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The Mermaid's Daughter
A modern-day expansion of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, this unforgettable debut novel weaves a spellbinding tale of magic and the power of love as a descendent of the original mermaid fights the terrible price of saving herself from a curse that has affected generations of women in her family.
Kathleen has always been dramatic. She suffers from the bizarre malady of experiencing stabbing pain in her feet. On her sixteenth birthday, she woke screaming from the sensation that her tongue had been cut out. No doctor can find a medical explanation for her pain, and even the most powerful drugs have proven useless. Only the touch of seawater can ease her pain, and just temporarily at that.
Now Kathleen is a twenty-five-year-old opera student in Boston and shows immense promise as a soprano. Her girlfriend Harry, a mezzo in the same program, worries endlessly about Kathleen's phantom pain and obsession with the sea. Kathleen's mother and grandmother both committed suicide as young women, and Harry worries they suffered from the same symptoms. When Kathleen suffers yet another dangerous breakdown, Harry convinces Kathleen to visit her hometown in Ireland to learn more about her family history.
In Ireland, they discover that the mystery—and the tragedy—of Kathleen’s family history is far older and stranger than they could have imagined. Kathleen’s fate seems sealed, and the only way out is a terrible choice between a mermaid’s two sirens—the sea, and her lover. But both choices mean death…
Haunting and lyrical, The Mermaid’s Daughter asks—how far we will go for those we love? And can the transformative power of music overcome a magic that has prevailed for generations?
Kathleen has always been dramatic. She suffers from the bizarre malady of experiencing stabbing pain in her feet. On her sixteenth birthday, she woke screaming from the sensation that her tongue had been cut out. No doctor can find a medical explanation for her pain, and even the most powerful drugs have proven useless. Only the touch of seawater can ease her pain, and just temporarily at that.
Now Kathleen is a twenty-five-year-old opera student in Boston and shows immense promise as a soprano. Her girlfriend Harry, a mezzo in the same program, worries endlessly about Kathleen's phantom pain and obsession with the sea. Kathleen's mother and grandmother both committed suicide as young women, and Harry worries they suffered from the same symptoms. When Kathleen suffers yet another dangerous breakdown, Harry convinces Kathleen to visit her hometown in Ireland to learn more about her family history.
In Ireland, they discover that the mystery—and the tragedy—of Kathleen’s family history is far older and stranger than they could have imagined. Kathleen’s fate seems sealed, and the only way out is a terrible choice between a mermaid’s two sirens—the sea, and her lover. But both choices mean death…
Haunting and lyrical, The Mermaid’s Daughter asks—how far we will go for those we love? And can the transformative power of music overcome a magic that has prevailed for generations?
448 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2017
175 people are currently reading
7859 people want to read
About the author
Ann Claycomb
3 books80 followersSilenced, a #MeToo fairytale, is now available for purchase! This book tells the story of four women coworkers who have all been assaulted by their CEO and join forces to break the fairy tale curses he has put on them to keep them quiet.
Ann Claycomb's first novel, The Mermaid’s Daughter, published by Harper Collins in 2017, imagines that the Little Mermaid really is trapped as a human and passes that curse down through generations of women unable to return to the sea.
An inveterate reader of fairy tales, Ann believes in the power of Faerie, chocolate, and a good workout, in no particular order. She also wishes people would stop using the phrase “fairy tales can come true” as reassurance, because a great deal of what happens in fairy tales, especially to women, is frankly terrifying. And so Ann is drawn to retelling fairy tales to highlight the thorns around the beautiful castles and the dangers of straying off the path. She has an MFA and an MA in English, and baffled her MA thesis committee with an argument that “Beauty and the Beast” is ruined by the Beast’s transformation at the end into just an ordinary prince. Ann lives with her husband, children, two cats, and a mostly hairless dog in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Ann Claycomb's first novel, The Mermaid’s Daughter, published by Harper Collins in 2017, imagines that the Little Mermaid really is trapped as a human and passes that curse down through generations of women unable to return to the sea.
An inveterate reader of fairy tales, Ann believes in the power of Faerie, chocolate, and a good workout, in no particular order. She also wishes people would stop using the phrase “fairy tales can come true” as reassurance, because a great deal of what happens in fairy tales, especially to women, is frankly terrifying. And so Ann is drawn to retelling fairy tales to highlight the thorns around the beautiful castles and the dangers of straying off the path. She has an MFA and an MA in English, and baffled her MA thesis committee with an argument that “Beauty and the Beast” is ruined by the Beast’s transformation at the end into just an ordinary prince. Ann lives with her husband, children, two cats, and a mostly hairless dog in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 469 reviews
September 24, 2021
i didn't expect a sapphic retelling of the little mermaid to be such a slog!!
one of the issues is the brevity of the fantasy element. she's a mermaid, right? but there's hardly any mermaid magic! the far-too-long novel is mostly about kathleen's chronic pain and the composition of a mermaid-inspired opera. i was bored even despite the gay angst between kathleen and her girlfriend, harry.
i only found myself fully absorbed during the fantasy-ish scenes. an irish grotto full of sea witches! being washed overboard with a selkie! that's good shit!! but the magical scenes are few and far-between.
the shifting settings are also odd. kathleen and harry travel from their home in boston to coastal florida, back to boston, to kathleen's family home in ireland, back to boston, and occasionally to the cape. but none of these places come alive on the page. i especially wanted to love the rainy irish cliffside setting, but it's totally bland and unmemorable. some vivid ocean vibes would have made this book shine.
the lore is interesting, and i liked piecing together the generational line of mermaids that all suffered before kathleen. a mermaid a few generations back was also a wlw, and there's even a brief scene with the lesbian nun who loved her!
though it's rather anticlimactic, i enjoyed the bittersweet ending. the dark fantasy elements are well done, and i suppose if you're a fan of the opera then you might enjoy the rest of the book. but if you're in it for the mermaid vibes, give this a miss.
one of the issues is the brevity of the fantasy element. she's a mermaid, right? but there's hardly any mermaid magic! the far-too-long novel is mostly about kathleen's chronic pain and the composition of a mermaid-inspired opera. i was bored even despite the gay angst between kathleen and her girlfriend, harry.
i only found myself fully absorbed during the fantasy-ish scenes. an irish grotto full of sea witches! being washed overboard with a selkie! that's good shit!! but the magical scenes are few and far-between.
the shifting settings are also odd. kathleen and harry travel from their home in boston to coastal florida, back to boston, to kathleen's family home in ireland, back to boston, and occasionally to the cape. but none of these places come alive on the page. i especially wanted to love the rainy irish cliffside setting, but it's totally bland and unmemorable. some vivid ocean vibes would have made this book shine.
the lore is interesting, and i liked piecing together the generational line of mermaids that all suffered before kathleen. a mermaid a few generations back was also a wlw, and there's even a brief scene with the lesbian nun who loved her!
though it's rather anticlimactic, i enjoyed the bittersweet ending. the dark fantasy elements are well done, and i suppose if you're a fan of the opera then you might enjoy the rest of the book. but if you're in it for the mermaid vibes, give this a miss.
January 11, 2017
I loved this book! A modern fairy tale, with hints of Phantom of the Opera, this book drew me in and I couldn't put it down. I love the authors choice to incorporate the world of Opera, it felt like a very natural place for a Little Mermaid retelling. Adult fans of fairy tale retellings will not want to miss this!
March 21, 2017
The Mermaid's Daughter is such a unique book that it is hard to explain and do it justice. As mentioned in the blurb, it is a modern update of the fairy tale, The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. It is as dark, actually probably even darker, than the fairy tale and set in the world of music and opera--giving it a different and interesting spin. The story is told by Kathleen, a young opera singer and student, her girlfriend Harry (Harriet) a fellow student in the music program, her father, Robin, a composer currently commissioned to turn The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne into an opera, and finally a chorus of witch-like voices who tell the dark stories of the generations of women in Kathleen's family. Kathleen suffers from pains in her feet and mouth and has been hospitalized multiple times for breakdowns with no medical explanation for her symptoms. Her family has a tragic history of the women committing suicide, usually in their early twenties, and Harry and Robin are determined that Kathleen not share their fate. This takes Kathleen and Harry to Ireland where they uncover the secrets behind the tragedies. In keeping with its operatic setting, the story is divided into three acts and the book includes an after story called The Mermaid at the Opera about Hans Christian Andersen and the origins of The Little Mermaid. Although I have enjoyed an opera or two, I wouldn't consider myself an opera lover, but this book had me wanting to listen to operas and fascinated about how they are composed and staged. I would definitely buy tickets to operas based on The Scarlet Letter or The Little Mermaid.
I did struggle a bit in the beginning to find my rhythm with this book--the magical aspects combined with the dark fairy tale feel and the changing perspectives of the narrators--but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down and the 430-ish pages seemed to fly by. Kathleen is an interesting character and you can't help but feel for her pain and her uncertainty about it. The love that Harry has for her is strong and true and when combined with Robin's fatherly love, the lengths they go through to save Kathleen from herself are admirable. The elements of the fantastical about the story are crafted well--it's a fairy tale that had me caught up in the magic while believing in its plausibility. The Mermaid's Daughter is beautiful, otherworldly, dark, and imaginative. It is intense, sad but still hopeful, and I have a feeling I will be thinking about it for some time to come.
You can see my full review and a recipe for Shrimp Salad Sandwiches inspired by the book on my blog post here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A review copy of the "The Mermaid's Daughter" was provided to me by the publisher, Harper Collins, and TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
I did struggle a bit in the beginning to find my rhythm with this book--the magical aspects combined with the dark fairy tale feel and the changing perspectives of the narrators--but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down and the 430-ish pages seemed to fly by. Kathleen is an interesting character and you can't help but feel for her pain and her uncertainty about it. The love that Harry has for her is strong and true and when combined with Robin's fatherly love, the lengths they go through to save Kathleen from herself are admirable. The elements of the fantastical about the story are crafted well--it's a fairy tale that had me caught up in the magic while believing in its plausibility. The Mermaid's Daughter is beautiful, otherworldly, dark, and imaginative. It is intense, sad but still hopeful, and I have a feeling I will be thinking about it for some time to come.
You can see my full review and a recipe for Shrimp Salad Sandwiches inspired by the book on my blog post here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A review copy of the "The Mermaid's Daughter" was provided to me by the publisher, Harper Collins, and TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 13, 2017
I am a lover of all things mermaid. Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. Fantasy, imagination, other worlds and possibilities. I saw this book and was excited. Sadly, it was completely unsatisfying. I found it bland, and, frankly, boring. There was nothing keeping me going. I had no connection with any of the characters, and I really didn't like Katherine much. Or Harry. The only interesting part of the story was in the ocean when the other mermaids were telling their tale. Then we went back to dry land, where I almost died of boredom. When Robin was writing his opera less than halfway through I glazed over, completely lost interest and decided this was one mermaid that was not worth my time. I can see I am in the minority here, with everyone gushing about Hans Christian Anderson and a fabulous modern day fairy tale. It didn't capture my imagination, and I didn't finish it. I did, however, sneak a peak at the ending. And I am so glad I didn't waste any more time with this dreck.
January 31, 2024
What if the little mermaid of the famous Hans Christian Andersen's story had had a daughter?
Kathleen is at a conservatory studying opera, her soprano is amazing and she is passionate about music and singing. Her whole life has revolved around it in fact. Her father is a famous composer now, but when Kathleen was a baby her young, student, single parent father took her along when he played piano to cover his tuition. She has always sung. Her girlfriend, Harry is also a talented singer at the same conservatory and from the outside Kathleen's life looks perfect.
What few people see is the daily agony that all her life she has suffered; stabbing pains in her feet, as though she was walking on knives. Pains that no doctor can do anything about, but which are eased by immersion in the sea. Kathleen has never read The Little Mermaid, but there is reason to believe that whatever affects her affected her mother before her. When Kathleen and Harry go to Ireland to try and discover any family history that might help with the condition, they have no idea just what a strange family history will be revealed to them.
This was an exciting, magical book! The concept is enchanting, but it is coupled with a very realistic, down to earth attitude from the characters, which somehow makes it even more unearthly. The writing is beautiful, almost without flaw. Enough time is given to the back history, dolled out bit by bit so that the reader is kept on the edge of their seat watching it unfold. At the same time, watching Kathleen and Harry trying to cope without our privileged knowledge makes for a very dark and really thrilling story.
One thing I truly loved and respected about this book, is the natural complexity of the situation, the elaborate construction of a plot and character dynamic in which the reader cannot see the ending. I don't just mean that the ending can't be predicted -though I certainly didn't- it is more that we can't imagine how it could end. We want a happy ending for the people we have become attached to, but what actually is a happy ending? Happy for who? How can the tangled scenario be unraveled in any way that will not end in tragedy?
The formidable skills of the author do just that! The ending is thrilling, and kept me guessing right to the end, but I have rarely read an ending that was so very satisfying. And, just as one is mourning the end of the book, not quite ready to say goodbye, but very conscious that it has reached a natural conclusion; then there is a short story ; The Mermaid at the Opera to let one down gently. It was a great addition at the end.
This was one of the nicest novels I have accidentally encountered, with perfect plot development and beautiful literary execution. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves opera, the ocean, retelling of fairy tales or just magic realism in general.
Kathleen is at a conservatory studying opera, her soprano is amazing and she is passionate about music and singing. Her whole life has revolved around it in fact. Her father is a famous composer now, but when Kathleen was a baby her young, student, single parent father took her along when he played piano to cover his tuition. She has always sung. Her girlfriend, Harry is also a talented singer at the same conservatory and from the outside Kathleen's life looks perfect.
What few people see is the daily agony that all her life she has suffered; stabbing pains in her feet, as though she was walking on knives. Pains that no doctor can do anything about, but which are eased by immersion in the sea. Kathleen has never read The Little Mermaid, but there is reason to believe that whatever affects her affected her mother before her. When Kathleen and Harry go to Ireland to try and discover any family history that might help with the condition, they have no idea just what a strange family history will be revealed to them.
This was an exciting, magical book! The concept is enchanting, but it is coupled with a very realistic, down to earth attitude from the characters, which somehow makes it even more unearthly. The writing is beautiful, almost without flaw. Enough time is given to the back history, dolled out bit by bit so that the reader is kept on the edge of their seat watching it unfold. At the same time, watching Kathleen and Harry trying to cope without our privileged knowledge makes for a very dark and really thrilling story.
One thing I truly loved and respected about this book, is the natural complexity of the situation, the elaborate construction of a plot and character dynamic in which the reader cannot see the ending. I don't just mean that the ending can't be predicted -though I certainly didn't- it is more that we can't imagine how it could end. We want a happy ending for the people we have become attached to, but what actually is a happy ending? Happy for who? How can the tangled scenario be unraveled in any way that will not end in tragedy?
The formidable skills of the author do just that! The ending is thrilling, and kept me guessing right to the end, but I have rarely read an ending that was so very satisfying. And, just as one is mourning the end of the book, not quite ready to say goodbye, but very conscious that it has reached a natural conclusion; then there is a short story ; The Mermaid at the Opera to let one down gently. It was a great addition at the end.
This was one of the nicest novels I have accidentally encountered, with perfect plot development and beautiful literary execution. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves opera, the ocean, retelling of fairy tales or just magic realism in general.
July 24, 2019
"We felt the spell catch, a tug on the line we had flung across the ocean like the jerk a fisherman feels - she heard us, at least. Now we wait and wonder how to do what must be done."
I got halfway and just couldn't do it anymore. The story is constructed in 4 different perspectives: Kathleen, Harry, Robin and the Sea Witches. Regrettably, there was little sophistication or depth in the characters and I couldn't care about any of them. And the opera parallel seemed forced and awkward. I supposed the entire book felt forced.
I wanted to like this so desperately, being a huge fan of Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid. But this is SO SLOW. Literally, NOTHING HAPPENS! Her feet hurt, her mouth hurts, the sea calls to her, everyone is worried. It's just the same thing, over and over, page after page. Life is too short to read this nonsense.
I got halfway and just couldn't do it anymore. The story is constructed in 4 different perspectives: Kathleen, Harry, Robin and the Sea Witches. Regrettably, there was little sophistication or depth in the characters and I couldn't care about any of them. And the opera parallel seemed forced and awkward. I supposed the entire book felt forced.
I wanted to like this so desperately, being a huge fan of Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid. But this is SO SLOW. Literally, NOTHING HAPPENS! Her feet hurt, her mouth hurts, the sea calls to her, everyone is worried. It's just the same thing, over and over, page after page. Life is too short to read this nonsense.
dnf-gave-up-or-will-never-read
August 29, 2018DNF @ 91 pages. I'm becoming more cutthroat in how I abandon books, because there's just too many in this world to finish. I feel like I gave this one a good college try, too.
The book isn't terrible, but I just never wound up enjoying it or even looking forward to picking it up again, instead feeling a light irritation throughout. I really, really disliked the main character, the melodramatic and manic soprano, so being stuck in her POV was a toil -- the single chapter I reached narrated by her girlfriend Harry was the best, so mostly I found myself disappointed to have to go back to Kathleen. And the between-chapter interludes were filled with insufferably overwrought prose about a nonstop slew of women killing themselves. Not into it. I think I've read that Harry gets more POV chapters later, but the prose wasn't good enough to carry me there either.
Onto the next!
The book isn't terrible, but I just never wound up enjoying it or even looking forward to picking it up again, instead feeling a light irritation throughout. I really, really disliked the main character, the melodramatic and manic soprano, so being stuck in her POV was a toil -- the single chapter I reached narrated by her girlfriend Harry was the best, so mostly I found myself disappointed to have to go back to Kathleen. And the between-chapter interludes were filled with insufferably overwrought prose about a nonstop slew of women killing themselves. Not into it. I think I've read that Harry gets more POV chapters later, but the prose wasn't good enough to carry me there either.
Onto the next!
April 1, 2017
Wow! If The Mermaid's Daughter is Ann Claycomb's debut novel, I can't wait for her next one. This is a take on the classic fairy tale but is dark and edgy. I loved the fact that it takes place in the world of opera, that seems to meld together very well. I must admit that it took me a while to settle down with the story, but once I did, I was hooked. And the ending? Well, let me just say,.....!
Great book, great read!!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
Great book, great read!!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
March 27, 2017
Good God no one said half of this book would be about Opera discussions and how a father composes a song about his daughter. It blathered on with literary comparisons and less about mermaids. The love story wasn't even that compelling. I gave it two stars because the concept is creative but it was way too pretentious for me. I gave up on it.
March 7, 2017
Kathleen has been plagued by pain all her life. Shooting, stabbing pains in her feet when she stands and walks, and persistent pain in her mouth so bad that it can incapacitate her. She's seen doctors and mental health professionals, been run through a barrage of tests, and even been committed but no one has ever been able to find the cause or a solution. Strangely, the only alleviation Kathleen has ever had from the pain has come from sea water.
At twenty-five, Kathleen has already outlived her mother. And her grandmother. Which is why her mental wellbeing is always such a concern given her symptoms. Amazingly, the family history of suicide stretches even further - seven generations to be exact. All the way back to a girl named Fand, a mermaid who struck a bargain with sea witches in order to live on land with the man she loved. A girl whose story you might think you already know.
Ann Claycomb combines elements Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale and the animated film to bring the story of Fand and her descendants to life. And it's an amazing read!
Kathleen is an opera singer, one who is becoming known for her amazing talent. Her partner, Harry, is an almost equally talented singer and one of the few people who knows of Kathleen's plight. Harry is steadfast in her support and love for Kathleen and is the one who decides that Kathleen needs to return to Ireland to try and find an answer to the troubles that have been plaguing her all her life.
Harry first approaches Kathleen's father, Robin, with the idea. Sadly, Robin has never been able to face returning to the isle of his birth. It was where he met and fell in love with Kathleen's mother. It's also where he lost her. And while he has mostly moved on, his dreams are never free of his lost love. Plus, he believes wholeheartedly that the mission is one of a lover rather than a parent.
The trip reveals some startling truths about Kathleen's lineage. Truths that most people would never believe.
The story is narrated by Robin, Kathleen, and Harry, and interspersed by narrative from the sea witches - a collective of beings who feel they have been misrepresented by the stories. The book also includes a short about Fand and Hans Christian Andersen. Again bringing the story back to the classic. I adored these characters and the wonderful way that Claycomb twisted and reshaped such a familiar story into something new.
Claycomb's debut is a wonderfully enchanting read, evoking a full range of emotions as Kathleen and her ancestors' stories are revealed. As is the case with most fairy tales, The Mermaid's Daughter is at times quite sad. It was also darker than I'd expected - quite haunting in fact. But again, it's absolutely wonderful! A perfect and gorgeous read for anyone who loves the classic!
At twenty-five, Kathleen has already outlived her mother. And her grandmother. Which is why her mental wellbeing is always such a concern given her symptoms. Amazingly, the family history of suicide stretches even further - seven generations to be exact. All the way back to a girl named Fand, a mermaid who struck a bargain with sea witches in order to live on land with the man she loved. A girl whose story you might think you already know.
Ann Claycomb combines elements Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale and the animated film to bring the story of Fand and her descendants to life. And it's an amazing read!
Kathleen is an opera singer, one who is becoming known for her amazing talent. Her partner, Harry, is an almost equally talented singer and one of the few people who knows of Kathleen's plight. Harry is steadfast in her support and love for Kathleen and is the one who decides that Kathleen needs to return to Ireland to try and find an answer to the troubles that have been plaguing her all her life.
Harry first approaches Kathleen's father, Robin, with the idea. Sadly, Robin has never been able to face returning to the isle of his birth. It was where he met and fell in love with Kathleen's mother. It's also where he lost her. And while he has mostly moved on, his dreams are never free of his lost love. Plus, he believes wholeheartedly that the mission is one of a lover rather than a parent.
The trip reveals some startling truths about Kathleen's lineage. Truths that most people would never believe.
The story is narrated by Robin, Kathleen, and Harry, and interspersed by narrative from the sea witches - a collective of beings who feel they have been misrepresented by the stories. The book also includes a short about Fand and Hans Christian Andersen. Again bringing the story back to the classic. I adored these characters and the wonderful way that Claycomb twisted and reshaped such a familiar story into something new.
Claycomb's debut is a wonderfully enchanting read, evoking a full range of emotions as Kathleen and her ancestors' stories are revealed. As is the case with most fairy tales, The Mermaid's Daughter is at times quite sad. It was also darker than I'd expected - quite haunting in fact. But again, it's absolutely wonderful! A perfect and gorgeous read for anyone who loves the classic!
January 14, 2018
This was a gentle, interesting book about a curse that had been handed down from mother to daughter for over a century.
Kathleen's mother killed herself when Kathleen was a baby and Kathleen has grown up with the same searing pain in her feet that her mother endured all her life, as well as the sensation that her tongue has been cut out. She's a soprano in an opera programme at college and her girlfriend Harry worries about her constantly, but when they take a trip back to Kathleen's home country of Ireland they find out that Kathleen's malady is far older and stranger than they could have imagined.
The story is told from four viewpoints - Kathleen, Harry, Robin and the Sea Witches - and usually this number of narrators might feel like a jumble, but here it actually worked. I think it was because the book was so long - each narrator had a chance to tell their story fully and the reader had plenty of opportunity to grow accustomed to their voice.
I really loved the two main characters in this book - Kathleen and Harry - and I thought their relationship was really strong and sweet.
In some areas it felt a bit over-long for the amount of plot that was included. There were some long descriptions about the process of composing music and there was so much narrative about the pain in Kathleen's feet. I mean, I get that chronic pain affects your life constantly, but this was a LOT of talk about Kathleen's feet.
I liked the ending to Kathleen's story. I think it worked. I wasn't too sure about the Hans Christian Anderson sub-story that was included at the end. It was okay, but it didn't really add anything to the main story and I think it would have worked better as a separate novella.
All in all this was a sweet book. not overly taxing, but an interesting read. Recommended.
Kathleen's mother killed herself when Kathleen was a baby and Kathleen has grown up with the same searing pain in her feet that her mother endured all her life, as well as the sensation that her tongue has been cut out. She's a soprano in an opera programme at college and her girlfriend Harry worries about her constantly, but when they take a trip back to Kathleen's home country of Ireland they find out that Kathleen's malady is far older and stranger than they could have imagined.
The story is told from four viewpoints - Kathleen, Harry, Robin and the Sea Witches - and usually this number of narrators might feel like a jumble, but here it actually worked. I think it was because the book was so long - each narrator had a chance to tell their story fully and the reader had plenty of opportunity to grow accustomed to their voice.
I really loved the two main characters in this book - Kathleen and Harry - and I thought their relationship was really strong and sweet.
In some areas it felt a bit over-long for the amount of plot that was included. There were some long descriptions about the process of composing music and there was so much narrative about the pain in Kathleen's feet. I mean, I get that chronic pain affects your life constantly, but this was a LOT of talk about Kathleen's feet.
I liked the ending to Kathleen's story. I think it worked. I wasn't too sure about the Hans Christian Anderson sub-story that was included at the end. It was okay, but it didn't really add anything to the main story and I think it would have worked better as a separate novella.
All in all this was a sweet book. not overly taxing, but an interesting read. Recommended.
April 9, 2017
First fantasy book I've read. But loved the story & loved the ending.
April 21, 2017
this book is kind of dark but so well written and interesting. I'm hoping for a happy ending.
Want to read
February 20, 2018 Currently $1.99 on Amazon
Regularly $10.99
Regularly $10.99
April 1, 2017
Denne var eg skeptisk til i starten og det tok ein stund før eg blei vandt med både fortellerstil og plottet utgangspunktet, men når eg først kom inn i boka blei eg veldig reven med. Eg syntes boka tok seg betydelig opp i det fortellerstemmen bytta frå Kathleen til Harry. Først då blei eg hekta. Fortellerstemmen veksler forresten mellom 3 karakterer gjennom heile boka, noko som i mi mening, heva kvaliteten veldig. Vi følger Kathleen, kjærasten hennar - Harriet, og faren - Robin. Alle er aktive innen musikkformen opera. Kathleen er hovedpersonen her og det er hennar situasjon boka handler om - ho har arva moras "forbannelse". Ein forbanning som har gått i arv i mange mange år og som dei no forsøker å bryte. Mtp bokas tittel regner eg ikkje med å "spoile" for mykje når eg seier at denne forbannelsen har noko med havfruer å gjere.
Dette var originalt, spennende og ja, rett og slett en forfriskende leseroppleving. Anbefales når ein er i humør til å utforske noko nytt!
Dette var originalt, spennende og ja, rett og slett en forfriskende leseroppleving. Anbefales når ein er i humør til å utforske noko nytt!
September 9, 2020
I'll write a review when I stop crying
Read
February 8, 2017I have not heard much about this upcoming release, but when I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to give it a try. I was lucky enough to get an ARC to read and review.
This starts off with a quote from The Little Mermaid which is one of my all time favorite Disney movies. After that, it take me some time to really get into this. I actually put this down for a few weeks before I decided to give it another try. However; once I did pick it back up, I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed the writing style and even though I am not giving this a 5 star rating, I am interested in checking out other work by Ann Claycomb from her style alone.
If you love fairy tale retellings, I recommend checking this out.
This starts off with a quote from The Little Mermaid which is one of my all time favorite Disney movies. After that, it take me some time to really get into this. I actually put this down for a few weeks before I decided to give it another try. However; once I did pick it back up, I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed the writing style and even though I am not giving this a 5 star rating, I am interested in checking out other work by Ann Claycomb from her style alone.
If you love fairy tale retellings, I recommend checking this out.
May 16, 2017
1.5 stars
Finished this but it was a struggle
The book started out well and interesting. I loved Kathleen & Harrys relationship! Harry was such a caring, understanding, wonderful girlfriend and she's a true example of how you should help your partner. Their relationship and Harry's Chapters were probably my favourite part of this book. Speaking in which, I'm not a fan of the writing style. The book is POV and I can't stand the main characters chapters or her fathers. But as for the rest, this book had become a confusing snooze fest. There is a lot of stuff about the opera which is neat to tie to The Little Mermaid but the author doesn't bother to explain anything. It left me confused and that led me to being very disinterested in the story itself.
I gave it a 1.5 instead of a 1 because I did like the idea of the book but it just completely went down hill.
I'll forever be on the hunt for a good mermaid book......
Finished this but it was a struggle
The book started out well and interesting. I loved Kathleen & Harrys relationship! Harry was such a caring, understanding, wonderful girlfriend and she's a true example of how you should help your partner. Their relationship and Harry's Chapters were probably my favourite part of this book. Speaking in which, I'm not a fan of the writing style. The book is POV and I can't stand the main characters chapters or her fathers. But as for the rest, this book had become a confusing snooze fest. There is a lot of stuff about the opera which is neat to tie to The Little Mermaid but the author doesn't bother to explain anything. It left me confused and that led me to being very disinterested in the story itself.
I gave it a 1.5 instead of a 1 because I did like the idea of the book but it just completely went down hill.
I'll forever be on the hunt for a good mermaid book......
May 13, 2018
Well, I'm a bit predisposed to loving it, but I think you will love it too.
February 26, 2017
A fairy tale with lots of curves, immersed in surprising twists and a big splash.
March 31, 2017
Good to know my chronic leg pain means I'm a mermaid.
This is ridiculous.
This is ridiculous.
March 6, 2024
I wasn't sure what I was getting into with The Mermaid's Daughter with the less-than-stellar ratings, and I wasn't sure I even wanted to dive in (heh--no pun intended) since this is about mermaids, but I'm prepping for a trip to Copenhagen, so why not read a Hans Christian Anderson adjacent story, right? Plus, this combines lots of talk about literature and opera, which also appealed to me. Well, not the opera, really, but operatic music for sure!
I guess the best way to describe The Mermaid's Daughter is that it's an expansion on the HCA fairytale. Kathleen is the ancestor of the original little mermaid. And like her matriarchal ancestors before, including her mother and her grandmother, she knows she is likely destined to take her life in the sea. What she doesn't know is why.
In a quest to understand Kathleen's unexplainable-to-the-medical-world symptoms (she suffers from chronic pain in her mouth and feet that only ocean water seems to sooth), she and her girlfriend, Harry, go to Ireland, where Kathleen was born and where her mom died, to see if they can find any answers to their questions. And they find their answers, as unbelievable as they might be. Armed with their new knowledge, they look for ways to break the mermaid's curse and, thus, save Kathleen's life.
The narrative shifts between 4 different perspectives: Kathleen's, Harry's, Kathleen's father, and the Sea Witches. And maybe that's the reason it took me a long time to get into this novel, but after a little while, I was fully invested. It was an interesting concept which I think Claycomb mostly gets right.
It's definitely not your typical romance, but it was very romantic. And I spent most of the novel not knowing which way Claycomb would take the story. I can't say I liked the last chapter, which feels more like a prologue than an epilogue. And while I do understand why she placed it at the end instead of the beginning, I just didn't care enough about that aspect of the story at that point.
But overall, I really enjoyed this, even if it was a bit of a slower read.
I guess the best way to describe The Mermaid's Daughter is that it's an expansion on the HCA fairytale. Kathleen is the ancestor of the original little mermaid. And like her matriarchal ancestors before, including her mother and her grandmother, she knows she is likely destined to take her life in the sea. What she doesn't know is why.
In a quest to understand Kathleen's unexplainable-to-the-medical-world symptoms (she suffers from chronic pain in her mouth and feet that only ocean water seems to sooth), she and her girlfriend, Harry, go to Ireland, where Kathleen was born and where her mom died, to see if they can find any answers to their questions. And they find their answers, as unbelievable as they might be. Armed with their new knowledge, they look for ways to break the mermaid's curse and, thus, save Kathleen's life.
The narrative shifts between 4 different perspectives: Kathleen's, Harry's, Kathleen's father, and the Sea Witches. And maybe that's the reason it took me a long time to get into this novel, but after a little while, I was fully invested. It was an interesting concept which I think Claycomb mostly gets right.
It's definitely not your typical romance, but it was very romantic. And I spent most of the novel not knowing which way Claycomb would take the story. I can't say I liked the last chapter, which feels more like a prologue than an epilogue. And while I do understand why she placed it at the end instead of the beginning, I just didn't care enough about that aspect of the story at that point.
But overall, I really enjoyed this, even if it was a bit of a slower read.
March 14, 2018
I really, really liked this book even though it is a bit more literary than I'm normally capable of reading. I learned a lot about opera and had to refresh myself with several classic texts in order to keep up with the goings-on. Specifically, it's good to know the original Hans Christian Anderson telling of the Little Mermaid. There are a lot of references to "The Scarlett Letter". Also, you may want to get a feel for "Tam Lin".
Apparently, in opera, lead sopranos typically either go crazy, die, or go crazy and then die. These options are hammered in so well, that the reader has no doubt that the protagonist, Kathleen, a spectacularly talented soprano, is in serious trouble. This is all made worse by the fact that her mother, grandmother, etc... all committed suicide at a very early age. Additionally, Kathleen is acting really, really strange - inexplicable pains in her feet, hearing voices when in the ocean...
It is no spoiler to suggest a reason for her condition - she has descended from the actual mermaid whose tale is told in The Little Mermaid. That is, she is a mermaid living cursed to walk on land.
Luckily or not, she is very, very much loved by Harry (as in Harriet), who is determined to keep Kathleen from facing the same fate as her ancestors. And so, off they go on a thrilling adventure of discovery.
I really, really loved the way that the relationship between Harry and Kathleen was handled - not all wine and roses. It was very, very realistic with selfish nips and pokes and insecurities and miscommunications. Still underneath it all is a beautiful foundation of unconditional love.
I don't know... I just really liked this one.
Apparently, in opera, lead sopranos typically either go crazy, die, or go crazy and then die. These options are hammered in so well, that the reader has no doubt that the protagonist, Kathleen, a spectacularly talented soprano, is in serious trouble. This is all made worse by the fact that her mother, grandmother, etc... all committed suicide at a very early age. Additionally, Kathleen is acting really, really strange - inexplicable pains in her feet, hearing voices when in the ocean...
It is no spoiler to suggest a reason for her condition - she has descended from the actual mermaid whose tale is told in The Little Mermaid. That is, she is a mermaid living cursed to walk on land.
Luckily or not, she is very, very much loved by Harry (as in Harriet), who is determined to keep Kathleen from facing the same fate as her ancestors. And so, off they go on a thrilling adventure of discovery.
I really, really loved the way that the relationship between Harry and Kathleen was handled - not all wine and roses. It was very, very realistic with selfish nips and pokes and insecurities and miscommunications. Still underneath it all is a beautiful foundation of unconditional love.
I don't know... I just really liked this one.
May 1, 2017
I have never really been wowed by the little mermaid tales. I'm into all kinds of animation so the Disney movie had its moments and was charming and sweet. The original fairy tale was much darker but I still couldn't get on board. Even as a child I loved dark but I wondered why the mermaid gave up all her good stuff. Supposedly for love. I guess I've always been weird. Both the child and the adult me would believe in dragons in a heart beat. But a mermaid who opts out of swimming with dolphins and singing in exchange for a lifetime of pain? Omg no way! So, anyway, for me to pick The Mermaid's Daughter up was a minor miracle. But then it went and surprised me and I frickin' liked it!!! A lot! Who knew? I felt it was less a retelling of the little mermaid and more a continuation of the story. To me it was more a story of love and empowerment. If you've ever loved someone who has an illness or chronic pain (even if it's your dog), you know the feeling of helplessness and how you'd give anything to help them find relief. I loved the bits of the book set in Ireland. I loved that the main characters were gay but that it didn't drive the story. Rather, the gay part was just another layer to the characters. And the part about the opera made sense to me. Music would be core to a mermaid's soul. I really liked so much of this book and it was a debut novel. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.
March 29, 2019
way better than I thought it would be! don't be put off by the cover! it falls into none of the traps that I find fairy tale retellings often do: it's creative in its modernity rather than just transposed directly into modern day, it keeps the essentials of the original story, and I felt like the main characters were a lot better written than I expected. Kathleen isn't just a generic Ariel doppelganger but rather fully formed, as are her family and girlfriend. I didn't give it 5 stars because the faithfulness to the original fairy tale did end up making it a little bit corny, but the skill of the author really saved it for the most part. on the whole though I enjoyed myself and I thought the relationship between Kathleen and Harry was very beautiful and believable.
May 17, 2019
An innovative take on The Little Mermaid (but not at all how you're thinking). I love when writers get imaginative and creative, and Ann Claycomb delivers on that front. Her writing is quite strong, with lots of sea-related descriptions and metaphors that aren't heavy-handed or too on the nose. The stuff about music is also enjoyable and feels true to life. It gave me a greater appreciation for opera. I definitely recommend this one.
February 16, 2019
I loved this book. It would have been perfect if it didn't seem to run a little long in the middle. Such a interesting retelling of The Little Mermaid. So many stories within the story this book has it all a beautiful retelling, opera, culture, travel, a love story, Lgbt. Dark and Lyrical. A must read if you love retellings.
March 26, 2018
I really loved the premise of this book. And even though I am not a musically gifted person, I did think the opera parallels and chapter structure was clever. However, key points in the plot and storytelling kept the book--for me--from reaching its full potential (and almost kept me from finishing the book).
As other reviewers have said, Kathleen, our protagonist, is a drama queen and not very mature, but I could overlook this (unstable heroines are very en vogue these days). What I cannot forgive is that she has zero agency whatsoever in the book. Everything is done for her by other people. She has no driving goal, no clear conflict or stakes to over come, and she never surprises us with her actions or decisions. For 2/3 of the book, I wondered what the point of the story even was because there was no impending doom. [Spoiler Alert] Even her possible future suicide never felt like a threat; there was always a half-reason given it hadn't happened yet and might not ever happen. As for her chronic pain...people live with chronic pain ALL THE TIME in the world, why is hers so special we need to feel desperate for a solution?
As for the multiple POVs...I enjoyed Harry's for the most part (yes, I can see how other readers would feel she suffers from codependency, but at least she got the damn plot moving and DID STUFF!), but I felt Robin's POV was pretty pointless. Didn't move the story, didn't add conflict or stakes.
[Beware, more spoilers beyond this point!]
Besides making Kathleen's desires/fears/actions the driving force in her own story, the other move that would boost this story to an easy 4 stars for me would be to have her discover some of her unique abilities/pains and relationship with the sea in the story. As it is, she doesn't discover anything new about herself or her relationship to the sea in the book. It's all already been done before. She's already broken, she's already in pain, she's already unstable and dependent on others for everything, she's already "seasick." If we could have been on the journey with her to slowly discover each part of the curse she has to carry, it would have created more empathy for her, it would have involved us in discovery of this magical part of the world.
And as for Fand's POV at the very end: it felt hastily added. It didn't add anything to the story for me at that point. It would have been far more interesting if we had read it earlier in the story.
As other reviewers have said, Kathleen, our protagonist, is a drama queen and not very mature, but I could overlook this (unstable heroines are very en vogue these days). What I cannot forgive is that she has zero agency whatsoever in the book. Everything is done for her by other people. She has no driving goal, no clear conflict or stakes to over come, and she never surprises us with her actions or decisions. For 2/3 of the book, I wondered what the point of the story even was because there was no impending doom. [Spoiler Alert] Even her possible future suicide never felt like a threat; there was always a half-reason given it hadn't happened yet and might not ever happen. As for her chronic pain...people live with chronic pain ALL THE TIME in the world, why is hers so special we need to feel desperate for a solution?
As for the multiple POVs...I enjoyed Harry's for the most part (yes, I can see how other readers would feel she suffers from codependency, but at least she got the damn plot moving and DID STUFF!), but I felt Robin's POV was pretty pointless. Didn't move the story, didn't add conflict or stakes.
[Beware, more spoilers beyond this point!]
Besides making Kathleen's desires/fears/actions the driving force in her own story, the other move that would boost this story to an easy 4 stars for me would be to have her discover some of her unique abilities/pains and relationship with the sea in the story. As it is, she doesn't discover anything new about herself or her relationship to the sea in the book. It's all already been done before. She's already broken, she's already in pain, she's already unstable and dependent on others for everything, she's already "seasick." If we could have been on the journey with her to slowly discover each part of the curse she has to carry, it would have created more empathy for her, it would have involved us in discovery of this magical part of the world.
And as for Fand's POV at the very end: it felt hastily added. It didn't add anything to the story for me at that point. It would have been far more interesting if we had read it earlier in the story.
September 10, 2019
This is now one of my favourite fairy tale retellings. It is modern and romantic and fantastical and such a wonderful tribute to the original telling of The Little Mermaid. I can not tell you how wonderful I thought it was! Oh, and it's also one of the most gorgeous F/F stories I have read.
The story follows Kathleen who suffers some various unexplained symptoms including a stabbing pain in her feet, an obsession with the sea, and the sensation that her tongue is being cut out. She also has an astounding singing voice which has made her into an up and coming opera star. Sound familiar?
Her girlfriend Harry (who is completely gorgeous btw), has constant concerns about Kathleen's unexplainable problems. In an attempt to uncover the cause of the symptoms, Harry helps Kathleen to track her family history and understand the curse of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
The complex feel of this story and how it knits and intertwines itself with the original Hans Christian Andersen fairytale was truly magical. Rarely do I feel completely satisfied with a retelling but this was just so well done that I can not wait to reread it.
I just cannot get over Claycomb's ability to instil the magic and fantasy from Hans Christian Andersen's original tale in her own modern storytelling.
"We felt the spell catch, a tug on the line we had flung across the ocean like the jerk a fisherman feels - she heard us, at least. Now we wait and wonder how to do what must be done."
The story follows Kathleen who suffers some various unexplained symptoms including a stabbing pain in her feet, an obsession with the sea, and the sensation that her tongue is being cut out. She also has an astounding singing voice which has made her into an up and coming opera star. Sound familiar?
Her girlfriend Harry (who is completely gorgeous btw), has constant concerns about Kathleen's unexplainable problems. In an attempt to uncover the cause of the symptoms, Harry helps Kathleen to track her family history and understand the curse of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
The complex feel of this story and how it knits and intertwines itself with the original Hans Christian Andersen fairytale was truly magical. Rarely do I feel completely satisfied with a retelling but this was just so well done that I can not wait to reread it.
I just cannot get over Claycomb's ability to instil the magic and fantasy from Hans Christian Andersen's original tale in her own modern storytelling.
May 13, 2018
Completely Awed.
First off, I 'started' this book a week ago on a lunch break at work, read six pages and then closed the book and put it away. Just in the first few pages I knew this was going to be a non-stop read and I refused to open it again until I could sit and read it all the way through... which I did... in about half a day. Amazing story!
Now, generally I do not like to quote lines from novels I read in my reviews, not sure why, I just don't. This story had so many quote worthy phrases through out but there was one early on in the book that just stuck with me, "Murin waited for the tide to find her in the shallow pool at the sea cave. She did not bind herself, as she might have done, or lull herself with drugs or weight her pockets with stones. She needed no artificial aides, for she was half-drowned in her own misery already."
Ann Claycomb has an imagination that I envy and a way with words that is truly inspiring. She retold a story I knew by heart and made me feel as if I were hearing it for the first time and in doing so she completely captured my heart. Her take on The Little Mermaid is sheer genius. A story that you think you know....but find out that you have no idea. For me this is a definite re-read, and to everyone else I highly recommend!!
First off, I 'started' this book a week ago on a lunch break at work, read six pages and then closed the book and put it away. Just in the first few pages I knew this was going to be a non-stop read and I refused to open it again until I could sit and read it all the way through... which I did... in about half a day. Amazing story!
Now, generally I do not like to quote lines from novels I read in my reviews, not sure why, I just don't. This story had so many quote worthy phrases through out but there was one early on in the book that just stuck with me, "Murin waited for the tide to find her in the shallow pool at the sea cave. She did not bind herself, as she might have done, or lull herself with drugs or weight her pockets with stones. She needed no artificial aides, for she was half-drowned in her own misery already."
Ann Claycomb has an imagination that I envy and a way with words that is truly inspiring. She retold a story I knew by heart and made me feel as if I were hearing it for the first time and in doing so she completely captured my heart. Her take on The Little Mermaid is sheer genius. A story that you think you know....but find out that you have no idea. For me this is a definite re-read, and to everyone else I highly recommend!!
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