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マーメイド・ボーイズ #1
マーメイド・ボーイズ 1
結ばれなければ泡になる――。
人魚の国の王子・ナルは、一目惚れした人間の少女・波に会うため、魔術師メロウに頼んで人間にしてもらう。しかし、その引き換えに失ったのは、なんと、自分の「美貌」!
さらに1年以内に波と結ばれないと泡になってしまうと言われ――!?
人魚の王子が人間の少女に恋をする!?
まぶしい空、輝く海! イケメンと胸キュンとときどき裸!
『アルカナ・ファミリア』のさらちよみが描く、禁断の一つ屋根の下ラブ…開幕!!
人魚の国の王子・ナルは、一目惚れした人間の少女・波に会うため、魔術師メロウに頼んで人間にしてもらう。しかし、その引き換えに失ったのは、なんと、自分の「美貌」!
さらに1年以内に波と結ばれないと泡になってしまうと言われ――!?
人魚の王子が人間の少女に恋をする!?
まぶしい空、輝く海! イケメンと胸キュンとときどき裸!
『アルカナ・ファミリア』のさらちよみが描く、禁断の一つ屋根の下ラブ…開幕!!
178 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2016
10 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Yomi Sarachi
28 books32 followersName (in native language): さらちよみ (SARACHI Yomi)
Log: http://logloglog.sarachi.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_yoming_/
Tumblr: http://sarachiyomi.tumblr.com/
Currently residing in Sangenjaya, Taishidou, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
Log: http://logloglog.sarachi.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_yoming_/
Tumblr: http://sarachiyomi.tumblr.com/
Currently residing in Sangenjaya, Taishidou, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 3, 2018
I loved this so much! Really sucks I gotta wait a while till the next volume, it's something I could easily binge read!
June 26, 2018
This was such a perfect beach read! I absolutely loved it, despite some minor language.
Naru makes a great hero to cheer for, especially when you read his antics on land. Many times he brought multiple laughs as he's learning new things and trying to show his feelings for Nami.
I liked the unexpected twist with one of the characters and why he wanted to became human. Was definitely surprising.
Overall, I am very much looking forward to reading book two!
Naru makes a great hero to cheer for, especially when you read his antics on land. Many times he brought multiple laughs as he's learning new things and trying to show his feelings for Nami.
I liked the unexpected twist with one of the characters and why he wanted to became human. Was definitely surprising.
Overall, I am very much looking forward to reading book two!
October 9, 2020
Cute story of a merman who becomes a twink just to chase a human girl on land.
April 16, 2018
Without a doubt, this was a 5-star read! It was funny and entertaining, the art style is so very pretty (you can’t not fall for it!) and the plot is better than expected! I’m really amazed at how it luckily didn’t stick too close to the original Little Mermaid! I had been looking forward to the debut of this series since Yenpress pre-announced its release sometime last year. When I FINALLY held it in my hands, I had to start reading (almost) at once and then I raced through it!
In contrast to Andersen’s original story, this is genderbent, with a male mer-prince in the lead. Naru is pretty extrovert and self-confident, most of all he’s not mature in the least, despite being 21. Like Arielle in the original he’s interested in the human world and collects human items without having any clue of their use (and of course always guessing wrong). It’s no surprise, his parents, mostly his mother — yay, matriarchy!! — don’t want him to go anywhere near the humans and no surprise either, he doesn’t listen at all. So, after encountering a human girl whom Naru falls for and after ending up in undersea prison, he’s transformed into a human by a sorcerer called Mellow and judging by that sorcerer’s mischievous grin, he’s not to be trusted and surely will cause trouble. A short preview for volume 2 already proved this guess to be correct. Surprisingly. Actually not. So far, there’s not much new information which hadn’t been expected. The actual adventure and fun starts after this first chapter.
Naru (oh my, I’m sorry, I always write “Haru”, thinking of Haruka from Free! XD) is taken in by humans who run a tiny in on the island. He soon and mercilessly learns the real deals and truths of humans items, human life and the real character of the girl he’d fallen for. To see him struggle in the funniest ways and actually not very happy with his choice made me crack up in laughter. And to be honest he’s quite cute as a 15-years old teen^^
Slowly seeing everyone’s true characters come through, I felt comfortable. They’re all lovely and supportive and actually everyone seems to care for each other. Getting to know more about Naru’s dream girl Nami moved me internally and it’s so cute how the caretaker of the inn, Hikaru, is more like a older brother to her and so I often misread “Hii-chan” (this is how Nami addresses him) as “Nii-chan” XD Oops. But it’s truly very super cute!
There’s another guy whom Nami is very close to: her childhood friend Arashi. Pls, here, let me state what I’ve been thinking the entire time and since he’s her childhood friend, it’s actually not even a spoiler because anyone but Nami can guess it a mile off, he’s totally into her. It’s so sweet how much he cares for her and is protective and worried. Everything a lover ought to be! I’m swooning. Okay, i know, Naru wants to get Nami and well, due to the sorcerer’s spell he even has to get her, I wholeheartedly hope, Arashi and Nami will get their time to shine as pairing because he really loves her and I’m afraid he’ll end up giving her to another guy (maybe Naru) because he loves her enough to let her go. Woah, I’m already crying.
Back to the story. After a while Naru attends school with Nami (and her friends). I love all the scenes at school and with her friends. The dynamics between Naru and Arashi (of course) are heated and energetic XD But there’s another character I came to find highly interesting on first sight! His name is Ryou. And he has secrets! With him, the story gets more thrill. The way he treats Naru shouldn’t have entertained me as much as it indeed did. No regrets, though. I’m okay, if characters I like have to suffer once in a while. Besides, this makes every story bit more authentic. Furthermore, Ryou for sure will bring even more thrill, I’m sure of it.
Actually, I can’t really decide yet but I really love all three males almost equally: Naru, Arashi and Ryou. Each of them for different reasons, though :3 Plus, they are such eye candy!
In the end, we see the sorcerer Mellow once again and as assumed, he’s really up to more than just helping Naru to get the girl he’s fallen for. As said, this is no surprise because it’s much like Ursula’s hidden motives from the original story. But that’s fine and I honestly would have hated it, if Mellow indeed was a nice guy who just seeks to help. I yearn for action, thrill and danger and risks, oh and for intrigues! So I’m satisfied, it seems I’ll get those^^
To come to an end, though hyped and impatiently expected, this even surpassed my expectations and hopes. I’ve been 100% satisfied with this first volume of a new series and I’m looking forward to the next installment, which can’t come soon enough, to my mind!
Tiny bonus:
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September 18, 2020
What did I just read? This has to be not only the weirdest Little Mermaid retelling I've read (and that's even counting the off-the-wall fanfic a friend of mine and I wrote back in the day!), but one of the weirder manga I've read in a while.
So the story is of 21-year-old Naru, a merman who falls head-over-fins for a human girl. Like the Little Mermaid, he makes a trade for human legs and goes to the surface to be with the girl he loves... The problem is, she's not at all what he was expecting, and so his dreams come crashing down around him. Having traded his good looks (and apparently, that includes de-aging as well), he now has a year to make her fall in love with him or else he'll turn into seafoam.
This is a silly rom-com starring a clueless merman-turned-high schooler and the spunky girl he totally misjudged and fell in love with (and is falling in love with all over again, now that he's getting to know her). They constantly squabble and I think the road to them liking each other will be chaotic but rewarding if it keeps going the way it is in this first volume.
The art is pleasant and the laughs are pretty solid so far, even if some of the jokes result in me laughing while cringing and setting the book aside for a bit.
If I had one complaint, it's that Naru is so much older than the female lead (even if he has all the maturity of a 14-year-old he's still 21). There's also a comment from the author that in the original version, Naru had given up his voice like in the fairy tale, and part of me really wishes we could have seen how that played out, but it is what it is.
I think I'll keep reading this insane Little Mermaid.
So the story is of 21-year-old Naru, a merman who falls head-over-fins for a human girl. Like the Little Mermaid, he makes a trade for human legs and goes to the surface to be with the girl he loves... The problem is, she's not at all what he was expecting, and so his dreams come crashing down around him. Having traded his good looks (and apparently, that includes de-aging as well), he now has a year to make her fall in love with him or else he'll turn into seafoam.
This is a silly rom-com starring a clueless merman-turned-high schooler and the spunky girl he totally misjudged and fell in love with (and is falling in love with all over again, now that he's getting to know her). They constantly squabble and I think the road to them liking each other will be chaotic but rewarding if it keeps going the way it is in this first volume.
The art is pleasant and the laughs are pretty solid so far, even if some of the jokes result in me laughing while cringing and setting the book aside for a bit.
If I had one complaint, it's that Naru is so much older than the female lead (even if he has all the maturity of a 14-year-old he's still 21). There's also a comment from the author that in the original version, Naru had given up his voice like in the fairy tale, and part of me really wishes we could have seen how that played out, but it is what it is.
I think I'll keep reading this insane Little Mermaid.
January 21, 2019
Interesting little mermaid genderbent retelling. There were a few sexist things said that I get are part of Japanese culture but kind of rubbed me wrong. OVerall I'm interested to see where this goes.
September 7, 2023
It is your typical shojo manga with romance and drama and the like. This is a little mermaid retelling and it’s an alright start but it really isn’t anything stellar to write home. I would be interested in seeing if that changes as the series goes on.
August 12, 2021
So hilarious and cute! I really enjoyed the story and even though it is just the begining setting the story up to be like the little mermaid, it soon Changes with twists in the story and becomes even better.
Mermaid boys volume 1 by Yomi Sarachi get a 9.2/10 stars.
Mermaid boys volume 1 by Yomi Sarachi get a 9.2/10 stars.
April 11, 2019
It’s a genderbend Little Mermaid... That’s literally all it is. Well, a few tweaks here and there, considering Naru can still talk and switch back and forth between human and merman. But he will turn into sea foam if anyone finds out. Any human anyway.
As a character, Naru is a bit more interesting because he’s selfish and arrogant even though he doesn’t know the first thing about being human. Therefore he has plenty of potential for character growth.
As a character, Naru is a bit more interesting because he’s selfish and arrogant even though he doesn’t know the first thing about being human. Therefore he has plenty of potential for character growth.
July 22, 2019
Omg, this manga is so cute! The characters are all a lot of fun and the story, while inspired by The Little Mermaid, doesn't feel stale. I really liked this manga and look forward to reading the next volume!
P.S. Hot damn, why are all the guys in this manga so attractive????
P.S. Hot damn, why are all the guys in this manga so attractive????
July 8, 2024
4.5🌟
SUMMARY
naru, prince of the merfolk, is expected to choose a bride to assume the throne. he is supposed to find a suitable mermaid but instead he sets his sight on a human. he’s offered a deal to become human for one year in exchange for something of value to him.
nami sakuragai tried to save a fish but she slipped and fell into the ocean. she was rescued by a merman. she finds a man washed up along the shore with no memories. she brings him back to the inn she owns.
🌊 forbidden love
🌊 he-falls-first
🌊 forced proximity
🌊 hidden identity
SPOILERS
it’s giving reverse the little mermaid. naru desperately wants to become a human, and rebels against the idea of living as a merman. he instantly falls for a human woman, and would choose to give up everything to become a human himself. just like ariel used to collect human trinkets, naru found a pair of panties in the human world but he thought it was a hat.
he was initially supposed to choose a bride at eighteen but he was reluctant to look. at twenty-one, he is expected to finally fulfill his obligation, asked for find a bride.
he’s taken into custody by the shark coast guard after interfering with humans. he saved her from drowning but it violated article 145 of the ocean floor law. he’s sentenced to six months of confinement and to never return to the surface. shackles are placed on his wrists that will heat his body if he tries to leave the ocean.
his mother, queen lorelei, lost her little sister to humans. she gives him a harsh sentence. his father, king haruf, didn’t object to his son’s punishment. interestingly, their society is set up as a matriarchy so his mother has all the power.
the sorcerer mellow is serving life in confinement. naru refuses to give up his voice, knowing it would be nearly impossible to communicate with the humans otherwise. he traded his good looks for his human body. he has one year to make a connection with her or else he’ll turn into sea foam.
he claims that he has no memory and is offered a place to live at her inn. he is even enrolled into the local academy. there’s a student that knows his secret, blackmailing him to do his bidding or else he’ll out him to the public. he’s been a human for the past eight years, wanting to kill a human.
naru still has the ability to transform into a merman if his skin makes contact with salt water. he has to be super careful at the beach so his true identity isn’t revealed to the humans.
it ends in a cliffhanger. loa, another merman, went to the surface to monitor naru. the sorcerer clearly wants to sabotage his plans to win over his true love.
SUMMARY
naru, prince of the merfolk, is expected to choose a bride to assume the throne. he is supposed to find a suitable mermaid but instead he sets his sight on a human. he’s offered a deal to become human for one year in exchange for something of value to him.
nami sakuragai tried to save a fish but she slipped and fell into the ocean. she was rescued by a merman. she finds a man washed up along the shore with no memories. she brings him back to the inn she owns.
🌊 forbidden love
🌊 he-falls-first
🌊 forced proximity
🌊 hidden identity
SPOILERS
it’s giving reverse the little mermaid. naru desperately wants to become a human, and rebels against the idea of living as a merman. he instantly falls for a human woman, and would choose to give up everything to become a human himself. just like ariel used to collect human trinkets, naru found a pair of panties in the human world but he thought it was a hat.
he was initially supposed to choose a bride at eighteen but he was reluctant to look. at twenty-one, he is expected to finally fulfill his obligation, asked for find a bride.
he’s taken into custody by the shark coast guard after interfering with humans. he saved her from drowning but it violated article 145 of the ocean floor law. he’s sentenced to six months of confinement and to never return to the surface. shackles are placed on his wrists that will heat his body if he tries to leave the ocean.
his mother, queen lorelei, lost her little sister to humans. she gives him a harsh sentence. his father, king haruf, didn’t object to his son’s punishment. interestingly, their society is set up as a matriarchy so his mother has all the power.
the sorcerer mellow is serving life in confinement. naru refuses to give up his voice, knowing it would be nearly impossible to communicate with the humans otherwise. he traded his good looks for his human body. he has one year to make a connection with her or else he’ll turn into sea foam.
he claims that he has no memory and is offered a place to live at her inn. he is even enrolled into the local academy. there’s a student that knows his secret, blackmailing him to do his bidding or else he’ll out him to the public. he’s been a human for the past eight years, wanting to kill a human.
naru still has the ability to transform into a merman if his skin makes contact with salt water. he has to be super careful at the beach so his true identity isn’t revealed to the humans.
it ends in a cliffhanger. loa, another merman, went to the surface to monitor naru. the sorcerer clearly wants to sabotage his plans to win over his true love.
July 21, 2019
Den Manga hatte ich eine Weile auf dem Wunschzettel und als er dann zu einem angenehmen Preis zu bekommen war, schlug ich zu. Und Gott sei Dank, denn der Manga gehört zu den Manga Highlights, die ich bisher in diesem Jahr gelesen habe.
Die Handlung ist eigentlich recht linear und einfach, aber sie wird gut durch Text und Bild umgesetzt. Vor allem aber macht der Humor es so unterhaltsam und auch der wird sowohl in Textform, am besten aber in den Zeichnungen, herübergebracht. Prinz Naru ist ein Hitzkopf und auch ganz schön verwöhnt. Nun soll er standesgemäß eine Meerjungfrau heiraten, aber er ist von der Menschenwelt fasziniert und träumt davon eine Menschenfrau zu heiraten. Auf Wegen, die ich hier nicht erklären möchte, kommt er in einer deutlich jüngeren Form dann in die Menschenwelt und muss nun mit diesen erschwerten Bedingungen seinen Schwarm Nami für sich gewinnen. Das stellt sich alles andere als leicht heraus, da er sich in der Menschenwelt und deren Gepflogenheiten nicht auskennt. Er eckt ganz schön mit Nami an, die zwar durchaus süß und zurückhaltend wirkt, aber sich auch durchzusetzen weiß. Kleinere Nebenstränge in der Handlung machen es noch interessanter und es treten einige Nebencharaktere auf. Naru muss aufpassen, dass niemand hinter sein Geheimnis kommt, da sonst etwas schreckliches mit ihm passieren wird. Aber es gibt Charaktere die ihn da ganz schön in Gefahr bringen.
Ich finde dies Story für einen Manga wirklich interessant und unterhaltsam umgesetzt und ich bin richtig gespannt wie es weiter geht. Mich ärgert nur der hohe Preis der Bände und somit muss ich wohl warten bis ich die nächsten beiden Bände mal im Angebot bekomme.
Der Zeichenstil ist ebenfalls richtig toll. Wie oben schon erwähnt, bringt Yomi Sarachi den Humor wirklich toll in seinen Bildern wieder. Die Mimik und Gestik der Charaktere ist aussagekräftig und die Szenen abwechslungsreich.
Story 5,0/5
Zeichenstil 4,6/5
Charaktere 4,6/5
Gesamt 5,0/5
Die Handlung ist eigentlich recht linear und einfach, aber sie wird gut durch Text und Bild umgesetzt. Vor allem aber macht der Humor es so unterhaltsam und auch der wird sowohl in Textform, am besten aber in den Zeichnungen, herübergebracht. Prinz Naru ist ein Hitzkopf und auch ganz schön verwöhnt. Nun soll er standesgemäß eine Meerjungfrau heiraten, aber er ist von der Menschenwelt fasziniert und träumt davon eine Menschenfrau zu heiraten. Auf Wegen, die ich hier nicht erklären möchte, kommt er in einer deutlich jüngeren Form dann in die Menschenwelt und muss nun mit diesen erschwerten Bedingungen seinen Schwarm Nami für sich gewinnen. Das stellt sich alles andere als leicht heraus, da er sich in der Menschenwelt und deren Gepflogenheiten nicht auskennt. Er eckt ganz schön mit Nami an, die zwar durchaus süß und zurückhaltend wirkt, aber sich auch durchzusetzen weiß. Kleinere Nebenstränge in der Handlung machen es noch interessanter und es treten einige Nebencharaktere auf. Naru muss aufpassen, dass niemand hinter sein Geheimnis kommt, da sonst etwas schreckliches mit ihm passieren wird. Aber es gibt Charaktere die ihn da ganz schön in Gefahr bringen.
Ich finde dies Story für einen Manga wirklich interessant und unterhaltsam umgesetzt und ich bin richtig gespannt wie es weiter geht. Mich ärgert nur der hohe Preis der Bände und somit muss ich wohl warten bis ich die nächsten beiden Bände mal im Angebot bekomme.
Der Zeichenstil ist ebenfalls richtig toll. Wie oben schon erwähnt, bringt Yomi Sarachi den Humor wirklich toll in seinen Bildern wieder. Die Mimik und Gestik der Charaktere ist aussagekräftig und die Szenen abwechslungsreich.
Story 5,0/5
Zeichenstil 4,6/5
Charaktere 4,6/5
Gesamt 5,0/5
July 9, 2023
✨ 3 stars ✨
1st manga read for my 30 mangas in 30 days challenge
Mermaid Boys, Vol. 1 by Yomi Sarachi introduces Prince Naru as he is at a turning point in his life and must choose a mermaid to wed. However, Naru is distracted from this choice by his fascination with the human world. This distraction leads him to see a human girl named Nami and fall head over tail with her. Prince Naru begins to wish that he was human, and after being punished by his mother for going to the surface, he makes a deal with a sea sorcerer to give up his good looks to pursue Nami on land.
Mermaid Boys was a fun read and a twist on the little mermaid story. Prince Naru is asked what he will give up to receive human legs and refuses at the thought of giving up his voice, but you can have his good looks! He will also turn to seafoam if he reveals his deal with the sorcerer or does not have a connection with Nami after a year.
I wished that the dislike between Nami and Naru came from other types of miscommunication throughout the story, as Naru comes off as a pervert most of the time because he does not understand human interactions and customs. It would have been refreshing to have this trope used differently and not continually have Naru act/come off as a pervert just got tiring.
I look forward to seeing how the story continues in volume two.
tropes: mermaids/mermen, love at first sight, unrequited love, dislike-to-lovers, fairytale retelling, little-mermaid retelling, miscommunication
If you are looking for similar anime, My Bride is a Mermaid would be a good match for Mermaid Boys.
1st manga read for my 30 mangas in 30 days challenge
Mermaid Boys, Vol. 1 by Yomi Sarachi introduces Prince Naru as he is at a turning point in his life and must choose a mermaid to wed. However, Naru is distracted from this choice by his fascination with the human world. This distraction leads him to see a human girl named Nami and fall head over tail with her. Prince Naru begins to wish that he was human, and after being punished by his mother for going to the surface, he makes a deal with a sea sorcerer to give up his good looks to pursue Nami on land.
Mermaid Boys was a fun read and a twist on the little mermaid story. Prince Naru is asked what he will give up to receive human legs and refuses at the thought of giving up his voice, but you can have his good looks! He will also turn to seafoam if he reveals his deal with the sorcerer or does not have a connection with Nami after a year.
I wished that the dislike between Nami and Naru came from other types of miscommunication throughout the story, as Naru comes off as a pervert most of the time because he does not understand human interactions and customs. It would have been refreshing to have this trope used differently and not continually have Naru act/come off as a pervert just got tiring.
I look forward to seeing how the story continues in volume two.
tropes: mermaids/mermen, love at first sight, unrequited love, dislike-to-lovers, fairytale retelling, little-mermaid retelling, miscommunication
If you are looking for similar anime, My Bride is a Mermaid would be a good match for Mermaid Boys.
August 13, 2021
This manga was so cute!! Most fairy tale adaptations are not my favorite, very few catch my eye, but this manga definitely was calling to me!
I personally love anything that has to do with mermaids, or just the ocean in general!
It literally had me HOOKED! It was so funny, and I loved every page! From cover to cover!
Naru is a very cute character, especially how curious and excited he gets about the human world. His adventure is very stressful, dangerous, and fun! How adventures should be!
Nami is ALSO cute, and she is also a pretty great female character, even if she is the romantic interest. She actually has depths to her character, and I hope volume 2 does her justice!
The designs of the characters are also very beautifully drawn. I had to read pages over again, just so I could look at the art style of the characters again and again!
The design? Check.
Good characters? Check.
Now, the story is also good, since it takes the elements of the original "The Little Mermaid" and a splash of magic, I think it does justice and makes an even better story. Naru has to get Nami to fall in love with him within a year, which is a lot more reasonable than a day like the Disney version. Naru actually gets to know Nami, not just her looks!
Story? Check!
This was a great read, and made me very happy!
Thank you for making this, Yomi Sarachi!
I personally love anything that has to do with mermaids, or just the ocean in general!
It literally had me HOOKED! It was so funny, and I loved every page! From cover to cover!
Naru is a very cute character, especially how curious and excited he gets about the human world. His adventure is very stressful, dangerous, and fun! How adventures should be!
Nami is ALSO cute, and she is also a pretty great female character, even if she is the romantic interest. She actually has depths to her character, and I hope volume 2 does her justice!
The designs of the characters are also very beautifully drawn. I had to read pages over again, just so I could look at the art style of the characters again and again!
The design? Check.
Good characters? Check.
Now, the story is also good, since it takes the elements of the original "The Little Mermaid" and a splash of magic, I think it does justice and makes an even better story. Naru has to get Nami to fall in love with him within a year, which is a lot more reasonable than a day like the Disney version. Naru actually gets to know Nami, not just her looks!
Story? Check!
This was a great read, and made me very happy!
Thank you for making this, Yomi Sarachi!
June 19, 2018
For my full review, visit here!
Mermaid Boys (aka Let’s Draw Tons of Men Shirtless and Justify It Because “Mermen”) is the manga fractured fairytale romp I’ve been waiting for without knowing it. It operates on the premise that you already have watched Disney’s The Little Mermaid (which is probably a safe bet if you’re picking up a mermaid themed manga) so it can jam through the main opening plot points of the movie with the beautiful twist that instead of Princess Ariel, we have Prince Naru.
Naru is 21, heir to the throne, a total hottie, and obsessed with the Human World much to his mother’s chagrin. In a culture where most royalty are expected to marry by age 18, Naru is bucking tradition by remaining single… and then he sees her.
After falling in love at first sight with a human girl, and then saving her from drowning (but someone else taking the credit) Naru will do whatever it takes to become human too. This is where the stories really divulge. Instead of giving up his voice, Naru will give up his hotness to become a human. Can this average looking boy win the love of the girl his heart longs for?
Mermaid Boys (aka Let’s Draw Tons of Men Shirtless and Justify It Because “Mermen”) is the manga fractured fairytale romp I’ve been waiting for without knowing it. It operates on the premise that you already have watched Disney’s The Little Mermaid (which is probably a safe bet if you’re picking up a mermaid themed manga) so it can jam through the main opening plot points of the movie with the beautiful twist that instead of Princess Ariel, we have Prince Naru.
Naru is 21, heir to the throne, a total hottie, and obsessed with the Human World much to his mother’s chagrin. In a culture where most royalty are expected to marry by age 18, Naru is bucking tradition by remaining single… and then he sees her.
After falling in love at first sight with a human girl, and then saving her from drowning (but someone else taking the credit) Naru will do whatever it takes to become human too. This is where the stories really divulge. Instead of giving up his voice, Naru will give up his hotness to become a human. Can this average looking boy win the love of the girl his heart longs for?
June 20, 2018
I really like the art style, and the story is a little similar to The Little Mermaid, but has its differences. The characters are interesting, and Naru is always put into these funny and ridiculous situations. He is trying to adapt and learn how to live as a human. Since this is a modern take on The Little Mermaid and gender flip, it will take more than love at first sight for the romance to move forward. This manga shows that you can't judge a book by its cover, and believe who that person is like just by their outer appearance. Not only does Naru has to make Nami fall in love with him, but he will also need to fall in love with Nami's true self. The relationship between Naru and Nami in the beginning make the development of the romance more interesting, and it progress slowly in a positive way. There are other characters that might interfere with Naru's plan of becoming human permanently. I hope the second volume will flesh out the minor characters more. I overall enjoy the story, characters, and art style, and I believe this manga has the potential of getting better in future volumes. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
November 17, 2021
A very humorous retelling of the Story of 'The Little Mermaid' that I could NOT wait to start. It definitely hits the nail right on the head and gave me exactly what I was expecting. A short and hilarious story about mermaid royalty in the modern world. This manga is perfect for anyone who is looking for a cute story they can get investing in without wanting to read a ton of volumes. I love how much it threw me for a loop with the way things started going towards the end. I was invested from the moment I picked it up until the second I put it down. My only disappointment is the fact that the series is unfortunately on hiatus and has been since vol 3 came out in 2018. I don't want to get myself further invested in a series that will most likely not be finished, or at least not while I'm still interested.
October 25, 2019
This one is basically a genderbent of "The Little Mermaid" except the 21 year old prince turns into a not-as-attractive shorter 15 yr old teenage boy and the girl has essentially a reverse harem of guys that will be pursuing her. Naru is a so-beautiful-he's-almost-feminine prince who has to marry a mermaid but can't pick one, and then of course falls in love with a human female. I actually liked Nami and her back story, but am interested to see how the sea wizard's plans to turn human will impact Naru's attempt to get with her before a year is out. I am curious to read more volumes to see what happens next! Recommended for ages 14+, 4 stars.
April 24, 2018
I found the first book absolutely adorable! I will be getting the rest!
It kind if reminded me of the little mermaid with a dash of Cinderella but instead if a princess its a prince, and instead of Ursula, there's a sea serpent.
I'm interested to see where the author takes the story. if she keeps the same story line of Disney's version or if she will go with the Hans Christian Andersen story or go with her own.
Can't wait to see where she takes it!
It kind if reminded me of the little mermaid with a dash of Cinderella but instead if a princess its a prince, and instead of Ursula, there's a sea serpent.
I'm interested to see where the author takes the story. if she keeps the same story line of Disney's version or if she will go with the Hans Christian Andersen story or go with her own.
Can't wait to see where she takes it!
July 31, 2022
Completed the first three volumes and there seems to be nothing else out at the moment :(
Damn, I was actually getting pretty invested.
There are just a lot of potential couples, unrequited romances, and compelling deadlines that I want to see played out. I wasn't completely convinced that I liked this series after the first volume, but by the third it gets a bit more intense.
Ahhh, this is why I hate starting incomplete manga~~~
Damn, I was actually getting pretty invested.
There are just a lot of potential couples, unrequited romances, and compelling deadlines that I want to see played out. I wasn't completely convinced that I liked this series after the first volume, but by the third it gets a bit more intense.
Ahhh, this is why I hate starting incomplete manga~~~
January 8, 2020
I enjoyed this! It's not a new favorite, but I thought it was cute and it made me giggle a few times. It did have a few parts that made me cringe (homophobia, pervert jokes, convenient plot lines, etc.), so that definitely does detract from my overall enjoyement.
I will be reading the next ones to see what goes down in this series!
I will be reading the next ones to see what goes down in this series!
April 10, 2022
This series is one of my all time favorite retellings of The Little Mermaid. Something about the Little Mermaid being gender bent with a modern twist (not to mention other fascinating twists) just makes it really fun. I really really really really really really really hope the author continues and finishes it and it's not going to end at book 3
January 13, 2024
From what I've read so far, it's a pretty clear gender flipped version of The Little Mermaid. While this sounds very cliche, it comes off refreshing and the main character very likable in a youthful way. The conflict in the story keeps reader interest with anticipation rather than predictability.
I can tell it's going to be lighthearted and comedic. The art is also beautifully clean.
I can tell it's going to be lighthearted and comedic. The art is also beautifully clean.
March 16, 2018
This is basically a humorous gender-flipped version of "The Little Mermaid" where the merman in question is smart enough not to give up his voice...and quickly learns that falling in love with someone from afar is rarely a good idea.
Full Review Eventually Appearing on ANN.
Full Review Eventually Appearing on ANN.
May 24, 2018
This is a comedic spin off of the Little Mermaid. Originally I thought it would be a proper shojo manga, however, it is certainly not suitable for a young audience- don't let the pretty mer boy on the front cover fool you. this novel is in a similar category as Rosario and Vampire.
September 25, 2018
Very male-centered for a shoujo series; the female lead doesn't have any kind of personality yet, and usually the heroine gets a pretty decent one. The male lead is gross and has pretty typical feelings of entitlement for the girl he's lusting over. I didn't personally find his perverted antics funny, just disturbing.
Not really a series for me!
Also, why are there marshmallows in the ocean?
Not really a series for me!
Also, why are there marshmallows in the ocean?
March 26, 2019
Interesting premise and overall ok. Interesting characters and some good humor.
But oh boy, the perversion and sexual harassment was ick. I get it, Naru doesn't know how humans work but I feel like that's just a cover for fan service. Also, a 21 yr old lusting after a high schooler... *shivers*
But oh boy, the perversion and sexual harassment was ick. I get it, Naru doesn't know how humans work but I feel like that's just a cover for fan service. Also, a 21 yr old lusting after a high schooler... *shivers*
October 27, 2021
Prince Naru, a merman, gives up some of his good looks to gain legs so he can go after a human girl he likes.
This is so fluffy and light that it's a 'not for me'. If you like rom-coms that include a 14-year-old (physically - he's 21 mentally), here you are.
This is so fluffy and light that it's a 'not for me'. If you like rom-coms that include a 14-year-old (physically - he's 21 mentally), here you are.
December 6, 2025
I don't typically go for rom coms but this was pretty great. I love the art and the characters are enjoyable despite the major second hand embarrassment.
The plot is interesting and I plan to try and get volume 2 soon because it leaves off with a huge cliffhanger and revelation.
The plot is interesting and I plan to try and get volume 2 soon because it leaves off with a huge cliffhanger and revelation.
January 8, 2026
I'm beginning to think that I'm getting too old for certain types of manga. Though the art is really nice in most places, the story is just incredibly cringy to get through. Not sure if I'll continue it or not.
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