What do you think?
Rate this book
The Classical Kingdoms #5
Silent Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid
How does a silent mermaid win a war of song? How does she break the siren song of another that holds her beloved captive?
After being touched by the sun at birth, Princess Arianna has grown up imprisoned between two worlds, neither fully mermaid nor fully human. Her life is one of solitude and dreams. But when she loses her family and her kingdom in a war between man and merfolk, she is forced to flee into the arms of the very people who want nothing to do with her kind. Her only hope of protection lies in the penniless prince that she once saved and his two boisterous nieces.
Prince Michael is at his wit's end. After the great maritime war, he must clean up the pieces of neglect, folly, and evil that his grandfather has left behind. With his people starving and his treasury nearly empty, the familiar girl from the past that falls piteously at his feet cannot be afforded his attention. He has only the resources and time for the barest of good deeds to pay back that which she gave him. But the more Michael begins to hear the girl beneath her silence, the more he realizes she just might be the distraction he cannot survive without.
All the while, a darkness is beginning to poison the ocean, and an evil foreseen by neither Arianna nor Michael threatens the very existence of both peoples. If they wish to restore their kingdoms, Arianna and Michael will need to reassess their alliances, their beliefs, and an ancient prophecy that's been all but forgotten. Most importantly, however, they will need to decide whether or not they can move past their personal pain and trust one another. Because if they can't, everything and everyone they love will fall.
Buy Silent Mermaid to escape into the world of the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a set of fairy tale retellings for grownups who still believe in sacrifice, true love, and the magic of happily-ever-afters. Silent Mermaid is fifth in the Classical Kingdoms Collection but can be read as a stand-alone book.
After being touched by the sun at birth, Princess Arianna has grown up imprisoned between two worlds, neither fully mermaid nor fully human. Her life is one of solitude and dreams. But when she loses her family and her kingdom in a war between man and merfolk, she is forced to flee into the arms of the very people who want nothing to do with her kind. Her only hope of protection lies in the penniless prince that she once saved and his two boisterous nieces.
Prince Michael is at his wit's end. After the great maritime war, he must clean up the pieces of neglect, folly, and evil that his grandfather has left behind. With his people starving and his treasury nearly empty, the familiar girl from the past that falls piteously at his feet cannot be afforded his attention. He has only the resources and time for the barest of good deeds to pay back that which she gave him. But the more Michael begins to hear the girl beneath her silence, the more he realizes she just might be the distraction he cannot survive without.
All the while, a darkness is beginning to poison the ocean, and an evil foreseen by neither Arianna nor Michael threatens the very existence of both peoples. If they wish to restore their kingdoms, Arianna and Michael will need to reassess their alliances, their beliefs, and an ancient prophecy that's been all but forgotten. Most importantly, however, they will need to decide whether or not they can move past their personal pain and trust one another. Because if they can't, everything and everyone they love will fall.
Buy Silent Mermaid to escape into the world of the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a set of fairy tale retellings for grownups who still believe in sacrifice, true love, and the magic of happily-ever-afters. Silent Mermaid is fifth in the Classical Kingdoms Collection but can be read as a stand-alone book.
430 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
193 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Fichter
72 books604 followersBrittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their tiny prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found chasing her kids around with a DSLR or belting it in the church choir. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 16, 2017
It's always a pleasant surprise to find an indie fairy tale retelling that reads like a real novel rather than a fanfic that costs money. This book has imaginative worldbuilding and some excellent characters. I especially liked the first half of the book, with the main character's unique disabilities and the intricate political plotline.
The story becomes more muddled once the villain shows up and entangles the story in complicated plans that don't quite make sense. Also, some of the MC's problems are solved too easily, some of the kissing scenes get a bit too close to steamy, and there are some slightly distracting errors in research or worldbuilding logic. But it was overall a very pleasant, sophisticated fairy tale retelling, and one of the best Little Mermaid retellings I've come across.
The story becomes more muddled once the villain shows up and entangles the story in complicated plans that don't quite make sense. Also, some of the MC's problems are solved too easily, some of the kissing scenes get a bit too close to steamy, and there are some slightly distracting errors in research or worldbuilding logic. But it was overall a very pleasant, sophisticated fairy tale retelling, and one of the best Little Mermaid retellings I've come across.
April 16, 2019
I thought the world building of this book was amazing. There are so many mermaid books out there that come off as cheesy or unrealistic in their portrayals, but this wasn’t one of them. The world was so fleshed out that I could perfectly picture every scene and every location. Props to the author for this amazing writing.
As for the characters, they both were extremely strong. I loved seeing characters with real flaws. Too often the prince or love interest is perfect, but the author made them feel like real people.
My only complaint would have to be with the plot. The first half was amazing. The relationship was able to build over time and there were plenty of funny moments. However....
Spoilers ahead!!
The final battles were just way too drawn out. I felt like so much could’ve been avoided if they had just told people what was going on. Not to mention, her voice seemed to come and go whenever it felt like it. The same thing seemed to happen with the prince becoming a merman. It just kept going back and forth so much that I actually started to get annoyed. There were also a number of times that I thought the fight was over and that they had won, but then out of nowhere, they were losing and fighting again. If the author had just edited out a little bit of the fighting or her training with the revolutionaries, this book would’ve been a definite 5 stars.
Lastly, I was just annoyed with the main heroine’s family. They kept telling her that they loved her and that they were doing all of this to keep her safe, but their actions said other words. They didn’t treat her like she was family. They constantly left her out and then they physically left her behind. I don’t know a mother that would leave her daughter behind just because it made their journey slightly more dangerous. There were so many other solutions to that problem, but they just chose the simplest route and left her in a dangerous area with absolutely no protection.
Nevertheless, this book was still amazing despite its flaws. I loved the epilogue. It felt like the perfect way to close out the book. I will definitely read this author again!!
As for the characters, they both were extremely strong. I loved seeing characters with real flaws. Too often the prince or love interest is perfect, but the author made them feel like real people.
My only complaint would have to be with the plot. The first half was amazing. The relationship was able to build over time and there were plenty of funny moments. However....
Spoilers ahead!!
The final battles were just way too drawn out. I felt like so much could’ve been avoided if they had just told people what was going on. Not to mention, her voice seemed to come and go whenever it felt like it. The same thing seemed to happen with the prince becoming a merman. It just kept going back and forth so much that I actually started to get annoyed. There were also a number of times that I thought the fight was over and that they had won, but then out of nowhere, they were losing and fighting again. If the author had just edited out a little bit of the fighting or her training with the revolutionaries, this book would’ve been a definite 5 stars.
Lastly, I was just annoyed with the main heroine’s family. They kept telling her that they loved her and that they were doing all of this to keep her safe, but their actions said other words. They didn’t treat her like she was family. They constantly left her out and then they physically left her behind. I don’t know a mother that would leave her daughter behind just because it made their journey slightly more dangerous. There were so many other solutions to that problem, but they just chose the simplest route and left her in a dangerous area with absolutely no protection.
Nevertheless, this book was still amazing despite its flaws. I loved the epilogue. It felt like the perfect way to close out the book. I will definitely read this author again!!
January 16, 2018
As much as I adore Disney I tend to roll my eyes when a fairy tale retelling follows the movie so closely. However, The Little Mermaid is kind of a difficult beast. The Disney film is one of the few I really dislike, and the original by Hans Christian Anderson is kind of a bummer.
This book followed the Disney film plot loosely and then improved on it. I liked it a lot! I've read another book by this author and enjoyed it as well. She really excells at making her foreign cultures seem real. The mermaid city felt weird, different, and real.
This book followed the Disney film plot loosely and then improved on it. I liked it a lot! I've read another book by this author and enjoyed it as well. She really excells at making her foreign cultures seem real. The mermaid city felt weird, different, and real.
June 8, 2019
Oh. My. Word.
Kay, this one was amazing. I mean, Fichter does amazing work anyway, but I adored this stunning retelling of The Little Mermaid. I just finished the novel and I want to go back and read it again! I distinctly remember looking down at around 30-40% and just being giddy that I knew I had so much more left to read! Then around 60%, my heart sank just a little cause I knew I was over halfway through, but still so enthralled in the story that I couldn't put it down. I borrowed this one on my kindle, but I plan to buy a physical copy asap just so I can read it all over again whenever I want!
The plot follows the classic Little Mermaid tale, but in such a beautifully unique way! I loved the prophesy that Fichter intertwined and the way she expanded on the classic elements and deepened them, drawing the reader into a much more significant story. The political upheaval and intrigue, the contrast between the sea and sun worlds were compelling and intriguing. The pirates added a whole new layer to the story, too. Oh, and Michael's nieces and the sea witch were such cool characters that drew the plot to new depths.
I can honestly say I just drooled over each of the characters in this one. The prince had so much more depth than any Disney prince ever did (as much as I love them!). He was a bit of a puzzle to me, and I loved trying to solve him. I loved learning about his motivations and his family really made him the kind of man you can look up to and respect. His younger brother and his nieces drew the kind of Michael out that I just loved. Lucas was precious and I am so stoked to read his story!! His mother even drew out a side of him that added yet another layer to him. His past relationships, which we didn't get to witness as the reader, shaped him and we got to see the effect of them on him. Similarly, our mermaid had a brother whom I would have loved to see more of! (We need a story with him and Michael!) I was rather curious about Arianna's parents (and her grandparents and aunt and uncle, for that matter). I could have dug more into their backstory and am still kind of stewing on what of it we did get--not that it was an unsatisfactory amount. Fichter writes the kinds of characters that inspire me to find the best in others and to be the best I can be myself. She writes the kinds of characters I want to surround myself with, to be lifelong friends with, and the kinds of characters I thoroughly enjoy reading about.
Hand in hand, the worldbuilding in this book was to die for! I could spend an eternity swimming around in Fichter's sea! I really, really hope she does a follow up one day! The mermaid culture she created was thrilling! I want to know more about the Deeps, spend more time in the mercourt and the villages to see how the charm makers make their charms and how the korses run their community. It was such a lively and vivid picture to behold. I loved the oddity of Arianna and the struggle she faced as a result of belonging in neither world. I truly related to her through most of the book and appreciated her vulnerability. I thought her silence was beautiful and I liked seeing how she navigated around it, and how others navigated around her. I liked how that drew out her strengths and contributed to some of her insecurities, too. She fascinated me, honestly, and I commend her on her poise and bravery. She was fierce and loyal, loving and kind, and, again, the kind of character you strive to be. Her struggle with her faith and the Maker was different than Fichter's previous books. I liked seeing how she grew. She handled pain in much the same way that many of us do, but she also learned to grow and to trust. I thought it was fun to see the world through her eyes (and, of course, I loved seeing it through Michael's!). The surface world was just as detailed and colorful as the sea world was. I hope we get a glimpse of the Sun Palace as it thrives again in the future!
Another absolutely excellent addition to the Classical Kingdoms world and to my fairy tale repertoire. I will treasure this one and read it over and over and over again. Thank you, Mrs. Fichter, for breathing life into this story and sharing it with the world.
No foul language, some mild fantasy violence--not graphic--and a sweet, realistic, simmering romance! Nothing more explicit than a kiss. I'd be fine giving this to an early teen or probably even pre-teen. And I'd recommend it to any fairy tale, mermaid, fantasy, or simply story-loving reader! I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this one, guys, and you will, too.
Kay, this one was amazing. I mean, Fichter does amazing work anyway, but I adored this stunning retelling of The Little Mermaid. I just finished the novel and I want to go back and read it again! I distinctly remember looking down at around 30-40% and just being giddy that I knew I had so much more left to read! Then around 60%, my heart sank just a little cause I knew I was over halfway through, but still so enthralled in the story that I couldn't put it down. I borrowed this one on my kindle, but I plan to buy a physical copy asap just so I can read it all over again whenever I want!
The plot follows the classic Little Mermaid tale, but in such a beautifully unique way! I loved the prophesy that Fichter intertwined and the way she expanded on the classic elements and deepened them, drawing the reader into a much more significant story. The political upheaval and intrigue, the contrast between the sea and sun worlds were compelling and intriguing. The pirates added a whole new layer to the story, too. Oh, and Michael's nieces and the sea witch were such cool characters that drew the plot to new depths.
I can honestly say I just drooled over each of the characters in this one. The prince had so much more depth than any Disney prince ever did (as much as I love them!). He was a bit of a puzzle to me, and I loved trying to solve him. I loved learning about his motivations and his family really made him the kind of man you can look up to and respect. His younger brother and his nieces drew the kind of Michael out that I just loved. Lucas was precious and I am so stoked to read his story!! His mother even drew out a side of him that added yet another layer to him. His past relationships, which we didn't get to witness as the reader, shaped him and we got to see the effect of them on him. Similarly, our mermaid had a brother whom I would have loved to see more of! (We need a story with him and Michael!) I was rather curious about Arianna's parents (and her grandparents and aunt and uncle, for that matter). I could have dug more into their backstory and am still kind of stewing on what of it we did get--not that it was an unsatisfactory amount. Fichter writes the kinds of characters that inspire me to find the best in others and to be the best I can be myself. She writes the kinds of characters I want to surround myself with, to be lifelong friends with, and the kinds of characters I thoroughly enjoy reading about.
Hand in hand, the worldbuilding in this book was to die for! I could spend an eternity swimming around in Fichter's sea! I really, really hope she does a follow up one day! The mermaid culture she created was thrilling! I want to know more about the Deeps, spend more time in the mercourt and the villages to see how the charm makers make their charms and how the korses run their community. It was such a lively and vivid picture to behold. I loved the oddity of Arianna and the struggle she faced as a result of belonging in neither world. I truly related to her through most of the book and appreciated her vulnerability. I thought her silence was beautiful and I liked seeing how she navigated around it, and how others navigated around her. I liked how that drew out her strengths and contributed to some of her insecurities, too. She fascinated me, honestly, and I commend her on her poise and bravery. She was fierce and loyal, loving and kind, and, again, the kind of character you strive to be. Her struggle with her faith and the Maker was different than Fichter's previous books. I liked seeing how she grew. She handled pain in much the same way that many of us do, but she also learned to grow and to trust. I thought it was fun to see the world through her eyes (and, of course, I loved seeing it through Michael's!). The surface world was just as detailed and colorful as the sea world was. I hope we get a glimpse of the Sun Palace as it thrives again in the future!
Another absolutely excellent addition to the Classical Kingdoms world and to my fairy tale repertoire. I will treasure this one and read it over and over and over again. Thank you, Mrs. Fichter, for breathing life into this story and sharing it with the world.
No foul language, some mild fantasy violence--not graphic--and a sweet, realistic, simmering romance! Nothing more explicit than a kiss. I'd be fine giving this to an early teen or probably even pre-teen. And I'd recommend it to any fairy tale, mermaid, fantasy, or simply story-loving reader! I thoroughly enjoyed every word of this one, guys, and you will, too.
April 15, 2022
I enjoyed the book and its interesting interpretation of the Little mermaid. I liked how Arianna started out voiceless before gaining it rather than trading her voice.
June 21, 2017
3.5 stars.
I liked the spin on the disney and original versions of the story, regarding the triton weilder, the transformation of a human to merperson to human again. I liked the tale of the child of sun and the child of sea. There were a few times I wanted to shake the main characters, but the story was strong to pull them through... to a nice ending. It would be even more memorable if there were some bittersweet parts in the ending, but the author wrapped things up neatly, just as I normally prefer. (Who am I kidding? I love happy endings!)
I had gotten this book as a giveaway, and as a gift from the author. I am so so glad I did. I finally got time to really start the book in the morning, and it’s past midnight that I finished the book, in between daily chores and my religious activities.
And........ It’s been a long time since I got this much immersed in a fairytale retelling for a whole day.
Hmm. Changing my rating to 3.8 stars, rounding up to a Goodreads score of 4.
I liked the spin on the disney and original versions of the story, regarding the triton weilder, the transformation of a human to merperson to human again. I liked the tale of the child of sun and the child of sea. There were a few times I wanted to shake the main characters, but the story was strong to pull them through... to a nice ending. It would be even more memorable if there were some bittersweet parts in the ending, but the author wrapped things up neatly, just as I normally prefer. (Who am I kidding? I love happy endings!)
I had gotten this book as a giveaway, and as a gift from the author. I am so so glad I did. I finally got time to really start the book in the morning, and it’s past midnight that I finished the book, in between daily chores and my religious activities.
And........ It’s been a long time since I got this much immersed in a fairytale retelling for a whole day.
Hmm. Changing my rating to 3.8 stars, rounding up to a Goodreads score of 4.
February 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! And the cover is stunning. It definitely had the Disney little mermaid feel but also felt very heavily drenched in the plot from Barbie A Mermaid's Tale and the sequel. There were so very many similarities. I couldn't put the book down. I liked the characters alot as well.
November 13, 2018
This book was so good!!! I wasn’t sure how I could be swept into a mermaid tale, but it surely happened. I love the complexities of the characters - between their choices and their personalities you could truly connect to their perspectives. Another thing I enjoyed was the characters growth and communication with “the Maker”. As a Christian I loved reading a book where the characters success required them to be bold, put themselves in danger, etc, but ultimately they leaned on their Maker for the ultimate outcome. For anyone wondering, this is a journey worth going on.
December 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this twist on the mermaid's tale overall. I smiled at the images conjured at times, which were very Disney, but a nice nod, rather than a cheap take. I loved a lot of the set up, tidy as it was.
It feels like a lot of thought went into it and it is a lot more complex than the original tale, with twists and turns that allow for novel plot development. For that it gets an extra star. It had a nice flow overall, though I did catch myself wondering at the overall pacing a time or two.
There are plot problems. Solid ones, no matter how hard I tried to work past them. Looking back it feels like the author tried to set up one story line with possible resolutions and then changed her mind to try and keep it fresh, but it introduced holes instead, making me wonder if I just missed a chapter a time or two.
So many ideas all woven into one. Is that were the problems came in?
I'd still say read it if you love fairytale retellings, it is sweet and takes you on a journey that is fun and diverting. Characters are well loved. Just...know that if you do a double take a time or two take it with a pinch of salt and keep reading.
It feels like a lot of thought went into it and it is a lot more complex than the original tale, with twists and turns that allow for novel plot development. For that it gets an extra star. It had a nice flow overall, though I did catch myself wondering at the overall pacing a time or two.
There are plot problems. Solid ones, no matter how hard I tried to work past them. Looking back it feels like the author tried to set up one story line with possible resolutions and then changed her mind to try and keep it fresh, but it introduced holes instead, making me wonder if I just missed a chapter a time or two.
So many ideas all woven into one. Is that were the problems came in?
I'd still say read it if you love fairytale retellings, it is sweet and takes you on a journey that is fun and diverting. Characters are well loved. Just...know that if you do a double take a time or two take it with a pinch of salt and keep reading.
November 27, 2018
This rethink of the Little Mermaid was not terrible, I just found it dragged on and on. Also, it felt like the editor told the author she was using 'fathom' too often, so she just randomly switched out to other distances. At one point Arianna swims a parsec, which is ridiculous, since a parsec is 3.25 light years. Later she says "not a square foot in 20 cubits,' which doesn't make sense as a cubit is ~18 inches, and is NOT a measure of area.
August 24, 2021
I have some issues with this story.
One of them is Michael. He's kind of missing personality. He's handsome and dutiful and that's about it. That he's robbed of agency doesn't really help. Imho Lucas and Arianna had in their few interaction more chemistry and connection that Arianna and Michael ever had.
Then I feel like I missed the memo why Arianna was suddenly able to do things, she could not do before.
And I absolutely hate the way she got her voice. She just...suddenly could speak. Just a quick recap of how that happened instead of taking me through the slow process it must have been. I admit I wondered how the author intended to pull the story off with a mute character, but that to me just seemed llike lazy writing.
And...just why does dark magic randomly errupt from the bottom of the sea exactly?
One of them is Michael. He's kind of missing personality. He's handsome and dutiful and that's about it. That he's robbed of agency doesn't really help. Imho Lucas and Arianna had in their few interaction more chemistry and connection that Arianna and Michael ever had.
Then I feel like I missed the memo why Arianna was suddenly able to do things, she could not do before.
And I absolutely hate the way she got her voice. She just...suddenly could speak. Just a quick recap of how that happened instead of taking me through the slow process it must have been. I admit I wondered how the author intended to pull the story off with a mute character, but that to me just seemed llike lazy writing.
And...just why does dark magic randomly errupt from the bottom of the sea exactly?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2017
Okay, I'm in shock. Who switched out this author? I read her first novel, Before Beauty, a while back and didn't really like it. Fichter showed talent, but the story had problems and I really didn't like the MCs. I almost didn't bother to come back to this author, but I'm glad I did, because this novel couldn't be more different from the last one.
The scenery and setting were alive and vibrant, the plot tight and solid. And while near the beginning I did, for a time, dislike Michael, He redeemed himself and by the end I was thoroughly in love with the characters. I just wish the ending had been longer. It seemed slightly rushed. I can only hope that someday the author will put up a bit of bonus content - or maybe a sequel.
The scenery and setting were alive and vibrant, the plot tight and solid. And while near the beginning I did, for a time, dislike Michael, He redeemed himself and by the end I was thoroughly in love with the characters. I just wish the ending had been longer. It seemed slightly rushed. I can only hope that someday the author will put up a bit of bonus content - or maybe a sequel.
August 1, 2018
This was quite possibly the best retelling of the Little Mermaid that I have ever found. I really enjoyed the way that Fichter embraced the spirit of the story and incorporated the elements in a fresh way.
I could feel the pain of Arianna as she lived most of her life without anyone really caring for her. The rejection of her family and society also were elements that touched my soul. When the action really picked up toward the end of the book, I felt the pace quicken and it became really hard to set down the book.
If you love fairy tale retelling, don’t miss this one. Fichter is a master at weaving these tales into new, fresh stories.
I could feel the pain of Arianna as she lived most of her life without anyone really caring for her. The rejection of her family and society also were elements that touched my soul. When the action really picked up toward the end of the book, I felt the pace quicken and it became really hard to set down the book.
If you love fairy tale retelling, don’t miss this one. Fichter is a master at weaving these tales into new, fresh stories.
August 2, 2018
A wonderful, fresh take on The Little Mermaid
This multidimensional story provides more background and insight than Disney's version did. Born with a disability after she took her first breaths on sand and unfazed by the sun, Arianna struggles in a society where identity is based in song the ability to swim near the ocean floor. This mute, strong willed, misunderstood outcast is torn between the people she loves in two worlds---sand or sea. She must learn to trust the Maker, find her voice, acceptance, love and peace to fulfill her destiny or lose everything and die in the pursuit.
This multidimensional story provides more background and insight than Disney's version did. Born with a disability after she took her first breaths on sand and unfazed by the sun, Arianna struggles in a society where identity is based in song the ability to swim near the ocean floor. This mute, strong willed, misunderstood outcast is torn between the people she loves in two worlds---sand or sea. She must learn to trust the Maker, find her voice, acceptance, love and peace to fulfill her destiny or lose everything and die in the pursuit.
September 9, 2017
Absolutely loved this one! It's a beautiful and unique retelling of the Little Mermaid. There were so many characters that I loved in this one. I wanted to slap Arianna's aunt by the end of the book!
Throughout this series the strong themes of trusting the Maker have reminded me of Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths." It's a beautiful and often needed reminder!
Can't wait to read more of this series!
Throughout this series the strong themes of trusting the Maker have reminded me of Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths." It's a beautiful and often needed reminder!
Can't wait to read more of this series!
May 8, 2019
Gripping Tale
Definitely a heart clenching take on the little mermaid. I very much enjoyed the plot and it really did have the perfect ending. I will say that the one thing that truly irked me was Arianna's anger over Michael's choice and it really did a good job of showing how truly young and naive she was. A more mature woman would have taken one look at his suffering kingdom and understood that love cant feed people. I really enjoyed this!
Definitely a heart clenching take on the little mermaid. I very much enjoyed the plot and it really did have the perfect ending. I will say that the one thing that truly irked me was Arianna's anger over Michael's choice and it really did a good job of showing how truly young and naive she was. A more mature woman would have taken one look at his suffering kingdom and understood that love cant feed people. I really enjoyed this!
August 19, 2024
Silent Mermaid is the worst book to read if you're trying to fall asleep because once you get too into it, you won't be able to put it down until the end. The characters are beautifully written, the plot is gripping, and themes like a sacrifice, what true love looks like, and God's will weave through this tale to bring it all to an exciting conclusion.
May 9, 2018
When I first wrote Of Land and Sea: The Untold Story of The Little Mermaid in 2009, I never would have expected to be reading so many new adaptations of "The Little Mermaid" years later. As much as I enjoyed The Little Selkie by K.M. Shea and A Little Mermaid by Aya Ling, I must eventually come to terms with the fact that my vision won't always coalesce with every other author's vision of my favorite fairy tale. Sadly, this turned out to be the case for Silent Mermaid by Brittany Fichter. It was significantly longer than the other adaptations I've read, but that was to be expected considering how long The Autumn Fairy, the other book I read by her, was. However, I regret to admit that I enjoyed The Autumn Fairy significantly more than this convoluted retelling of "The Little Mermaid."
Silent Mermaid puts its own spin on "The Little Mermaid" tale by telling the story of a mermaid who was born without a voice as opposed to one who gave it away of her own free will. Arianna wants nothing more than to be like the rest of her family and sing magical songs with the power to help, heal, and protect other merfolk. Instead, she was born mute like the heroine from The Shape of Water and is destined to stick out from all of the other mermaids with her tan skin and blonde hair, deformities caused by her early exposure to sunlight. When her family is attacked by pirates, she has no choice but to escape to the surface world where she miraculously gains legs and is discovered by a prince named Michael. She is then reluctantly given a suite in the castle and hideous clothes by a queen who openly dislikes her.
The lack of romance and sacrifice in this book sets it apart from other adaptions of "The Little Mermaid," but not in a good way. Arianna becomes human out of necessity, not desire, and she obtains her legs by praying to the Maker when she is placed in an impossible situation. It is not very clear how difficult it is for merpeople to obtain legs in this world or even why the ability exists at all. Her relationship with Prince Michael is rocky at the beginning, but they eventually warm up to each other. It doesn't help that his mother detests her. Though Michael feels somewhat indebted to Arianna for saving his nieces several years before, he has a rather funny way of showing it. His two nieces are rambunctious and fun, and Arianna winds up being their caretaker just like Alyssa in Melanie Cellier's The Princess Companion. Arianna seems to have a stronger relationship with the two little girls than she does with the prince, which is unfortunate considering how powerful the love story between Katy and Michael was in Brittany's other book, The Autumn Fairy.
The plot twist of making Arianna's jealous aunt want to take over the merpeople's throne has already been done to death in the mermaid Barbie movies and the Filipino drama Dysebel. Ursula was even going to be Ariel's aunt in an original cut of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Renata does not reveal herself as the villain until late in the book, which should allow more time to develop the romantic subplot between Arianna and Michael, but instead, the story just drags along like gentle waves crashing along the shore. Renata, Arianna's evil aunt, obtains her power from some sort of mysterious underwater drug that's similar to Merillia from the Barbie in a Mermaid Tale movies. For such a long book, few of the magical elements are actually explained, such as where Arianna's legs come from, how she obtains her voice, and what sort of properties are possessed by the drug her aunt uses to gain her powers.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it lacked something precious that rests within the heart of all "Little Mermaid" tales. Arianna doesn't seem to have the passion or drive to go after what she wants. She is just an unfortunate mermaid placed under unfortunate circumstances with a destiny that had been predetermined for her before she was born. The other thing I found difficult to enjoy is that the story takes place in a very dark world. Many merfolk were brutally murdered in the opening chapters in the war between the humans and the mermaids. It made the story seem all too real to create the whimsical escape that I enjoy from stories about mermaid princesses. The hatred between the two races seemed to know no bounds. It was Arianna's duty, not her choice, to mend it thanks to a mysterious prophecy about her. Something about that made her feel like a pawn in her own story, far from the rebellious and passionate character that Hans Christian Andersen created hundreds of years ago.
Silent Mermaid puts its own spin on "The Little Mermaid" tale by telling the story of a mermaid who was born without a voice as opposed to one who gave it away of her own free will. Arianna wants nothing more than to be like the rest of her family and sing magical songs with the power to help, heal, and protect other merfolk. Instead, she was born mute like the heroine from The Shape of Water and is destined to stick out from all of the other mermaids with her tan skin and blonde hair, deformities caused by her early exposure to sunlight. When her family is attacked by pirates, she has no choice but to escape to the surface world where she miraculously gains legs and is discovered by a prince named Michael. She is then reluctantly given a suite in the castle and hideous clothes by a queen who openly dislikes her.
The lack of romance and sacrifice in this book sets it apart from other adaptions of "The Little Mermaid," but not in a good way. Arianna becomes human out of necessity, not desire, and she obtains her legs by praying to the Maker when she is placed in an impossible situation. It is not very clear how difficult it is for merpeople to obtain legs in this world or even why the ability exists at all. Her relationship with Prince Michael is rocky at the beginning, but they eventually warm up to each other. It doesn't help that his mother detests her. Though Michael feels somewhat indebted to Arianna for saving his nieces several years before, he has a rather funny way of showing it. His two nieces are rambunctious and fun, and Arianna winds up being their caretaker just like Alyssa in Melanie Cellier's The Princess Companion. Arianna seems to have a stronger relationship with the two little girls than she does with the prince, which is unfortunate considering how powerful the love story between Katy and Michael was in Brittany's other book, The Autumn Fairy.
The plot twist of making Arianna's jealous aunt want to take over the merpeople's throne has already been done to death in the mermaid Barbie movies and the Filipino drama Dysebel. Ursula was even going to be Ariel's aunt in an original cut of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Renata does not reveal herself as the villain until late in the book, which should allow more time to develop the romantic subplot between Arianna and Michael, but instead, the story just drags along like gentle waves crashing along the shore. Renata, Arianna's evil aunt, obtains her power from some sort of mysterious underwater drug that's similar to Merillia from the Barbie in a Mermaid Tale movies. For such a long book, few of the magical elements are actually explained, such as where Arianna's legs come from, how she obtains her voice, and what sort of properties are possessed by the drug her aunt uses to gain her powers.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it lacked something precious that rests within the heart of all "Little Mermaid" tales. Arianna doesn't seem to have the passion or drive to go after what she wants. She is just an unfortunate mermaid placed under unfortunate circumstances with a destiny that had been predetermined for her before she was born. The other thing I found difficult to enjoy is that the story takes place in a very dark world. Many merfolk were brutally murdered in the opening chapters in the war between the humans and the mermaids. It made the story seem all too real to create the whimsical escape that I enjoy from stories about mermaid princesses. The hatred between the two races seemed to know no bounds. It was Arianna's duty, not her choice, to mend it thanks to a mysterious prophecy about her. Something about that made her feel like a pawn in her own story, far from the rebellious and passionate character that Hans Christian Andersen created hundreds of years ago.
January 2, 2025
I found a lot of this interesting and enjoyed the richness of the world. The descriptions of both kingdoms were truly impressive. However, I had some glaring issues with elements of the book.
I found the last half? of this book (basically from the point Renata shows back up) extremely slow and boring. I ended up skimming for the last 2 chapters just because I'd lost interest at that point.
Ari's blindness to Renata was a bit annoying by the end.
I didn't enjoy
I thought the war was poorly set up. We're told there are tensions in the kingdom but not WHY. Then a war breaks out and I fail to see how that works for either side. There's little benefit the sea kingdom gets from land. However, they're basically water bound and the humans just have to drop crap into the ocean on top of their cities. It's kind of one-sided in terms of the merpeople never having a chance. So why start a war you couldn't possibly win? Right, they didn't. The human dude did.
So human king is like yeah, we basically depend on the merpeople for ALL of our stuff. Let's fight them and drive them away. Kingdom is so deep in debt they're about to lose it to another kingdom. They're starving and have no exports ergo no income. I really needed a good reason WHY tensions were so high that the tipping point into war happened. Because talk about sabotaging yourself when your enemy doesn't need you at all. Merpeople were like okay, we have to swim lower and we're moving away from your area. Humans were like welp, there goes our food, money, and oh our kingdom.
I found the last half? of this book (basically from the point Renata shows back up) extremely slow and boring. I ended up skimming for the last 2 chapters just because I'd lost interest at that point.
Ari's blindness to Renata was a bit annoying by the end.
I didn't enjoy
I thought the war was poorly set up. We're told there are tensions in the kingdom but not WHY. Then a war breaks out and I fail to see how that works for either side. There's little benefit the sea kingdom gets from land. However, they're basically water bound and the humans just have to drop crap into the ocean on top of their cities. It's kind of one-sided in terms of the merpeople never having a chance. So why start a war you couldn't possibly win? Right, they didn't. The human dude did.
So human king is like yeah, we basically depend on the merpeople for ALL of our stuff. Let's fight them and drive them away. Kingdom is so deep in debt they're about to lose it to another kingdom. They're starving and have no exports ergo no income. I really needed a good reason WHY tensions were so high that the tipping point into war happened. Because talk about sabotaging yourself when your enemy doesn't need you at all. Merpeople were like okay, we have to swim lower and we're moving away from your area. Humans were like welp, there goes our food, money, and oh our kingdom.
May 12, 2021
This book is one of my favorite of all her books
The tale of the little mermaid is in the top five of my favorite fairy tales and I might be willing to say that I like this version better than the Disney version. The characters have charm, and depth. I value that the main characters are adults, that they experienced real trauma and that they developed and grew themselves through adversity. The romance between Arianna and Michael was one that had me on a rollercoaster ride! I respect that they didn't just fall in love because the author needed them to do so. I would often lose myself into the story so much, that I would roll my eyes and scream "are you kidding me?!" in the real world when certain characters were being incredibly dense. *Ahem, Michael* The family interaction was gold! I both loved and hated many of the supporting characters. I think what I most enjoyed was that I truly didn't know how things were going to turn out in the end. I appreciate when reading a book actually turns into an adventure for myself. I read it all the way through because I just couldn't put it down.
The tale of the little mermaid is in the top five of my favorite fairy tales and I might be willing to say that I like this version better than the Disney version. The characters have charm, and depth. I value that the main characters are adults, that they experienced real trauma and that they developed and grew themselves through adversity. The romance between Arianna and Michael was one that had me on a rollercoaster ride! I respect that they didn't just fall in love because the author needed them to do so. I would often lose myself into the story so much, that I would roll my eyes and scream "are you kidding me?!" in the real world when certain characters were being incredibly dense. *Ahem, Michael* The family interaction was gold! I both loved and hated many of the supporting characters. I think what I most enjoyed was that I truly didn't know how things were going to turn out in the end. I appreciate when reading a book actually turns into an adventure for myself. I read it all the way through because I just couldn't put it down.
March 16, 2019
Little mermaid
Very interesting twist to what we all know as the little mermaid.
Arianna is born a mermaid who can’t talk and longs to be on land with Prince Micheal that she would sneak up to the surface to watch. She gets her wish through a series of odd events and lives a couple of months with him and his family.
Micheal falls in love with Arianna but knows he can’t be with her due to financial reasons. And instead agrees to marry another princess who turns out to be another mermaid.
This is where I will stop and let you read to find out what happens. But suffice to say it has some great plot twists!
Overall the book was great but it kind of felt like it could drag on.
Very interesting twist to what we all know as the little mermaid.
Arianna is born a mermaid who can’t talk and longs to be on land with Prince Micheal that she would sneak up to the surface to watch. She gets her wish through a series of odd events and lives a couple of months with him and his family.
Micheal falls in love with Arianna but knows he can’t be with her due to financial reasons. And instead agrees to marry another princess who turns out to be another mermaid.
This is where I will stop and let you read to find out what happens. But suffice to say it has some great plot twists!
Overall the book was great but it kind of felt like it could drag on.
December 12, 2025
Well that certainly had a lot of twists and turns! I've read a lot of little mermaid retellings but I found this one really cool and unique. The fact that he knows from the beginning that she is a mermaid creates a totally different dynamic between our two main characters instead of the little mermaid trying to hide who she really is. I also enjoyed the lessons behind the story, that we have been created wonderfully and beautifully. It was quite interesting to see Arianna an outcast in both worlds, on land and in the sea, and how she comes to terms with who she is and who she was made to be. A beautiful story that didn't go the way I had expected, which was really fun to read! I would have loved to see a bit more about how Arianna ends up getting her voice though.
October 11, 2025
I love this book. I want to read this over and over again after finishing it. The characters are fantastic and believable for the circumstances. Arianna is shy and withdrawn because she can't speak and song is how the merfolk work and use their magic, and with her differences lead to her being ignored by the other merfolk outside of her family. Michael doesn't care about romance and ignores the early signs of a crush because he's stressed, he needs to think of his people and the kingdom before his feelings. Which makes the romance so, so great, and heartbreaking, slow burn.
The lore and worldbuilding is also fantastic with evil sludge coming up from the ocean vents that corrupts and kills and creature that comes into contact with it and the merfolk king's job is to keep it contained (everything is explained better in the book) and there is a song bases magic system that wonderfully ties everything together for the merfolk. 5 stars. closed door romance. would recommend to anyone who wants a lovely mermaid romance read.
The lore and worldbuilding is also fantastic with evil sludge coming up from the ocean vents that corrupts and kills and creature that comes into contact with it and the merfolk king's job is to keep it contained (everything is explained better in the book) and there is a song bases magic system that wonderfully ties everything together for the merfolk. 5 stars. closed door romance. would recommend to anyone who wants a lovely mermaid romance read.
June 7, 2020
Phenomenal!!
I am not a huge fan of The Little Mermaid fairy tale, but have read several retellings. This one had me breathless, reading as fast as I could to get to the next page. The characters, turns in the plot that kept me fully engaged and guessing, the way the story artfully unfolded but without fluff... entirely a book of amazing substance! I can't wait to read the next tale in this series.
I am not a huge fan of The Little Mermaid fairy tale, but have read several retellings. This one had me breathless, reading as fast as I could to get to the next page. The characters, turns in the plot that kept me fully engaged and guessing, the way the story artfully unfolded but without fluff... entirely a book of amazing substance! I can't wait to read the next tale in this series.
June 1, 2023
This was another great book in this universe. I really love the magic and the characters that Brittany Fichter has been able to write into these books.
I absolutely love the characters in this book. I love the relationships that are developed throughout the book.
Though this book has continued along the same vein that the other books in this series has. It has a ton of trauma and tragedy just thrust upon our main characters in very large quantities in ways that don't seem to be benefiting the plot or story at all. Characters can have trials and tragedy in ways that move the story along and help them to grow but the tragedy in this series is just too much.
There was on moment halfway through the book that had me throwing my ereader across the bed. There will be spoilers ahead about how disability was a part of the book. The way that disability was treated in this book is just wrong. Normally in little mermaid retellings, the being mute thing doesn't bother me at all because it is a temporary curse and it's obvious that that is the case. But in this book, Arianna has been mute her whole life. This is a disability and limitation she has had to live with forever. I was so looking forward to seeing this amazing story of acceptance and personal growth from Arianna (which we kind of get, but not when it comes to her disability). As soon as Arianna talks for the first time, I threw my book! And what was the explanation? "I've been practicing"?!?! That is not how muteness works at all! And there was not indication that her LIFETIME disability would be any different. Being mute is not just a convenient story element to use to create character growth only when it's convenient, it is a real disability that real people have to learn to accept about themselves for their whole lives. I think there absolutely needs to be more disability representation in books but this is not the way to represent disability. This is a token story element. Not real representation.
I am going to need to take a break before I continue this series. The trauma and tragedy is really just getting to be too much and I could not get over Arianna gaining the ability to speak halfway through the book when it was established that she was born mute. But I do plan to read the rest of the series in the future because I have loved the characters and the universe and Brittany Fichter's take on these fairy tales. I just need a break from the tragedy. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good fairy tale retelling.
Steam Content: Hugs and Kisses.
I absolutely love the characters in this book. I love the relationships that are developed throughout the book.
Though this book has continued along the same vein that the other books in this series has. It has a ton of trauma and tragedy just thrust upon our main characters in very large quantities in ways that don't seem to be benefiting the plot or story at all. Characters can have trials and tragedy in ways that move the story along and help them to grow but the tragedy in this series is just too much.
There was on moment halfway through the book that had me throwing my ereader across the bed. There will be spoilers ahead about how disability was a part of the book. The way that disability was treated in this book is just wrong. Normally in little mermaid retellings, the being mute thing doesn't bother me at all because it is a temporary curse and it's obvious that that is the case. But in this book, Arianna has been mute her whole life. This is a disability and limitation she has had to live with forever. I was so looking forward to seeing this amazing story of acceptance and personal growth from Arianna (which we kind of get, but not when it comes to her disability). As soon as Arianna talks for the first time, I threw my book! And what was the explanation? "I've been practicing"?!?! That is not how muteness works at all! And there was not indication that her LIFETIME disability would be any different. Being mute is not just a convenient story element to use to create character growth only when it's convenient, it is a real disability that real people have to learn to accept about themselves for their whole lives. I think there absolutely needs to be more disability representation in books but this is not the way to represent disability. This is a token story element. Not real representation.
I am going to need to take a break before I continue this series. The trauma and tragedy is really just getting to be too much and I could not get over Arianna gaining the ability to speak halfway through the book when it was established that she was born mute. But I do plan to read the rest of the series in the future because I have loved the characters and the universe and Brittany Fichter's take on these fairy tales. I just need a break from the tragedy. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good fairy tale retelling.
Steam Content: Hugs and Kisses.
January 28, 2025
You know when you've kept a book on your TBR for awhile and then delete it, only to bring it back. And then when you do eventually buy it, it's not even with your own money? This was one of the earliest books on Goodreads, got added back exactly a year ago... and I could barely get through fifty pages. The romance was lackluster and it had a certain angle and I'm not in the mood to read that angle at this time or maybe anytime. That is my take. Off to a good home.
July 31, 2025
Just not for me
I really wanted to love this book but couldn't. So many things are confusing at first. She has no voice she has one and then loses it again. Changing from mermaid to human and back again was ridiculous. And finally the prince becoming a German was just too much. It dragged throughout the story. I just wanted it to be done. I really enjoyed the Beauty and the beast story. I just couldn't with this one.
I really wanted to love this book but couldn't. So many things are confusing at first. She has no voice she has one and then loses it again. Changing from mermaid to human and back again was ridiculous. And finally the prince becoming a German was just too much. It dragged throughout the story. I just wanted it to be done. I really enjoyed the Beauty and the beast story. I just couldn't with this one.
May 28, 2017
Brittany Fichter does a great job of writing, and retelling these fairy tales in a way that fleshes out the characters. She seems to have Christian influences in her writing, e.g. The Maker, and themes addressing faith issues, but she does so in a way I would not consider "preachy". Her books are a very long read, but are well plotted and worth it in my opinion.
January 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this new take on the classic tale of the Little Mermaid. This was fun to read, even though I was confused at what happened at some points. I am not sure if the confusion is because I read it wrong or if it was just unclear overall.
So far I have really enjoyed the CLassical Kingdoms Collection.
So far I have really enjoyed the CLassical Kingdoms Collection.
December 11, 2018
A thrilling page turner
I couldn't put this down, this takes the modern Disney version of the story and drops it on it's head. Arianna is an inspiring well thought out character that feels more real than any other version of the little mermaid has ever produced. I highly recommend this book- it will be what you least expect in the best way possible.
I couldn't put this down, this takes the modern Disney version of the story and drops it on it's head. Arianna is an inspiring well thought out character that feels more real than any other version of the little mermaid has ever produced. I highly recommend this book- it will be what you least expect in the best way possible.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews