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Son of the Deep
She was a Daughter of the Earth. He was a Son of the Deep. Nothing but magic could change these things.
Once upon a time...
Orpheo never meant to disobey his father or betray his kind, but when he finds the young human woman weeping over the death of her own father, his compassionate heart moves him to comfort her.
All Rose ever wanted was to make her father proud, but after the mysterious Boy in the Sea eases her through her grief, Rose throws aside her reservations and vows she will find the boy and marry him.
As Rose despairs of ever finding him, Orpheo sells his voice to the Sea Witch and gives up his family in a desperate bid to fulfill their love and heal a hundred-year rift between their worlds. But restoration cannot be bought through black magic, and when Orpheo becomes human, Rose does not recognize him.
At the end of all hope, only great sacrifice can bring Rose and Orpheo a happily ever after.
Once upon a time...
Orpheo never meant to disobey his father or betray his kind, but when he finds the young human woman weeping over the death of her own father, his compassionate heart moves him to comfort her.
All Rose ever wanted was to make her father proud, but after the mysterious Boy in the Sea eases her through her grief, Rose throws aside her reservations and vows she will find the boy and marry him.
As Rose despairs of ever finding him, Orpheo sells his voice to the Sea Witch and gives up his family in a desperate bid to fulfill their love and heal a hundred-year rift between their worlds. But restoration cannot be bought through black magic, and when Orpheo becomes human, Rose does not recognize him.
At the end of all hope, only great sacrifice can bring Rose and Orpheo a happily ever after.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2022
13 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
K.B. Hoyle
16 books261 followersK. B. Hoyle’s love of good stories began when she stepped through a wardrobe at age six, and she never looked back. She is the multiple award-winning Young Adult author of THE GATEWAY CHRONICLES fantasy series, THE BREEDER CYCLE dystopian series, The Fairytale Collection, and more.
In addition to her many novels, K. B. Hoyle is the co-founder and CEO of Owl's Nest Publishers, an independent press specializing in books that capture the imagination of adolescents. She is also a sought-after voice in the areas of storytelling and culture, and she has contributed articles and essays to a variety of publications. Her speaking resume includes keynote addresses, leading writing workshops, and international experience as a featured panelist at the 2013 Sydney Writers' Festival.
K. B. Hoyle stays busy at her home in Wisconsin on a winding creek with her husband, their four sons, and the variety of wildlife that frequent their land.
For more information on K. B. Hoyle, visit her website at kbhoyle.com or find her around social media at @kbhoyle.author on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Email her at author@kbhoyle.com.
In addition to her many novels, K. B. Hoyle is the co-founder and CEO of Owl's Nest Publishers, an independent press specializing in books that capture the imagination of adolescents. She is also a sought-after voice in the areas of storytelling and culture, and she has contributed articles and essays to a variety of publications. Her speaking resume includes keynote addresses, leading writing workshops, and international experience as a featured panelist at the 2013 Sydney Writers' Festival.
K. B. Hoyle stays busy at her home in Wisconsin on a winding creek with her husband, their four sons, and the variety of wildlife that frequent their land.
For more information on K. B. Hoyle, visit her website at kbhoyle.com or find her around social media at @kbhoyle.author on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Email her at author@kbhoyle.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 30, 2022
Five magical mermaid stars. This book pierced my soul. I went in not prepared for how head over heels I would fall for this retelling of The Little Mermaid. I was so invested in the fate of Rose and Orpheus and their love for one another was a thing of beauty. This has all the elements that make for a great fairytale retelling - a vivid sense of place, descriptions of daily life, pacing to keep things moving along, political and villain scheming, and wonderful characterization. This is now up there with my favorite fairytale retellings of all time.
If you are considering it even the least little bit - READ THIS BOOK!
Reread Update 06/30/22
I still absolutely positively love this book! It's written so beautifully and I love how wrapped up in the story I get. Orpheo and Rose feel so real to me and I love how noble they both feel. This is now an all time favorite and one I will return to many times.
If you are considering it even the least little bit - READ THIS BOOK!
Reread Update 06/30/22
I still absolutely positively love this book! It's written so beautifully and I love how wrapped up in the story I get. Orpheo and Rose feel so real to me and I love how noble they both feel. This is now an all time favorite and one I will return to many times.
May 22, 2022
Gender bent YA fairy tale retelling of the Little Mermaid- featuring a merman!
This book did everything right. First of all, it was actually written for teens (something which is a bit of a soapbox issue for me, as someone who works on the teen summer reading program at my library. How can I recommend books to our teens if their section is taken over by books written for adults?). Second, the prose is strong and clear and very easy to read. I flew through it, whenever I picked it up.
Third, the gender bend is carried out EXTREMELY well. And finally, the mer elements are well imagined and realized. For example, a merman finds himself on land at one point and his reactions make perfect sense for someone who has spent his life underwater! I loved that suspension of disbelief.
I didn't rate Son of the Deep higher because I am a scrooge at heart who needs to cry or laugh until I cry or come away with a notebook of life wisdom before I rate anything above 80% 😂
But honestly, this perfectly embodies the genres of sweet teen romance and fairy tale retelling. I can't imagine a better retelling of The Little Mermaid! (But if you have one, please lmk bc I love Mermaid stories!) I will absolutely recommend this to ALL of my teens in the summer reading program this year, if I can get a copy for the library.
Thank you Owl's Nest and K.B. Hoyle for publishing this wonderful book and for the ARC copy!
Rating: 75/100%
This book did everything right. First of all, it was actually written for teens (something which is a bit of a soapbox issue for me, as someone who works on the teen summer reading program at my library. How can I recommend books to our teens if their section is taken over by books written for adults?). Second, the prose is strong and clear and very easy to read. I flew through it, whenever I picked it up.
Third, the gender bend is carried out EXTREMELY well. And finally, the mer elements are well imagined and realized. For example, a merman finds himself on land at one point and his reactions make perfect sense for someone who has spent his life underwater! I loved that suspension of disbelief.
I didn't rate Son of the Deep higher because I am a scrooge at heart who needs to cry or laugh until I cry or come away with a notebook of life wisdom before I rate anything above 80% 😂
But honestly, this perfectly embodies the genres of sweet teen romance and fairy tale retelling. I can't imagine a better retelling of The Little Mermaid! (But if you have one, please lmk bc I love Mermaid stories!) I will absolutely recommend this to ALL of my teens in the summer reading program this year, if I can get a copy for the library.
Thank you Owl's Nest and K.B. Hoyle for publishing this wonderful book and for the ARC copy!
Rating: 75/100%
July 16, 2025
Summary: Another reading with my 11 year old daughter.
This is my third reading of Son of the Deep. I read it in 2020 when it was only released digitally. And then I read it again in 2022 after it was released again by Owl's Nest Publishers. And this summer I read it a third time with my 11 year old daughter. I don't read as much out loud to my kids as I would like to. But over the summer I try to read to them at least a couple times a week. For the first time, my kids have chosen to read separate books (both by KB Hoyle.) I think they both would like both books, but they are together almost all the time and only 15 months apart, so letting them have something that is just for me and each of them individually has also been a nice part of this summer's reading.
My daughter likes to read before bed to try to avoid having to go to sleep. So the longer the chapters, the better for her. The chapters seem to increase in length as the book goes on. I am not going to write as much about the story here as I am going to comment about my daughter's reaction to the book. (You can read more thoughts on the book here.) My daughter had never read the older Hans Christian Anderson version of the Little Mermaid, only the two Disney adaptations. She is a fan of the movies and dressed up as Ariel on one of our trips to Disney World when she was almost 4.
It has been a little while since I have read out loud to her so I think she was a bit reluctant to let me read. I talked about how I both really do like reading out loud and sharing stories with her and giving us something to talk about. But also practically, reading out loud is a good way to expand vocabulary and to learn to understand texts. My daughter struggles with reading and while she really enjoyed reading graphic novels, she does not pick up books on her own that are only text.
She knew enough about the story to predict some broad outlines of the book, but there was a lot of surprises for her because she didn't predict some of the twists and different plot points. The romance was just right level description for her, it was chaste, but had lots of deep feelings and anticipation and nervousness about being loved.
We didn't read as much as I wanted to, and I was out of town for nearly two weeks this summer without her and so that cut into our reading time. But once we hit the midpoint of the merman prince being on land, she was fully hooked and asking to read, instead of me asking if I could read to her.
We did have to spend some time going over the conclusion and talking about it to make sure she didn't miss any of the details that I thought were important to the later books. The books of this fairy tale collection are stand alone stories, but there are some overlapping characters and the different characters do interact at times. Because I have read all three books, this first one more than once, I caught some nuance in the later readings that I missed the first time.
At this point I have read all of KB Hoyle's books, most of them more than once and I am continue to be impressed with how well these books hold up to multiple readings. There is nuance and depth to the stories that I really love. She immediately wanted to start The Son of Bitter Glass, so we are three chapters into that one. I am reading Orion and the Starborn with my 10 year old son right now and about 3/4 of the way through. I had hoped to get through at least two books with each kid this summer but school starts here in less than three weeks and I don't think I am going to make it.
I originally posted this on my blog at https://bookwi.se/son-of-the-deep/
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Summary: A play on the traditional Little Mermaid story.
This is my third reading of Son of the Deep. I read it in 2020 when it was only released digitally. And then I read it again in 2022 after it was released again by Owl's Nest Publishers. And this summer I read it a third time with my 11 year old daughter. I don't read as much out loud to my kids as I would like to. But over the summer I try to read to them at least a couple times a week. For the first time, my kids have chosen to read separate books (both by KB Hoyle.) I think they both would like both books, but they are together almost all the time and only 15 months apart, so letting them have something that is just for me and each of them individually has also been a nice part of this summer's reading.
My daughter likes to read before bed to try to avoid having to go to sleep. So the longer the chapters, the better for her. The chapters seem to increase in length as the book goes on. I am not going to write as much about the story here as I am going to comment about my daughter's reaction to the book. (You can read more thoughts on the book here.) My daughter had never read the older Hans Christian Anderson version of the Little Mermaid, only the two Disney adaptations. She is a fan of the movies and dressed up as Ariel on one of our trips to Disney World when she was almost 4.
It has been a little while since I have read out loud to her so I think she was a bit reluctant to let me read. I talked about how I both really do like reading out loud and sharing stories with her and giving us something to talk about. But also practically, reading out loud is a good way to expand vocabulary and to learn to understand texts. My daughter struggles with reading and while she really enjoyed reading graphic novels, she does not pick up books on her own that are only text.
She knew enough about the story to predict some broad outlines of the book, but there was a lot of surprises for her because she didn't predict some of the twists and different plot points. The romance was just right level description for her, it was chaste, but had lots of deep feelings and anticipation and nervousness about being loved.
We didn't read as much as I wanted to, and I was out of town for nearly two weeks this summer without her and so that cut into our reading time. But once we hit the midpoint of the merman prince being on land, she was fully hooked and asking to read, instead of me asking if I could read to her.
We did have to spend some time going over the conclusion and talking about it to make sure she didn't miss any of the details that I thought were important to the later books. The books of this fairy tale collection are stand alone stories, but there are some overlapping characters and the different characters do interact at times. Because I have read all three books, this first one more than once, I caught some nuance in the later readings that I missed the first time.
At this point I have read all of KB Hoyle's books, most of them more than once and I am continue to be impressed with how well these books hold up to multiple readings. There is nuance and depth to the stories that I really love. She immediately wanted to start The Son of Bitter Glass, so we are three chapters into that one. I am reading Orion and the Starborn with my 10 year old son right now and about 3/4 of the way through. I had hoped to get through at least two books with each kid this summer but school starts here in less than three weeks and I don't think I am going to make it.
I originally posted this on my blog at https://bookwi.se/son-of-the-deep/
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Summary: A play on the traditional Little Mermaid story.
I am a big fan of remixes and reimaginings of stories. Orson Scott Card's Enchantment is a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me is a reimagining of James Balwin's letter to his nephew in The Fire Next Time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Holmes trilogy is a reimagining of the original Sherlock Holmes books, most of John Scalzi's books are riffing off of older SciFi stories (Redshirts, Old Man's War, Fuzzy Nation to name a few.) So many of our best books are based on older stories and ideas reimagined for a different context or to say something different to a current generation.
The Son of the Deep is a reimaging of the classic Little Mermaid story, which most of us know about through the Disney reimagining, not through the Hans Christian Anderson version, which is based on an older folk tale. In the Son of the Deep, it is "Hugo" who is the merman and who saves the Princess, and who has to convince the Queen to marry him without his voice. The classic elements matter because they both are references that tell us more than just the simple words on the page; they highlight the subtle differences that do appear.
I will try to make this spoiler-free, but the back story to the Sea Witch matters even if we do not understand that connection until fairly late in the story. The magic of Hugo's voice loss is more powerful than in the Disney version. He is prevented from responding to questions that may reveal too much about his background, writing, or any other form of communication. The tension between family responsibility and responsibility in our love for each other is stronger than in the Disney version. But this is not just a reimagining of Disney's Little Mermaid; some of the classic elements, like merpeople becoming seafoam on death, are here.
This is a middle-grade or early young adult book. There is romance, but it is a chaste romance. There is tension, but it isn't scary. There are classic young adult tempers and concerns about adults/parents not understanding them. There is classic poor communication and teenage longing to be known and loved. I have been a bit burned out on reading lately and have returned to some of my classic comfort reading. I recently re-read the fantasy series by the same author and was reminded how much some of the young adult themes can be clarifying and helpful to return to as an adult. My kids are just a bit too young for this, but I think this might be a good read-aloud for them when they get to be about nine or so.
August 24, 2025
Second read for Owl’s Nest teen virtual summer book club:
Absolutely love this reimagining of the Little Mermaid! 🔱 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ While this has many of the plot points we are familiar with, this story adds such beautiful depth to the tale. I absolutely love the nobility and integrity of Hugo and Rose and the beauty of their love. Hoyle’s development of the setting and characters is so very well done. I’m amazed once again by how well her writing holds up to rereading. There are always nuances I catch, as well as getting just as caught up in the beautiful writing once again.
I highly recommend this wonderful story for middle grade through adult and as a fabulous family read aloud. Also, this is an excellent option as a romance for teens without the immature and selfish behavior and inappropriate content. Can’t wait to read Hoyle’s other two fairytale retellings!
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I haven’t read many fairytale retellings and couldn’t imagine a retelling of The Little Mermaid working very well, but KB Hoyle did it so incredibly well! This is a fun, exciting, beautiful love story with characters that come to life and a magical overlay to it all. I am very much looking forward to reading Ms. Hoyle’s other two fairytale retellings.
I’ve read six books by Hoyle now and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. ❤️
Absolutely love this reimagining of the Little Mermaid! 🔱 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ While this has many of the plot points we are familiar with, this story adds such beautiful depth to the tale. I absolutely love the nobility and integrity of Hugo and Rose and the beauty of their love. Hoyle’s development of the setting and characters is so very well done. I’m amazed once again by how well her writing holds up to rereading. There are always nuances I catch, as well as getting just as caught up in the beautiful writing once again.
I highly recommend this wonderful story for middle grade through adult and as a fabulous family read aloud. Also, this is an excellent option as a romance for teens without the immature and selfish behavior and inappropriate content. Can’t wait to read Hoyle’s other two fairytale retellings!
_______________________
I haven’t read many fairytale retellings and couldn’t imagine a retelling of The Little Mermaid working very well, but KB Hoyle did it so incredibly well! This is a fun, exciting, beautiful love story with characters that come to life and a magical overlay to it all. I am very much looking forward to reading Ms. Hoyle’s other two fairytale retellings.
I’ve read six books by Hoyle now and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. ❤️
March 2, 2022
Such a fun fairytale retelling! I liked the switched genders and the deep connection the two main characters had (made it feel a bit less insta-lovey, which is not my favorite trope). I loved how we switched between Rose and Orpheo’s perspectives and worlds. It made me feel more attached to both them and the places they lived. The writing is very descriptive, which was particularly lovely where Orpheo lived and also when he first encounters the human world. It had some tropes I didn’t love (thus the 4 star rating, rather than 5), but I’m a sucker for a good fairytale retelling, so I had a lot of fun with this one!
March 2, 2022
I was kindly enough sent e-arc of this book for review and I'm very happy to say that this is so far one of my favourite books I have read so far this year. Son of the Deep is a beautiful retelling of the Little Mermaid fairytale. It has everything that I love in a fairytale retelling: whimsical and beautiful writing, touching characters and grand love story. It's definitely one of the best books for teens I have ever read. Touching and emotional but still hopeful. This would be perfect for readers who love Juliet Marillier.
March 25, 2022
Pure, beautiful, mermaid magic! This lovely retelling of The Little Mermaid reminded me why I love stories and kept me eagerly turning the pages. The characterization, setting, and world building swept me off into a grand adventure and the themes of sacrifice and redemption made my heart soar. Well done, K.B. Hoyle!
March 20, 2023
This is a fantastic retelling of the Little Mermaid, but with a fresh twist! I absolutely enjoyed this one. Superb writing coupled with a fun and captivating storyline. It had me hooked clear til the end.
July 18, 2022
I flew through Son of the Deep this weekend, a gender-swapped YA retelling of The Little Mermaid. Probably one of my favorite things about fairy tale retellings is the unique ways that authors reimagine a classic to keep you guessing and needing to know the HOW in a story where the reader already knows approximately what is going to happen. This book delivered a well-crafted and complex story, full of plot twists (some I figured out and some that made me gasp out loud), plus a romance that I was actually invested in and rooting for (usually it takes Austen to have me genuinely engaged). The writing was beautiful and thought-provoking, though I wanted the resolution to move just a bit slower at the end to give me even more details.
"All our lives are stories." This theme really resonated with me, and I think it's part of why we are so drawn to books. We are all part of a story, most of the time feeling like we are muddling through the middle. But stories, GOOD stories, give us a glimpse behind the scenes; a reminder that hope is still alive in the darkest plot twists, the moments that feel like a cliffhanger end of chapter, the resolution that seems to come for others and not ourselves. All our lives are stories. I'm so grateful for that reminder.
I almost didn't read this book because of all the classic fairy tales, Little Mermaid might be my least favorite. But last week I started a summer internship with the indie publisher and decided that it was finally time to buy the book that had been in my amazon cart for months. I was super sneaky about it and didn't tell anyone at @owlsnestpublishing that I was reading the book; I'm not sure they will know until they read this review 😂
Son of the Deep was a solid 4⭐ for me, and truly any other fairy-tale would have pushed it to 5⭐
I've bought a handful of indie or self-published books over the years, and while I do love that opportunity to support a smaller maker, my first instinct is usually just to read what I can get from the library. If you or your teen love fairy tale retellings, I hope you'll take the chance to read this, even though it will cost you $13. Or, ask your library if they will buy a copy!
"All our lives are stories." This theme really resonated with me, and I think it's part of why we are so drawn to books. We are all part of a story, most of the time feeling like we are muddling through the middle. But stories, GOOD stories, give us a glimpse behind the scenes; a reminder that hope is still alive in the darkest plot twists, the moments that feel like a cliffhanger end of chapter, the resolution that seems to come for others and not ourselves. All our lives are stories. I'm so grateful for that reminder.
I almost didn't read this book because of all the classic fairy tales, Little Mermaid might be my least favorite. But last week I started a summer internship with the indie publisher and decided that it was finally time to buy the book that had been in my amazon cart for months. I was super sneaky about it and didn't tell anyone at @owlsnestpublishing that I was reading the book; I'm not sure they will know until they read this review 😂
Son of the Deep was a solid 4⭐ for me, and truly any other fairy-tale would have pushed it to 5⭐
I've bought a handful of indie or self-published books over the years, and while I do love that opportunity to support a smaller maker, my first instinct is usually just to read what I can get from the library. If you or your teen love fairy tale retellings, I hope you'll take the chance to read this, even though it will cost you $13. Or, ask your library if they will buy a copy!
March 2, 2022
KB Hoyle’s retelling has all the classic plot points we know and love, but she adds a depth to the story that made it so much better for me. There is magic and rebellion and destiny, sure, but there is also loyalty and responsibility. The characters genuinely wrestle with the conflict of familial responsibility and pursuing true love and lack the selfishness you often find in adolescent fiction. And without spoilers, there’s also more at stake than just one kingdom’s future, more at play than one witch’s magic, and the characters’ choices have lasting consequences in the spiritual realm, too. (Side-note: it’s also clean. Nothing too old for young readers.) I can whole-heartedly recommend this re-telling of the little mermaid for adults and young people alike! A big thank you to Owl’s Nest Publishers for sending me an ARC to read on my Kindle.
October 3, 2022
A delightful romantic fairy tale. I enjoyed some of the overall themes and found a few scenes to be particularly good. But the romance came about too fast and was based entirely on emotion, and other than the gender swap, the retelling didn't seem to add anything to the original fairy tale.
It is nice to see YA fiction without heaps of objectionable content, though. This book is appropriate for a family or middle grade audience. And if you enjoy it (or even if you don't), check out Hoyle's Gateway Chronicles, which I liked a lot more :)
It is nice to see YA fiction without heaps of objectionable content, though. This book is appropriate for a family or middle grade audience. And if you enjoy it (or even if you don't), check out Hoyle's Gateway Chronicles, which I liked a lot more :)
October 12, 2025
This book was so deeply moving, truthful, and classical…how is it not in every library in the country??
I gave this book five stars because there was nothing about it that was shallow or boring and not a word was wasted. nothing could be changed to make it better.
It was a far more compelling and beautiful version of the original “little mermaid” story than I have ever read. In short, it has entered my list of all-time favorites and will be on my shelf for years to come! I’m only sad I never knew about it before!
I gave this book five stars because there was nothing about it that was shallow or boring and not a word was wasted. nothing could be changed to make it better.
It was a far more compelling and beautiful version of the original “little mermaid” story than I have ever read. In short, it has entered my list of all-time favorites and will be on my shelf for years to come! I’m only sad I never knew about it before!
March 5, 2025
I am slowly entering each group of books by K.B. Hoyle, because once I read the first installment, I end up devouring the series. This was no exception. This is a delightful retelling of The Little Mermaid. Such a clean romantic tale with worthy values.
March 22, 2022
3.5 stars
November 5, 2025
I am not big on the Little Mermaid, but I very much enjoyed this reimagining. The beauty of a novelization like this is getting to fill in all those plot holes from the familiar story, and I really appreciated how this version did that so creatively. Can't wait to read the rest!
May 18, 2022
I love the way this author tells stories. I will be handing this one to all my teen friends. I think they would love to have Rose as a friend. She’s gutsy, capable, and has her eyes set on doing the right thing… if only she could figure out what the right thing was. Fulfill her parent’s goal? Puzzle out a potentially dangerous mystery? Avoid risk and go with known quantities? Follow ever-shifting personal desires? Put self aside and serve her kingdom? Teens and adults can relate with grappling with big questions at the ground level.
If you’re sick of the heaps of fluffy garbage in the teen and YA section, then this one’s for you.
If you’re sick of the heaps of fluffy garbage in the teen and YA section, then this one’s for you.
March 14, 2025
I have a fondness for retold Fairy tales, although I’ve become very particular over the last few decade as the genre has flooded. This was a fabulous retelling. I would absolutely read more from her!
February 8, 2022
Full review to come, but I loved this retelling of The Little Mermaid! Thank you to Owl's Nest Publishers for the opportunity to review.
April 12, 2023
A gender-swapped retelling of The Little Mermaid...not the Disney Little Mermaid, the original fairytale with all of its darkness and sadness.
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This is a beautifully written story, full of flawed characters, beautiful settings, and the whole array of emotions.
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I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, especially for as long as it took to get there. Despite that, I look forward to reading this again.
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This is a beautifully written story, full of flawed characters, beautiful settings, and the whole array of emotions.
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I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, especially for as long as it took to get there. Despite that, I look forward to reading this again.
July 29, 2022
Spoiler Free:
The first half of Hoyle's "Son of the Deep" was incredibly engaging; felt like the author was truly going give us readers a completely fresh take on the classic Little Mermaid tale. Unfortunately, once the titular 'son of the deep' traded his fins for feet the story began to meander and fell into your typical clichés. That is not to say clichés are bad, in fact I read this book specifically because I wanted a fairytale romance, but the main characters made decisions that contradicted their "intelligence" and I became too frustrated by their choices to enjoy myself fully. The secondary characters were not given much besides a few personality traits; they served only as hype men to make the two love interests seem great. Please don't tell me they are kind and brave and smart, SHOW ME! And if the side characters aren't friends they were one note foes.
Hoyle has a background in writing fiction for young audiences and that shows in the story. If you are going to write pining you gotta commit to the barely restrained passion. Side tangent, the absolute slut shaming that the bestie gets is terrible, we are repeatedly reminded throughout the book that he is deep in the friendzone with the main female character...my God let him be a whore in peace!
However, despite its flaws I do think it was a fun little popcorn read. It satiated that fairytale romance craving I wanted and the prose was engaging enough to keep me going.The author had some really unique and fun ideas presented; I just wish Hoyle had fleshed those out and built the world and its characters up a bit more. Especially towards the end which felt akin to "my paper is due in 2hrs I just need to get this done with." I think Hoyle restricted herself too much with a well known fairytale and felt they had to follow the road well traveled.
I can't in good faith give the book 4 stars but I do think it's worth more than 3, a solid 3.5 stars. I would even be interested in the other books Hoyle has written. Again, there is still plenty to like here and if you enjoy the little mermaid or fantasy romances in general then I think you will have a good time with "Son of the Deep"!
[I will certainly remember this as the first book I wrote a goodreads review for.]
The first half of Hoyle's "Son of the Deep" was incredibly engaging; felt like the author was truly going give us readers a completely fresh take on the classic Little Mermaid tale. Unfortunately, once the titular 'son of the deep' traded his fins for feet the story began to meander and fell into your typical clichés. That is not to say clichés are bad, in fact I read this book specifically because I wanted a fairytale romance, but the main characters made decisions that contradicted their "intelligence" and I became too frustrated by their choices to enjoy myself fully. The secondary characters were not given much besides a few personality traits; they served only as hype men to make the two love interests seem great. Please don't tell me they are kind and brave and smart, SHOW ME! And if the side characters aren't friends they were one note foes.
Hoyle has a background in writing fiction for young audiences and that shows in the story. If you are going to write pining you gotta commit to the barely restrained passion. Side tangent, the absolute slut shaming that the bestie gets is terrible, we are repeatedly reminded throughout the book that he is deep in the friendzone with the main female character...my God let him be a whore in peace!
However, despite its flaws I do think it was a fun little popcorn read. It satiated that fairytale romance craving I wanted and the prose was engaging enough to keep me going.The author had some really unique and fun ideas presented; I just wish Hoyle had fleshed those out and built the world and its characters up a bit more. Especially towards the end which felt akin to "my paper is due in 2hrs I just need to get this done with." I think Hoyle restricted herself too much with a well known fairytale and felt they had to follow the road well traveled.
I can't in good faith give the book 4 stars but I do think it's worth more than 3, a solid 3.5 stars. I would even be interested in the other books Hoyle has written. Again, there is still plenty to like here and if you enjoy the little mermaid or fantasy romances in general then I think you will have a good time with "Son of the Deep"!
[I will certainly remember this as the first book I wrote a goodreads review for.]
January 20, 2023
Son of the Deep is an enjoyable, gender-bent retelling of "The Little Mermaid". The characters are vivid and multi-dimensional. I loved the exploration of leadership and the focus on Rose as the new queen. "A queen is a servant first," and many plot points explore this wonderful theme. Both Orpheo and Rose must confront the prejudices and pain in their different worlds. In doing so, they might discover that their societies are not very different after all.
The romance in this retelling is beautiful as Orpheo and Rose bond over mutual hardships and despite uncontrollable obstacles. I loved the scenes after Orpheo surrenders his voice to Tannah, (the Sea Witch), because they are endearing and so very touching.
The themes of selfless love and sacrifice are so beautifully conveyed in this story, and the protagonists have to confront their own trials in believable and compelling ways.
The secondary characters are dynamic and equally compelling. My favorite character was James, the court steward's son. He and Rose are best friends, having known each other all their lives. Their banter is delightfully funny, and James's unrequited love for Rose is so very poignant. I also loved George and Hestia, (two matchmaking servants in the palace).
The undersea characters were excellent, too, particularly Orpheo's grandmother. I loved how Hoyle has the grandmother character as most retellings neglect her. I also loved Neptunus, (Orpheo's father). The Sea King is multi-layered and vibrant.
Son of the Deep is a riveting, fast-paced retelling with a believable and compelling love story. Thoroughly recommended for anyone who enjoys gender-bent retellings, "The Little Mermaid," or stories with sacrifice and selfless characters. Son of the Deep explores beautiful spiritual truths.
Happy reading, and God bless you all.
The romance in this retelling is beautiful as Orpheo and Rose bond over mutual hardships and despite uncontrollable obstacles. I loved the scenes after Orpheo surrenders his voice to Tannah, (the Sea Witch), because they are endearing and so very touching.
The themes of selfless love and sacrifice are so beautifully conveyed in this story, and the protagonists have to confront their own trials in believable and compelling ways.
The secondary characters are dynamic and equally compelling. My favorite character was James, the court steward's son. He and Rose are best friends, having known each other all their lives. Their banter is delightfully funny, and James's unrequited love for Rose is so very poignant. I also loved George and Hestia, (two matchmaking servants in the palace).
The undersea characters were excellent, too, particularly Orpheo's grandmother. I loved how Hoyle has the grandmother character as most retellings neglect her. I also loved Neptunus, (Orpheo's father). The Sea King is multi-layered and vibrant.
Son of the Deep is a riveting, fast-paced retelling with a believable and compelling love story. Thoroughly recommended for anyone who enjoys gender-bent retellings, "The Little Mermaid," or stories with sacrifice and selfless characters. Son of the Deep explores beautiful spiritual truths.
Happy reading, and God bless you all.
July 9, 2024
This is a romantic YA retelling of The Little Mermaid, with a gender reversal. The first half of the book was a tad slow for me, but the second half sped nicely along.
In the original HCA story, the little mermaid is a girl, and she falls in love with a human prince. In this retelling, it's a merman and a human princess. The author adds some backstory. There was a war between the people of the deep and the people of the land, and in order to restore peace, the people of the air imposed a "silence." No mer-person can break the surface without perishing, and any human who plunges into the ocean risks getting pulled below and drowned.
So, how are our two kids going to fall in love? Well, the first half of the book answers that question, and the second half depicts everything in the world trying to tear them apart. Hoyle does a great job of keeping the stakes high, which is important because the plot points closely follow HCA's, so most of us have a good guess as to what happens next. With much higher stakes and a much sweeter romance than in the original, this story is actually more entertaining.
Hoyle threw in some great plot twists in the second half that left me so glad that I finished! I was a tad under the weather when I was reading the first half, so it was hard for me to concentrate and stay awake...mostly due to congestion and fatigue, lol. But I'm glad I pushed through because I read the second half in a single night. Yee-ah.
In the original HCA story, the little mermaid is a girl, and she falls in love with a human prince. In this retelling, it's a merman and a human princess. The author adds some backstory. There was a war between the people of the deep and the people of the land, and in order to restore peace, the people of the air imposed a "silence." No mer-person can break the surface without perishing, and any human who plunges into the ocean risks getting pulled below and drowned.
So, how are our two kids going to fall in love? Well, the first half of the book answers that question, and the second half depicts everything in the world trying to tear them apart. Hoyle does a great job of keeping the stakes high, which is important because the plot points closely follow HCA's, so most of us have a good guess as to what happens next. With much higher stakes and a much sweeter romance than in the original, this story is actually more entertaining.
Hoyle threw in some great plot twists in the second half that left me so glad that I finished! I was a tad under the weather when I was reading the first half, so it was hard for me to concentrate and stay awake...mostly due to congestion and fatigue, lol. But I'm glad I pushed through because I read the second half in a single night. Yee-ah.
September 4, 2022
As a lifelong lover of fairytales and folklore, I was thrilled to be approved to receive an ARC of this new fairytale retelling from Owls Nest Publishers!
Son of the Deep is a gender-bent reimagining of The Little Mermaid. It tells the tale of Prince Orpheo, the titular Son of the Deep, as he navigates his feelings growing up as the son of King Neptunus and his desire to explore a world other than his own. For as much as he is drawn to the human world, Rose (our human female protagonist) finds herself drawn to the sea, despite trying to do what’s best for her kingdom. Drawn inexorably together, this magical tale ultimately shows the power of true love in the face of every obstacle.
Written with a lush and dreamy quality to the prose, I very much felt like I had sunk into a fairytale while reading this book. I found myself totally caught up in the emotion and romance of this story, and I simply adored the characters, particularly Orpheus. It was so refreshing to have a male lead who was, in general, a softer character. I felt as though the story wrapped up nicely at the end, with enough tidbits to keep my imagination working.
Bravo to K. B. Hoyle & Owls Nest—you truly have a gem in your hands with Son of the Deep!
Son of the Deep is a gender-bent reimagining of The Little Mermaid. It tells the tale of Prince Orpheo, the titular Son of the Deep, as he navigates his feelings growing up as the son of King Neptunus and his desire to explore a world other than his own. For as much as he is drawn to the human world, Rose (our human female protagonist) finds herself drawn to the sea, despite trying to do what’s best for her kingdom. Drawn inexorably together, this magical tale ultimately shows the power of true love in the face of every obstacle.
Written with a lush and dreamy quality to the prose, I very much felt like I had sunk into a fairytale while reading this book. I found myself totally caught up in the emotion and romance of this story, and I simply adored the characters, particularly Orpheus. It was so refreshing to have a male lead who was, in general, a softer character. I felt as though the story wrapped up nicely at the end, with enough tidbits to keep my imagination working.
Bravo to K. B. Hoyle & Owls Nest—you truly have a gem in your hands with Son of the Deep!
January 6, 2026
K B Hoyle's books always keep me reading late into the night, and this one was no exception. The characters are all very well-written, and you can definitely see them growing throughout the book, making tough decisions and much more. This book is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, and though I have never read the original 'The Little Mermaid' by Hans Christian Andersen, I have seen the Disney movie several times, and this book still kept me wondering what would happen next, and how it would all draw to an end. The genders are swapped from the original story, with Orpheo as the main merman, and Rose as the main human, each chapter changes viewpoints, some chapters we read Rose's thoughts, and some we read Orpheo's, I enjoyed getting to read both sides. This book was appropriate, with no bad language, and only a little bit of kissing. I would recommend it to any young adult, or middle grade reader who enjoys fantasy, (romantasy,) or just fairy tales.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I look forward to reading the rest of K B Hoyle's Fairy Tale Collection!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I look forward to reading the rest of K B Hoyle's Fairy Tale Collection!
March 16, 2022
Son of the Deep shares an interesting twist on the classic "Little Mermaid" fairy tale. K. B. Hoyle replaces the traditional mermaid with a merman. The story also goes further into the tale by exploring the separation of the human and merpeople worlds as well as exploring backstories of all the characters. I found the storytelling to be instantly captivating and enjoyed the fresh retelling of such a classic story. The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed seeing the characters come alive with their different personalities and perspectives. Middle grade readers will enjoy seeing this world come alive. There is some mention of death and concubines that younger middle grade readers (lower elementary school) might not be mature enough to understand. Overall, I thought it was a fun read. To learn more about Son of the Deep click here.
Please note that I received a free pdf of the book to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
Please note that I received a free pdf of the book to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
December 12, 2025
I've had friends recommending this series for a few years now, and I'm glad I finally started it. The writing is lovely, and Hoyle's characters shine. Orpheo, the hero of this tale, has such a gentle yet strong nature, and Rose glows with beauty and courage. The romance of the story is moving, yet there's more depth to the overall tale than many fairy tale retellings.
The only thing that took this down a star for me is that I guessed one of the key plot points about midway through, and when it was finally revealed at the end, it wasn't the main character who really figured it out--it was told to them. I wouldn't have minded figuring it out early if the main characters also discovered it themselves. But this isn't enough to spoil the book, and I'm looking forward to reading the companion novels.
The only thing that took this down a star for me is that I guessed one of the key plot points about midway through, and when it was finally revealed at the end, it wasn't the main character who really figured it out--it was told to them. I wouldn't have minded figuring it out early if the main characters also discovered it themselves. But this isn't enough to spoil the book, and I'm looking forward to reading the companion novels.
Read
January 19, 2026DNF at 30%.
I was actually really enjoying this book so far, with the prose and the characters (both Rose and Orpheo are so noble and sweet), but I was surprised to see a few swears (*ss), even spoken by the main character as a joke. After a brief search of the book (on Kindle), I see 4 instances of the word throughout the book. This isn't a Christian book, so I was fine with the light mentions of magic and the sea witch, but I was not prepared for the cursing. As a result, I won't be finishing this book.
I do have the other two books purchased (from a sale), so I looked at those as well. After checking, book 2 does not appear to have this word, but book 3 has 1 instance. I really was enjoying the story and the prose, so I may pick up book 2 in the future, but I will say I'm disappointed that no reviews mentioned this content at all. :(
I was actually really enjoying this book so far, with the prose and the characters (both Rose and Orpheo are so noble and sweet), but I was surprised to see a few swears (*ss), even spoken by the main character as a joke. After a brief search of the book (on Kindle), I see 4 instances of the word throughout the book. This isn't a Christian book, so I was fine with the light mentions of magic and the sea witch, but I was not prepared for the cursing. As a result, I won't be finishing this book.
I do have the other two books purchased (from a sale), so I looked at those as well. After checking, book 2 does not appear to have this word, but book 3 has 1 instance. I really was enjoying the story and the prose, so I may pick up book 2 in the future, but I will say I'm disappointed that no reviews mentioned this content at all. :(
January 2, 2026
I don’t even know if I can find the right words to describe this book… Ethereal? Mystic? It’s been a hot second since I’ve read a full-on fantasy 😂 It seemed a little slow at moments, but stick with it (that may be partly due to my reading it in a house full of shrieking boys 🤪 but such a good vacay read!) I guessed the betrayal from the moment he said “I’ll hold that for you”, but all the interlocking pieces of the story at the end with Tannah really took me by surprise (may or may not have gasped “OH!” around a table of bros playing cards before they shushed me). I enjoyed picking apart the [unintentional] symbolism, and the words were the sort that really tug at your heartstrings and make you feel like you’re caught in the choppy waves of their true feelings right alongside them. And of course, what would a fairy tale be without a long-awaited wedding to tie it all together? I was very satisfied with the way the ending was done. 😌🧜♂️👣🔱 p.s. sorry in advance Em, for all the sand I got strewn between the pages of your copy XD
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
This is a perfect teen read—clean, but with much magic, love, and depth. I loved the complicated relationship between Orpheo and Rose, and all of the trials they went through. I particularly loved Rose’s decision near the end, and also the twists on the original fairy tale. I’m curious to see what else comes from this world. Loved the subtle hints at future characters!
July 18, 2023
I loved this retelling! It was the perfect one day read and kept me guessing till the end. I loved how it different it was while still keeping true to so much of the original fairytale! Orpheo is probably one of the best characters I’ve seen pursuing a woman, and I relate to Rose’s sense of duty and love of, well, love!
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