Sea’s Secret : A Little Mermaid Retelling

The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles #5

by Kayla Eshbaugh

Welcome to the ancient land of Terra, where curses run rampant throughout all the kingdoms and where the royalty desperately attempt to break their curses and claim their own happily-ever-afters.

Prince Dominick of Walden wants one thing: Freedom. Freedom from his Uncle’s vile pirate ship, the Crimson Blade, so that he can get the revenge he seeks. Focused on his goal, he plays the part of a wicked pirate, biding his time till he has the chance to finally escape. When he is tossed into the sea during a storm that tears apart the ship, he never expects to be rescued and stranded on a strange island, alone with his enchanting rescuer. But the more time he spends with this beautiful and odd maiden who saved his life, the more he wants to protect her from all of the horrors he has seen in the world.

Princess Meria wants to be a good daughter of Marren. With her betrothal soon becoming official, she knows she will make her people and father proud. But when the Marren lights that keep her underwater kingdom thriving continue to dim without an answer as to why, Meria discovers a secret, hidden from the merpeople for centuries that makes her question everything. When she sees a human sinking into the depths of the sea, and rescues him she has no idea it will change her world forever. He makes her feel things she never thought possible. Her soul tells her to stay with him, and for the first time in her life she listens.

Together, Meria and Dominick begin a journey across the Misted Seas, an area lost to humanity since before the Great War–a place where monsters and magic are prolific and no human has ever made it out alive. WIll they both find what they are looking for in these lost seas? And if they uncover the truths and answers they seek, will they discover that some secrets are better left in the depths?

This is a Little Mermaid Retelling and the fifth book in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, a series of clean, stand-alone but connected, fairytale retellings. If you enjoy clean romance, adventure, and witty banter, The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles is for you!

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, Retellings, Mermaids, Fairy Tales, Romance, Royalty

425 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2024

Reviews

[Fifi’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Every Kayla book just gets better and better. As the series goes on, each book really does just get better than the last and that is a hard thing to keep doing, but somehow she always tops her last! It just goes to show that Kayla is further honing her writing craft with which each book and that is admirable with how hard she works on these and on building this world. And in this one, the stakes are higher than ever (and the prince is hotter than ever too, just saying lol)

This book was different in tone than the others but in a good way. First off, this is the first book that consists of an epic journey and I loveeeee epic journeys in fairytales. I’m talking traversing across to the misted seas, filled with monsters and magic and no human has made it out alive. The stakes are higher than ever in this installment, as each character on the journey has a reason for risking their lives to journey across the misted seas, with Dominick looking for his missing sister, Meria looking for her banished mother, and Prince Peter (Dominick’s younger brother who shows up and tags along) looking for his love that was stolen by pixies. As always, the worldbuilding is fantastic. You learn even more about the other kingdoms of Terra which gives you hints of what future fairytale retellings will be and where (like Sorra being land of the Jinn. Big hint on a future installment that will take place on Sorra!) This also is almost a mashup with Peter Pan in a way, with elements of Peter Pan and its characters tied into this story.

Secondly, this by far had the best written romance of all the books so far. Easily by a mile. And that’s largely if not all due to the characterization Prince Dominick, who is unlike any of the other princes on Terra. Some of the things he says….it’s just so damn romantic. He’s rougher around the edges and most definitely is not the sweet boy next door type, like Ronin or Prince Liam, where what you see is what you get. Readers who gravitate towards darker romance, hot morally gray mcs, or like Captain Hook from OUAT will really like this prince 😉 I’ve never really been into darker heroines, but after reading about Prince Dominick, I kinda *get it* now. There’s just something about the morally gray possessiveness that’s attractive, if done right. And in this case, it was done right, as Dominick isn’t an *actual* evil character like in some of the dark romance novels that take it too far with making the mc so evil that he’s unlikeable. I personally didn’t really take to Meria as a character because I couldn’t relate to her (which is fine, you don’t have to relate to every character you read about) and while I did prefer the other Terran princesses over Meria, that didn’t take away from the romance or how I felt about the two of them together. Dominick truly is the shining star of this book and is what makes it a standout, with him being such a multifaceted character.

Alongside the best written romance by far, great world building, and a super cool mermaid magic system, there are once again cameos from the best character of every book, aka Teddy. His scenes alone make this, and every book, worth the read. I would read a whole series about Teddy alone. But I think the ones who will really gravitate towards this book are frequent romance readers, as the romance in this was honestly better written than all the popular romances that are viral on tiktok (which I’ve tried a couple of those cuz of fomo but have never been impressed by any of them). And as always, this book sets the stage for future books, with the fates of well loved characters mentioned but still unknown. An easy 5/5 stars!

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

The Little Mermaid Retelling, this should be fun! Also, this will be the fifth book in 'The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles'. And given by how book 4 in this series ended, I'm certain Stephan (Briar's younger brother from the previous book) will also play a big role in this book.

[Tracey C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kayla has done it again! This is the 5th installment in the Cursed Kingdom Chronicles telling the story of the wicked pirate prince Dominick and a meek mermaid named Meria. The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles is a series of clean and wholesome fairy tale retellings so if you haven’t read those already you should read those first, it will make some characters in this book easier to follow. If you’re a fan of Melanie Cellier then you’re going to love this series also. Sea’s Secret follows the story of “The Cruel Hand” Prince Dominick who is cursed with the ability to cause pain but also take it away; the catch if he takes pain away is he takes it upon himself tenfold. Meria is a mermaid princess who has been told to “silently obey” but when the lights begin to dim in the undersea Kingdom of Marren she knows she must find a solution. This story is a must read as Dominick & Meria journey through the Misted Sea in order to help each other find the solution to solve their problems. But the question remains, will they have to sacrifice their dreams in order to do it? Read it to find out if true love really does conquer all!!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how many times I read the prologue, I get so excited to return to Terra in a new installment in the Cursed Kingdom Chronicles! I know say this about every Kayla Eshbaugh book, but this one is my favorite. It was so good! I could not put this story down and read it in one day! The plot was captivating and drew me in from the beginning. One of the best little mermaid retellings I have ever read! Kayla has a way of drawing you in each story. She captured every emotion wonderfully. I loved Meria and Dominick! Meria was full of light and balanced out Dominick’s darkness perfectly. So many swoony moments between those two! Their banter was the best! The romance was closed door and never went past kissing. Meria was a relatable character. She is kind and compassionate. A bit naive in the beginning. However, she grew so much in trusting herself and her instincts. I love how in each book we get a wide range of different heroines. Each strong in their own unique way. Oh Dominick, my heart broke for him. He endured so much in his life. I really loved his character growth! He went from self loathing to seeing he was more than his curse. This book eluded to a few different future stories and I have so many new theories. Sea’s Secret was fantastic and I cannot wait to read the next one!

This book is perfect for those who love clean/ closed romances with the tropes:
Morally gray hero
High sea adventure
Grumpy sunshine
Touch her and die
She is mine
He falls hard

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. And I feel awful, but I do need to be honest: if I hadn't committed to reviewing this, I would have DNF'd at about 23%.

This book is so rough. I don't even know where to begin. I don't think I can do my regular like/dislike categories because I have way too much to say.

THE POSITIVES
Dominick's curse was interesting in theory, and I liked the black veins he had. Sands was amusing from time to time. That's unfortunately all I have to say for what I enjoyed.

THE CHARACTERS
•Meria was not interesting in the slightest. Her submissiveness and wanting to break free from her father's control but being unable to are not enough traits to make her a character I want to follow and root for. She was nice and extremely naive, but she doesn't really change all that much; her goals are still the same at the end of the story. I'm having trouble coming up with more to write about her because she was so bare bones.
•Dominick was just wildly inconsistent and unlikable the entire way through. I realize he has trauma he hasn't dealt with properly, but his personality was on a sliding scale of moderately tolerable to raging jerk with no filter. He claims he wants to break away from Veeto to do his own thing and not have to harm people anymore, yet he's constantly resorting to violence and threatening to cause pain any time he gets upset. Half the time his anger is seen as amusing...why, I can't begin to comprehend when he's supposedly this formidable force that no one wants to deal with. And he thought he could disguise himself by just going by Nick…which is short for his actually name. Is he for real? Did he really think that was a good idea?
•Sands, Peter, and Finn were all way too similar in personality. Maybe it's due to them getting hardly any development, maybe its because the writing made everyone sound the same (more on that later), but they fell flat rather quickly once it was clear what their roles were: side characters only there to ship the two main characters together and crack jokes constantly.
•I was surprised Veeto disappeared 1/4 of the way through. He wasn't very original in his villainy, but Dominick having a final showdown with him would have been interesting, like maybe they have a sword fight and Dominick chooses to walk away, showing Veeto that emotions and kindness aren't the weakness he thinks they are. I don't know, he just got off way too lightly for all the lying and gaslighting and abuse he inflicted over the years.

THE ANCIENTS
I still don't understand why these guys even exist. They don't do much outside of show up and vaguely exposit to the main characters before disappearing, and they feel unneeded as a result. I know they're an overarching force in all the books, but they either need their own book or they need more time to be developed, because as is their appearances don't add a lot and derail from what's going on. They always have this weird forced comedy bit as well, and it’s not very funny, just kind of cringe.

THE STORY
•Was this even a Little Mermaid retelling? Retellings indicate that core elements from an existing story show up, but the only thing that made this vaguely Little Mermaid inspired was Meria saving Dominick from a sinking ship during a storm. There was no sea witch, no time crunch to make the prince fall in love, no other woman/Vanessa subplot...it was its own thing. And that's not necessarily bad, I just think it's a little dishonest to consider this a retelling when it's more loosely inspired by the original fairy tale.
•The conflicts were easily resolved, making the stakes nonexistent. The giant octopus was taken care of almost instantly, the sirens and shark attacks lasted only a few pages each, and Veeto didn't show up after the shipwreck early on. The story focused more on Meria and Dominick falling in love...if I can even call it that? They had the same two conversations over and over again, and honestly I think the book could have benefited from cutting some of that out and being shorter, because that was what the majority of it was, and it was difficult to focus when it felt like going around in circles. And the ending? One of the Ancients shows up to reprimand Meria's father, and then her mother shows up to become Queen after being banished. Where did she come from? How did she get here? Why did everyone finally listen to Finn, who insisted everyone go to Marren Island? It's all wrapped up much too quickly. And the same thing happens with Dominick and his family: Veeto was brainwashing him the entire time, and his mother never hated him, but one conversation and suddenly all those complex feelings are gone. And that sister he was looking for? Oh, she's fine. The Ancients are looking after her, don’t worry. Why on earth is Dominick’s mother not worried about her daughter? Why doesn't he fight harder to find his sister? It just makes no sense to me.

THE WRITING
•I understand this is an uncorrected proof, but I did a word search on my Kindle out of curiosity to see how frequently "soft" or "softly" was used due to it showing up so much. 176 times - 136 for softly, 40 for soft. The characters are constantly saying things softly or smiling softly and it's just...can't they do something other than that? Is there no other way to write them doing those things? The repetitiveness sticks out after a while.
•All the characters spoke the same. No nuances, no little vocal tics or mannerisms, everyone sounded the exact same the entire way through. I would look away for a few minutes or get up to do something and come back and forget who was narrating, and it would take me a second before I remembered which POV (Meria's or Dominick's) I was reading. I think this is why it was difficult for me to like any of the characters, as well. It's hard to really like anyone when there's hardly any distinction outside of physical appearance.
•The exposition dumping was heavier than I was expecting. I'm cool with the prologue being there, since that's always been at the start of these books and it's necessary, but the way the story would just grind to a halt to explain things was jarring. The siren attack, for example, gets put on hold for a couple of pages so Meria can talk about how they came to be and why they're so terrifying. That's all well and good, but it's internal narration and it's solely for the reader's benefit; it's not integrated naturally, and again, it's right in the middle of an action scene, so the pacing gets thrown off. I know exposition dumping is nearly unavoidable in any fantasy book, but have it be a conversation or an excerpt from a book in-universe or something.
•There were moments where context clues would have been enough to tell me what a character was feeling, but then the very next sentence said it point blank. Someone's crying, and I'm told they're sad. Dominick likes spending time with Meria, and I'm told he likes her a lot. The unnecessary clarification is extra padding that doesn't need to be there. Let the characters' actions speak for themselves.
•Meria and Dominick are way. Too. Dense. That's the kindest way I can put it. The two of them dance around their feelings for each other and other happenings, such as Dominick's curse not affecting Meria due to her mermaid magic. They spend way too much time pondering what things mean when they're pretty obvious. "Hmmm, Meria told me she has healing magic, and she doesn't get hurt when I touch her...what could that mean? I'm not sure." "Dominick just told me he cares about me...what does he mean by that? I don't think I can believe he loves me unless he spells it out for me." Over. And over. AND OVER. The entire way through. Like I said before, the story would have been much shorter (and less irritating) if these two could understand context clues and used their brains and critical thinking.
•Going off of that, I felt like I was going mad the longer I read. This story is incredibly repetitive, so sitting there reading about two people having the same conversations (which is lampshaded at one point, even!) and having the same internal monologues and the same thoughts without any kind of resolution is the definition of insanity. Dominick feeling like he's undeserving of happiness and Meria being uncertain about standing up for herself are two major roadblocks, but the thing is, these things are TOLD to me. They're rarely SHOWN to be obstacles, because the characters say them point blank. And then proceed to do nothing about them until the next time it's relevant. The pacing goes at a snail's pace and drags on far longer than it should because of this, making it a chore to get through the entire book.
•Again, going off of that, the jealousy subplot with Dominick thinking Finn is Meria's betrothed was so unnecessary. It could have been easily cleared up - "Hey, he's my cousin, calm down, asshole" - but no. Dominick had to be drunk and threaten violence, and Meria and Finn just stood there thinking it was funny. Yeah, super hilarious how the dude cursed with causing pain and who's shown he's emotionally unstable is saying he'll kill you while getting drunk because his feelings are hurt.
•And again, going off of that, Dominick constantly acting drunk? Why? Is that a standard thing for pirates? That was inconsistent at best, because he doesn't do it all that often and it sounds like he's not very good at it to begin with.
•Speaking of inconsistency, there's a lot of that in this book.
-Meria has only heard of pixies and thinks they're "horrid", but then on Pixie Isle is somehow knowledgeable about them and knows they won't hurt Peter.
-Peter and his crew are going to the Misted Seas, which are only passable with a magical creature. Before Meria and Dominick hijack their way onboard, there isn't a magical creature with them...I guess Sands could technically count, but he specifically keeps his identity a secret. So what the hell were Peter and his crew expecting to do when they got there? Sweet talk their way through sirens and sea serpents?
-I brought it up before, but Dominick not wanting to be evil anymore yet forgetting all about that for the majority of the book because he's straight from the Tortured Poets Department...or whatever his excuse was.
-Meria knows what a hot poker is...but she didn't know what fire was when she first got her legs.
-Meria being grossed out by fresh water at the end of the book...when she drank fresh water when she was on Marren Island with Dominick.
-Someone doing an action (i.e. standing up or sitting down) when they did that action two sentences prior.
Little things like this add up after a while. It takes me out of the story and it makes the entire thing a lot weaker.
•The comma placements were so strange. And the phrase "Perhaps,..." showed up at least 60 times (yes I looked). These two things made sentences stilted and awkward with pauses that did not need to be present. And I'd chalk that up to this being an ARC, but I've read two other books in this series, and these issues show up there, as well.
•"smirky pirate smile"...I don't even know what to say.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I truly feel bad for not liking this book, but committing to an honest review means being forthright with my thoughts. And I really did not enjoy my time reading this book. It needs so much more editing to make it stronger - not just with grammar and sentence structure, but with the plot in general and overall tone and pacing. As is, it's incredibly hard to get through and I can't say I recommend it.

[Terry Juell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!

While I wasn’t too familiar with the MMC even though he was in the previous books in the series I did grow to understand him, where his actions and feelings were coming from and why he thought he was an awful person, pirate. His story is very tragic and down right sad and I couldn’t have asked for a better end of the story.

I just LOVED Meria she is just so cute and innocent right from page one. I was so afraid she was going to loose her beautiful personality but, well, you’ll have to read it! I hope I get to see her in upcoming books even if it’s a little. She is such a bright and positive character and she just put a smile on my face.

Most of the side characters were likable apart from the villain. Sands, best friend of Dominick, is a verrrryy interesting individual I hope we will see more of his story at some point.

I really liked how the book is all about the love story, it was definitely swoon worthy with just the right amount of tension between both main characters. I do love how Dominick was an all “touch her and d*e” kind of pirate! I also love how they had a little cheering squad it was funny!

If you want a cozy and adventurous read this is the one even though there are pirates involved. The only thing I would have liked to see was some kind of closure with one particular character. You’ll have to read it to figure out why and who I mean.

Love this book so much! I hope you do too!

I was blessed with an ARC in exchange for an honest review and these are my thoughts on this book.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Meria & Dominick’s points of view

– it is mentioned that a character blames themself for the death of their father

– it is mentioned that a character can distribute pain to others (a relative forces them to use the ability to torture people)

– a character is told constantly to be silent & not question things by a relative & someone else they have a relationship with (to the point that this character is constantly saying sorry for things that most people shouldn’t have to feel they need to say sorry for)

Review:

I loved this Little Mermaid retelling! I loved that it was a bit different in not having the mermaid be literally mute, but instead forced to be quiet. I loved that it provided a way for Dominick to build Meria up to stand up for herself and her desires. I loved that Dominick tried to constantly protect Meria and wasn’t a fan of her having to go into danger. I really enjoyed Dominick’s friend Sands & his fun-loving self. He provided some great comedic relief and I loved that he was able to tease Dominick about his feelings! I loved that Meria was ignorant of human customs/body language and that it concerned Dominick a few times throughout the story. I loved that Meria had such a kind & loving heart for just about anyone she came across. And I loved the friendship between her and her cousin, they were fun together and I loved that she had someone she could truly confide in when she had been living under the sea.

I hope that we get to know more about what happened when a side character – Peter – went on the island to find his friend in either future books or in his own story!

Summary:

Meria has only known a life under the sea where the merpeople hide beneath the waves until the Ancients return and let them know life is safe above the surface once more. But a gift given to sustain life beneath the water is starting to diminish and cause the mer to get sick. When Meria discovers a secret that could save them all and is told to be silent on such a forbidden thing, she finds herself going above the water on her own. But on the way there, she saves a human from drowning and finds out that humans might not be anything like she’d been led to believe…

Dominick was born a prince, but has been living the life of a pirate since he was young. And he hates it. Feeling trapped to his uncle’s ship, the Crimson Blade, all Dominick wants to be free to pursue his own revenge on those who wronged him. But until then, he plays the part of a wicked pirate and bides his time. When it comes unexpectedly in a storm, Dominick doesn’t hesitate to sever ties but almost drowns beneath the churning waves if it weren’t for his rescuer. Though Meria is odd, Dominick finds himself shedding the dreaded pirate he’s pretended to be in favor of someone who cares and protects. And when he discovers her heritage, they both make a plan to work together in their goals. If only it wouldn’t mean donning the wicked pirate once again…

[DJWman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sea’s Secret" by Kayla Eshbaugh is a captivating addition to *The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles*, seamlessly blending the familiar tale of *The Little Mermaid* with fresh twists, engaging characters, and a richly developed world. As the fifth installment in the series, it offers a more epic and adventurous tone, setting it apart from the previous books while maintaining the charm and clean romance that fans have come to love.

The story introduces us to Meria, a mermaid princess determined to uncover the truth about her kind and save her undersea kingdom. Alongside her is the cursed pirate prince, Dominick, whose quest to find his stolen sister intertwines fatefully with Meria's journey. Eshbaugh’s portrayal of Dominick’s curse—his ability to cause and take away pain at the cost of bearing it himself—adds depth to his character and creates intriguing stakes that keep the reader hooked.

One of the highlights of this book is its world-building. Eshbaugh expands on the land of Terra, introducing readers to new kingdoms and creatures, hinting at future stories in the series. The journey across the misted seas, fraught with danger and magic, is particularly thrilling, adding a layer of high-stakes adventure that enhances the narrative.

The dual perspectives of Dominick and Meria are well-executed, allowing readers to connect deeply with both protagonists as they grow and evolve throughout the story. Their romance is sweet and clean, filled with tender moments that build naturally as they face challenges together. The addition of a double epilogue is a delightful touch, offering a satisfying glimpse into their future and leaving readers with a sense of closure and hope.

"Sea’s Secret" also subtly weaves in elements from *Peter Pan*, adding another layer of intrigue and nostalgia for fans of classic fairy tales. The cameo appearances by beloved characters from previous books, particularly Teddy, add continuity and charm to the overall series.

In summary, "Sea’s Secret" is a fast-paced, action-packed, and non-traditional retelling of *The Little Mermaid*. With its masterful world-building, complex characters, and heartfelt messages of forgiveness and self-discovery, it’s a must-read for fans of clean fairy tale retellings. Kayla Eshbaugh has once again delivered a story that is both enchanting and satisfying, leaving readers eager for the next adventure in Terra.

[Blanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventurous and a Marvelous Romantic Tale

In this book 5, the reader is taken to an advesture with pirates, princes, mermaids, fairies, seaworld creatures and a curse. But most importantly, the story develops to heal the emotional wounds of the characters and the romance in this book is deep and passionate. I recommend this one to eveyone wanting a retelling of a story taking place near the ocean and a beautifull romantic connection between the protagonists.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
Kayla has done it again! This whole series is amazing! Meria and Dominick have the BEST chemistry, and I love these characters! Great adventures and epic love. One of the best "Little Mermaid" retellings I've ever read!

[Lorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I absolutely loved this retelling of A Little Mermaid! I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this really wonderful series!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay… so this little mermaid retelling was absolutely amazing! I loved that the MMC Dominick treated the MFC Meria with respect and taught her how to stand up for herself. He also protected her from a distance, until a certain someone started to get a little handsy then Dominick intervened like a true hero. The character development was top-notch, and the plot was phenomenal! Y’all that ending was executed flawlessly and is one of my all time favorites!

[Jenessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love fairytale retellings and opposites attract. This book had that. This was a Little Mermaid retelling but with its own twists. This is a really unique book and I definitely recommend. I love when the girl is reserved and innocent but throughout the hardships she learns to stand up for herself without loosing her innocent personality. Also her dream to be a mother touched my heart! I liked watching Dominic protect her and teach her to stand for herself. That ending was the absolute sweetest!!

I received an eARC from the author, all opinions are my own.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm read and enjoyed all of the rest of this series and this one feels like it's written by a different author. The conversations are stilted, the dialogue is unrealistic, the characters are shallow, and the plot just wanders. I was not impressed.

[Furiousness · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEA, fantastical adventures across the ocean. I just rewatched all of the pirates of the Caribbean so this kept that ship sailing (excuse the pun ;) I love me a mermaid retelling.

Surprise twists -it was fun to see blips of neverland lore and captain hook haha. I thoroughly enjoyed the pirating scene hehe. The setting is always fun, adventurous and exciting! Just what i needed :3

This retailing of the little mermaid was a delight to read. I can definitely see myeelf rereading this!

Also couldn’t help but see so much Christian symbolism . It finally clicked that the Creator, is pretty much another name for God, and the ancients are angels, perhaps Draken is Lucifer, a fallen angel, and the traitor king was the original sinner, idk. I don’t mind, just my observation. Perhaps I’m reading into things!

Also you can always trust Ms Eshbaugh to create two characters who fit each other and bring out the best in each other. So nice to see they belong with each other :,) like the fact that they (SPOILERS)












both essentially were searching for their mothers, abused by somewhat father figures/or older men and were in need of healing and essentially HEALED EACH OTHER. Not to mention they both have this ability!

Can they use this ability on others?
Yep!
Can they use it on themself?
Nope.

A little on the nose but i appreciate it anyway. The black hands and veins is a refreshing original feature, and so is the ability to take away and give pain. brilliant!
also the author always delivers on making the two main characters real and layered with clear motivations.

I am sorry to say i cant say the same for the
antagonists tho.. they seem a bit one dimensional at times. Even the Traitor king at this point.
Ive read all the book thus far in order and i want to hear his story. Teddy’s story. DRAKENS STORY. There were hints of something of pairing him up with someone in the previous book!!! If there are plans/its in the works YAYYY. I guess i root for the underdog and the antihero at times.


I loved seeing Meria finding her confidence, her voice and learning to trust herself. Especially after what was essentially gaslighting and abuse from her father! talk about bad fathers! Even the ending! Ugh i suppose i wished there was a more satisfying ending where he didnt just ‘realise his sins and now repents for his sins’ you know, which is good, but, i just felt i wanted more. I guess an ending like Cinderella live action Disney film kind of ending, where Ella says ‘ i forgive you.’ To her stepmother at the end. I would have loved to see more emotional depth? Anyhow, Im so glad she had Finn in her life :’)

Amazing for Dominick for being such a green flag for supporting Meria’s growth and helping her find her voice!!

Love the parallels made to the original stories. Losing her voice, the symbolism, finding her voice!!!! she never lost her physical voice, but it was her free will and true freedom of self that ‘lost’ the BEFORE she went on land. !! * slow claps *

Lovely to see blips of teddy and ora. But WHAT ORA AND Draken are SIBLINGS????

[Tee-Hee Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:

It took me a minute to get into this one, as I’ve had so much going on lately. Distractions and busyness has made reading more challenging, but once I used the Alexa app to make this one an “audio”book, I found myself getting into the storyline much quicker!😌

I loved Meria’s character as I related to her in many ways. It’s not often we see our female lead have gentler, traditional, shy-feminine ways & value family when young. I love strong FMC too—but it’s refreshing to see one whose greatest wish is to be a mother & to be loved.🥹💕

Meria’s genuine but sometimes naive character leads to timidity & constant apologizing.🥺

Most characters we love are built up to impossible standards. I love how Kayla shows us her leads aren’t perfect, & even the most admired, favorite characters have flaws too.💯

Like Dominic, our morally gray, male lead. A pirate convinced he’s horrible + cruel, but has a kind heart and is selflessness, and noble in many ways…

🌊When the two crash together, two worlds become one. LITERALLY. 🏴‍☠️⛵️

A mermaid who has only lived in the sea, finds herself (correct of her suspicions) and now on land, and the pirate captain appears…but alone.

To avoid being spoilery, or overly so, I’ll keep the rest vague…😅

Kayla continues this dual POV tale filled with so many components of great stories, yet makes each piece of her intricately woven puzzle fit together. She hits us with: humor, witty banter, relatable characters, a swoony pirate who’s not as morally gray as he believes (but with all the dashing charms of one), heartfelt sentiment, the emphasis of hurt + trauma (and the affect it has on us as we grow), physical vs emotional pain, drama, the…KRAKEN???! (I personally believe so! 🦑), and romantically written, chemistry-filled kisses while still remaining a clean romance all ages can enjoy! And quite a bit of adventure, family drama, and some elements we hadn’t quite seen Kayla write before…sirens and sea serpents (so some high stakes/ high stakes energy, too)!

And this one lets us in on some *other* older, magical characters/ beings…gasp😱
I won’t spoil, but this story probably features Ora, Teddy, and Draken the least of all! EXCITED YET? You need to read this new release and find out!!

OH MY GOODNESS YOU GUYS!!! And THE ENDING?! Again—READ!!


I can only explain Kayla’s most recent release as what ensues as a brilliantly written and fully executed individual storyline, and continuation of overarching plots with hints to thrill us of what fairytales may be yet to come…

I’ll definitely be reading on!😉

Overall Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 (5/5) Stars

[Lucía Blackthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

👉🏼 English Review

*Note: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Okay here we go. I’m writing this review at 12:38 am after reading Sea’s Secret nonstop, and saying that it isn’t what I expected is a BIG understatement.

Do you remember how you felt watching Pirates of the Caribbean and Tangled? (Yes, I’m talking about Will and Flynn) Well this little mermaid retelling has those vibes. Throw in a little of Peter Pan (2003) and you have this book/fairytale retelling perfection.
I’m amazed by Kayla’s talent and imagination.

We have a roguish pirate prince and a shy mermaid, with somewhat of a very uncommon trope between them. Not enemies to lovers, not friends to lovers, no arranged marriage (per se). What is this?
WHAT IS THIS?
This is UNIQUE….with black cat/golden retriever, touch her and die, or opposites attract vibes.
I HAVE TO SAY IT: the ship is hot hot HOT. 🥵
Before Sea’s Secret, I hadn’t read yet a non-spice book with scenes this steamy!!!
The morally gray and dark tinges to the world building paid off. Dominick is a mix of Captain Hook from OUAT, Flynn Rider and Will Turner I’m telling you. You will SWOON. He might be my fav Terra prince! 🤴

The balance between the personal conflicts of the characters, their morally gray decisions, their own desires, goals, virtues and flaws just give the story a whole different dimension. The way they manage their feelings might make you uncomfortable for being submissive (Meria) 🧜‍♀️ or not comfy with being in contact with their feelings (Dominick) 🏴‍☠️ , but here is where your own reader judgment comes in. Will you judge them and stop reading or will you want to see what happens? There’s no wrong or right answer, It’s entirely up to you.

That being said, you should expect some plot/character/wording inconsistencies and sudden rushed plot twists. This has happened before in Willow of the Harvest Moon, where the conflict got solved too quickly, and the stakes didn’t feel as high as other Terra retellings. If you don’t mind that in your wholesome fairytale retellings, come join me fangirling over Dominick. If you do, well you can always give Sea’s Secret a chance and have a good sea-adventure time.

Beware: Peter Pan appears in 50% of the book. And here is where I had some trouble keeping up with the hype. Then I remembered this book had a sea adventure forecast and all got back on track.
This little mermaid retelling doesn’t follow the usual pattern of the original story and that works just fine for me. Some tweaks are needed here and there so the reader can keep up with the story and not get confused in the process as the new characters are being introduced. Juggling cameos in a series is no joke, so I get that was a challenge that will hopefully improve in upcoming retellings so it doesn’t come in conflict with the pacing. I have faith that Kayla’s writing will come back again with more surprises.

It is amazing how these stories are part of a series and all of them are completely different and have Kayla’s signature all over them at the same time. Here’s my top 5 favorite Cursed Kingdom Chronicles books so far:

Glass Midnight 🥿
Spindled Slumber 🛌 STEPHAN WHERE ARE YOU?! 😭💀
Sea’s Secret 🌊🥵
A Crowned Hope (broke my heart) OLIVER 🥺!! 💸
Willow of the Harvest Moon 🦆

Looking forward to having my mind blown again, I can’t wait for Moonlit Wings! 🦢

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

👉🏼Reseña en Español: próximamente (coming soon)

[Magdalena 'Madzia' Metzger · Rating 5 out of 5]

🫧Sea's Secret by Kayla Eshbaugh is the 5th book in her Cursed Kingdom Chronicles Series & it's by far my favorite! Sea's Secret is set apart from the rest of her books by the somber voice this one is written in. The tone is much deeper & darker than the others, dealing with themes such as emotional abuse, inner turmoil and redemption arcs that come shining through after painful trials & tribulations.

🫧In this book we return to the land of Terra, expanding upon the world she's built & layered upon in each book. This epic adventure is complete with Pirates, Mermaids, Sea Monsters & plenty of Swoony Romance! I love the way she's further detailed Terra in this story & can't wait to return in her next book, which she always leaves room for in her Happily Ever After's.

🫧Meria is such a sweet, timid & caring soul! She never loses her physical voice but struggles with letting her voice be heard, living with deep seated shame, insecurity & low self esteem. Desperate for approval, she keeps her heart's desires hidden, afraid of disappointing her family. Meria is very relatable for anyone struggling with people-pleasing!

🫧Kayla's knack for writing swoony mmc's who sweep you off your feet has been perfected in Sea's Secret where we meet Dominick, the Roguish Prince turned Pirate with a deadly touch. His curse is a double edged sword, having the ability to inflict pain on others through his touch, or heal others by taking their pain tenfold onto himself. Dominick is truly a tortured soul with a heart of gold, for all his toughened exterior and gruff mannerisms. I love how protective of Meria he is.. Dominick definitely brings all the "Touch Her & Die Vibes"! He also shows her how to find her voice and stand up for herself. My heart really went out to him, and even though he's more morally grey than Kayla's previous mmc's, he is probably my favorite prince in her series so far, because I love a good redemption arc!

🫧 Thank you @kaylaeshbaughwrites for the honor of reading this as an ARC, I looked forward to it all summer & it completely stole my heart! I loved Meria & Dominick's story & would highly recommend it to anyone who loves YA fairytale retellings!
🫧✨🫧✨🫧
I loved this retelling so much that I bought a physical copy for my shelf of Favorites!!

[Rosalyn Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sea's Secret was amazing! It is honestly the best book that Kayla Eshbaugh has written so far. I loved the plot of the story. It was really original and totally different from any other Little Mermaid retelling. Dominick is definitely my favourite character. I actually really liked the curse that Kayla gave to him; it really helped shape him into the man he is in the story. I really felt for him and was so sad that he had lived his whole life believing a lie. I loved the way he was able to change his persona and act the part of a drunk pirate or a prince whenever he liked. I am curious about the Grimm (I honestly didn't believe it when it was revealed who he was) and I NEED his story. I wonder what retelling he will be in. Meria was also such a great character. I read many of the comments and saw that most people didn't really connect with her, but I think that she was amazing. She was so sweet and innocent about human ways. Her desire for her future was also really simple and I love that simplistic aspect of her, even if the rest of her is complex and she had a lot of character development. I enjoyed seeing her learn how to stand up for herself and I love how incredibly patient Dominick was with her. I also really enjoyed how protective Dominick was of her and how jealous he got when other men were around her (especially since they were on a ship full of men). I'm really sad about the sacrifice that she made at the end but I think that it was so sweet. I also love how Dominick didn't let Captain Veeto's lies and teachings turn him into a cruel and uncaring person and, although he did so many bad things, he made the best out of it and made sure that he didn't do it cruelly or take any satisfaction in it. I also really enjoyed learning that there are Jinn and Pixies on Terra and I can't wait to read Peter and Sand's stories. I am also curious about Dominick's sister, Layla's, story. I wonder if she'll be Rapunzel? Anyway, this book was so amazing. It was very adventurous, dangerous and exciting with a lot of humour in it and I really like the way it set up the series for future sequels.

[Morgan Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH, MY GOODNESS!!!

I loved this book so much! "Sea's Secret" was my first Kayla Eshbaugh read, and I will definitely be coming back again for all her new releases! Personally, I adore fairytale retellings, so I was super excited to hear of a "little mermaid" one from a clean, independent author. I was not disappointed in this story!

Meria was a relatable character on so many levels, and I feel like her weakness of submissiveness is one that is not written about often enough. We usually in literature either see overly strong and competent heroines, or shrinking-violet-type damsels in distress who cannot think for themselves. Meria was such a great change from these stereotypes, because she did start out as a meek and quiet girl, but one who found her voice without being overbearing about it, as so many characters can become. One more thing I'd like to point out that I admired about Meria was the way she valued family. I don't know that I have ever run into another FMC in literature whose heart's desire was to be a mother, and I absolutely loved and respected her for this.

I also loved the character of Dominick. Even though he was morally grey, it was so easy to see the spark of light inside of him, and to see him fighting his growing feelings for "his mermaid" (side note, I melted every time he said that!!). Everything he did that he thought made him "bad" was just another proof of how his life was spent being controlled yet wanting to protect and save others. One other thing I absolutely adored about Dominick was his protective nature over those he loved, especially Meria!

I won't give away too much about the plot, but I laughed out loud, swooned, and read as fast as I could, wanting the ending! While the beginning may seem a bit slow to some readers, the story picks up the pace and doesn't let the reader go for the remainder of the book! And the ending is just *chef's kiss*!

Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially if you're like me and love fairytale retellings! Happy reading!

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Meria and Dominick! 😍
I also really loved Meria's relationship with her cousin Finn 🥰 He was her person. The one she could confide in and trust and he had her back 100%, even against the mer her father had chosen for her 🤭
Meria is taught to be silently obedient her entire life but the love for her people finally pushes her to get away and find a solution. But that ingrained trait doesn't just disappear, so she is very naive and submissive. That being said, luckily for her Dominick did not wish to control her. He really wanted her to push back for what she wanted and to voice out her own opinions!
Yes, he was a bit much when he was angry and overreacted, but he was changing for her 🫠
Dominick was also emotionally abused so that they could use his power to cause pain.
I didn't like the miscommunication and how Dominick strung her along for so long, but neither thought it was the time or place and their relationship slowly grew as they continued to get to know each other while their loved ones encouraged them to admit their feelings 🤭
The side characters were GOLDEN 😍🤩
Sands, Peter, Finn, etc. They were so funny and full of mischief. Loved them ❤️
You know, not comparing them exactly for they are VASTLY different stories but this story felt like a mix of City of Ember, Slade from Plated Prisoner, Ever King, The Little Mermaid, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. What with the doomed city, the black veins, the sea adventure and morally grey hero and mermaids, obviously haha
But all turned into a sweet cozy love story 😊
The ending also just made me happy 😍, which is what I personally look for in what I read. I loved losing myself into the world of Terra again 🤩
Can't wait to read the next one!!! I can't recommend this series enough!

[Annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me by the author as an ARC. That being said, the following review is written of my own opinions and thoughts.

Returning to Terra and Kayla Eshbaugh’s work is like going home…well as home as once can be while reading on an iPad. Sea’s Secret ticks every box on this list of things I’ve come to expect in an Eshbaugh novel! Chock-full of wonderful writing and a well-executed plot, Eshbaugh does not disappoint in this Little Mermaid retelling.

Oh Dominick…dear, sweet Dominick…he deserves every happiness. For a man who had every reason to succumb to the darkness life had given him he didn’t and I could not feel prouder of him. From getting [redacted] by [redacted] to having a curse and being forced to use it to [redacted] to being told things about [redacted] and so much more, a weaker man would have crumbled but not Dominick.

I must say though, that while I was utterly obsessed with Nick, Meria and I did not mesh as well. As a character, I respect her and her ambitions even if they do not necessarily align with my own because of how she is. She is good, and kind, and gentle and so many more things I aspire to be on a daily basis that she has my utmost respect and I think she pairs beautifully with Dominick.

Fave Quotes:

“Is there still a chance she could be in love with me? For I am, apparently and most deeply and ardently, in love with Meria.”

“With one word, she could break me. With one word, she could send me into endless torment. One word, and I was going to be either the happiest I had ever been in my entire life or begging Sands to tie an anchor to my boots and send me to the locker’s depths.”

Tropes:
He Falls Harder
Hidden Identity (sort of…it’s complicated)
Forced Proximity

[Saskia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars!

A rebellious mermaid and a morally gray prince. She wants to be the perfect daughter, he wishes he was someone else…

The story starts with a little background about the world which is definitely a plus if you aren’t familiar with the world, but also nice if it’s been a while!

Within 3 chapters i was already feeling so much for Dominick, betrayed by his uncle, abandoned by his family and very unhappy he makes the perfect base for a morally grey male main and i loved him immediately!

Meria is trying very hard to not be like her mother, which is not an easy task. Her rebellious side keeps surfacing and she has trouble keeping it hidden. All she wants is a family of her own and to be happy. She is such a ray of sunshine and i love me a super happy fmc!

I also liked the take on tailcolours, that they have meaning and the colourtherapy when it comes to merlings.

I absolutely loved the story and how Meria and Dominick help eachother grow into their real selves (with a little help every now and then of course).

The story starts with a shipwreck and ends in a happily ever after with a bit of a hint to other stories waiting to unfold. The writing is very well done, everything matches up the way it should be and it’s an easy read.

Theirs is a definitely a story i will come back to when i am in need of something happy!

Thanks for the opportunity to receive an ARC, this has not been an influence on the review whatsoever.

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I was so excited for this book and it was so good! I love the world of Terra and all its lovely characters.
Meria was so sweet! I loved watching her grow over the book. She was more introspective, thinking through things and learned how to speak up for herself. She had a tender heart and a willingness to trust people that was sweet to see. Meria learned how to trust herself and to make decisions on her own, while still keeping her gentleness.
Dominick was adorable! He was definitely more of a morally gray hero, but so sweet underneath. He truly cared for people, even though he had been forced into unfortunate circumstances. He was so resilient and was able to overcome so much. I loved his gentleness with Meria and how he supported her growth.
I loved getting to see more of Terra and learn different aspects of the world. It's so cool to see the overarching story unfold through each story. Meria and Dominick were adorable together and I was so excited to see some old friends as well as new characters. The Sea's Secret is a fantasy romance inspired by the Little Mermaid with only kissing. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it is so much more enjoyable read within the series! It has some darker themes of trauma, but all handled gracefully.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

[The Naptime Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4 Stars*
Sea’s Secret is a fast-paced, action-packed, and non-traditional Little Mermaid retelling with wonderful world-building and a sweet, clean, swoony romance. This is the 4th Kayla Eshbaugh book that I’ve read, and it did not disappoint!

Eshbaugh builds her world with vivid descriptions and explanations of its history which allows the reader to be easily immersed in the story. Dominick and Meria are passionate and complex characters who grow tremendously, and they complement each other well. I love the dual points of view and being able to read from both Dominick’s and Meria’s perspectives. The double Epilogue that gives glimpses into their future is an excellent ending! The book also speaks to forgiveness and the power of forgiving yourself, especially.

There were times when the writing felt a little repetitive with the dialogue or thoughts of the characters especially in regards to their feelings for each other, but it didn’t really detract from the overall reading experience.

Sea’s Secret is a fun, enjoyable fairy tale read! I loved the twists on the traditional Little Mermaid tale, and I'm excited to see the other books that come from the hints dropped in this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay,okay. I finished this earlier this morning and I need to write a review…but I am still kind of processing.

Really, it was so nice to like a female character..that’s kind of rare for me. Meria was amazing..she was sweet and kind and loving and generous. It was nice to see a female who was strong without being nasty…

And Dominic, can I have my own Dominic pretty pretty please? He was so perfect..oh he broke my heart. He had such a hard life….. so much trauma…but his heart was good and so pure. He was such a wonderful person deep and the way he cared for the ones he loved…. Such a gem.

The story did feel a little long but I was never bored reading it. The plot was fun and I loved following Nick and Meria on their adventure. I felt so bad for poor Nick. He went through so much & I got a little irritated with how much my guy had to go through. 😭.

There was a lot of fun banter; as well as some absolutely beautiful lines.

I think I got some hints for future books in here - which was fun.

A few phrases were a bit overused…but all writers have their go-tos haha. It didn't deter my enjoyment.

This book also made me tear up a few times.

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an enjoyable Little Mermaid retelling. This one was so fun, it had so much adventure, swoon and near death experiences! Also, the morally grey cursed pirate Prince was just such a good addition. He was quite the book boyfriend! Also so much magical adventures happening throughout and it was so fun. I loved that it was a clean fairy tale too, and yet it wasn’t lacking in anything. The dual POV’s were fun too, I enjoyed that aspect of the book a lot. I can’t forget to mention how gorgeous this cover is, the colors are just too good.

Enjoyable aspects:
🩵 Arranged Marriage
🧜‍♀️ Little Mermaid retelling
🌊 High seas adventure
🩵 Touch her and die
🧜‍♀️ Treasure map and sea monsters
🌊 Cursed morally grey prince
🩵 Stranded on an island together

Quote:
"I will kill him, torture him to death-"
"No you will not."
"I will inflict him with so much pain he will beg your forgiveness," I snapped.
"No you will not."
"Yes, I will," I said, taking her shoulders in my hands. "And I will enjoy it."
"You do not scare me," she whispered with a smile. "But nice try, my wicked pirate," she brushed her hand across my scar again, and I turned my face, frustrated she could see so much within me, and afraid of what that meant.”

Thank you to the author Kayla Eshbaugh for the electronic copy of the book!

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and this book was no exception!

While not my favorite of the series, it was a fun little mermaid retelling! I love getting to see the ways the stories are reworked and which aspects of the originals will be kept!

Meria learning to trust herself/ stand up for herself made her relatable and root-able. Dominick’s painful past and curse made him sympathetic and I loved watching him soften under Meria’s influence.

I always enjoy the cameos/ mentions of earlier characters, but with the books coming out so far apart from each other, I almost need a cheat sheet for some of the former characters names & kingdoms!

Speaking of other characters, I am so looking forward to reading Odettes story when it comes out! I have been hoping for that one since the early days of the series! I love the ballet and can’t wait to read a retelling of Swan Lake, plus I just found Odette so enjoyable to read in the earlier books! I like that this series includes some less mainstream fairy tales as well as ones that have been adapted by Disney. I’m sad I’ll have to wait until next August for Moonlit Wings!

[Laura Fincher · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My heart was his, and I would go wherever he went until the day I died. Perhaps, I was his prisoner after all, only a very willing one."

I am typically a little bored when it comes to Little Mermaid retellings, but I had SO MUCH FUN reading Sea's Secret. Kayla took all of the classic things we love about the fairy tale, like the prince being rescued by the mermaid, and added some really unique elements. Making the prince also a tortured pirate with a secret heart of gold? Genius! It added a lot to the romantic tension and storyline. I was swooning every time Dominick called Meria "his mermaid".

Throughout the book, there are themes of healing and standing in your truth. I loved going along with the main characters on their quests to become their true selves. The chapter at the Mirror Sea was one of my favorites, but I won't give too much away!

4/5 stars

Read if you enjoy:

-She Saves Him
-He Falls Hard
-A Morally Grey Hero
-Fairy Tale Retellings
-Touch Her & Die
-Unique World Building

*I received a complimentary ARC from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a fan of this Author's creative take on fairytales and such a fan of her kindness and openness on her platforms about her own story. After the last book, I have been eager to revisit Terra and yes, I admit, I am always looking to see what Teddy gets up to! 🤣

Meria loses everything. Dominick already lost everything.

Together, a lost prince turned pirate and a banished mermaid princess find redemption and more than they dreamed they could ever have. But it's quite the journey to get there.

Author Kayla Eshbaugh took a different approach as usual to this story.

Instead of the Little Mermaid losing her voice to win the prince, she saves the prince and he teaches her to find it. Neither of them are perfect. Both were opressed and found different ways to cope and survive.

Infused into this tale are the struggles, fears and strengths of those who fight through deep, dark things and survive them. I can't think of anything braver!

Some people have mentioned struggling with the plot structure and feeling like a lot of important parts were rushed over. I can only imagine due to all the characters introduced that this is our clue that there are many more stories to be told in Terra and many gaps will be filled in as they unfold. There are writing styles that suit different people and this author writes gentle, sweet stories that will always have unique elements and tender moments.