What do you think?
Rate this book
A Song of Sea and Shore
A treaty broken. A promise forgotten. A friendship lost.
When the Sea Queen threatens war with the land folk, her youngest daughter Nerina defies her by heading to shore to warn them, and return to Prince Kai, the boy she's loved ever since she was a child.
But tricked by the Sea Witch, Neri finds herself unable to communicate who she is, and baffled that everyone seems to have forgotten that mermaids exist at all. Mysteries and heartbreak surround both the lands of sea and shore, and to save them, Neri and Kai must be willing to sacrifice anything...
When the Sea Queen threatens war with the land folk, her youngest daughter Nerina defies her by heading to shore to warn them, and return to Prince Kai, the boy she's loved ever since she was a child.
But tricked by the Sea Witch, Neri finds herself unable to communicate who she is, and baffled that everyone seems to have forgotten that mermaids exist at all. Mysteries and heartbreak surround both the lands of sea and shore, and to save them, Neri and Kai must be willing to sacrifice anything...
242 pages, ebook
Published March 3, 2021
30 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Macdonald
37 books460 followersKatherine "Kate" Macdonald writes the books she wishes she could have read more of as a teen—stories of fierce girls and gentle boys, of romance and adventure, and where the "three Cs" (chemistry, communication and consent) reign supreme. There may still be a little bit of miscommunication along the way as the characters grow as people, but she tries not to rely on that trope too much!
She loves books packed with witty banter, stories where you can feel the love growing between a pair, that include excellent, well-developed side-characters and a few subtly-foreshadowed twists and turns. She despises toxic relationships and tales that rely on old-fashioned notions of male and female stereotypes. She enjoys bending expectations and crafting worlds where sexism is a thing of the past. She considers herself an LGBTQIA+ friendly author, and her stories include a range of characters from within the community and absolutely no discrimination in sight.
She holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and a PGCE in teaching English and Drama from the University of Exeter. She's been a writer since she was old enough to hold a crayon, but it was only after surviving a year of parenthood and a full-time job on less than six hours of sleep a night that she finally gained the courage to publish her debut novel, "The Rose and the Thorn." It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast inspired by a dream of a girl surrounded by snow in a field of flowers.
At her heart, Macdonald is storyteller, and it is her dream to inspire others in the way that she has been inspired.
She lives in Devon with her manic child and well-behaved cats.
She loves books packed with witty banter, stories where you can feel the love growing between a pair, that include excellent, well-developed side-characters and a few subtly-foreshadowed twists and turns. She despises toxic relationships and tales that rely on old-fashioned notions of male and female stereotypes. She enjoys bending expectations and crafting worlds where sexism is a thing of the past. She considers herself an LGBTQIA+ friendly author, and her stories include a range of characters from within the community and absolutely no discrimination in sight.
She holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and a PGCE in teaching English and Drama from the University of Exeter. She's been a writer since she was old enough to hold a crayon, but it was only after surviving a year of parenthood and a full-time job on less than six hours of sleep a night that she finally gained the courage to publish her debut novel, "The Rose and the Thorn." It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast inspired by a dream of a girl surrounded by snow in a field of flowers.
At her heart, Macdonald is storyteller, and it is her dream to inspire others in the way that she has been inspired.
She lives in Devon with her manic child and well-behaved cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 17, 2021
Little Mermaid retellings usually aren't my favorite (although preferable to Snow White), but I'd read other retellings by MacDonald that I really liked, so I figured it'd be worth a chance. And I'm so glad I did! While the story had all the bones of the original story, there was also a great deal of originality that transformed an impulsive and naive heroine into someone I could truly root for. Someone who'd give everything to save the people (and land) she loves. Highly recommend to any lover of fairytales.
April 19, 2021
Okay, so this is a fairytale retelling. That by default means it has to work even harder than your average fantasy book at having a killer premise to counterbalance the fact that it’s basically a remake. In my opinion, A Song of Sea and Shore does not disappoint in this regard.
Macdonald seriously amps up the stakes compared to the original Little Mermaid tale. Instead of one mermaid’s heart and soul, Macdonald puts an entire kingdom at risk of obliteration. With this being marketed as a slow-burn romance you know you’re most likely going to get that HEA, but Macdonald makes you sweat for it with these stakes.
I might as well have been a water fountain for at least the second half of the book. Macdonald’s writing is poetic, and can hit you right in the feels. If you don’t like being weepy even after you put the damn book down, you might want to avoid. However, if you like ugly crying through your lunch break and going back to work with a red nose, please proceed.
In the end, A Song of Sea and Shore left me wanting to dive into more of Macdonald’s fairytale retellings. However, I think I’ll need at least a week between them to recover from the emotional rollercoasters. An excellent book, and well worth the read.
Macdonald seriously amps up the stakes compared to the original Little Mermaid tale. Instead of one mermaid’s heart and soul, Macdonald puts an entire kingdom at risk of obliteration. With this being marketed as a slow-burn romance you know you’re most likely going to get that HEA, but Macdonald makes you sweat for it with these stakes.
I might as well have been a water fountain for at least the second half of the book. Macdonald’s writing is poetic, and can hit you right in the feels. If you don’t like being weepy even after you put the damn book down, you might want to avoid. However, if you like ugly crying through your lunch break and going back to work with a red nose, please proceed.
In the end, A Song of Sea and Shore left me wanting to dive into more of Macdonald’s fairytale retellings. However, I think I’ll need at least a week between them to recover from the emotional rollercoasters. An excellent book, and well worth the read.
March 2, 2021
It’s really no wonder that I loved this one so much. The Little Mermaid was always one of my favorite fairy tales though I always wept at the ending. Seeing a brand new take on it was a real treat!
I love-love-love the themes on memory, communication and grief. One of the hardest things in this story is the mermaid’s inability to speak but the author makes it clear that does not mean an inability to communicate and that was so glorious to see. The effect of grief was very much felt throughout this story as was the importance of memory in creating who we are.
I love the different cultures given to the MerFolk! It makes them feel well rounded and just as real as the human kingdoms. The gender reversal on a few characters works so well because the author understands how this can alter a character’s personality and treats it accordingly!
And, of course, the relationship between our two leads is so wonderful. It feels real and I adore how families become important because it’s important to the partner. Very real relationship stuff here, folks!
A definite must-read!
I love-love-love the themes on memory, communication and grief. One of the hardest things in this story is the mermaid’s inability to speak but the author makes it clear that does not mean an inability to communicate and that was so glorious to see. The effect of grief was very much felt throughout this story as was the importance of memory in creating who we are.
I love the different cultures given to the MerFolk! It makes them feel well rounded and just as real as the human kingdoms. The gender reversal on a few characters works so well because the author understands how this can alter a character’s personality and treats it accordingly!
And, of course, the relationship between our two leads is so wonderful. It feels real and I adore how families become important because it’s important to the partner. Very real relationship stuff here, folks!
A definite must-read!
September 6, 2021
Beautiful Retelling!
I absolutely love this retelling! Kai is adorable, and the cast of side characters (especially Hans and Greta) are wonderful. I appreciate the use of sign language in this book. Yet another retelling by Katherine Macdonald that I love!
I absolutely love this retelling! Kai is adorable, and the cast of side characters (especially Hans and Greta) are wonderful. I appreciate the use of sign language in this book. Yet another retelling by Katherine Macdonald that I love!
April 18, 2021
Savory and sumptuous, just as all McDonald's books tend to be. Her true magic lies within walking the line between what is not said but expressed all the same. The subtext bubbles to the surface in such a raw, unfiltered understanding of what characters are feeling. I've never read an author that can say so much by saying so little at all. Again, just as in The Rose and the Thorn and Heart of Thorn, you feel what they, the characters themselves, feel.
The Little Mermaid, being a mute with very limited speech, is the perfect vessel to convey the talent and depth of her writing. As Neri struggles to express herself and the depth of her feelings to Kai, we are drowned and lost in a world of unspoken emotions brought to the surface by the words McDonald writes. Brilliant. Just as every bit as wonderful as her Rose and the Thorn book.
The Little Mermaid, being a mute with very limited speech, is the perfect vessel to convey the talent and depth of her writing. As Neri struggles to express herself and the depth of her feelings to Kai, we are drowned and lost in a world of unspoken emotions brought to the surface by the words McDonald writes. Brilliant. Just as every bit as wonderful as her Rose and the Thorn book.
September 3, 2021
DNF because of content.
The passage at 2% that made me stop:
“The females of our species outnumbered the men greatly. It had always been so. As such, it was traditional for the Mer Queen to take on several consorts, as a show of power. Mother had three at the moment. Oshun, her first, Zale, her second, and Bosun, her third. Although technically any one of them could have sired me, it was unlikely to be Oshun. I hoped it wasn’t Zale.”
I then read another review saying that besides that there is a lot of references to sex and adultery etc etc.
The passage at 2% that made me stop:
“The females of our species outnumbered the men greatly. It had always been so. As such, it was traditional for the Mer Queen to take on several consorts, as a show of power. Mother had three at the moment. Oshun, her first, Zale, her second, and Bosun, her third. Although technically any one of them could have sired me, it was unlikely to be Oshun. I hoped it wasn’t Zale.”
I then read another review saying that besides that there is a lot of references to sex and adultery etc etc.
August 14, 2021
Not pg
The premise was interesting and twisted upon the original. I must worn parents that it is not fitting for a younger audience as it contains many references to intercourse as well as condoning the idea of sex outside of marriage adultery and quite a few other unsavoury ideas for young children I would suggest 16 years plus for the reader so not young adult
The premise was interesting and twisted upon the original. I must worn parents that it is not fitting for a younger audience as it contains many references to intercourse as well as condoning the idea of sex outside of marriage adultery and quite a few other unsavoury ideas for young children I would suggest 16 years plus for the reader so not young adult
January 3, 2022
It’s too hard to pick a favourite in this collection, but if I had to this would probably be it.
What has been done with this update is perfect.
I wouldn’t dream of criticising HCA, but this is how it should have been written in the first place.
It’s exciting, poignant, sweet and in places scary and all the characters are immensely well rounded.
Because our girl is mute we don’t have the usual banter between her and the Prince, I loved that.
We have it with Hans and Greta and also Ariel and Freed, those two are fabulous and should have their own book,( I’m looking at you Ms Katherine)
The women are all friendly and supportive which is lovely, zero manipulation here! 👍
The sea is the main character, you can smell it and taste the salt. Wonderful!
The writing is sublime
“But though his head spoke of logic and reason, although it yelled he was young and inexperienced
and knew nothing of these matters, his heart drowned all thought with rapid, pulsating noise.Noise for Neri.
A drumbeat for her.
A deep, endless cacophony of sound that vanquished all rhyme and rhythm. A noise that carried all the
triumph of trumpets and the slow, defeated beat of a funeral dirge.”
"It will always be you," he said "it always was. You are carved into my soul, and there you shall forever
haunt and comfort me. I'll keep you in my soul, Neri, if I cannot keep you here."
Beautiful!
A Sky full of stars for this one.
NB. Something else has to be said about this collection, the beautiful chapter heading illustrations hark back to a time before mass produced books on cheap paper.
They are so lovely and add much pleasure to the experience. I wish more writers took the trouble!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What has been done with this update is perfect.
I wouldn’t dream of criticising HCA, but this is how it should have been written in the first place.
It’s exciting, poignant, sweet and in places scary and all the characters are immensely well rounded.
Because our girl is mute we don’t have the usual banter between her and the Prince, I loved that.
We have it with Hans and Greta and also Ariel and Freed, those two are fabulous and should have their own book,( I’m looking at you Ms Katherine)
The women are all friendly and supportive which is lovely, zero manipulation here! 👍
The sea is the main character, you can smell it and taste the salt. Wonderful!
The writing is sublime
“But though his head spoke of logic and reason, although it yelled he was young and inexperienced
and knew nothing of these matters, his heart drowned all thought with rapid, pulsating noise.Noise for Neri.
A drumbeat for her.
A deep, endless cacophony of sound that vanquished all rhyme and rhythm. A noise that carried all the
triumph of trumpets and the slow, defeated beat of a funeral dirge.”
"It will always be you," he said "it always was. You are carved into my soul, and there you shall forever
haunt and comfort me. I'll keep you in my soul, Neri, if I cannot keep you here."
Beautiful!
A Sky full of stars for this one.
NB. Something else has to be said about this collection, the beautiful chapter heading illustrations hark back to a time before mass produced books on cheap paper.
They are so lovely and add much pleasure to the experience. I wish more writers took the trouble!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 17, 2022
Ohhh what a great retelling by one of my fave authors KM. The little mermaid was one of my fave disney movie and story growing up (and yes I have a soft spot for mermaid stories) and I'm soo glad to have found a retelling that is very original while maintaing the basic 'plot' of the story.
I loved how Neri (what a beautiful name) was give a "voice" while having lost her own, the gender-bends in some basic characters, the female power, the witty-funny parts, the plot-twists and yes everything.
I loved how Neri (what a beautiful name) was give a "voice" while having lost her own, the gender-bends in some basic characters, the female power, the witty-funny parts, the plot-twists and yes everything.
March 19, 2021
Another lovely retelling!!
Each one of this author's books is a gem. Kai was adorable, Neri a delight, Hans and Sven hilarious. I loved the Sea Witch because I have a weakness for hot, tragic, magical villains!!! The atmosphere, the descriptions, the emotions, the flow...so well done.
Each one of this author's books is a gem. Kai was adorable, Neri a delight, Hans and Sven hilarious. I loved the Sea Witch because I have a weakness for hot, tragic, magical villains!!! The atmosphere, the descriptions, the emotions, the flow...so well done.
April 27, 2022
Yeah, i had the Disney movie in mind as I began this, but there are thankfully no goofy lobsters or kooky seagulls--just an epic story of a mermaid trying to fix a misunderstanding between the world of the ocean and the world above. Overall, it's a very sweet romance with a dash of spice thrown in.
May 26, 2021
Such a different take! Really entertaining and a couple twists I didn’t see coming. I had to text a friend who read it before me, because I was shocked at parts and needed to talk about it!
Despite Neri being unable to talk for a good portion of the book, I still felt close to her and this element didn't slow the story down like I was worried it would. There were a few slow-ish moments where it was reiterated a few too many times that Neri was signing and others were translating, however that cleared up and wasn't a hinderance by mid-book.
My only real hold up with this read was I felt the feelings Neri had for the prince were more from her childhood and he didn’t warrant the strong feelings as much when we meet him as a grown up. Don’t get me wrong, he is a nice prince, but I wasn’t absolutely enamored with him. The strong “heart and feelings monologues” throughout the book felt a tad unexpected. I wanted more in that regard. Prince Eric from Disney spoiled me and I couldn't get behind Kai as much.
With that being said, one of the things Katherine does well in all her books is establishing ah-mazing side characters that are as lovable and 'real' as the main characters. Sea and Shore does the same. Some of my favorite moments are with Kai's friends. On top of that, I love the mermaid world that was explained and the dive into mermaid relationships. It adds another unique element to a story we're very familiar with.
Despite Neri being unable to talk for a good portion of the book, I still felt close to her and this element didn't slow the story down like I was worried it would. There were a few slow-ish moments where it was reiterated a few too many times that Neri was signing and others were translating, however that cleared up and wasn't a hinderance by mid-book.
My only real hold up with this read was I felt the feelings Neri had for the prince were more from her childhood and he didn’t warrant the strong feelings as much when we meet him as a grown up. Don’t get me wrong, he is a nice prince, but I wasn’t absolutely enamored with him. The strong “heart and feelings monologues” throughout the book felt a tad unexpected. I wanted more in that regard. Prince Eric from Disney spoiled me and I couldn't get behind Kai as much.
With that being said, one of the things Katherine does well in all her books is establishing ah-mazing side characters that are as lovable and 'real' as the main characters. Sea and Shore does the same. Some of my favorite moments are with Kai's friends. On top of that, I love the mermaid world that was explained and the dive into mermaid relationships. It adds another unique element to a story we're very familiar with.
April 10, 2021
A Song of Sea and Shore blew me out of the water! Yes, that was an ocean pun! But seriously, after reading The Rose and the Thorn, I had extremely high expectations for this book. I'm THRILLED to say that Katherine Macdonald exceeded each and every one of them! She took a classic story and retold it in a way that had me captivated from the very start.
Not only was the story a unique spin, but the characters were just so darn lovable. Even without her voice, Neri finds a way to communicate with Kai in a way that had me so deeply invested in their relationship. I love the two of them and was rooting for them the ENTIRE time! (Although I must say, I really loved Sophia as well. Not for Kai, of course, but as a person. She was lovely and I hope to one day get a spin off of her life in the Southern Isles!)
I could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but one thing I simply must say is how beautiful Macdonald's writing is. She is a master of her craft and I will forever be one of her biggest fans. I can't wait to read more fantastic fairytale retellings from her!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book!! It's AMAZING!
Not only was the story a unique spin, but the characters were just so darn lovable. Even without her voice, Neri finds a way to communicate with Kai in a way that had me so deeply invested in their relationship. I love the two of them and was rooting for them the ENTIRE time! (Although I must say, I really loved Sophia as well. Not for Kai, of course, but as a person. She was lovely and I hope to one day get a spin off of her life in the Southern Isles!)
I could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but one thing I simply must say is how beautiful Macdonald's writing is. She is a master of her craft and I will forever be one of her biggest fans. I can't wait to read more fantastic fairytale retellings from her!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book!! It's AMAZING!
April 7, 2021
Katherine Macdonald's retellings are quickly becoming my favourite reads and this one I think is my new favourite!
I loved the Lore behind the mermaids... And the twist on the sea witch was perfectly done.
The romance... With any of Katherine's retellings the romance is what leaps off the page... And the chemistry between the characters here is just magic.
It is a tricky job indeed to create such a connection when one character cannot speak... But this is done to perfection.
Slow and lingering romance... All the longing looks... The gestures...the touches.
I didn't even miss the usually witty banter that Katherine is known for. This was pure escapist magic and I wait eagerly for her next book.
I loved the Lore behind the mermaids... And the twist on the sea witch was perfectly done.
The romance... With any of Katherine's retellings the romance is what leaps off the page... And the chemistry between the characters here is just magic.
It is a tricky job indeed to create such a connection when one character cannot speak... But this is done to perfection.
Slow and lingering romance... All the longing looks... The gestures...the touches.
I didn't even miss the usually witty banter that Katherine is known for. This was pure escapist magic and I wait eagerly for her next book.
June 14, 2021
After reading 3 of these retellings, I finally have a moment to stop and write a proper review.
So far I have read: The Rose and the Thorn, Of Snow and Scarlet, and now A Song of Sea and Shore.
Do you want to know what I find absolutely shining through these books?
1. POSITIVE FEMALE FRIENDSHIP, and great female side characters. I think that it Is weak writing when the only other women in novels are written as catty competition or just plain villains. Those types of books tend to have “Pick me!” protagonists. I didn’t love the 3 female protagonists because they were better than the rich stuffy noblewomen. I loved them because they were written well and didn’t need to be pit against a lesser woman to be likable. Sophia in Song of Sea was a perfect example of a powerful woman who could have been written off as another royal jerk who only served to try and make the protag jealous, but instead was shown to be compassionate, smart, and a strong leader.
2. Consent, and a general relaxed opinion of intimate relationships. I tend to teeter between reading a series that has 3 books of over-the-top sexual tension because one of the characters is PURE and would never defile themselves or their partner with SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE, or books that are like “her teeters bounced boobily and it made his length lengthen, and they’re gonna have lots of steaaamy sex” and then we get chapters of sex scenes that get stale and detract from the plot. It is so refreshing to read books that are like “oh yeah sex happens but it’s not like a big deal and it’s definitely not a mark of someone’s character or worth.”
3. Male love interests who are actually worthy and believable. I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers, but those books seem to have all the attention on the steamy bad guy instead of the main character, and then in a matter of chapters, it goes from “I HATE YOU” to “Omg we were soulmates this whole time” without seeing a natural relationship progression. Rose and Thorn, Addie and Finn, and Neri and Kai all spent time just hanging out with each other. They talked about their lives, interests, and other things. You know, like a NORMAL relationship.
4. These books are progressive, without making a big deal about it. They just felt… normal. Very much unlike a super popular series with a male love interest who is constantly saying things like “It’s your choice! I’m letting you have your own choices and make your own decisions because I invented feminism!” and had the only LGBT character in the series make a multiple page monologue to “come out”.
I’m absolutely hooked on this author! I cannot wait to read the rest of her work.
So far I have read: The Rose and the Thorn, Of Snow and Scarlet, and now A Song of Sea and Shore.
Do you want to know what I find absolutely shining through these books?
1. POSITIVE FEMALE FRIENDSHIP, and great female side characters. I think that it Is weak writing when the only other women in novels are written as catty competition or just plain villains. Those types of books tend to have “Pick me!” protagonists. I didn’t love the 3 female protagonists because they were better than the rich stuffy noblewomen. I loved them because they were written well and didn’t need to be pit against a lesser woman to be likable. Sophia in Song of Sea was a perfect example of a powerful woman who could have been written off as another royal jerk who only served to try and make the protag jealous, but instead was shown to be compassionate, smart, and a strong leader.
2. Consent, and a general relaxed opinion of intimate relationships. I tend to teeter between reading a series that has 3 books of over-the-top sexual tension because one of the characters is PURE and would never defile themselves or their partner with SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE, or books that are like “her teeters bounced boobily and it made his length lengthen, and they’re gonna have lots of steaaamy sex” and then we get chapters of sex scenes that get stale and detract from the plot. It is so refreshing to read books that are like “oh yeah sex happens but it’s not like a big deal and it’s definitely not a mark of someone’s character or worth.”
3. Male love interests who are actually worthy and believable. I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers, but those books seem to have all the attention on the steamy bad guy instead of the main character, and then in a matter of chapters, it goes from “I HATE YOU” to “Omg we were soulmates this whole time” without seeing a natural relationship progression. Rose and Thorn, Addie and Finn, and Neri and Kai all spent time just hanging out with each other. They talked about their lives, interests, and other things. You know, like a NORMAL relationship.
4. These books are progressive, without making a big deal about it. They just felt… normal. Very much unlike a super popular series with a male love interest who is constantly saying things like “It’s your choice! I’m letting you have your own choices and make your own decisions because I invented feminism!” and had the only LGBT character in the series make a multiple page monologue to “come out”.
I’m absolutely hooked on this author! I cannot wait to read the rest of her work.
March 12, 2021
I have no words to describe this. Pun intended? Maybe a little. As of yet, A Song of Sea and Shore is my favorite of all of Katherine Macdonald’s works I have read so far, and let me tell you, I loved Kingdom of Thorns like nobody’s business.
The author broke my heart, then patched it up, broke it again, patched it up, and maybe repeated the process a few more times after that. This story was so emotional and so well-crafted, it brought me to tears on several occasions. I loved the characters and the hard choices they had to make throughout the book. I loved the uniqueness of a plot we have heard time and again. I especially loved this different type of hero the author painted (another pun, sorry!), one who is quiet, thoughtful, creative, and emotional. Did I also mention he blushes easily?
The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I adored this particular retelling. I absolutely recommend!
The author broke my heart, then patched it up, broke it again, patched it up, and maybe repeated the process a few more times after that. This story was so emotional and so well-crafted, it brought me to tears on several occasions. I loved the characters and the hard choices they had to make throughout the book. I loved the uniqueness of a plot we have heard time and again. I especially loved this different type of hero the author painted (another pun, sorry!), one who is quiet, thoughtful, creative, and emotional. Did I also mention he blushes easily?
The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I adored this particular retelling. I absolutely recommend!
February 7, 2023
Ranging from 0 to 4. Some really cute moments. Child in me loved the little mermaid retelling with childhood friends and memory loss. Yay. But young sound writing. Butttt too much of fhe freaking woke nonsense ikky that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The mother has a harem of men. Most mermaids have a harm of men or vise versa. The mc kissed and was experienced with other mermaids, grooossssss. So sick of this push to Normalize this type of behavior and relationships. It is NOT NORMAL. IT IS DISGUSTING
May 22, 2022
Most adaptations of "The Little Mermaid" do one of two things. They retell the exact same story with more detail than the original or they turn the whole tale on its head and create something completely different, usually losing what made the story so special in the first place. A Song of Sea and Shore by Katherine Macdonald lies somewhere in the middle. The best way I can describe it is that it turns the story sideways. Some aspects are exactly the same while others have shifted, such as the mermaid's motivation to visit her human prince. This is the third book I have read from The Fey Collection, and the author takes more liberties with this fairy tale than she did with the other two. Some of the changes lower the stakes for the main character, making it less of an emotionally powerful tale, while others address concerns that critics have brought up with this story for years.
Like most incarnations of "The Little Mermaid," Neri is a headstrong and optimistic young mermaid who desires with all her heart to protect the humans, especially the prince she has loved since childhood. Unfortunately, her mother, Queen Maris, is more cynical about the ways of the world, especially after having lost a daughter. When the humans seem to have broken a treaty they made with the merfolk years earlier, Maris decides to summon a storm that will destroy the entire human kingdom. It's up to Neri to find a way to walk on land so she can warn them before it's too late. This aspect of the story reminds me of a Sofia the First special called The Floating Palace in which Sofia had to stop Queen Emmaline from creating a storm that would sink her family's ship because she didn't trust the humans. The special featured Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, and it was interesting to see the same storyline incorporated into an alternate version of the fairy tale.
Though this is clearly a "Little Mermaid" retelling, I noticed several references to "The Snow Queen," another popular Hans Christian Andersen story, sprinkled throughout the book. Even the prince's name, Kai, matched the name of the boy that the protagonist in "The Snow Queen" had to rescue through her love and memories toward him. There were other Nordic names as well, many of which were used in Disney's Frozen adaptation, such as Anna, Sven, and Hans. The "frozen heart" angle was interesting. Although Kai still has his emotions intact, after becoming human, Neri realizes that he and the rest of his kingdom seem to have lost all their memories of mermaids. As a result, Kai has forgotten why Neri is so important to him. She must find ways to communicate who she is without her voice, many of which have been used in other versions of this story, such as sign language and writing, though Neri is disappointed to discover that humans have a different written language than the merfolk.
While many of the changes the author made to the fairy tale work in this book's favor, many of them take away from the heartrending aspects of the original. For instance, Neri no longer has to worry about dying if Kai doesn't remember her, though he will lose his entire kingdom if she is unable to communicate the danger that her mother poses. I also thought the prince's fiancée, Princess Sophia, was not believable at all as a character. The author doesn't like stories about women becoming rivals over men, so she made Sophia way too good to be true. Sophia immediately realizes that Kai and Neri are in love and does everything in her power so they can be together. While this character was not exactly evil in the original story, there was still some tension based around a misunderstanding that she was the one who rescued the prince from drowning which I felt was missing here. I think it would have been more interesting if Neri had to build a friendship with Sophia to help her realize the misunderstanding.
All in all, A Song of Sea and Shore is a perfectly fine retelling of "The Little Mermaid." It develops a unique kingdom and culture around merfolk and gives the protagonist more motivation to trade her voice for legs. However, there were some changes to the story that made it less appealing to me, such as the sexualized version of mermaids, which is fairly common in mythology, and the lack of stakes for Neri because the danger is transposed to the human characters. There were a few surprises involving Neri's sisters that I really enjoyed. If you are a fan of "The Little Mermaid" and are looking for something new to read, this is a good one to check out.
Like most incarnations of "The Little Mermaid," Neri is a headstrong and optimistic young mermaid who desires with all her heart to protect the humans, especially the prince she has loved since childhood. Unfortunately, her mother, Queen Maris, is more cynical about the ways of the world, especially after having lost a daughter. When the humans seem to have broken a treaty they made with the merfolk years earlier, Maris decides to summon a storm that will destroy the entire human kingdom. It's up to Neri to find a way to walk on land so she can warn them before it's too late. This aspect of the story reminds me of a Sofia the First special called The Floating Palace in which Sofia had to stop Queen Emmaline from creating a storm that would sink her family's ship because she didn't trust the humans. The special featured Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid, and it was interesting to see the same storyline incorporated into an alternate version of the fairy tale.
Though this is clearly a "Little Mermaid" retelling, I noticed several references to "The Snow Queen," another popular Hans Christian Andersen story, sprinkled throughout the book. Even the prince's name, Kai, matched the name of the boy that the protagonist in "The Snow Queen" had to rescue through her love and memories toward him. There were other Nordic names as well, many of which were used in Disney's Frozen adaptation, such as Anna, Sven, and Hans. The "frozen heart" angle was interesting. Although Kai still has his emotions intact, after becoming human, Neri realizes that he and the rest of his kingdom seem to have lost all their memories of mermaids. As a result, Kai has forgotten why Neri is so important to him. She must find ways to communicate who she is without her voice, many of which have been used in other versions of this story, such as sign language and writing, though Neri is disappointed to discover that humans have a different written language than the merfolk.
While many of the changes the author made to the fairy tale work in this book's favor, many of them take away from the heartrending aspects of the original. For instance, Neri no longer has to worry about dying if Kai doesn't remember her, though he will lose his entire kingdom if she is unable to communicate the danger that her mother poses. I also thought the prince's fiancée, Princess Sophia, was not believable at all as a character. The author doesn't like stories about women becoming rivals over men, so she made Sophia way too good to be true. Sophia immediately realizes that Kai and Neri are in love and does everything in her power so they can be together. While this character was not exactly evil in the original story, there was still some tension based around a misunderstanding that she was the one who rescued the prince from drowning which I felt was missing here. I think it would have been more interesting if Neri had to build a friendship with Sophia to help her realize the misunderstanding.
All in all, A Song of Sea and Shore is a perfectly fine retelling of "The Little Mermaid." It develops a unique kingdom and culture around merfolk and gives the protagonist more motivation to trade her voice for legs. However, there were some changes to the story that made it less appealing to me, such as the sexualized version of mermaids, which is fairly common in mythology, and the lack of stakes for Neri because the danger is transposed to the human characters. There were a few surprises involving Neri's sisters that I really enjoyed. If you are a fan of "The Little Mermaid" and are looking for something new to read, this is a good one to check out.
December 2, 2021
Rating: 3.5 Stars
A little boy who loved the sea, and a little mermaid who loved him so much she risked everything to save his country.
Ariel was my favorite Disney Princess growing up, so it’d have been remiss of me to pass on this The Little Mermaid inspired story during my current fairytale retellings kick.
I didn’t know what to expect going into this, since Katherine Macdonald is a new author for me, however she managed to win me over with her fresh and engaging take on this Disney classic. Dare I say that this version is even more compelling than its predecessor.
“I, Neri, Princess of the Sea, swear to never forget you, Prince Kai-of-the-Shore.” I closed his hand over the trinket. “Now you say it back.”
Kai put his arms around me instead. “I won’t forget you, Neri. Never, never, ever. I promise.”
But he had. Somehow. They all had.
I loved that Macdonald did away with the insta-love connection from the film, and instead built a love story on the strong foundation of a childhood friendship between Neri (Ariel) and Kai (Eric). Adding the amnesia storyline was a stroke of genius, as it allowed the existence of said relationship without endangering the integrity of the iconic romance. After all, this wouldn’t be a retelling of The Little Mermaid if Kai knew enough about Neri to see past the air of mystery surrounding her.
Another thing worth mentioning—the reason Neri risked making a deal with the Sea Witch. This FMC didn’t trade her voice for legs in order to spend her life with a complete stranger who literally doesn’t even know she exists. No sirree! This FMC makes the trade in an effort to save an entire kingdom from slaughter. Am I throwing shade at my favorite Disney princess? Yes. Yes I am.
“I’ve missed you every day for ten years,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “And I didn’t know what it was I was missing, only I felt something inside me was lost or gone, and I didn’t know how to fill it. How could I? It was you. It was always you.”
Mcdonald didn’t drop the ball when it came to the writing. Her poet dialogue and fanciful prose characteristic of the fairy tale classics. Characters such as the Sea Witch and Princess Sophia (Kai’s betrothed) were more than props—I felt empathy for the Sea Witch by the end, and admiration for Sophia the moment we met her on page.
TL;DR This retelling of The Little Mermaid has more substance and depth than the original, and is worth the read.
Title: A Song of Sea and Shore
POV(s):
◆ Chapters: First Person, Single—Neri
◆ Interludes: Third Person, Dual—Kai & Maris
Interconnected Series: N/A
Standalone: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:
Relationship: M/F
Genre(s): Fairytale Retelling, Fantasy Romance, Young Adult
Triggers: N/A
Tags/Tropes:
❖ Broken-Treaty
❖ Childhood-Friends-to-Lovers
❖ Clean/Behind-Closed-Doors
❖ Forced-Proximity
❖ Gentle-Hero-Fierce-Heroine
❖ Hero-Doesn’t-Remember-Heroine (Amnesia)
❖ Hero-Engaged-to-OW
❖ Heroine-Defies-Mother
❖ Heroine-Saves-the-Hero
❖ Heroine-Trying-to-Prevent-War
❖ Human-Hero-Mermaid-Heroine
❖ Kingdom-Under-Spell
❖ Language-Barrier/Communication-Barrier
❖ Princess-Heroine-Prince-Hero
❖ Royalty
❖ Seperation (10 years)
❖ The-Little-Mermaid
June 16, 2025
Yeah... after four long years, I finally got my hands on a copy (don't know about anybody else, but Amazon's been greeting me with the Temporarily Out of Print msg all this time. My Kindle savin' the day as per usual, don't you fret 😉).
I love the longing! I mean, it's a Little Mermaid retelling, so yeah. But the fact that unlike the OG story, Kai and Niri had a whole summer spent together. Despite the fact that her whole family were there (her mother and King Frans were straight-up talking politics as the children played together), Niri is the only who remembers any of this. You really felt for her being caught in her loneliness from chapter one (love the segue from Kai wanting to enjoy the sea to Niri laying on the ocean floor so she can get a good look at the sun above) and throughout the story, it's worth noting that she has no real friends till she gets to shore. Her connections are through a family who, beyond Oshun (poor out some sea water, RIP 😔😭), doesn't see her POV on humans. And when she finally gets her legs, she can't speak and can't write in human language. I think the Sea Witch knew that bit all along...
Speaking of the Sea Witch, he (not a typo; he/they is how I'll refer to them because I interpreted them as a take on a non-binary character) they threw me for a loop. At first I was like "... wait, are you Niri's bio father 👀?" and we never really figure this out because it wasn't Niri that they sought to help, but rather he/they're still grieving the loss of his and Maris' eldest daughter who was crushed by a passing ship against the rocks. The plan is use her bones and Niri's body to bring her back. A study in parental grief? Ms. Macdonald, you've outdone yourself 👏. And that moment when Maris essentially goes "That's not real love; that's sadness you can't escape until you sing with her again". And even as the Sea Witch dies, Maris shows mercy she didn't think herself capable of by saying "go see our daughter for me" 😭😭💖.
Kai and Niri's moments are too sweet
-Her finding out Kai's kept her vow shell all these years.
-That moment in the afterglow when Kai goes "*blush* and goes "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I uh, e-enjoyed myself immensely as well" and Niri goes "Yeah, I noticed!" .
*Girl, if you don't stop he's gonna stay tomato red 😜😏!
-His favorite color being blue (for the ocean and her hair) and Niri's being brown (his hair and a color that almost doesn't exsit beneath the sea)
-Their HEA includes them being able to breathe on both land and underwater.
I adore a goo homage
-Niri's sister is Ondine
*Perhaps ref. Undine (both the water spirit and the novella by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué) I won't delve too far, but Google it please 🙏).
-Hans being the name of the OG Little Mermaid tale and one of Kai's valets.
-Ariel is the fairy who could help Niri while she's on land... need I say more?
-Niri's appearance of blue hair felt like a mix of my two favorite Little Mermaid films: Malá Morská Víla (1976) and Rusalochka (1976).
The novel was tangible both in emotion and setting: you felt the longing/complex emotions of all characters involved (love that by the end, no one is necessarily the villain, just kind of selfishly hiding their motivations; reinforcing an idea that everyone's the good guy in their version) and the saltwater seeping through the pages.
Katherine Macdonald is one heck of a storyteller.
I love the longing! I mean, it's a Little Mermaid retelling, so yeah. But the fact that unlike the OG story, Kai and Niri had a whole summer spent together. Despite the fact that her whole family were there (her mother and King Frans were straight-up talking politics as the children played together), Niri is the only who remembers any of this. You really felt for her being caught in her loneliness from chapter one (love the segue from Kai wanting to enjoy the sea to Niri laying on the ocean floor so she can get a good look at the sun above) and throughout the story, it's worth noting that she has no real friends till she gets to shore. Her connections are through a family who, beyond Oshun (poor out some sea water, RIP 😔😭), doesn't see her POV on humans. And when she finally gets her legs, she can't speak and can't write in human language. I think the Sea Witch knew that bit all along...
Speaking of the Sea Witch, he (not a typo; he/they is how I'll refer to them because I interpreted them as a take on a non-binary character) they threw me for a loop. At first I was like "... wait, are you Niri's bio father 👀?" and we never really figure this out because it wasn't Niri that they sought to help, but rather he/they're still grieving the loss of his and Maris' eldest daughter who was crushed by a passing ship against the rocks. The plan is use her bones and Niri's body to bring her back. A study in parental grief? Ms. Macdonald, you've outdone yourself 👏. And that moment when Maris essentially goes "That's not real love; that's sadness you can't escape until you sing with her again". And even as the Sea Witch dies, Maris shows mercy she didn't think herself capable of by saying "go see our daughter for me" 😭😭💖.
Kai and Niri's moments are too sweet
-Her finding out Kai's kept her vow shell all these years.
-That moment in the afterglow when Kai goes "*blush* and goes "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I uh, e-enjoyed myself immensely as well" and Niri goes "Yeah, I noticed!" .
*Girl, if you don't stop he's gonna stay tomato red 😜😏!
-His favorite color being blue (for the ocean and her hair) and Niri's being brown (his hair and a color that almost doesn't exsit beneath the sea)
-Their HEA includes them being able to breathe on both land and underwater.
I adore a goo homage
-Niri's sister is Ondine
*Perhaps ref. Undine (both the water spirit and the novella by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué) I won't delve too far, but Google it please 🙏).
-Hans being the name of the OG Little Mermaid tale and one of Kai's valets.
-Ariel is the fairy who could help Niri while she's on land... need I say more?
-Niri's appearance of blue hair felt like a mix of my two favorite Little Mermaid films: Malá Morská Víla (1976) and Rusalochka (1976).
The novel was tangible both in emotion and setting: you felt the longing/complex emotions of all characters involved (love that by the end, no one is necessarily the villain, just kind of selfishly hiding their motivations; reinforcing an idea that everyone's the good guy in their version) and the saltwater seeping through the pages.
Katherine Macdonald is one heck of a storyteller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
Where to begin with this one....
Though I enjoyed The Little Mermaid's original tale, it was never one of my favourites.
How Katherine has written the story, however, that has changed!
I adore so much of this book that it has easily become one of my favourite tales by her.
The characters are wonderful and in-depth. Magical, and yet relatable.
Where the original tale was lacking, Katherine has filled those gaps with new friendships, loveable characters, and sympathetic villains.
There were even a few hidden characters in there, cameo's from Katerine's previous works. I all but squealed when I read one of the character names, delighted to see their appearance in this book.
I think Hans was one of my favourite characters in the tale as well as Sven. Hans is lovely, charming and caring. His dialogue was enjoyable and funny, as well as having sweet moments.
Sven on the other hand was more of a grumpy character, but equally as loveable. He's wary but warms to Neri gradually and some of his lines made me adore him.
Even though Neri was unable to speak throughout the book, as with the original, the story was not lacking for it.
She soon learned to overcome some of the difficulties that came without having a voice and learned how to communicate without it, something so different and brilliantly well done.
There may not have been some of the usual banter that Katherine uses in her book in this story, but the story is just as rich as all her other works and full of longing and romance throughout.
'Kai slipped a note in front of me.
Neri is very pretty.
My cheeks pricked, and I smiled. I wrote another sentence on my board and tilted it towards him.
Kai is very pretty too.
Kai snorted.'
'Noise for Neri. A drumbeat for her. A deep, endless cacophony of sound that vanquished all rhyme and rhythm.'
There was also some referencing to the Disney version of the tale which I loved to see and brought a smile to my lips when I read them.
'I wanted to be where the people were'
'"Communication's overrated!" Hans insisted. "If you like her so much, you should just kiss the girl!"'
Overall, this book swept me away. I didn't want to put it down, even though at times I was forced to. It was a brilliant read that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone, filled with Katherine's usual longing romance, amusement, and some sadness as well. A clear 5
star read!!
I'll leave with this section of the book that was one of my favourite scenes **POSSIBLE SPOILER**
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
'"I forgot you."
"You remembered me, too." Against all logic, against a spell so powerful it encapsulated a kingdom. You came back to me.'
Though I enjoyed The Little Mermaid's original tale, it was never one of my favourites.
How Katherine has written the story, however, that has changed!
I adore so much of this book that it has easily become one of my favourite tales by her.
The characters are wonderful and in-depth. Magical, and yet relatable.
Where the original tale was lacking, Katherine has filled those gaps with new friendships, loveable characters, and sympathetic villains.
There were even a few hidden characters in there, cameo's from Katerine's previous works. I all but squealed when I read one of the character names, delighted to see their appearance in this book.
I think Hans was one of my favourite characters in the tale as well as Sven. Hans is lovely, charming and caring. His dialogue was enjoyable and funny, as well as having sweet moments.
Sven on the other hand was more of a grumpy character, but equally as loveable. He's wary but warms to Neri gradually and some of his lines made me adore him.
Even though Neri was unable to speak throughout the book, as with the original, the story was not lacking for it.
She soon learned to overcome some of the difficulties that came without having a voice and learned how to communicate without it, something so different and brilliantly well done.
There may not have been some of the usual banter that Katherine uses in her book in this story, but the story is just as rich as all her other works and full of longing and romance throughout.
'Kai slipped a note in front of me.
Neri is very pretty.
My cheeks pricked, and I smiled. I wrote another sentence on my board and tilted it towards him.
Kai is very pretty too.
Kai snorted.'
'Noise for Neri. A drumbeat for her. A deep, endless cacophony of sound that vanquished all rhyme and rhythm.'
There was also some referencing to the Disney version of the tale which I loved to see and brought a smile to my lips when I read them.
'I wanted to be where the people were'
'"Communication's overrated!" Hans insisted. "If you like her so much, you should just kiss the girl!"'
Overall, this book swept me away. I didn't want to put it down, even though at times I was forced to. It was a brilliant read that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone, filled with Katherine's usual longing romance, amusement, and some sadness as well. A clear 5
star read!!
I'll leave with this section of the book that was one of my favourite scenes **POSSIBLE SPOILER**
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
'"I forgot you."
"You remembered me, too." Against all logic, against a spell so powerful it encapsulated a kingdom. You came back to me.'
January 29, 2023
"Communication is overrated!' Hans insisted. "If you like her so much, you should just kiss the girl!"
A little mermaid retelling.
A Song of Sea and Shore follows the youngest of the Mer sisters, Neri, who longs to be reunited with Prince Kai, a human boy she had met when her mother, Queen Maris, went ashore to create a treaty with the humans. When the humans suddenly broke the treaty, Queen Maris wanted to sink the land and wash away all of the humans. It was up to Neris after she had slipped out of the Palace to trade her voice for legs by the evil sea witch. Upon her discovery, it had seemed like the entire town had forgotten that the merfolk existed, and it was up to Neri to discover what happened. But, wait! How was she meant to do this without a voice? With no time to lose, Neris tries her hardest to learn sign language to warn the humans of her mother's attempts to wipe them out.
Does she succeed?
As an avid lover of The Little Mermaid growing up, it was interesting to see the difference between this story and that of The Little Mermaid. Both Ariel and Neris have similar character traits, both being head strong young mermaids and sharing their love for humans.
I enjoyed the small references the writer makes throughout the book of the original story. The writer definitely moves the story to appeal more to the YA fans rather than the children story The Little Mermaid offers us. This mainly can be seen with the sexualisation of mermaids with the numbers of female to male being higher, where the female would take multiple husbands.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable and quick read. I will probably read others in the retelling series.
A little mermaid retelling.
A Song of Sea and Shore follows the youngest of the Mer sisters, Neri, who longs to be reunited with Prince Kai, a human boy she had met when her mother, Queen Maris, went ashore to create a treaty with the humans. When the humans suddenly broke the treaty, Queen Maris wanted to sink the land and wash away all of the humans. It was up to Neris after she had slipped out of the Palace to trade her voice for legs by the evil sea witch. Upon her discovery, it had seemed like the entire town had forgotten that the merfolk existed, and it was up to Neri to discover what happened. But, wait! How was she meant to do this without a voice? With no time to lose, Neris tries her hardest to learn sign language to warn the humans of her mother's attempts to wipe them out.
Does she succeed?
As an avid lover of The Little Mermaid growing up, it was interesting to see the difference between this story and that of The Little Mermaid. Both Ariel and Neris have similar character traits, both being head strong young mermaids and sharing their love for humans.
I enjoyed the small references the writer makes throughout the book of the original story. The writer definitely moves the story to appeal more to the YA fans rather than the children story The Little Mermaid offers us. This mainly can be seen with the sexualisation of mermaids with the numbers of female to male being higher, where the female would take multiple husbands.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable and quick read. I will probably read others in the retelling series.
April 5, 2024
At first, I thought this book was going to be a DNF, but it took me by surprise, and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. It took me a while to get into the writing style, and I think that's what made me consider it a DNF, but I checked out some reviews, and it seemed like a lot of people enjoyed this one, so I stuck to it. Once I got past the writing, it was a cute retelling of "The Little Mermaid" with references here and there to the movie. I think my one pet peeve about this was the fact that the stepfather was just forgotten about until the plot needed him again. (Spoiler section ahead) Like if I had a stepfather who I cared about dearly and he was starving to death in a cell, then I'd like to think he'd at least cross my mind a little bit more, at the very least. But anyway, overall it was a nice retelling, and I might consider reading from this author again.
March 3, 2021
This was one of my faves from Kate.
I'm a fan of all her fairytale retellings, and this one is just as brilliant. Despite Neri not being able to speak, the dynamic between her and Kai is beautiful and their relationship builds through the little actions they take, the small gestures.
It's a clever twist on the classic and though I tried to figure out who was responsible for the events of the story the whole way through, I couldn't because Kate had written all the characters so well. There's no obvious Big Bad, it's a lot more subtle than that, and you end up questioning everyone.
If you want fantastic characters, a genuine connection between protag and LI, a gripping story and beautiful world-building, this is the book for you. Highly recommend.
I'm a fan of all her fairytale retellings, and this one is just as brilliant. Despite Neri not being able to speak, the dynamic between her and Kai is beautiful and their relationship builds through the little actions they take, the small gestures.
It's a clever twist on the classic and though I tried to figure out who was responsible for the events of the story the whole way through, I couldn't because Kate had written all the characters so well. There's no obvious Big Bad, it's a lot more subtle than that, and you end up questioning everyone.
If you want fantastic characters, a genuine connection between protag and LI, a gripping story and beautiful world-building, this is the book for you. Highly recommend.
October 28, 2022
Katherine Macdonald never disappoints! I've read two of her fairytale retellings (The Rose and the Thorn and Of Snow and Scarlet) and I knew this one would have me caught in its net of wonderfulness!
I love that she can make her heroine strong without making her a vicious fighter. I love how you never know which characters are truly evil - a lot of them are morally gray, or they are causing mischief because they've been victimized themselves, etc.
I won't give away any spoilers, but it's at the top of my favorites list! Thank you for this wonderful read! Now to decide which one is next....
I love that she can make her heroine strong without making her a vicious fighter. I love how you never know which characters are truly evil - a lot of them are morally gray, or they are causing mischief because they've been victimized themselves, etc.
I won't give away any spoilers, but it's at the top of my favorites list! Thank you for this wonderful read! Now to decide which one is next....
April 13, 2021
I've never been a big fan of the Little Mermaid, but A Song of Sea and Shore has completely changed my opinion. This book was amazingly written and the plot was simply wonderful. I loved the combination of mermaids, love, kingdoms, and family tension. My heart was in my mouth on a number of occasions and I just could not put this book down.
Neri cannot speak and yet her charm still shines through and captures the reader's heart. Her relationship with Prince Kai left me with a huge smile on my face.
Another wonderful fairytale retelling by an incredibly talented author.
Neri cannot speak and yet her charm still shines through and captures the reader's heart. Her relationship with Prince Kai left me with a huge smile on my face.
Another wonderful fairytale retelling by an incredibly talented author.
August 13, 2022
“I love you,” he said, my whole body lightening and clenching with the weight of those words. “I’ve been trying to think of the perfect last thing to say while we still have some semblance of freedom, but there is only that. I don’t want there to be a last thing I ever say to you, because I never want to live without you, but if I must, that’s the one thing I want you to know. I love you, I have always loved you, and I think I’m still going to be in love with you until I die. Maybe even after that.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2021
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this wonderful book down! I absolutely loved this retelling of The Little Mermaid! I will be reading more books in this wonderful series!
October 11, 2021
Ahh this was a lovely and enjoyable Little Mermaid retelling. It’s 1am and I have to wake up for work in six hours, and there are joyful tears in my eyes from the ending, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Neri and Kai were both such sweethearts, and I deeply enjoyed their story!
April 13, 2021
Not her best
DNF at about 1/3 in. Least favorite of the series by far. It drags, and did not keep my attention.
DNF at about 1/3 in. Least favorite of the series by far. It drags, and did not keep my attention.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews