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The Prince and the Sea Witch
All mermaids long for the magic of a human soul. Only Briony isn’t willing to drown sailors to get it.
She makes potions instead, earning a reputation as a witch and becoming a social outcast. When a little mermaid asks for a potion that can reunite her with the human she loves, Briony reluctantly agrees. But there is more to the mermaid’s plan than a quest for love. The more Briony interacts with the human prince the mermaid wants to claim, the more she suspects that he never loved the little mermaid at all.
Discover a retelling that turns the classic fairytale inside out and upside down. Where mermaids lure men to their deaths with siren songs and the sea witch will be the hero if she survives the final battle.
The Prince and the Sea Witch is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favorite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you’ve never seen them before. Who said villains can’t have happily-ever-afters?
She makes potions instead, earning a reputation as a witch and becoming a social outcast. When a little mermaid asks for a potion that can reunite her with the human she loves, Briony reluctantly agrees. But there is more to the mermaid’s plan than a quest for love. The more Briony interacts with the human prince the mermaid wants to claim, the more she suspects that he never loved the little mermaid at all.
Discover a retelling that turns the classic fairytale inside out and upside down. Where mermaids lure men to their deaths with siren songs and the sea witch will be the hero if she survives the final battle.
The Prince and the Sea Witch is one of twelve short novels in A Villain's Ever After, a collection of standalone stories featuring villainous twists on some of your favorite classic fairytales. Read the series in any order for magical adventures . . . and fall in love with villains as you’ve never seen them before. Who said villains can’t have happily-ever-afters?
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2021
54 people are currently reading
1081 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Marshall
24 books310 followersAngela Marshall loves fairy tales and has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She works as a professional pianist and teacher and enjoys crocheting.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 10, 2021
This book NAILED this retelling of Little Mermaid! I loved how many of the elements of the original tale are incorporated into the story (turning into sea foam, the pain of walking on land). This is definitely NOT the Disney version of the tale!
I also loved how the author kept the storyline from the original. There is still an Ariel character. She still has three days to get a kiss from the prince. The main character is still the sea witch.
Yet, this is one of those "here is the REAL" story of Little Mermaid and the sea witch kind of deals. Where the sea witch isn't as evil as she might seem on the surface and the Ariel character is actually super selfish and needs to be stopped.
I flew through this book, and even though the romance happened quickly, it went so naturally and beautifully that I adored it!
I also loved how the author kept the storyline from the original. There is still an Ariel character. She still has three days to get a kiss from the prince. The main character is still the sea witch.
Yet, this is one of those "here is the REAL" story of Little Mermaid and the sea witch kind of deals. Where the sea witch isn't as evil as she might seem on the surface and the Ariel character is actually super selfish and needs to be stopped.
I flew through this book, and even though the romance happened quickly, it went so naturally and beautifully that I adored it!
March 13, 2022
5 stars // read March 2022
I’m not super keen on mermaid stories, but I enjoyed this one. My favorite part of the story was the aspect of souls- that’s not something that you see very often in fantasy and it really made it unique. I also really liked the pet seal. ❤️ Overall, this was a really creative and well-done twist on The Little Mermaid.
I’m not super keen on mermaid stories, but I enjoyed this one. My favorite part of the story was the aspect of souls- that’s not something that you see very often in fantasy and it really made it unique. I also really liked the pet seal. ❤️ Overall, this was a really creative and well-done twist on The Little Mermaid.
October 23, 2021
Yessss. I loved this little mermaid retelling. It was one of the best ones I read....
But I am biased. I always love mermaid retellings that include the soul aspect of it. But, I mean, this one had a great MC, incredible world building, super cool magic, and a seal!! How could I not love it? Plus, it incorporated the soul aspect from the original fairy tale extremely well.
I will say I wished the book was a little longer so everything could be explained a bit more (like seeing more of the male protag)...but considering that the author enjoys flaying her characters in her longer books, I will just be happy these guys got a happy ending quicker. XP
But seriously. I loved this installment of VEA. Souls!
Content: Nothing more than a kiss. Some violence (think of the OG tale + sirens), and no language.
But I am biased. I always love mermaid retellings that include the soul aspect of it. But, I mean, this one had a great MC, incredible world building, super cool magic, and a seal!! How could I not love it? Plus, it incorporated the soul aspect from the original fairy tale extremely well.
I will say I wished the book was a little longer so everything could be explained a bit more (like seeing more of the male protag)...but considering that the author enjoys flaying her characters in her longer books, I will just be happy these guys got a happy ending quicker. XP
But seriously. I loved this installment of VEA. Souls!
Content: Nothing more than a kiss. Some violence (think of the OG tale + sirens), and no language.
May 10, 2022
The Prince and the Sea Witch is the eleventh installment within the A Villain's Ever After series. This definitely gave me all the little mermaid vibes and it made me very happy. Especially since it dove into the darker tone of that story.
With soul sucking mermaids and the potential to find true love's kiss, well, color me freaking intrigued guys. After meeting Briony, I honestly fell in love with her pretty early on. Especially since she was so traumatized with everyone within her class luring men to their deaths. I was also pretty intrigued by her wanting to find another way to get what mermaids needed without killing people.
Then the prince comes, and it didn't shock me one bit that she didn't know who he was. Of course, he always knew what she was but didn't do anything about it. Mostly because she was so unlike the sirens he knew about. I also really laughed when everyone was trying to lure him towards the other mermaid when he only had eyes for her.
In the end, this was a really good book and I wished it was so much longer than it was. Seriously, I would have loved a full book of this. Definitely enjoyed this one and can't wait to jump into the next book.
With soul sucking mermaids and the potential to find true love's kiss, well, color me freaking intrigued guys. After meeting Briony, I honestly fell in love with her pretty early on. Especially since she was so traumatized with everyone within her class luring men to their deaths. I was also pretty intrigued by her wanting to find another way to get what mermaids needed without killing people.
Then the prince comes, and it didn't shock me one bit that she didn't know who he was. Of course, he always knew what she was but didn't do anything about it. Mostly because she was so unlike the sirens he knew about. I also really laughed when everyone was trying to lure him towards the other mermaid when he only had eyes for her.
In the end, this was a really good book and I wished it was so much longer than it was. Seriously, I would have loved a full book of this. Definitely enjoyed this one and can't wait to jump into the next book.
December 23, 2021
How interesting!
Yet another unique spin on a fairytale retelling! Totally love it! *Skips off to read Gothel and the Maiden Prince*
Yet another unique spin on a fairytale retelling! Totally love it! *Skips off to read Gothel and the Maiden Prince*
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June 24, 2022Clever retelling of THE LITTLE MERMAID with the witch as the heroine and the little mermaid as the villain!
November 10, 2022
This is why I love novellas. I get to sit down in the morning and read a complete story…knowing it will sit with me for the rest of the day. I bought this after loving Sea Witch by Sarah Henning. I didn’t read it for months, but I knew I’d love it when I finally got to it. This novella has a lot packed in it. It feels like a novel told in a shorter way, and I really appreciated how full it is. Definitely want to read more from this author.
October 22, 2021
A short yet delightful twist on a classic tale. The author poses the questions “ what if the the little mermaid was actually the villain, and the sea witch was the hero?” The sea witch it likable, relatable, and cheer-worthy.
Pg kissing and some violence.
Trigger warning for drowning.
Pg kissing and some violence.
Trigger warning for drowning.
May 9, 2022
Easily in my top 5 Little Mermaid retellings.
October 22, 2021
Loved this one. So fun, and what a cool, different take on the Little Mermaid story.
November 1, 2021
I have to admit that the fairytale of the little mermaid isn't one of my favorites. I do appreciate the lessons it holds and I think it's a very valuable tale to teach people that giving valuable parts of themselves away is a stupid thing to do, but it's therefore also a tale that always makes me sad. However, I do love retellings of this tale, especially from the Sea Witch' point of view. Mostly these retellings are amazingly interesting.
This tale isn't any different. It took me a few chapters to really get into it, but once I had the who is who I started enjoying this story more and more. What I admire is that the author managed to keep all the original elements of the story. If this tale would have been told from the perspective of the little mermaid you would get the original tale. And yet, yet I was rooting for the Sea Witch throughout the entire book.
Marshall really explains all her actions and motivations so well. Even though she takes some hard decisions, like cutting out the little mermaid's tongue, it's easy to understand why she does it. I would even say that not doing it would have been a true wicked deed in this case. It's quite impressive how all those actions that seem so horrible in the original tale are simply actions out of love in this tale. Love for the prince, but mostly love for humanity.
This story serves a lovely romance on top of that. Since the story is relatively short there's not too much time to really build a connection between the two characters and yet it's totally there. And that's mostly because Marshall doesn't write an epic, passionate romance. She writes a romance based on nothing but respect. These two characters talk, they let the other explain, they allow the other to have secrets and they trust they will do the right thing in the end. I love a love like that.
This tale isn't any different. It took me a few chapters to really get into it, but once I had the who is who I started enjoying this story more and more. What I admire is that the author managed to keep all the original elements of the story. If this tale would have been told from the perspective of the little mermaid you would get the original tale. And yet, yet I was rooting for the Sea Witch throughout the entire book.
Marshall really explains all her actions and motivations so well. Even though she takes some hard decisions, like cutting out the little mermaid's tongue, it's easy to understand why she does it. I would even say that not doing it would have been a true wicked deed in this case. It's quite impressive how all those actions that seem so horrible in the original tale are simply actions out of love in this tale. Love for the prince, but mostly love for humanity.
This story serves a lovely romance on top of that. Since the story is relatively short there's not too much time to really build a connection between the two characters and yet it's totally there. And that's mostly because Marshall doesn't write an epic, passionate romance. She writes a romance based on nothing but respect. These two characters talk, they let the other explain, they allow the other to have secrets and they trust they will do the right thing in the end. I love a love like that.
February 16, 2023
I've been looking forward to reading this one since it came out! And I finally made it!
A.G. Marshall's work has impressed me in the past, so I had high expectations for this one. And I think it tied for my favorite of the series so far. First off, have you seen the cover?!
I'm a sucker for a good Little Mermaid story, and this one was cute. I liked the unique little elements to the world, like the color of mermaid blood. But even more than that, I loved the clever, yet distinct nods to the original. From the silver mermaid hair and the way the magic worked for mermaids--and the way Briony chose to use magic in her bottled potions--to the pain in the mermaid's feet and the removal of the mermaid's tongue. The way she incorporated souls and the longing to be human and yet somehow twisted that around for the traditional villain's perspective was very satisfying. Each nod had a unique twist, a Marshall flare, and yet was so satisfyingly pointing back to the story many of us know and love. She handled the fairy tale elements so well!
And I honestly really loved how she fulfilled the series theme of giving the villains a perspective, a happily ever after. She somehow managed to balance the beloved Little Mermaid storyline while giving a whole new light to the sea witch, the mermaid friends, and even the little mermaid herself. It was really cool to see what she did with the plot. And unlike so many novellas, the pacing was actually pretty well-done. Marshall has mastered both the novel-length story and the pacing and pinch points of a shorter story and novella. It's nice because the story wasn't disrupted by the uneven balance of world building, story plot, or even character development.
As for the world and characters, they were fun! Honestly, I'd love to see Marshall expand this one day into a full length novel! I really liked the prince and Briony. And the kingdom was fun to explore. The story really felt like a peek into a world where there are so many more stories to tell!
Fantastic job! Love this one so much!! Only one left to go!
Content: no foul language, some mild fantasy violence, and a sweet, clean romance. Gentle themes of exploring power and moral ethics. I'd recommend this one for early teens.
A.G. Marshall's work has impressed me in the past, so I had high expectations for this one. And I think it tied for my favorite of the series so far. First off, have you seen the cover?!
I'm a sucker for a good Little Mermaid story, and this one was cute. I liked the unique little elements to the world, like the color of mermaid blood. But even more than that, I loved the clever, yet distinct nods to the original. From the silver mermaid hair and the way the magic worked for mermaids--and the way Briony chose to use magic in her bottled potions--to the pain in the mermaid's feet and the removal of the mermaid's tongue. The way she incorporated souls and the longing to be human and yet somehow twisted that around for the traditional villain's perspective was very satisfying. Each nod had a unique twist, a Marshall flare, and yet was so satisfyingly pointing back to the story many of us know and love. She handled the fairy tale elements so well!
And I honestly really loved how she fulfilled the series theme of giving the villains a perspective, a happily ever after. She somehow managed to balance the beloved Little Mermaid storyline while giving a whole new light to the sea witch, the mermaid friends, and even the little mermaid herself. It was really cool to see what she did with the plot. And unlike so many novellas, the pacing was actually pretty well-done. Marshall has mastered both the novel-length story and the pacing and pinch points of a shorter story and novella. It's nice because the story wasn't disrupted by the uneven balance of world building, story plot, or even character development.
As for the world and characters, they were fun! Honestly, I'd love to see Marshall expand this one day into a full length novel! I really liked the prince and Briony. And the kingdom was fun to explore. The story really felt like a peek into a world where there are so many more stories to tell!
Fantastic job! Love this one so much!! Only one left to go!
Content: no foul language, some mild fantasy violence, and a sweet, clean romance. Gentle themes of exploring power and moral ethics. I'd recommend this one for early teens.
May 19, 2022
Loved this retelling of The Little Mermaid! I've read two of the author's books previously and enjoyed them, so I was excited to pick this one up. Though it was a novella, I think it had all the elements that make a good fantasy romance.
I liked Briony's transition in the book; it showed how she came to be known as the sea witch, which was interesting. It also explored a side of the little mermaid that we don't usually read about in books. While I would have loved to see more of the male protagonist, the way his relationship developed with Briony was sweet.
It was a simple story with a few minor twists, but at no point did I feel bored. The pacing was great and the writing even better. It helped me stay hooked, and I finished it in less than 2 hours.
The ending was satisfying, and each character got exactly what they deserved. Overall, it was an amazing read, and I recommend it to people who enjoy fairytale retellings from the villain's point of view. Also, readers who like books with mermaids, magic, and some romance would want to give it a try.
I liked Briony's transition in the book; it showed how she came to be known as the sea witch, which was interesting. It also explored a side of the little mermaid that we don't usually read about in books. While I would have loved to see more of the male protagonist, the way his relationship developed with Briony was sweet.
It was a simple story with a few minor twists, but at no point did I feel bored. The pacing was great and the writing even better. It helped me stay hooked, and I finished it in less than 2 hours.
The ending was satisfying, and each character got exactly what they deserved. Overall, it was an amazing read, and I recommend it to people who enjoy fairytale retellings from the villain's point of view. Also, readers who like books with mermaids, magic, and some romance would want to give it a try.
September 20, 2023
4.5 stars
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This is an excellent retelling of The Little Mermaid, with the little mermaid as the villain.
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It was dark and twisty and so fun! Even as a novella, it felt complete and satisfying.
.
This is an excellent retelling of The Little Mermaid, with the little mermaid as the villain.
.
It was dark and twisty and so fun! Even as a novella, it felt complete and satisfying.
March 3, 2022
I have to start off by saying I have never enjoyed Disney’s The Little Mermaid, so I was wary going into this story… but I absolutely loved it! There were so many unique twists along the way, and I just adore Briony, Pup and Harlan 🥰 It was fascinating to have the “Ariel” character be the villain in this version of the tale… and quite a ruthless one at that! I enjoyed the magic/potion system and how the author played on the classic concept of sirens luring sailors to the ocean depths. I didn’t want to put this one down once I started reading! If you’re looking for a quick dose of magic, suspense, a touch of horror, and a heartwarming romance, this book would be a great one for you ☺️
March 9, 2022
Mermaid books are always so cool to read because they always have such unique world building, and this one’s the same!! The concept of sirens taking humans’ souls through a kiss for their magic was so unique, and the way the silver souls were reflected in their silver hair was so cool! I loved seeing the underwater world and how Briony made potions from different sea and land ingredients.
I felt for the Briony all alone and loved her character!
This is a novella, but even so I feel like the romance was too quick. But I understand the author didn’t have much room to make it more believable.
I’ve only read three, but so far I’ve really enjoyed the books in this series!!
I felt for the Briony all alone and loved her character!
This is a novella, but even so I feel like the romance was too quick. But I understand the author didn’t have much room to make it more believable.
I’ve only read three, but so far I’ve really enjoyed the books in this series!!
June 17, 2022
Cute, but short. Seems rushed and there was literally no reason for either of them to fall in love with the other. The author tried to get around that by having the characters tell each other that “I don’t know anything about you!” And then describing what they do know, but it was definitely supposition and weirdness.
September 8, 2023
A creative and enjoyable remaining of the Little Mermaid fairytale with a twist!
This is a super quick read but packed a strong entertainment punch. It was really interesting how the author wove together aspects of the original fairytale (Mermaids wanting human souls, the witch takes her tongue in exchange for the potion) and from the Disney cartoon movie (the little mermaid wears a pink dress as a human, the spot where the kiss is supposed to happen, a song to kiss the girl.)
I loved Briony's character (and her name)! She was different and wasn't afraid to do what was right even if it meant being socially ostracized for years. She was creative in finding a new way to do things and was very self-reliant.
This was an interesting take on the power of Mermaids, one I hadn't heard before. There are aspects of the story that are pretty dark but it has a happy ending.
I loved Brionys pet seal, Pup. He was an adorable character reminiscent of a loyal dog, almost made me want a pet seal haha!
I did wish the love story and the couples interaction could have been more detailed and more time devoted to its development, but the original story is only 3 days. Also it bothered me a bit how the souls of men automatically ascended to Heaven when they died, which is of course not true--it is a fairytale so surely people won't take a fairytale's description of what happens when someone dies as truth but I don't particularly like that idea being perpetuated. But also this is a secular book so I wouldn't necessarily expect it to get Heaven correctly and how would you describe it and souls without Jesus anyway? Probably an unnecessary rant but something that kept being on my mind as I read.
Christian faith rating: I'm not sure how to rate this since it is a clean book with no explicit content or language. It's just potentially problematic with how it describes souls and Heaven.
This is a super quick read but packed a strong entertainment punch. It was really interesting how the author wove together aspects of the original fairytale (Mermaids wanting human souls, the witch takes her tongue in exchange for the potion) and from the Disney cartoon movie (the little mermaid wears a pink dress as a human, the spot where the kiss is supposed to happen, a song to kiss the girl.)
I loved Briony's character (and her name)! She was different and wasn't afraid to do what was right even if it meant being socially ostracized for years. She was creative in finding a new way to do things and was very self-reliant.
This was an interesting take on the power of Mermaids, one I hadn't heard before. There are aspects of the story that are pretty dark but it has a happy ending.
I loved Brionys pet seal, Pup. He was an adorable character reminiscent of a loyal dog, almost made me want a pet seal haha!
I did wish the love story and the couples interaction could have been more detailed and more time devoted to its development, but the original story is only 3 days. Also it bothered me a bit how the souls of men automatically ascended to Heaven when they died, which is of course not true--it is a fairytale so surely people won't take a fairytale's description of what happens when someone dies as truth but I don't particularly like that idea being perpetuated. But also this is a secular book so I wouldn't necessarily expect it to get Heaven correctly and how would you describe it and souls without Jesus anyway? Probably an unnecessary rant but something that kept being on my mind as I read.
Christian faith rating: I'm not sure how to rate this since it is a clean book with no explicit content or language. It's just potentially problematic with how it describes souls and Heaven.
June 24, 2022
23 June 2022
4.5 stars!
So cute! I love YA fantasy; it's honestly my comfort read genre. I'm also such a sucker for fairy tale retellings!
I think the book kinda suffers from being a short story, but it's still so good!!
RTC!
4.5 stars!
~~~~~
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Happy Reading!
4.5 stars!
So cute! I love YA fantasy; it's honestly my comfort read genre. I'm also such a sucker for fairy tale retellings!
I think the book kinda suffers from being a short story, but it's still so good!!
RTC!
4.5 stars!
~~~~~
Want more bookish stuff?
・ Comment below to discuss this book more. I'd love to hear what you think!
・ Send me a private message on Goodreads to discuss this book and other books!
・ Join Book Nerds Unite to get involved in all things bookish with fellow book nerds!
・ Like this review, and follow me for more book reviews.
・ Subscribe to my blog, Adventures with Asia Minor! https://www.adventureswithasiaminor.com/
Happy Reading!
October 31, 2021
Such a Great Twist
I don’t want to spoil anything. I just loved the ways A.G. Marshall wove the original fairytale into this story. Briony was resourceful, and determined. There’s still a case of fall in love by the third day, but I loved this fresh take on a classic.
I don’t want to spoil anything. I just loved the ways A.G. Marshall wove the original fairytale into this story. Briony was resourceful, and determined. There’s still a case of fall in love by the third day, but I loved this fresh take on a classic.
April 1, 2023
So cute!!! That's all I can say, it was perfect 😊
November 20, 2023
3.5 stars.
August 27, 2022
Short and sweet! Loved the different take on The Little Mermaid and the mermaid world that was painted in depth and in a matter of pages. Very creative.
The characters have depth and I’m surprised how quickly I cared about them in such a short amount of time.
The characters have depth and I’m surprised how quickly I cared about them in such a short amount of time.
January 21, 2022
This was such an interesting take on mermaids that I’ve never read before but really enjoyed!
Briony is so compassionate and kind—I really enjoyed this take on the “sea witch” character and felt really bad for her with all the stigma and rejection she faced from choosing to be different and better then her peers. Harlan is such a sweetheart and perfect for our main girl! Even though this is a short book and the romance done within a matter of days, I still found both the characters and their relationship realistic and not at all rushed. And the little mermaid…let’s just say she’s a vicious, creepy, murderous psychopath and leave it at that. 👀
I LOVED the way souls were written and portrayed going to heaven—it was so beautiful and really made me think just how precious and beautiful our souls truly are. The imagery and way it was written was just gorgeous.
I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend!
Content: violence and some blood (not detailed); magic; magical abilities; kissing (not detailed); some characters have their tongues cut and put in bottles (not detailed even though it’s still gross…); men are purposefully drowned and have their souls stolen
Briony is so compassionate and kind—I really enjoyed this take on the “sea witch” character and felt really bad for her with all the stigma and rejection she faced from choosing to be different and better then her peers. Harlan is such a sweetheart and perfect for our main girl! Even though this is a short book and the romance done within a matter of days, I still found both the characters and their relationship realistic and not at all rushed. And the little mermaid…let’s just say she’s a vicious, creepy, murderous psychopath and leave it at that. 👀
I LOVED the way souls were written and portrayed going to heaven—it was so beautiful and really made me think just how precious and beautiful our souls truly are. The imagery and way it was written was just gorgeous.
I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend!
Content: violence and some blood (not detailed); magic; magical abilities; kissing (not detailed); some characters have their tongues cut and put in bottles (not detailed even though it’s still gross…); men are purposefully drowned and have their souls stolen
October 31, 2021
It's no secret that "The Little Mermaid" is my favorite fairy tale. One of my favorite adaptations of it is Princess of Mermaids by AG Marshall. In The Prince and the Sea Witch, she brings us an entirely different imagining of the story in a much darker world where mermaids follow the classical siren mythology of luring men to their deaths. This is one of the latest entries in the Villain's Ever After series that I had been looking forward to the most. Considering the length of many of AG Marshall's recent novels, I was pleasantly surprised that this one was quite short, allowing me to read it on my own time without feeling pressured to finish. It doesn't convey the same themes of risks and sacrifice that I love about the original "Little Mermaid" story, but it is a pleasant book in its own right that follows the narrative structure of the other Villain's Ever After books, giving readers a good idea of what to expect.
You've heard of the "not like other girls" trope, but what about "not like other mermaids?" Briony starts her journey as a naive young mermaid in training for her first feast with little understanding of what that feast entails aside from what she learned in her classes with her elders. When she realizes that her mer-sisters are heartless sirens who suck out the souls of helpless sailors to keep themselves young, healthy, and beautiful, she decides that life is not for her. She swims to a secluded part of the ocean and becomes a recluse who practices magic and avoids hurting innocent people. Vicious rumors begin to spread about her among the merfolk for not participating in their deadly games. One day, she finds a human man who somehow escaped the clutches of the siren song and brings him safely to shore.
This book takes a daring risk by turning the beloved character of the little mermaid into an ignorant villainous monster who uses men for her own selfish desires. Stories that turn villains into heroes must sometimes make the original protagonist evil in order to make the villain more sympathetic, and this is one of those times. When Lyra asks Briony to turn her into a human so she can convince Prince Harlan to marry her, it is only with the intention of sharing his soul so she can live forever. She has no concept or understanding of what love is. How could she when the only thing she was ever knew was how to kill? I have mixed feelings about Lyra having no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It makes Briony's decisions easy to justify and relate to, but I think it would have been more interesting if both Lyra and Briony believed that they were doing the right thing for different reasons.
Conversely, Briony is a perfect angel. It is no wonder that Harlan falls in love with her. He enlists her services to stop the sirens forever, and she is all too eager to turn on her own kind for the sake of the humans. Her lack of ties to any of the other mermaids gives her no reason to feel remorse. The sirens only become eviler as the story goes on, blindly supporting Lyra's greed until the very end. I liked Briony enough since she gave no reason not to like her, but it would have been nice for her to have a dark side to balance out all of her light like many of the other villains from these adaptations do. However, it's hard to complain about the lack of overall nuance when the book was such a quick, easy, and pleasant read.
I'm glad A Villain's Ever After included an adaptation of my favorite fairy tale and that it was written by my favorite fairy tale author. It offers a fresh and unique perspective on "The Little Mermaid" with a unique twist that follows the original Greek mythology of mermaid lore to explore how different the story could have been if the mermaids were wicked sirens. The love story was cute and well-paced, especially for such a short book. If you enjoyed this story, you can also check out my adaptation, Of Land and Sea: The Untold Story of The Little Mermaid, on Amazon, in which I also explore this beloved fairy tale from alternative perspectives.
You've heard of the "not like other girls" trope, but what about "not like other mermaids?" Briony starts her journey as a naive young mermaid in training for her first feast with little understanding of what that feast entails aside from what she learned in her classes with her elders. When she realizes that her mer-sisters are heartless sirens who suck out the souls of helpless sailors to keep themselves young, healthy, and beautiful, she decides that life is not for her. She swims to a secluded part of the ocean and becomes a recluse who practices magic and avoids hurting innocent people. Vicious rumors begin to spread about her among the merfolk for not participating in their deadly games. One day, she finds a human man who somehow escaped the clutches of the siren song and brings him safely to shore.
This book takes a daring risk by turning the beloved character of the little mermaid into an ignorant villainous monster who uses men for her own selfish desires. Stories that turn villains into heroes must sometimes make the original protagonist evil in order to make the villain more sympathetic, and this is one of those times. When Lyra asks Briony to turn her into a human so she can convince Prince Harlan to marry her, it is only with the intention of sharing his soul so she can live forever. She has no concept or understanding of what love is. How could she when the only thing she was ever knew was how to kill? I have mixed feelings about Lyra having no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It makes Briony's decisions easy to justify and relate to, but I think it would have been more interesting if both Lyra and Briony believed that they were doing the right thing for different reasons.
Conversely, Briony is a perfect angel. It is no wonder that Harlan falls in love with her. He enlists her services to stop the sirens forever, and she is all too eager to turn on her own kind for the sake of the humans. Her lack of ties to any of the other mermaids gives her no reason to feel remorse. The sirens only become eviler as the story goes on, blindly supporting Lyra's greed until the very end. I liked Briony enough since she gave no reason not to like her, but it would have been nice for her to have a dark side to balance out all of her light like many of the other villains from these adaptations do. However, it's hard to complain about the lack of overall nuance when the book was such a quick, easy, and pleasant read.
I'm glad A Villain's Ever After included an adaptation of my favorite fairy tale and that it was written by my favorite fairy tale author. It offers a fresh and unique perspective on "The Little Mermaid" with a unique twist that follows the original Greek mythology of mermaid lore to explore how different the story could have been if the mermaids were wicked sirens. The love story was cute and well-paced, especially for such a short book. If you enjoyed this story, you can also check out my adaptation, Of Land and Sea: The Untold Story of The Little Mermaid, on Amazon, in which I also explore this beloved fairy tale from alternative perspectives.
October 23, 2021
"Featuring twelve short novels full of magic, romance, and adventure, you'll see villains in a whole new light.
Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?"
Very well, indeed, I've nothing against that. And to be honest, I'm really glad that this book is different from the Disney adaption of The little mermaid. Because the sea witch might be spooky, she is actually not a real villian (like Ursula) in Andersen's tale.
With connection to the Disney version, here Briony the sea witch is also the girl the prince falls in love with - and close to Andersen's version, it is the girl he witnessed actually on the shore.
It is actually true (and perhaps dis-enchanting) that the little mermaid wants the prince's soul and of course, she would sacrfice her tongue for it. It is also true that mermaids and sirens were known for luring humans and drowning them. The novel incorporates this very well.
Briony, the sea-witch, being different from the mermaids, with her potions and her seal, is a refreshing idea. At least, this part.
But what I am NOT happy with, is the upside-down-principle in the "classic" villian twist.
Whereas I love the idea of brightness in darkness, this feels like rather darkness in brightness.
Lyra, here the little mermaid, is so far away from Andersen's mermaid (one of his identification characters) that I hardly can connect them as the same one. There is too much darkness in her. Yes, the soul motif is original, but I think it went wrong in the novel.
Mermaids in mythology (just like the Rusalkas in Russia) might sometimes drown/kill people, but not because they want their souls.
They are no vampires, they are no soul-sippers.
Rather the opposite.
The soul motif originates in Christian romanticism, in "Undine" and especially The little mermaid.
Andersen's mermaid is actually the outsider mermaid (just like Briony here in the novel!), who wants to have a human soul. And this is her goal. Soul means heaven, but also being capable of feeling true emotions. In Andersen's tale, the mermaid would even refuse to kill the prince and rather die (this is actually the very opposite to the usual ending, with a prince being killed by his mermaid bride, just like in Rusalka or Undina); and finally, being rewared in becoming an air spirit, closer to heaven.
Ironically, in this twisted tale her "tragic downfall" would now hurt even less, but that is the problem of twisted tales. Evil becomes good, good becomes evil.
I would have celebrated this novel even more, if Lyra's character would have been closer to the original tale: a naive, young, but determined mermaid. Briony's character as a strong female heroine would have worked anyway, perhaps even better, without this lethal rivalry...
So, that is why I do not rate this well written novel higher....(I know it's a Villians ever after, but hey, you would not want Beauty killing the Beast, Riding Hood devouring the wolf etc....That is why, I would not read anymore book 12, I'm afraid)
Who said villains can't have happily-ever-afters?"
Very well, indeed, I've nothing against that. And to be honest, I'm really glad that this book is different from the Disney adaption of The little mermaid. Because the sea witch might be spooky, she is actually not a real villian (like Ursula) in Andersen's tale.
With connection to the Disney version, here Briony the sea witch is also the girl the prince falls in love with - and close to Andersen's version, it is the girl he witnessed actually on the shore.
It is actually true (and perhaps dis-enchanting) that the little mermaid wants the prince's soul and of course, she would sacrfice her tongue for it. It is also true that mermaids and sirens were known for luring humans and drowning them. The novel incorporates this very well.
Briony, the sea-witch, being different from the mermaids, with her potions and her seal, is a refreshing idea. At least, this part.
But what I am NOT happy with, is the upside-down-principle in the "classic" villian twist.
Whereas I love the idea of brightness in darkness, this feels like rather darkness in brightness.
Lyra, here the little mermaid, is so far away from Andersen's mermaid (one of his identification characters) that I hardly can connect them as the same one. There is too much darkness in her. Yes, the soul motif is original, but I think it went wrong in the novel.
Mermaids in mythology (just like the Rusalkas in Russia) might sometimes drown/kill people, but not because they want their souls.
They are no vampires, they are no soul-sippers.
Rather the opposite.
The soul motif originates in Christian romanticism, in "Undine" and especially The little mermaid.
Andersen's mermaid is actually the outsider mermaid (just like Briony here in the novel!), who wants to have a human soul. And this is her goal. Soul means heaven, but also being capable of feeling true emotions. In Andersen's tale, the mermaid would even refuse to kill the prince and rather die (this is actually the very opposite to the usual ending, with a prince being killed by his mermaid bride, just like in Rusalka or Undina); and finally, being rewared in becoming an air spirit, closer to heaven.
Ironically, in this twisted tale her "tragic downfall" would now hurt even less, but that is the problem of twisted tales. Evil becomes good, good becomes evil.
I would have celebrated this novel even more, if Lyra's character would have been closer to the original tale: a naive, young, but determined mermaid. Briony's character as a strong female heroine would have worked anyway, perhaps even better, without this lethal rivalry...
So, that is why I do not rate this well written novel higher....(I know it's a Villians ever after, but hey, you would not want Beauty killing the Beast, Riding Hood devouring the wolf etc....That is why, I would not read anymore book 12, I'm afraid)
October 24, 2021
This is the eleventh book in A Villain's Ever After series. Again, I am so pleased that I found out about this series, as I have enjoyed all eleven of them. This series presents an excellent opportunity to read stories from different authors, many of whom were new to me but now I'm a follower.
I was especially looking forward to this book. I've read a few A.G.Marshall books before this one so I was confident that I was going to enjoy this story. I was especially to find, within the opening chapters, a great explanation for how the Sea Witch came to be one in the first place. There were other characters in those chapters who came back into the story in a dramatic way. Even the Sea Witch was surprised when she realised what had happened in the intervening years.
The sea witch has no need for a prince, but once she finds him, there's no stopping the unfolding drama. All the different threads of the story weave together to bring about a very satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a fairytale retelling with a twist.
I was especially looking forward to this book. I've read a few A.G.Marshall books before this one so I was confident that I was going to enjoy this story. I was especially to find, within the opening chapters, a great explanation for how the Sea Witch came to be one in the first place. There were other characters in those chapters who came back into the story in a dramatic way. Even the Sea Witch was surprised when she realised what had happened in the intervening years.
The sea witch has no need for a prince, but once she finds him, there's no stopping the unfolding drama. All the different threads of the story weave together to bring about a very satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a fairytale retelling with a twist.
July 22, 2022
One of the better entries in this series of standalone retellings that place traditional fairy tale villains as the heroes of their stories. In this case the author imagines a complete reversal: what if the sea witch from the Little Mermaid was the good guy and the mermaid the bad guy?
Briony is a mermaid who refuses to drown sailors to harvest their immorotal souls for youth and magic, as is mermaid tradition. Instead she has learned to make potions with magical effects, including one she uses to give herself human shape so she can collect ingredients on land. She lives alone with her pet seal because the other mermaids scorn her, but one day is visited by a former classmate who demands use of her human-transforming potion in order to pursue a human man she claims has fallen in love with her. Briony, remembering this particular mermaid's power-hungry ways, is suspicious, and when she realizes the man in question is somebody she's already met, she finds she can no longer stand on the sidelines while her fellow mermaids steal more lives.
Briony is a mermaid who refuses to drown sailors to harvest their immorotal souls for youth and magic, as is mermaid tradition. Instead she has learned to make potions with magical effects, including one she uses to give herself human shape so she can collect ingredients on land. She lives alone with her pet seal because the other mermaids scorn her, but one day is visited by a former classmate who demands use of her human-transforming potion in order to pursue a human man she claims has fallen in love with her. Briony, remembering this particular mermaid's power-hungry ways, is suspicious, and when she realizes the man in question is somebody she's already met, she finds she can no longer stand on the sidelines while her fellow mermaids steal more lives.
March 25, 2025
I rarely tend to find Little Mermaid retellings that I enjoy but this one was surprisingly one I enjoyed. The Sea Witch is really sweet, the prince is also probably too kind for his own good. The baby seal pup is adorable, I love cute animal companions. As for the little mermaid she is the villain in this book; I don't know if she's delusional or just heartless/soulless perhaps all of the above. Speaking of souls; there's quite a bit of talk of souls and heaven in this story; it doesn't bother me, but you should be aware it's there. It's actually a neat call back to the original story's lore.
Only thing I would change is the length, if only it had been a bit longer to flesh out the romance. The romance was a bit rushed more of a love at first sight kind of story. That said they do have a handful of meetings before they end up confessing so it's not as rushed as some older Disney movies.
I plan to check out this author's other books in the future as well as the rest of these Villain Ever After stories.
Only thing I would change is the length, if only it had been a bit longer to flesh out the romance. The romance was a bit rushed more of a love at first sight kind of story. That said they do have a handful of meetings before they end up confessing so it's not as rushed as some older Disney movies.
I plan to check out this author's other books in the future as well as the rest of these Villain Ever After stories.
March 6, 2022
There are times in every adult's life when some illusion from their childhood is shattered. The first time that happened to me was reading Shel Silverstein's version of The Little Blue Engine, funnily enough I was still a kid when that event occurred. Once again, a childhood literary illusion has been shattered, this time at the hands of the very talented YA fantasy author A.G. Marshall. After reading The Prince And The Sea Witch I will never be able to look at The Little Mermaid the same way again. Now, I admit that I never liked the Disney version at all, instead preferring the much older and harsher version in my fairytale books. And this version does have many of the aspects of the original and yet I think I can safely say that this is the most unique Little Mermaid retelling that I've ever come across... After reading this 120+ page story I am starting to question wanting that Little Mermaid bike that I had when I was 7, because, well, it just got a little bit sinister...
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