Breathless

by Megan Linski

A Little Mermaid Retelling

What if The Little Mermaid was a boy?

My name is Adrian. I’m the son of Poseidon, the prince of the sea. Oh, and I’m also a merman. But I’m sick of being underwater-- my heart dreams of living on land.

I thought I’d be stuck with fins for good, until I fell for a beautiful human. Isamaria is everything I’ve ever wanted. The entire ocean isn’t enough-- I need to be with her.

I only have one option. The sea warlock Stavros has the power to turn me into a human, so I can walk on land and be with Isa. He makes me a deal… he will turn me into a human for three days. I have until then to convince Isa to fall in love with me.

Otherwise, the entire sea-- and all who inhabit it-- will belong to him. Even worse, I’ll be stuck as a merman. Permanently.

And I’ll lose Isa forever.
**
Breathless is a fairy-tale retelling of Greek mythology and modern legend. This new adult fantasy is sure to delight fans of USA TODAY Bestselling Author Megan Linski.

Genres: Fantasy, Mermaids, Romance, Retellings, Fairy Tale Retellings, Audiobook, Paranormal Romance

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2018

About the author

Megan Linski lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than fifty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.

Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.

Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.

Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.

Awards Megan has won include;

Best Fantasy Book of the Year 2019 by Once Upon a Book

Best Co-Authored Book of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book

Author of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book

Keynote Speaker at Once Upon a Book 2023

Best Book Friends (Ava and Kallie) 2023 by Once Upon a Book

Featured in the FOX Teen Choice Awards Gift Baskets

Two-time Reader's Favorite Five Star Read (Bronze Medal Finalist)

Winner of Amazon's Kindle Scout Competition

Reviews

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/14/2019)! 🎁

[Ksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

I will admit that I'm a sap when it comes to fairy tale retellings. However, it definitely has to pique my interest and hold my attention.

And this novel did just that!

Adrian is a merman tasked to find his mate in order to have a queen when he takes his place as king. But when he falls for a human, his father Poseidon won't accept it. Adrian is forced to make a deal with his evil uncle, Stavros.

This novel follows mildly in the footsteps of the Disney movie, The Little Mermaid. Megan Linski did update it with electronics, video games, and such.

Where this differs is that we actually see more about the human love interest, Isamaria. She is her own fleshed out character with feelings and troubles outside of Adrian.

I felt like that is what made this novel one of the best retellings. Because it took the general story and expanded it.

Plus the settings was beautiful. And this novel has totally made me wanna dye my hair blue!!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

[Linda Hamonou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a twisted fairy tales based on the little mermaid with gender inversion. So basically the mermaid is a boy and the prince is a girl, but there is also an inversion in social status where the mermaid is also a prince and the girl comes from a rich family but is still not royalty.
This fairy tale is set in modern days so both the mermaid prince and the marine biology student he falls in love with are sort of misfits in their own environment.
I think the story was well written. It was easy to follow as a little mermaid tale and at the same time, there were new addition that stopped the novel from being predictable.
I felt a bit sorry for Isamaria as she really had nobody in her life she could really count on. I am just wondering if it will be a happy ever after because even in the pursuit of your dreams, it's always difficult to leave everything behind without regrets.

[Faerie (catching up!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breathless is a lovely gender-flipped retelling of The Little mermaid set in the modern age. The story closely follows the Disney adaptation, providing moments of nostalgia, whilst maintaining a fresh perspective.
I adore fairytale retellings, and I found this one to be short and sweet; Breathless is beautifully paced, and full of light hearted details that contribute to an immersive little world
A clean, cosy, comfort read i will undoubtedly revisit.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊 **Overview**

*Breathless* reimagines the classic tale by casting a merman, Adrian, as the protagonist who yearns for a life on land. As the son of Poseidon and heir to the sea's throne, Adrian is discontented with his underwater existence and dreams of experiencing the human world. His journey unfolds as he falls in love with a human girl, Isa, and makes a perilous deal to become human temporarily. ([Audible.com][1], [Goodreads][2], [Payhip][3])

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## 🧜‍♂️ **Detailed Plot Summary**

### **Adrian's Longing for the Human World**

Adrian, a royal merman, is weary of his life beneath the waves. Despite his noble status, he feels confined and yearns for freedom and adventure on land. His fascination with the human world sets the stage for his transformative journey.([Audible.com][1])

### **Rescue and Instant Connection**

During a fierce storm, Adrian saves Isa, a human girl, from drowning. Captivated by her, he becomes determined to be with her, even if it means sacrificing his life in the sea. ([libro.fm][4])

### **The Deal with Stavros**

To pursue his love for Isa, Adrian strikes a deal with Stavros, a sea warlock and his uncle. Stavros grants Adrian the ability to become human for three days. However, the deal comes with a condition: Adrian must convince Isa of his love within this time frame. Failure means he will remain a merman forever, and Stavros will claim dominion over the sea. ([Goodreads][2], [Rakuten Kobo][5], [Payhip][3], [Audible.com][1])

### **Life on Land and Growing Affection**

As a human, Adrian experiences the joys and challenges of terrestrial life. He spends time with Isa, and their bond deepens. However, Adrian struggles with expressing his true identity and feelings, fearing rejection and the consequences of revealing his secret.

### **Race Against Time**

As the deadline approaches, Adrian's anxiety intensifies. He must find the courage to confess his love and true nature to Isa. The pressure mounts as he grapples with the possibility of losing both Isa and his chance at a new life.

### **Climactic Revelation and Resolution**

In a dramatic climax, Adrian reveals his identity to Isa. Moved by his honesty and the depth of his feelings, Isa reciprocates his love. This mutual acknowledgment breaks Stavros's spell, thwarting his plans to seize control of the sea. Adrian's transformation becomes permanent, allowing him to remain human and be with Isa.([Audible.com][1], [Barnes & Noble][6], [Goodreads][2])

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## 💖 **Themes and Insights**

* **Self-Discovery and Identity**: Adrian's journey reflects the struggle of embracing one's true self and the courage it takes to pursue personal desires against societal expectations.

* **Love and Sacrifice**: The narrative explores the depths of love and the sacrifices one is willing to make for it, highlighting the transformative power of genuine connection.

* **Choice and Consequence**: The story emphasizes the importance of choices and their far-reaching consequences, as seen in Adrian's deal with Stavros and its implications.

---

*Breathless* offers a fresh take on a beloved fairy tale, infusing it with mythological elements and contemporary themes. Adrian's transformation from a discontented merman to a fulfilled human in love underscores the novel's message about the importance of authenticity, bravery, and the enduring power of love.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if The Little Mermaid was a boy?
I LIVE THIS RETELLING SOO INCREDEBLY MUCH!! WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA!! I love the little mermaid, but this... this was soo AMAZING!!! I love Adrain, son of Poseidon, the prince of the sea. a merman. He is adventurous, kind, and overall a sweetheart!! Best friend is Moona a manatee He longs for the surface, he can change into a HUMAN temporarily due his magic
Isamaria: a tourguide of her uncle's boat, a surfer, she pretends to be someone else for she craves attention. Her father doesn't care about her one bit, never home and always bussy
-adriennsees Isa in the sea as tourguide and he immediately and completely falls in love: Mating bond!!
-his 19th birthday part: must choose a bride... father poseidon and mother Inathe wants a bride for him, sea warlock appears: is willing to give him something for a price... (human)
-adrian sneaks away to go to his cave
-isa goes surfing in the storm(fight with her father about the sea ball) she is drowning and Adrain saved her!! Brings her to the cave and hospital, they have a date!! They are soo cute togethet!!! (Came to her campus and work!!
-he tells poseidon about isa and the bond, huge fight!!! -
Isa goes to a party: girls are mean and haressed by a guy, adrain inferred!! He trows him into the ocean!! And makes everyone forget, they go on a other date and they open up to each other (about their father's and wanting to be themselves) who they both can be with each other!!!
-Adrian goes to the sea warlock, his unlce and meaks the deal: being a human for 3 days, she needs to tell him she lives him and he can't be the first to tell her or say it back. Or else he will remain a merman forever, but the catch: if she loves him and he turns human forever poseidon will lose his heir and sea warlock will rule!!!
-those 2 days are magical, romantic and beautiful!! (Waling on the beach, sleeping under the stars, building pillow fort, He is completly in love, but she is scared of commitment) until she caught him as a MERMAN!!!
-3rd day: the sea ball, he gives her a beautiful mermaid dress and she dyed her hair blue (mermaid obsession!!) It totally fits her personality!! But her 'friends' hate it, she -remains true to herself
-romantic dance!!! Until her father appears!! Cruel.and hurts her feelings 'you are a disgrace' she begs adrain to tell her he loves her, but he can't.... (contract)
-she runs to the ocean and is KIDNAPPED YBY THE WARLOCK!! OMG DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING!!
Adrian's time is almost up, goes into the ocean and transforms back (forever)
-poseidom apologized and agrees to help- together they are going to save isa and attack warlock
Warlock uses her as bargain, poseidon must surrender the ocean to him or he kills isa and risk his son's broken heart
'I will do everything to save my son pain' OMG THE EMOTIONS!!!
-warlock transforma into a KRAKEN!!! they fight, Moona brought an army led by poseidon and Adrien first saved Isa and leads the kraken to the surface where she is in the boat she KILLED HIM WITH A HARPOON!!!
-he tells her he has always loves her and she said it nack!!! poseidon gives her A MERMAID TALE!!!! THEY CAN BE TOGEHTER!!! I AM SOOO EXTREMELY HAPPY!!! I LOVE THEM!!!

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fairy tale retellings. Breathless was one of the most unique retellings of this story I have ever read and I loved every minute of it. Adrian and Isa are both strangers in the world they live. Adrian wishes for life on land and Isa loves everything to do with the sea. It is not till fate brings them together that they realize they are meant for each other, that they have a bond that transcends traditions and rules. But how can their love be if they are forced to live apart? The interactions between the characters was fantastic! Everything built up to the finale at the end and came together to make this story a wonder to read.

[Sky P · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Reverse Fairytale Retelling. Adrian is a merman who rescues Isa and wants to be with her. Adrian is a sea Prince, son of Poseidon, He needs to find a mate to inherit the kingdom he doesn’t want. Isa has a lot going on with her job and living with her father who is a very important Military Officer. She wants to get away from him. This one is updated with cell phones, video games, etc. I appreciate that these characters were all well developed. Wish the story had been a little more fleshed out and longer. Other than that, it was a quick, enjoyable, easy read.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful take by this superb author. A merman that has had enough of the underwater. Loved it and looking forward to more

[Piper Pringle · Rating 3 out of 5]

So good

[Amanda Hodgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genderswapped YA little mermaid, what more could you want ? It was a fun twist on a tried and true tale 🧜‍♂️

[Mychella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This retelling of the Little Mermaid was cute and a nice break from my usual books. I enjoyed it a lot and it was just the thing I needed. 5 stars for a beautiful book.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for fairytale retellings but this one just didn’t do it for me. The story was boring and I had to force myself through it.

[Kelly Overholt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of Breathless in exchange for a 100% honest review.

A fusion of Disney magic, mythology, and modern-day teenage angst, Breathless is a light-hearted read perfect for the beach or a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is eloquently written and makes the reader connect and care about Adrian and Maria in a way that makes you root for them until the last page. If you are at all familiar with the Little Mermaid tale then the plot will be a bit predictable for you as it follows the same structure of the classic tale. However, it still manages to take on an identity of its own.

It took me a while for me to get into the story just because of the similarities to the original tale but once I hit the second half of the book I was immersed in the originality of this retelling. I finished the second half in a few hours finding myself unable to stop reading as the story reached its climax. Without spoiling anything here I found myself deeply hating Stavros and I found Maria’s friends to be annoying and wishing they would disappear. This is a compliment to the author’s excellent character development skills. If you know me or have read my reviews then you know its not easy for me to connect to characters so deeply.

I would have liked to have seen Adrian be a little more obtuse when it came to human culture as it may have added a little extra sweetness to the brewing romance with Maria but that’s just my personal preference. It just seemed a little too much of a stretch that a merman would have so much human knowledge to act like a normal teenager when he was only allowed to be on land for a few hours at a time. I also thought the characters acted a bit immature for their age at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and thought it was really well written. If you’re looking for a quick, light romance read and don’t mind a little mythology, then this book is a great read! It’s perfect for the young adult reader who enjoys reading tales of teenage love and is a fun read to blaze through on a lazy summer day.

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reverse fairy tales, and this one was definitely one of the best! It even modernized the story by making the prince fall in love with a commoner rather than the prince falling for a princess. 

Adrian had always been obsessed with the surface, even though his father would never allow him to go there. He loved to collect items that made it into the sea from the surface, even if they were electronics that would never work underwater. Soon he finds a girl, his mate, and would do anything to be with her, even defying his father. I have to say, he was very brave but very stupid to do what he did. If your evil uncle says that if you don't succeed that he will become the king of the ocean, why would make a deal with him? He was definitely lovesick for Isa. 

Isa wants to be a marine biologist and is working int he side job that her horrible father forced her into. She likes working tours on the ships, but this was not how she wanted to spend her summer. She would much rather be surfing. When a storm hits and a strange man saves her life, she knows that she wants to meet him again. Soon, he starts showing up randomly in her life, and she finds herself falling for him fast. 

I loved the new sidekicks, and details about Isa's life on the surface. The only thing I wanted was a little more description of the sea world! You will get plenty of Adrian/Isa bonding time when they are both on the surface, but there is little to no description of life and scenery under the sea. 

Other than the slight lack of worldbuilding, I loved every part of this story! The plot moved smoothly and both Adrian and Isa were so full of life. I wanted to be friends with the both of them and become a part of their worlds. There was quite a bit of character development as Adrian had to come to terms with his mistake and Isa had to face the dark parts of her past. There were also no editing errors. 

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a short afternoon read about romance and mermaids. 

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

[Jose Calvo Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book too much. It is like the story of the little mermaid but told today and focused on a more adult audience. I also liked that the roles were exchanged; being a merman and a human woman. I liked that in this concept the mermaids were male and female, and not all female as in other stories I've read. This story conveys the lesson that you must be yourself no matter what others think of you, reflected in the fact that Isamaria could not show who she really was because of the opinion of her father and her friend. Adrián and Isamaria's relationship evolves in a natural and simple way, showing how they are to each other. However, the conflicts that have been appearing were too weak and were seen more as an obstacle than as a conflict. And also the denouement ends very quickly, without adding depth to the changes that will occur later. Although this novel is self-contained and the author has done a wonderful job of rewriting a classic tale for a more modern audience.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well the first time I saw the Little Mermaid I actually cried. Well this one didn't cause me to bring out the tissues but I loved it just as much. This author gives us a grown up twisted tale that is a clean read and a good one. This time though it's the son of Poseidon in this twisted tale and he's going after his queen. She's a loner and an outcast. Poor choices and an absentee father have made her a commodity for gossip and not in a good way. Worried about what others think of her she is now just who they all expect her to be not her true self. She just wants to enjoy the water.

This beautifully written story is what dreams are made of and this author does that well. The twisted version of this tale let's the man find out how daunting a task it is to get someone to profess their love in the allotted time. Loved the story and can't wait for the next one.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good retelling of a fairy tale and a myth.
Adrian is a merman who doesn't want to be one forever he wants to live on dry land after he meets a human girl he fell in love with.
That went the compilations begins his father won't help so Adrain went to his evil Uncle.
Good drama angst and romance.
Enjoyed the story.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Merged review:

A good retelling of a fairy tale and myth.
Adrain is a merman who doesn't what to live in the ocean anymore.
He fine a woman and falls in love that is when problems arises.
he goes to father who is a God for help to beable to stay on land bt he won't help.
Adrain goes to his Uncle who is evil for help and complication occurs.
Enjoyed reading.
voluntarily reviewed.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the twist to the fairy tale The Little Mermaid. I enjoyed the story but I just wish it was a little darker and I don’t know something was missing. Overall it was a good read and I enjoyed the characters I was just hoping it would be a little less predictable maybe.

Merged review:

Breathless

I loved the twist to the fairy tale The Little Mermaid. I enjoyed the story but I just wish it was a little darker and I don’t know something was missing. Overall it was a good read and I enjoyed the characters I was just hoping it would be a little less predictable maybe.

[Leanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice twist on the Little Mermaid, with a little merman starring in this tale instead of a maid. Adrian is a very likable character, handsome and nice, and has the big potential of every good protagonist. The world building is also interesting, resembling the cartoon movie fairytales with fantasy and mythology put in, but still oozing the naive innocence somehow. Of course there were darker undertones, but the overall impression is dominated by the light tone of the whole story. It was an enjoyable read, fast and relaxing, but I missed something and don't know what.

[Constance Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy from the author to review.

Breathless is a fantastic summer read. Ariel being a boy is a stunning twist on the classic tale. I like how it's modern too, dealing with current issues and more relatable characters. We also get to see how a mermaid would function in our society. The romance is sweet and overall a great and original fairy tale retelling.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was an adorable retake of little mermaid/merman lol.. it was fun.. it was interesting and i really enjoyed these characters and this take on it ariel was a boy instead of a girl lol. well written

[Véronique Laplante Grenier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this retelling of The Little Mermaid. Can't wait to read the next Twisted Fairy Tales.

[Laura Jones rosenhauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute switched up-retelling version of the little mermaid. It was short, but I liked it.