve ever read, and a heart changed by courage, this gender-bent Little Mermaid retelling is one I know I’ll come back to!
Content: vague mentions of Kaerius being naked after he shifts from a merman into a human as he has no concept of needing clothing
November 24, 2023
I was blessed with the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book!
What a fun read! The Silent Prince is a gender-swapped retelling of The Little Mermaid, the story of the Mer prince Kaerius who falls in love with Marin, a human princess. Meanwhile, Marin is navigating struggles of her own, as her father is in poor health and potential suitors, allies, and enemies of her kingdom are closing in from every side. It’s a lovely story that explores what love really means, and I won’t spoil it, but the main character’s arc is wonderful.
I think one of my favorite elements of this book was the author’s ingenuity and attention to detail in describing Kaerius’s experiences as a literal “fish out of water”! I laughed out loud at some places and ached along with him at others. It was really, really imaginative and well done.
An easy, redemptive read with no language and sweet romance with just a little heat (PG!). Some violence and some gore. I would say teen and up.
What a fun read! The Silent Prince is a gender-swapped retelling of The Little Mermaid, the story of the Mer prince Kaerius who falls in love with Marin, a human princess. Meanwhile, Marin is navigating struggles of her own, as her father is in poor health and potential suitors, allies, and enemies of her kingdom are closing in from every side. It’s a lovely story that explores what love really means, and I won’t spoil it, but the main character’s arc is wonderful.
I think one of my favorite elements of this book was the author’s ingenuity and attention to detail in describing Kaerius’s experiences as a literal “fish out of water”! I laughed out loud at some places and ached along with him at others. It was really, really imaginative and well done.
An easy, redemptive read with no language and sweet romance with just a little heat (PG!). Some violence and some gore. I would say teen and up.
October 10, 2024
4.5 Stars! =D
May 28, 2024
This was a fun, gender-swapped take on the Little Mermaid! I liked it well enough…but it wasn’t very memorable for me.
I always feel a little guilty when I start a fairytale retelling, because I know that, most likely, I’m not going to love it. The potential is there, but so often the stories turn out to be a little too predictable. The Silent Prince was pretty much par for the course in that respect.
One thing I did really enjoy about this story was all the differences it showed between humans and merpeople. Watching Kaerius go through that learning experience was quite entertaining at times! 😆
I’d recommend The Silent Prince to readers who are looking for fairytale retellings with a more relaxed pace!
I always feel a little guilty when I start a fairytale retelling, because I know that, most likely, I’m not going to love it. The potential is there, but so often the stories turn out to be a little too predictable. The Silent Prince was pretty much par for the course in that respect.
One thing I did really enjoy about this story was all the differences it showed between humans and merpeople. Watching Kaerius go through that learning experience was quite entertaining at times! 😆
I’d recommend The Silent Prince to readers who are looking for fairytale retellings with a more relaxed pace!
November 23, 2023
Fairytale retelling stories are probably my favorite genre and this one is no exception. I loved the gender swap. I loved Kaerius's character growth. I loved Brighton. I loved Marin's quiet dignity. Such a fun story and I'd definitely recommend it!! (I got to read an ARC but it will be out SOON)
December 3, 2023
The Silent Prince by C.J. Brightley was one of my most eagerly anticipated books from the Once Upon a Prince series. I've read many other retellings of "The Little Mermaid," but never one about a merman. Doing a gender-bent adaptation for this assignment instead of going the easy route of retelling the same story from the prince's perspective breathed new life into a classic tale. Though the story is simple and direct for what it is, the portrayal of a merman in the role of the little mermaid comes off as fresh and original. It has a cute romance, plenty of action, and a healthy dose of comedy. All in all, it is a fun read and an exemplary addition to the series.
Kaerius is a confident merman prince who is proud of his incredible singing voice. One day, he rescues a human princess from drowning. From that moment on, he becomes obsessed with her. He swims to the surface frequently and learns that her name is Princess Marin, that she is lonely, and that she also enjoys singing and music. Soon enough, he determines that he is in love with Marin and trades his voice to the Kraken in exchange for legs. However, the devious Kraken gives him a one-month deadline to earn Marin's love. If he succeeds, he will get his voice back as well as the ability for both of them to switch between human and mer forms as they please. If he fails, his human lungs will expire, ending his life. Kaerius agrees to these terms and proceeds to find Marin on land and court her. Of course, a naked man washing up on shore and trying to get the attention of a woman can have very different implications from a naked woman washing up on shore and trying to get the attention of a man. Fortunately, the author leaves the more uncomfortable aspects of this to the reader's imagination, focusing instead on Marin's concern for the shipwrecked stranger and his new sensations of having legs, toes, and feet.
The communication mechanics in this book are pretty interesting. I have read other adaptations of "The Little Mermaid" where she learns to write or sign. Here, Kaerius has his own version of sign language used among the merfolk that no one on land can understand but him. Those who take the time to know him such as Marin and her guard slowly begin to learn his signals after seeing them frequently. Kaerius's behavior on land is also endlessly entertaining. He is a typical "fish out of water," confused by everyday concepts like clothing or soap, but he acts so confident that it comes off as absurd at times. His behavior is similar to that of Marvel's Thor. He never fails to lay on the charm when it comes to Marin, which motivates her to ask him to act as her suitor at a royal dance to throw off the advances of those with more malicious intentions. He takes on this task gladly, always placing Marin's safety before anything else, and gains an even deeper reverence for the politically troubled princess
The relationships in this book are simple but acceptable. The author tries to break the "love at first sight" trope by having Kaerius realize that he barely even knew Marin when he first thought he was in love with her. Yet, there are no groundbreaking revelations here as getting to know her better only makes him love her even more. The most interesting relationship in the book is the friendship between Kaerius and Brighton, Marin's guard. Just as the little mermaid often needs a female maid to teach her the ways of human etiquette and clothing, Kaerius meets Brighton soon after arriving on shore, and he does his best to make him not look ridiculous to other humans. They don't get along well at first because Brighton's duties of guarding the princess pose a potential threat, but Kaerius warms up to Brighton as soon as he learns he is married. Brighton is also the quickest to pick up on Kaerius's hand gestures and comes the closest to figuring out his true identity.
In the enchanting retelling of "The Little Mermaid," C.J. Brightley's The Silent Prince provides a fresh take on the classic tale, casting the protagonist as a confident and endearing merman prince. The choice to pivot from the well-trodden path of retelling the story from the prince's perspective to a gender-bent narrative injects a breath of novelty into the familiar storyline. The transformation of Kaerius, the merman prince, as he navigates the dual worlds of sea and land, introduces fascinating dynamics and challenges. Kaerius's unique sign language adds an intriguing layer to the story, fostering connection and understanding between the characters. This book's narrative brims with a delightful mix of romance, adventure, and humor, creating an engaging and enjoyable read that stands out as a commendable addition to the Once Upon a Prince series.
Kaerius is a confident merman prince who is proud of his incredible singing voice. One day, he rescues a human princess from drowning. From that moment on, he becomes obsessed with her. He swims to the surface frequently and learns that her name is Princess Marin, that she is lonely, and that she also enjoys singing and music. Soon enough, he determines that he is in love with Marin and trades his voice to the Kraken in exchange for legs. However, the devious Kraken gives him a one-month deadline to earn Marin's love. If he succeeds, he will get his voice back as well as the ability for both of them to switch between human and mer forms as they please. If he fails, his human lungs will expire, ending his life. Kaerius agrees to these terms and proceeds to find Marin on land and court her. Of course, a naked man washing up on shore and trying to get the attention of a woman can have very different implications from a naked woman washing up on shore and trying to get the attention of a man. Fortunately, the author leaves the more uncomfortable aspects of this to the reader's imagination, focusing instead on Marin's concern for the shipwrecked stranger and his new sensations of having legs, toes, and feet.
The communication mechanics in this book are pretty interesting. I have read other adaptations of "The Little Mermaid" where she learns to write or sign. Here, Kaerius has his own version of sign language used among the merfolk that no one on land can understand but him. Those who take the time to know him such as Marin and her guard slowly begin to learn his signals after seeing them frequently. Kaerius's behavior on land is also endlessly entertaining. He is a typical "fish out of water," confused by everyday concepts like clothing or soap, but he acts so confident that it comes off as absurd at times. His behavior is similar to that of Marvel's Thor. He never fails to lay on the charm when it comes to Marin, which motivates her to ask him to act as her suitor at a royal dance to throw off the advances of those with more malicious intentions. He takes on this task gladly, always placing Marin's safety before anything else, and gains an even deeper reverence for the politically troubled princess
The relationships in this book are simple but acceptable. The author tries to break the "love at first sight" trope by having Kaerius realize that he barely even knew Marin when he first thought he was in love with her. Yet, there are no groundbreaking revelations here as getting to know her better only makes him love her even more. The most interesting relationship in the book is the friendship between Kaerius and Brighton, Marin's guard. Just as the little mermaid often needs a female maid to teach her the ways of human etiquette and clothing, Kaerius meets Brighton soon after arriving on shore, and he does his best to make him not look ridiculous to other humans. They don't get along well at first because Brighton's duties of guarding the princess pose a potential threat, but Kaerius warms up to Brighton as soon as he learns he is married. Brighton is also the quickest to pick up on Kaerius's hand gestures and comes the closest to figuring out his true identity.
In the enchanting retelling of "The Little Mermaid," C.J. Brightley's The Silent Prince provides a fresh take on the classic tale, casting the protagonist as a confident and endearing merman prince. The choice to pivot from the well-trodden path of retelling the story from the prince's perspective to a gender-bent narrative injects a breath of novelty into the familiar storyline. The transformation of Kaerius, the merman prince, as he navigates the dual worlds of sea and land, introduces fascinating dynamics and challenges. Kaerius's unique sign language adds an intriguing layer to the story, fostering connection and understanding between the characters. This book's narrative brims with a delightful mix of romance, adventure, and humor, creating an engaging and enjoyable read that stands out as a commendable addition to the Once Upon a Prince series.
February 7, 2025
Reread 1: Again, the writing is just so good. The book begins as if it were narrating an old, old fairy tale, before slowly and subtly transitioning to a more active and less descriptive way of speaking. It's like in classic Disney princess movies when it starts with a narrator flipping through a book before diving into the current action.
I really like this quote from the book: "I regret only that I saw you as a beautiful prize to be won rather than a courageous woman of honor. The beauty of your face, body, and voice is far surpasses by the beauty of your heart."
I also have no clue what I was refencing in my original review as a "lack of conflict in one aspect of the story". In fact, I was going to say that I really liked how the addition of the political pressures and tensions added a sense of urgency beyond just "I need her to fall in love with me so I don't die."
That being said, the timeline was a little wonky. At one point pretty far into the story, Kaerius mentions that it's only been a week, but there's no way. It definitely felt like way more than a week. I wasn't counting the days or anything, but it felt like too much action had happened for it to have been only a week.
Original Review
This is probably the worst way to word this but there's really no other way to do it that gets the point across: the writing was delicious.
The prose had such a rich quality to it that the whole book felt like an old fairytale being told by an old man with a beard as our entire village roasted a deer over a fire. It felt so magical and nodded perfectly to the original story.
And for everyone who hates on Ariel saying that she turned into a human for a man, 1) no she didn't and 2) can I introduce you to Kaerius? Kaerius is everything that people accuse Ariel of being. When the blurb described him as cocky, I was like, "how bad could he be?" Oh, he's bad. He's like actually an asshole. He's like your stereotypical frat Chad who is really hot and knows he's hot, so he uses it as an excuse to be horrible to people. Also, Kaerius totally gives up his tail for legs because he's in "love" with a girl he's never had substantial conversation with. All that being said, watching his character development was calming. Kaerius learns a handful of lessons in this story, and honestly he needed all of them.
Marin felt a little static compared to Kaerius, but she wasn't boring by any means. I think that her characterization showed through her actions (rather than being told by the author) enough that we can assuage that she's actually pretty okay.
Technically speaking, there's a lack of conflict in one aspect of the story (worded to avoid spoilers). One thing that you thought would've been a big problem wasn't, but honestly that kinda worked because that let the focus stay on the main plot.
If anything, I didn't like the ending, but that's because I hate books that end in marriage (not because I am a hater, just because I am a pessimist).
But overall, pretty decently okay book.
I really like this quote from the book: "I regret only that I saw you as a beautiful prize to be won rather than a courageous woman of honor. The beauty of your face, body, and voice is far surpasses by the beauty of your heart."
I also have no clue what I was refencing in my original review as a "lack of conflict in one aspect of the story". In fact, I was going to say that I really liked how the addition of the political pressures and tensions added a sense of urgency beyond just "I need her to fall in love with me so I don't die."
That being said, the timeline was a little wonky. At one point pretty far into the story, Kaerius mentions that it's only been a week, but there's no way. It definitely felt like way more than a week. I wasn't counting the days or anything, but it felt like too much action had happened for it to have been only a week.
Original Review
This is probably the worst way to word this but there's really no other way to do it that gets the point across: the writing was delicious.
The prose had such a rich quality to it that the whole book felt like an old fairytale being told by an old man with a beard as our entire village roasted a deer over a fire. It felt so magical and nodded perfectly to the original story.
And for everyone who hates on Ariel saying that she turned into a human for a man, 1) no she didn't and 2) can I introduce you to Kaerius? Kaerius is everything that people accuse Ariel of being. When the blurb described him as cocky, I was like, "how bad could he be?" Oh, he's bad. He's like actually an asshole. He's like your stereotypical frat Chad who is really hot and knows he's hot, so he uses it as an excuse to be horrible to people. Also, Kaerius totally gives up his tail for legs because he's in "love" with a girl he's never had substantial conversation with. All that being said, watching his character development was calming. Kaerius learns a handful of lessons in this story, and honestly he needed all of them.
Marin felt a little static compared to Kaerius, but she wasn't boring by any means. I think that her characterization showed through her actions (rather than being told by the author) enough that we can assuage that she's actually pretty okay.
Technically speaking, there's a lack of conflict in one aspect of the story (worded to avoid spoilers). One thing that you thought would've been a big problem wasn't, but honestly that kinda worked because that let the focus stay on the main plot.
If anything, I didn't like the ending, but that's because I hate books that end in marriage (not because I am a hater, just because I am a pessimist).
But overall, pretty decently okay book.
February 22, 2024
Best Fish-Out-of-Water story I've ever read!
Knowing the MMC would be unable to speak for the majority of the book, I expected the pacing to lag due to lack of dialogue, but every word of this story held my full attention, which is rare. Kaerius's thoughts, which he signed, replaced spoken words, and others' guesses as to his meaning were entertaining and realistic. The way he reacted to breathing air, walking on legs with "foot-fingers," and his arrogant thoughts about human weaknesses immersed me completely. It also allowed him the room to grow and change from instinctual, animalistic, self-centered desires to more empathetic, human emotions. His character was so well written. Since the story is told only from Kaerius's POV, we don't get as much of a glimpse into Marin's thought process, but I loved the different ways the author chose to showcase Kai's strengths and make him an attractive suitor. The plot and supporting characters made it a gripping read. I loved the kraken as the "sea witch." Highly recommend!
Knowing the MMC would be unable to speak for the majority of the book, I expected the pacing to lag due to lack of dialogue, but every word of this story held my full attention, which is rare. Kaerius's thoughts, which he signed, replaced spoken words, and others' guesses as to his meaning were entertaining and realistic. The way he reacted to breathing air, walking on legs with "foot-fingers," and his arrogant thoughts about human weaknesses immersed me completely. It also allowed him the room to grow and change from instinctual, animalistic, self-centered desires to more empathetic, human emotions. His character was so well written. Since the story is told only from Kaerius's POV, we don't get as much of a glimpse into Marin's thought process, but I loved the different ways the author chose to showcase Kai's strengths and make him an attractive suitor. The plot and supporting characters made it a gripping read. I loved the kraken as the "sea witch." Highly recommend!
December 12, 2023
Yusssss! Such a good gender swapped retelling!
This is little mermaid done right!
First off it's genderswapped - AWESOME
Second of all he actually struggles adjusting and it's so fun to see him learn the human things- very much reminded me of a toddler licking things IYKYK
Third the character development of the prince was 👌👌👌 perfection!
Fourth our princess is awesome and there are some pretty heart warming side characters.
I really loved all the little things about how he was a merman learning all the human things and truly discovering everything he didn't know. I felt like it made the story so authentic.
I also just really loved his growth arc. He's endearing at the beginning because he's naive but has cool powers right, well it gets better and I loved every second of it!
On the note of the romance in the book: I felt like there wasn't a lot of dialogue between the two main characters. We are in the prince's head so much of the time that we see his love transform. It just didn't feel as real from the princess's side. So the ending was satisfactory but didn't quite ring the bell for me in believing in it completely. I think it is perfect for a teenage audience and if you're here for the plot then it's perfect, if you're here for the romance know that it's there but not completely the main focus. This is a fantasy book first and foremost. ❤️
💋Romance: sweet kisses
⚠️Trigger warning: loss of parents
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy
This is little mermaid done right!
First off it's genderswapped - AWESOME
Second of all he actually struggles adjusting and it's so fun to see him learn the human things- very much reminded me of a toddler licking things IYKYK
Third the character development of the prince was 👌👌👌 perfection!
Fourth our princess is awesome and there are some pretty heart warming side characters.
I really loved all the little things about how he was a merman learning all the human things and truly discovering everything he didn't know. I felt like it made the story so authentic.
I also just really loved his growth arc. He's endearing at the beginning because he's naive but has cool powers right, well it gets better and I loved every second of it!
On the note of the romance in the book: I felt like there wasn't a lot of dialogue between the two main characters. We are in the prince's head so much of the time that we see his love transform. It just didn't feel as real from the princess's side. So the ending was satisfactory but didn't quite ring the bell for me in believing in it completely. I think it is perfect for a teenage audience and if you're here for the plot then it's perfect, if you're here for the romance know that it's there but not completely the main focus. This is a fantasy book first and foremost. ❤️
💋Romance: sweet kisses
⚠️Trigger warning: loss of parents
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy
April 9, 2024
Oh man did I dislike Kaerius at the beginning. I mean, I really disliked him. I was thankful for a different review letting me know that it would be worth it to push through.
the amount of dislike I had for him made it all the more glorious when his pride crumbled and his humility took the lead.
I Love that Kaerius never once lied about who he was, he kept telling everyone he was the prince of the Mer…. They just didn’t understand him or believe him! I also loved all the culture clashes that Kai had to learn because of him being “raised by fish” 😆
Even without a voice, he made his messages known pretty well, and even when he didn’t, it was chuckle-worthy as the reader to get the entire message and for those around him to get half of it.
I loved the bromance level friendship that developed.
I also particularly appreciated the fact that the princess was a brilliant strategist which progressed the plot line of the story in a way more interesting way than the typical Little Mermaid storyline.
The romance was absolutely devastatingly swoony! Kai’s arrogance at the beginning made it so much sweeter.
The Lord of the Deep was friggin epic. Absolutely epic.
the amount of dislike I had for him made it all the more glorious when his pride crumbled and his humility took the lead.
I Love that Kaerius never once lied about who he was, he kept telling everyone he was the prince of the Mer…. They just didn’t understand him or believe him! I also loved all the culture clashes that Kai had to learn because of him being “raised by fish” 😆
Even without a voice, he made his messages known pretty well, and even when he didn’t, it was chuckle-worthy as the reader to get the entire message and for those around him to get half of it.
I loved the bromance level friendship that developed.
I also particularly appreciated the fact that the princess was a brilliant strategist which progressed the plot line of the story in a way more interesting way than the typical Little Mermaid storyline.
The romance was absolutely devastatingly swoony! Kai’s arrogance at the beginning made it so much sweeter.
The Lord of the Deep was friggin epic. Absolutely epic.
December 24, 2024
"Courage was practiced..."
"Courage was practiced in small moments as well as great conflicts."
Several quotable moments throughout the pages. "If he must die fighting, he wanted to be beautiful as he did so. What she needed now was not his handsome face but his courage, ferocity, and skill."
The back story between the Mer people and the tentacled villain is more clear in this version than the Disney one. It helps to understand the tension better.
To be able to read Kaerius's thoughts/words in italics provided a realistic opportunity to learn more about him. His character growth was as engaging and entertaining as it was endearing and encouraging.
SPOILER ALERT
My inner prude wished his clothes would transform with him when switching between Mer and Human. Interestingly, while there were plenty of mentions regarding his clothing, or lack thereof, nothing was said when she switched. What did Marin wear as a Mer? What was she wearing when she became Human again?
"Courage was practiced in small moments as well as great conflicts."
Several quotable moments throughout the pages. "If he must die fighting, he wanted to be beautiful as he did so. What she needed now was not his handsome face but his courage, ferocity, and skill."
The back story between the Mer people and the tentacled villain is more clear in this version than the Disney one. It helps to understand the tension better.
To be able to read Kaerius's thoughts/words in italics provided a realistic opportunity to learn more about him. His character growth was as engaging and entertaining as it was endearing and encouraging.
SPOILER ALERT
My inner prude wished his clothes would transform with him when switching between Mer and Human. Interestingly, while there were plenty of mentions regarding his clothing, or lack thereof, nothing was said when she switched. What did Marin wear as a Mer? What was she wearing when she became Human again?
February 19, 2024
Entertaining fairytale with a twist. The mer prince desires to woo a human princess he saves from drowning. He makes an agreement with the Lord of the Deep to become human. The price? His voice. And 30 days to win the princess or die.
Kaerius is arrogant and proud. He has no doubt Marin will swoon as soon as she sees him. But she is too busy deciding which prince to marry for her country's peace: the handsome, duplicitous Ralph, or the ugly, honest Galbraith. Kaerius is just a distraction to her. That is until she asks the silent prince to pretend he is another contender for her hand.
It was interesting to see how Kai learned to cope in the human world, and communicate with signs and expressions. He also learned what true love requires - sacrifice.
Kaerius is arrogant and proud. He has no doubt Marin will swoon as soon as she sees him. But she is too busy deciding which prince to marry for her country's peace: the handsome, duplicitous Ralph, or the ugly, honest Galbraith. Kaerius is just a distraction to her. That is until she asks the silent prince to pretend he is another contender for her hand.
It was interesting to see how Kai learned to cope in the human world, and communicate with signs and expressions. He also learned what true love requires - sacrifice.
February 8, 2026
Gender-swapped Little Mermaid with a month-long deadline
The character growth in this book takes center stage. Prince Kaerius is a self-absorbed arrogant prince when we first meet him, but he becomes a caring, courageous man by the end. Marin is intelligent but not obnoxious, which allows for her cool-headed logic to shine. I liked the way she evaluates situations and makes good judgment calls. Together, they grew into a wonderful couple. The cultural differences were entertaining, and Kaerius's absolute confidence in himself made me laugh several times. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique Little Mermaid retelling with strong characters and a high-stakes plot.
The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book with the various kingdoms. If you want to read more in this world, check out Brightley's other book, Snow Bound.
The character growth in this book takes center stage. Prince Kaerius is a self-absorbed arrogant prince when we first meet him, but he becomes a caring, courageous man by the end. Marin is intelligent but not obnoxious, which allows for her cool-headed logic to shine. I liked the way she evaluates situations and makes good judgment calls. Together, they grew into a wonderful couple. The cultural differences were entertaining, and Kaerius's absolute confidence in himself made me laugh several times. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique Little Mermaid retelling with strong characters and a high-stakes plot.
The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book with the various kingdoms. If you want to read more in this world, check out Brightley's other book, Snow Bound.
December 17, 2023
What a retelling! I have been mostly reading fairytale retellings and I am constantly amazed at the creativity of all of the authors. When the cocky Mer prince Kaerius impulsive saves the human princess from drawing, he doesn’t expect to fall in love. Yet her human fragility is so unexpectedly sweet that he bargains his voice to the Lord of the Deep for a chance to court her on land. He’s confident he can win her affection, but he is a fish out of water in the human world. He didn’t expect it to be so difficult to make Marin appreciate his charms. Her father is ailing, her kingdom is threatened from multiple directions, and she must choose from among several foreign suitors to keep her people free. Thinking Kaerius no more than a mute stranger, she asks him to pose as her suitor for leverage with the foreign lords. But not all of them are so easily deterred and they won’t take no for an answer.
Okay, I’ll be honest, cocky and smug are not my favorite traits in main characters. When I first met Kaerius I was a bit put-off, but I loved to read about his growth. He found himself in an unusual situation and it was a lot of fun to watch him figure out the human world. It was a world full of customs and politics all new to him. I love seeing how the Brighton’s took him under their wing and how they helped him out. He learned from them and found friendship and support through it. Kaerius grew on me and he was fiercely loyal to those who he chose. Marin was such a cool character. She knew her responsibility as a princess and was willing to protect her people, even if it meant sacrificing for them. She was clever and tried to work toward the best for her people. I admired her so much and loved how her inner circle supported her.
This was full of intrigue as well as sweetness. I really enjoyed watching the story play out. There were such fun elements of the fairytale included in it too! I found this book so fun and would definitely recommend it. This is a fairytale inspired romance full of magic and adventure. There is some fantasy action and political intrigue and only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Okay, I’ll be honest, cocky and smug are not my favorite traits in main characters. When I first met Kaerius I was a bit put-off, but I loved to read about his growth. He found himself in an unusual situation and it was a lot of fun to watch him figure out the human world. It was a world full of customs and politics all new to him. I love seeing how the Brighton’s took him under their wing and how they helped him out. He learned from them and found friendship and support through it. Kaerius grew on me and he was fiercely loyal to those who he chose. Marin was such a cool character. She knew her responsibility as a princess and was willing to protect her people, even if it meant sacrificing for them. She was clever and tried to work toward the best for her people. I admired her so much and loved how her inner circle supported her.
This was full of intrigue as well as sweetness. I really enjoyed watching the story play out. There were such fun elements of the fairytale included in it too! I found this book so fun and would definitely recommend it. This is a fairytale inspired romance full of magic and adventure. There is some fantasy action and political intrigue and only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
December 14, 2023
LOVED.
Words can’t properly express how much I enjoyed this. I especially loved the attention to detail that went into the culture shock Kai faced. I don’t think I’ve ever read a Little Mermaid retelling that was this thorough, and it really set it apart. Seeing the world through Kai’s eyes made me see so many things that I’ve taken for granted.
Everything about the story was perfection. The characters, the story progression…but Kai. UGH. His character was a thing of beauty. Hilariously (and endearingly) arrogant and confident—I couldn’t help but laugh at his dialogue (which no one understood)—his personality was just SO good! And his gradual change felt so natural. We all know how the Little Mermaid ends, but throughout the book, I couldn’t help but worry: Which version will it be based on??? The one where she dies, or lives happily ever after?? Ladies and gents, I was INVESTED. With his heart in his eyes, how could you not fall in love with him?
I only have 3 regrets:
1. That I couldn’t rate this higher
2. That the story came to an end
3. That I started reading this on a weeknight (please do yourself a favour and make sure you have enough time to binge it.)
Words can’t properly express how much I enjoyed this. I especially loved the attention to detail that went into the culture shock Kai faced. I don’t think I’ve ever read a Little Mermaid retelling that was this thorough, and it really set it apart. Seeing the world through Kai’s eyes made me see so many things that I’ve taken for granted.
Everything about the story was perfection. The characters, the story progression…but Kai. UGH. His character was a thing of beauty. Hilariously (and endearingly) arrogant and confident—I couldn’t help but laugh at his dialogue (which no one understood)—his personality was just SO good! And his gradual change felt so natural. We all know how the Little Mermaid ends, but throughout the book, I couldn’t help but worry: Which version will it be based on??? The one where she dies, or lives happily ever after?? Ladies and gents, I was INVESTED. With his heart in his eyes, how could you not fall in love with him?
I only have 3 regrets:
1. That I couldn’t rate this higher
2. That the story came to an end
3. That I started reading this on a weeknight (please do yourself a favour and make sure you have enough time to binge it.)
April 3, 2024
This lovely twist on The Little Mermaid was surprising in so many ways. I appreciated how the whiny mermaid (I detest Disney's rendition) was exchanged for a vain merman. He knew he was beautiful and that his voice was lovely and any human would be lucky to fall for him. Except then, he falls for her for real.
The princess was even more delightful. Having an ailing father meant she was carrying the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders, even planning her own marriage alliance. She did so with such grace and acceptance, even when it was clear this wasn't what she would have chosen if she didn't love her kingdom so much.
From licking soap to marveling at legs to disavowing inconveniences like needing to breathe air and dry skin and even feeling confusion over why male height matters to humans, the story had a level of realism mostly missing from mer stories. It will make you laugh and wish it didn't end so soon. I'm excited for more books to be written in this beautiful world.
I received an ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
The princess was even more delightful. Having an ailing father meant she was carrying the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders, even planning her own marriage alliance. She did so with such grace and acceptance, even when it was clear this wasn't what she would have chosen if she didn't love her kingdom so much.
From licking soap to marveling at legs to disavowing inconveniences like needing to breathe air and dry skin and even feeling confusion over why male height matters to humans, the story had a level of realism mostly missing from mer stories. It will make you laugh and wish it didn't end so soon. I'm excited for more books to be written in this beautiful world.
I received an ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
October 16, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I am not really a Little Mermaid fan but I loved this retelling. This was not at all what I expected which was great!
If you love connection between characters, character development and the ocean you’re gonna love this book!
Kaerius the MMC is not likable in the beginning but watching him change and grow was the best part of the book. It was the book! Maybe even more than the love story was this tale of self reflection.
Loved!
There were so many examples of how he changed and how different people saw him differently because of the maturity and growth.
Marin is so sweet and truly the definition of brave and kind. Her example changed those around her.
Brighton was my favorite I loved his relationship with Marin, Kaerius and his sweet wife. He was the positive male role model for Kaerius of how to lead and be well loved.
Again loved this!
So many great things about this book!
Best part easily enjoyed by a 13 yr old or an adult.
I am not really a Little Mermaid fan but I loved this retelling. This was not at all what I expected which was great!
If you love connection between characters, character development and the ocean you’re gonna love this book!
Kaerius the MMC is not likable in the beginning but watching him change and grow was the best part of the book. It was the book! Maybe even more than the love story was this tale of self reflection.
Loved!
There were so many examples of how he changed and how different people saw him differently because of the maturity and growth.
Marin is so sweet and truly the definition of brave and kind. Her example changed those around her.
Brighton was my favorite I loved his relationship with Marin, Kaerius and his sweet wife. He was the positive male role model for Kaerius of how to lead and be well loved.
Again loved this!
So many great things about this book!
Best part easily enjoyed by a 13 yr old or an adult.
June 14, 2024
Wait for the character development
I’ll fully admit that I read about 10% of this book months ago, but Kaerius was just infuriatingly pompous and I just couldn’t handle it. I didn’t even get to the point where he made the deal to get legs!
But for some reason today I decided to revisit the story because I wanted to give it one last chance. I then proceeded to finish it in one sitting. I’m sure you could argue that the character growth was too sudden and large, but considering the source material and time constraints, it fit. The story also doesn’t fully go the way you expect, and the world building around it was enjoyable.
Who doesn’t love to see a deluded, full-of-himself jerk fall flat on his face? The added benefit was seeing one who picked himself up and learned something from it.
I’ll fully admit that I read about 10% of this book months ago, but Kaerius was just infuriatingly pompous and I just couldn’t handle it. I didn’t even get to the point where he made the deal to get legs!
But for some reason today I decided to revisit the story because I wanted to give it one last chance. I then proceeded to finish it in one sitting. I’m sure you could argue that the character growth was too sudden and large, but considering the source material and time constraints, it fit. The story also doesn’t fully go the way you expect, and the world building around it was enjoyable.
Who doesn’t love to see a deluded, full-of-himself jerk fall flat on his face? The added benefit was seeing one who picked himself up and learned something from it.
November 26, 2023
If I were to describe this book in two words, it would be "bittersweet joy." C.J. has once more harnessed her considerable talent to bring to life a series of radiant characters, beautiful friendships, and a story that fils me with joy and light.
I call it bittersweet, because it had to end. Unfortunately, all good and wondrous things (and stories) must. I wishe this one didn't have too though.
I was left giggling throughout the entire book, and as all ways, Brightley's vivd descriptions of sceneries, landscapes, and emotions captured my heart with stunning detail.
Thank you, C.J. Brightley, for gifting the world with your stories. Please never stop writing.
I call it bittersweet, because it had to end. Unfortunately, all good and wondrous things (and stories) must. I wishe this one didn't have too though.
I was left giggling throughout the entire book, and as all ways, Brightley's vivd descriptions of sceneries, landscapes, and emotions captured my heart with stunning detail.
Thank you, C.J. Brightley, for gifting the world with your stories. Please never stop writing.
November 25, 2023
Best Little Mermaid Re-Telling Ever!
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this book. I have never read anything by this author, but I will certainly be looking for her books from now on!
This book is part of the Once Upon a Prince series. Prince Kai goes from shallow and egotistical to one who appreciates friendship and love not for the sake of beauty but for who the person is. Oh, and that twist at the end. Did not see that coming! I highly recommend this book, especially if you love retellings of fairytales that are not predictable.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this book. I have never read anything by this author, but I will certainly be looking for her books from now on!
This book is part of the Once Upon a Prince series. Prince Kai goes from shallow and egotistical to one who appreciates friendship and love not for the sake of beauty but for who the person is. Oh, and that twist at the end. Did not see that coming! I highly recommend this book, especially if you love retellings of fairytales that are not predictable.
February 22, 2024
Interesting twist on the Little Mermaid
I wasn't sure I would like this book at the beginning, but Kaerius and Marin inched their way into my heart. Kaerius is very self assured and snarky, and it's interesting to see his arc as he learns to value the princess for more than her physical beauty. He very much falls first, and hard. I love her sweetness. I also like the exploration of his culture shock, it was very interesting. This definitely goes on my list of favorites for Little Mermaid retellings.
I wasn't sure I would like this book at the beginning, but Kaerius and Marin inched their way into my heart. Kaerius is very self assured and snarky, and it's interesting to see his arc as he learns to value the princess for more than her physical beauty. He very much falls first, and hard. I love her sweetness. I also like the exploration of his culture shock, it was very interesting. This definitely goes on my list of favorites for Little Mermaid retellings.
December 4, 2023
I didn't think I was going to like this at first, because the prince was just so arrogant! However, he had a ton of character growth and I quickly became a fan. I enjoyed how he could communicate through Mer sign language, even though humans didn't understand what he was saying most of the time.
Princess Marin was also great, sweet and kind yet strong and willing to do what is necessary for her people.
I'd love to see this continue and learn more about the countries and the Mer.
Princess Marin was also great, sweet and kind yet strong and willing to do what is necessary for her people.
I'd love to see this continue and learn more about the countries and the Mer.
May 18, 2024
This was just so much fun. If you're in need of a little mermaid retelling, I recommend this. I loved the gender swapped concept. We had great character growth from our pompous Mer prince so if you're turned off by his self-centeredness in the beginning, know that he learns and grows. The side characters are great, I loved Brighton. This is a very fast read and just a fun treat. I'm excited to look through the other retellings in this series.
November 25, 2023
I've always loved the little mermaid, and this retelling was an absolute delight.
Love this book so much, the character were so great, the growth Kaerius made, the romance and that end.
Can't recomend this book enough.
Love this book so much, the character were so great, the growth Kaerius made, the romance and that end.
Can't recomend this book enough.
November 21, 2023
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Silent Prince and am more than happy to write an honest review.
This is a delightful retelling of a favorite story, flipped to breathe fresh life into it, and very well done at that. CJ Brightley gives us a beautifully developed world full of characters that feel real, from the feared anti-hero, Lord of the Deep, to our hero and heroine to the unnamed guard at the palace. Where many versions of The Little Mermaid leave all but the main character a bit two dimensional, we are given a cast of characters that are well fleshed out and relateable.
Kaerius, from whose point of view we experience the story, is presented in such a way as to be immediately likable (even if at first it is a little begrudgingly... it is hard not to like him at least a little), even as he is an unintentional snob. I found him to be a combination of utterly humility-free, unapologetic self-assurance and more admirable qualities such as candor and devotion to friends, family, and his people. There is a bravery in his bravado, honesty in his vanity. And we are given a front row seat to watch the development of those qualities into what a true prince and true leader can and should be. Marin, as the next in the line of characters we learn to care for, has been developed beautifully in her own right. Where other versions often make the mermaid's prince a bit boring and mostly there to move the plot along so the mermaid can become human or die trying, we're given a princess who is kind and charming and considerate. She has been thrust into the toughest of situations, but is constant from start to finish in both character and behavior as our mer-prince becomes the man worthy of her. We cannot help rooting for her. Next to her is Brighton, who is immediately a lovable character, a man well suited to unintentionally guiding our prince on his journey. And on down the line, so that each person we encounter is easy to envision. Even the antagonists of the story are individuals who have not been left flat. They are immediately the characters you love to hate. I don't think there was a character presented to me that I didn't invest in at least a little in one way or another.
As for the plot, I found it engaging and eagerly continued reading to find out what happened next. None of it felt unlikely or rushed and the ending felt like a natural conclusion, while also leaving it open for the potential to hear more of our human princess and mer-prince. I didn't find any of the cliche-ness that retellings can be riddled with sometimes, which was refreshing, and there were no points where what I was reading felt like it was in there merely because the source material contained it. It was fun to watch Kaerius figure out he may have jumped in over his head as time and again he discovered being human wasn't the walk in the park he had expected and there were more than a few moments where I laughed out loud reading about the clash of "his normal" with "human normal."
I enjoyed how the transition from mer to human was presented and appreciated that Kaerius wasn't completely changed, as some versions of a Little Mermaid seem to imply. We see him struggle and watch as he has to figure out how to fit into a completely foreign world as a mostly foreign being in a way that not only allows him to survive, but to thrive long enough to reach his end goal. CJ Brightley has done a fantastic job pointing out what we take for granted that would be very odd to experience for the first time and the reactions of the humans as they watch this process, having no idea that Kaerius is just learning things and not simply a bit odd.
I could go on and on, so I'll conclude by saying that I cannot recommend this book enough!
This is a delightful retelling of a favorite story, flipped to breathe fresh life into it, and very well done at that. CJ Brightley gives us a beautifully developed world full of characters that feel real, from the feared anti-hero, Lord of the Deep, to our hero and heroine to the unnamed guard at the palace. Where many versions of The Little Mermaid leave all but the main character a bit two dimensional, we are given a cast of characters that are well fleshed out and relateable.
Kaerius, from whose point of view we experience the story, is presented in such a way as to be immediately likable (even if at first it is a little begrudgingly... it is hard not to like him at least a little), even as he is an unintentional snob. I found him to be a combination of utterly humility-free, unapologetic self-assurance and more admirable qualities such as candor and devotion to friends, family, and his people. There is a bravery in his bravado, honesty in his vanity. And we are given a front row seat to watch the development of those qualities into what a true prince and true leader can and should be. Marin, as the next in the line of characters we learn to care for, has been developed beautifully in her own right. Where other versions often make the mermaid's prince a bit boring and mostly there to move the plot along so the mermaid can become human or die trying, we're given a princess who is kind and charming and considerate. She has been thrust into the toughest of situations, but is constant from start to finish in both character and behavior as our mer-prince becomes the man worthy of her. We cannot help rooting for her. Next to her is Brighton, who is immediately a lovable character, a man well suited to unintentionally guiding our prince on his journey. And on down the line, so that each person we encounter is easy to envision. Even the antagonists of the story are individuals who have not been left flat. They are immediately the characters you love to hate. I don't think there was a character presented to me that I didn't invest in at least a little in one way or another.
As for the plot, I found it engaging and eagerly continued reading to find out what happened next. None of it felt unlikely or rushed and the ending felt like a natural conclusion, while also leaving it open for the potential to hear more of our human princess and mer-prince. I didn't find any of the cliche-ness that retellings can be riddled with sometimes, which was refreshing, and there were no points where what I was reading felt like it was in there merely because the source material contained it. It was fun to watch Kaerius figure out he may have jumped in over his head as time and again he discovered being human wasn't the walk in the park he had expected and there were more than a few moments where I laughed out loud reading about the clash of "his normal" with "human normal."
I enjoyed how the transition from mer to human was presented and appreciated that Kaerius wasn't completely changed, as some versions of a Little Mermaid seem to imply. We see him struggle and watch as he has to figure out how to fit into a completely foreign world as a mostly foreign being in a way that not only allows him to survive, but to thrive long enough to reach his end goal. CJ Brightley has done a fantastic job pointing out what we take for granted that would be very odd to experience for the first time and the reactions of the humans as they watch this process, having no idea that Kaerius is just learning things and not simply a bit odd.
I could go on and on, so I'll conclude by saying that I cannot recommend this book enough!
April 10, 2026
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: high mild. A few near-drownings; lungs burning, resuscitation, and pneumonia symptoms displayed. Minor blood depictions; smelling blood, blood pooling in water, blood soaking through clothing etc. Nothing graphic, just stated factually. Men get hit upside the head and concussed. Threats of war and violence toward countries and people living there. The most intense description of violence was someone saying a man's head had been crushed in the back and that he was dead.
Sexual: Mild. There is nudity throughout, both full body and top-half male nudity. This isn't sexualized though, it's just that the main character doesn't understand clothes and forgets it's not okay to not be covered up at times. It's not dwelt upon or described other than to say things like 'he shed his clothes' or people telling him to cover up. I can't recall how many times a character says he 'desires' the woman he's in love with. It never goes past that, but it seemed to me he meant physically. There are a lot of hand-kisses, kneeling and declarations of love. Like a lot of declarations of love. More than ten? A couple kisses that aren't described as more than 'passionate' 'gentle' and 'lingering'. A few hugs as well. Married couple kissing in parting/greeting etc.
A bit less than 4 stars, rounded up.
This has been on my to-read for years now. I've not read a gender-bend of The Little Mermaid. it was fun. Different in an entertaining way.
Kaerius (our little mer-man) is almost a caricature at first. He's arrogant to the extreme and thinks he's the world's gift to...well, everyone. He's a prince, he's the best warrior, the best singer, he's beautiful, and why wouldn't he do whatever he pleases and get whatever he wants? Why wouldn't the girl he saved from drowning not fall in love with him if given the chance?
I was smirking, waiting for his humbling to come. Because wow was he an arrogant brat. I kept picturing Tony Stark/Iron Man with his levels of confident brashness. It became sorta endearing the longer I read, though I do wish the characters had been a little more deep. Kaerius wasn't the only one to suffer from lack of layers.
Marin is really too overwhelmed with the political craziness of her country to get much of a character arc. She's kind, but savvy, and stressed beyond belief, as well as grieved at the choice she's being forced to make to save her country. Odious man number one, or evil man number two? Either way she's going to be miserable or worse.
Brighton was fantastic. I loved his character and how intelligent, loyal, and devoted to his friends/family he was. The way he befriends Kaerius is what helped Kaerius change. Marin did eventually, but Brighton's friendship opened him up and let him start the path to being a better person. Mer-person. whichever you like.
The thing that made me a bit confused was the timeline. The entire 'curse' aspect happened in (I think) a week-ish? Then why give 30 days? I was expecting it to be more drawn out with the deadline. It wasn't necessary, and made my reader brain stutter for a bit. It's a nit-picky thing, but it did throw me off unnecessarily.
Not gonna lie either, I love me a happy ending, but I surprised myself by wishing their had been more sacrifice in the end and that not all of it was wrapped up in a neat bow. It was fun, but had less impact for me since it all worked out magically. Oh well, it was still an enjoyable read.
Profanity: None.
Violence: high mild. A few near-drownings; lungs burning, resuscitation, and pneumonia symptoms displayed. Minor blood depictions; smelling blood, blood pooling in water, blood soaking through clothing etc. Nothing graphic, just stated factually. Men get hit upside the head and concussed. Threats of war and violence toward countries and people living there. The most intense description of violence was someone saying a man's head had been crushed in the back and that he was dead.
Sexual: Mild. There is nudity throughout, both full body and top-half male nudity. This isn't sexualized though, it's just that the main character doesn't understand clothes and forgets it's not okay to not be covered up at times. It's not dwelt upon or described other than to say things like 'he shed his clothes' or people telling him to cover up. I can't recall how many times a character says he 'desires' the woman he's in love with. It never goes past that, but it seemed to me he meant physically. There are a lot of hand-kisses, kneeling and declarations of love. Like a lot of declarations of love. More than ten? A couple kisses that aren't described as more than 'passionate' 'gentle' and 'lingering'. A few hugs as well. Married couple kissing in parting/greeting etc.
A bit less than 4 stars, rounded up.
This has been on my to-read for years now. I've not read a gender-bend of The Little Mermaid. it was fun. Different in an entertaining way.
Kaerius (our little mer-man) is almost a caricature at first. He's arrogant to the extreme and thinks he's the world's gift to...well, everyone. He's a prince, he's the best warrior, the best singer, he's beautiful, and why wouldn't he do whatever he pleases and get whatever he wants? Why wouldn't the girl he saved from drowning not fall in love with him if given the chance?
I was smirking, waiting for his humbling to come. Because wow was he an arrogant brat. I kept picturing Tony Stark/Iron Man with his levels of confident brashness. It became sorta endearing the longer I read, though I do wish the characters had been a little more deep. Kaerius wasn't the only one to suffer from lack of layers.
Marin is really too overwhelmed with the political craziness of her country to get much of a character arc. She's kind, but savvy, and stressed beyond belief, as well as grieved at the choice she's being forced to make to save her country. Odious man number one, or evil man number two? Either way she's going to be miserable or worse.
Brighton was fantastic. I loved his character and how intelligent, loyal, and devoted to his friends/family he was. The way he befriends Kaerius is what helped Kaerius change. Marin did eventually, but Brighton's friendship opened him up and let him start the path to being a better person. Mer-person. whichever you like.
The thing that made me a bit confused was the timeline. The entire 'curse' aspect happened in (I think) a week-ish? Then why give 30 days? I was expecting it to be more drawn out with the deadline. It wasn't necessary, and made my reader brain stutter for a bit. It's a nit-picky thing, but it did throw me off unnecessarily.
Not gonna lie either, I love me a happy ending, but I surprised myself by wishing their had been more sacrifice in the end and that not all of it was wrapped up in a neat bow. It was fun, but had less impact for me since it all worked out magically. Oh well, it was still an enjoyable read.
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