ミオの名のもとに 2 [Mio no na no moto ni 2]

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess #2

by Yoshino Fumikawa (writer), 文川よし乃, Miya Tashiro (illustrator)

初めての土地で見つける新しい自分の在り方──
人間主義国《ブログニグ》の姫でありながら、人魚の能力を持って生まれたミオ。人間になる治療を受け続ける中、新・教育係のユウリと出逢い、ありのままの姿を受け入れられ涙する。勇気を出して父に「人魚のまま生きたい」と伝えるが、激昂した国王はユウリを投獄してしまう…！　従者たちの力を借り、地下海牢からユウリを救い出したものの、波に流されたどり着いたのは見知らぬ国で…？
自ら運命を斬りひらけ!!　大反響の本格派ファンタジー
【収録作品】旅立ちのエノ（後編）

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Comics, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2021

Reviews

[Matthew Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess by Yoshino Fumikawa is the second volume of a manga novel series about a mermaid princess born into an unfair kingdom.

Think I forgot how to be happy
Something I'm not, but something I can be
Something I wait for
Something I'm made for
THERE ARE NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Four out of five stars (4/5 stars).

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Essentially, this covers a lot in politics, but there are images of people dying on the stake. So... Death?

"In a society hostile to diversity, can Princess Mio be true to herself?"— GoodReads book page for 'In the Name of the Mermaid Princess: volume 2'.

//Pre-Read. Yessss book two. I am so ready for this. I have a few books to review but I'm too excited about this to do them//

"Princess Mio and Yuri flee her father’s kingdom to explore the world, making new friends, and possible enemies, along the way. Mio learns about the other special abilities and begins to use her magic to help others. But when Yuri is threatened, she loses control of her power over water! Is it true that mermaids are a menace to society after all...?" — the Goodreads page for 'In the Name of the Mermaid Princess'.

The first volume was definitely my favourite of the first two volumes, at least, so far.

We join Mio in another adventure with Yuri as she learns about her mermaid powers; watch as she gains power and control of the water that blesses her with her true form.

I really am enjoying this storyline even though I'm still not that keen on Mio as a whole, I can't help but adore her mermaid form, though, it's seriously beautiful. I'm not usually into straight romance lines/plot, but I seriously hope that they end up together and that my guess of her fiancé being him.

Guess that I'm shipping them pretty hard already, huh?

It makes me sad how Mio looks at herself and her gifts, that she cant believe in herself, I know that I can't talk because I'm one of those people with a very low worth of self.

This manga series makes me feel like I wish that I'd had this story as a teenager because maybe it would have taught me that being unique isn't always bad. I was a strange one as a kid, oddly it felt like I was born to the wrong generation because I had never really fit in anywhere, even now that I know who I am and live my truth, it's still hard to find my belonging.

Anyway, this has beautiful points behind it and the diversity and lessons to be learned...

I would recommend this to a young child or teenager wanting to fall into a fantasy dream about a world where being different and magical is sometimes outlawed and where people or humanoids find their places by hiding whom they really are unless they're in safe company.

What does that sound like? -taps forehead- why don't people think? And why has the fight turned into such a woke culture? Where race, diversity is now a big joke that does more harm than good?

Whoops, wrong direction with that thought. I appreciate this purity, anyway.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

"People are afraid of what they don't understand. But they can learn. There's always a way through."

I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH!! 😭😭😭😭😭

It's so beautiful, heartfelt, touching, and oh-so-moving! Though this volume brings a lot more high stakes and danger for our sweet Mio!

It's interesting to see HOW this volume flips Mio's world upside down. Granted, as soon as she left her homeland it was obvious things WOULD be like that, but what I mean is that in volume one Mio just wanted to live peacefully with humans AND become friends with them. She fully believed that humans and "unhumans" could live and thrive together, but when she meets a certain character in this volume, that idea is fully tested. This person warns that she can NOT live with humans ever and that she needs to flee far away from them. They go on to say that she needs to live where she belongs, which is the ocean.

These words challenge everything Mio believed and my heart ached so much for her1! Just when she sees how her powers and abilities can be used in a way she deeply desires, she equally sees the devastation she can bring as well. As a result, the "guilt" seems to be eating her alive. Not only that, her self-pity consumes her, bringing tears to my eyes, BUT! I'm SO thankful for the people she has met!

From the doctor in the beginning, to the "mystery" character I won't mention due to spoilers, to a "harsh" woman, and of course Yuri, Mio has a stirring and deeper longing to see her dream come true. She sees that it CAN happen and be possible! Not only that though, she learns what a "true apology" is which I thought was deeply reflective and an incredible message woven in.

I deeply deeply love this series and cannot wait for the next volume to release! It certainly continues to exceed my expectations and would highly recommend it to those who love mermaids, stories with heart, and stunning artwork!

"A true apology isn't about your feelings—it's about the feelings of those you've harmed. A true apology is about empathy for those you've harmed and making restitution."

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the run from her home country, Mio and her tutor, Yuri, are trying to hide from danger. But it’s entirely possible that the real danger is Mio herself, and here comes a tortured wolf boy in case you needed that in your life.

Armed with the knowledge that this is intended for a younger audience helps me understand how it’s written, but I can’t say it helps me like it any better. There’s a fine line between earnest and insipid and this one wobbles over it constantly.

Which is incredibly frustrating when the good parts are pretty good. The art is quite lovely and there’s a moment late in the volume when Mio’s powers work ‘as intended’ through her good deeds that’s really just shy of spectacular. This is one of the few times it feels like the narrative nails what it’s trying to do.

Mio gets a lot of embarrassing moments this time out, she offers herself up to be cooked at one point, but the diamonds exist in the rough if you want to look for them. Her plying her trade as a healer, using her powers, is a really great arc that it would have been nice to stick with for a while.

Sadly, that’s about where my compliments end.

If it wasn’t so incredibly straightforward in every other aspect, I would swear that the authors are trolling me with these godawful names. Fleeing Blognig, Mio and Yuri wind up in… Millicuffs. There is an art to making up names for things that this series has exactly zero aptitude for (Mio also turns out to be an “Elementsia”, which is so on the nose it might as well be a pair of glasses).

Picking on a story for younger readers might be a bit of a jerk move on my part, but I firmly believe that all ages deserve the right to a decent story. Mio’s ears being an identifiable trait marking her as a valuable mermaid make for a solid plot point, minus the part where they’re sticking out from her hair the entire time and couldn’t be more blatant.

For a story about prejudice, this is dead obvious but okay, no fault for tackling it in a forthright fashion. There is a bit of feature creep in this one where it decides that it should probably tackle some other stuff too, including an extended digression on littering that everybody learns a valuable lesson from.

Even the lesson part I’m not so certain of. Despite the fact that Mio has been bullied, abused, and generally tormented by her home country, the story seems to think she should be ready to let that go and that her apologies can’t be rooted in her own feelings if they want to be sincere. Uh…

It’s just a colossal mess and that’s before the wolf guy shows up to be all ‘hey, humans bad, stay away, and learn your place and also do you think I’ll be Yuri’s rival cuz I think it’s pretty obvious’. He is utterly boring, but that puts him in good stead with Yuri, who spends pretty much the whole volume out of commission.

And you can complain about human nature all the live-long day and make hay about ‘ooh, they fear what they don’t understand, ooh’, but it’s pretty clear that Mio’s power goes out of control when she gets upset and that nearly destroys the town at one point AND robs them of their livelihood.

Who can blame them? If I was near a moody teenager whose feelings could flatten my house, I’d move to the next country as quickly as possible too and maybe one more for good measure. Mio gives lip service to wanting to learn to control her powers, but she quickly loses focus on that.

It’s a muddle and that back-up feature is still doing nothing for me. Admittedly, I don’t love stories that are deadly earnest like this, but regardless of that, the way this volume was written felt like a massive downgrade from the first one.

2.5 stars - heart in the right place, at least, but this isn’t for me and aggressively twee at times. A decent message delivered in uninspired fashion; nothing here makes me interested in keeping up with it.

[✨Rebel Fairy Hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

So . . . I am melting of cuteness with this manga.

This continues the adventure of Mio the mermaid princess who has been locked up because she isn't human. She and Yuri escaped at the end of Vol 1.

She is so innocent and doesn't understand how the outside world works, with its prejudices in the different kingdoms. She starts to learn, little by little, to be her own person and sort out her feelings.

The artwork is beautiful.

I cannot wait for the next volume.

[Hilary Fudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

My feelings about this volume of the manga and the series in general are quite conflicted. I love the message that it's trying to tell about discrimination and the fact we are never to old to learn to be different. The art is pretty and the concept of the story is cute. However, I can't say much more about it that's positive.

We started out with one conflict and instead of solving problem number one we just keep creating more without anything being resolved. I understand it's early in the series, but it just makes the story drag with no conflict resolution. I thought that Yuri and the prince were going to end up being the same person and that was also going to solve the relationship problems of her being betrothed and seeming like she's falling for someone else, and instead we've added another man into the mix that will probably also develop feelings for her. I also understand the idea of her hiding her identity because she's a princess, but for goodness sakes it's like she became the playable character in an MMORPG. She needed to earn money to pay the Dr, go in town and take up some side quests from the board. Then later, clean up the ocean cause you destroyed the town. I just don't see a clear path that this story is trying to take, at this point I don't even remember what the main issue in the story was and it's only been 2 volumes.

I'll probably give it one more volume, but this series is on the chopping block for me. It's going to have to do something amazing in volume 3 to change my opinion.

Thanks to #netgalley for an c-copy of #IntheNameoftheMermaidPrincessVol2 to read and review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great second volume. I liked that we got to see more of Mio's powers in action. And we got introduced to a new character, July! I can't wait to see where his story goes.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ch 4-7, read on VIZ app.

This is a simplistic story with rushed pacing and lack of actual character development. Our heroine keeps having things happen to her and she lacks agency in the story even though in theory she’s trying to make her own choices.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounding down just cause I'm disappointed. The pacing in this volume is just poor; I kept finding myself flipping back to see if I'd missed pages.

The designs are cute and the story has promise so I'll give it another shot.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 After the first volumes ending I was expecting the story to turn more adventure-driven which it does and I enjoy it. The world building takes a step up with Elementsia's and going outside of Blognig. I'm glad Mio gets a good chunk of the book to being by herself and tackling issues without Yuri. Yuri is cool and has helped Mio see her dreams of tackling unhuman prejudice is possible but seeing Mio finally be outside and truly developing her views and seeing everything was a joy to read.
The focus on racism stays and evolves to keep it from feeling to basic and one-note with injustices living in the other places that are welcoming to unhumans, some unhumans wanting complete separation, and unhumans taking advantage of each other in a way which perpetuates the system. I'm also glad Mio seems to want a full systematic change that will have a much larger effect than the other route tackling fantasy racism goes where you just take out the bad actors without creating systematic change.
The new characters are interesting whether for lore like July the mysterious Silver Wolf or Danshan and Paulish who has a fun dynamic. July in particular is neat as he works as a great foil to Mio where he wants isolation and separation over Mio's want for integration of humans and unhumans.
I enjoy the mangaka's message of how we have to be proactive in creating change. Multiple times Mio feels bad, wallows in pity, or feels like she doesnt know how to fix it. But she eventually understand she has to be an active proponent of the change she wants which I enjoyed reading.
We also get the finale of the Eno’s Flight oneshot which was nice.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first installment in this series and volume 2 is even better! I love following Mio's story and getting to see more unhumans and different cities. Here we get to see humans and unhumans living together but there's still clearly some prejudice and fear of what's different. Mio learns more about her powers and uses them to help people in order to repay the doctor that helped her and Yuri. While Mio sees some goodness in the world where humans and unhumans coexist, she also sees some darkness and by the end of the volume wonders if it's safe for humans if she's around.

We meet a few new allies and interesting characters in this one, especially July who I won't say much about except that he is a rare and powerful being in a similar way to Mio. Mio has a lot of character growth in this volume, growing into her true self more and learning what that even really means after being forced to hide that part of her her whole life. Yuri isn't that active in this one until the end but we see enough to realize how much he and Mio care for each other and are willing to do whatever they can to protect each other. We're left on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I look forward to seeing what happens next, particularly how July and Mio will influence each other, and meeting more unique characters.

Thank you VIZ Media LLC for the DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this volume, through arduous hardship and healing, Mio begins to truly learn who she is and what she is capable of, both the good and the bad of it.
I see in this volume how leading your life with a negative outlook only perpetuates the bad in your life, while leading your journey forward with a kind and earnest hand can open many positive opportunities for you. Mio’s life is changing like the tides of the ocean and she is the captain of her ship. It’s up to her to decide where she goes from here and whether she moves forward with healing and positivity, or with a vengeful spirit. That said, Mio is also encountering an array of different people, some good, some bad, and many simply… people. Mio is getting to know those around her in brief but meaningful ways, and it’s aiding in getting to know herself too.


Eno’s Flight Part 2

In this finale to this manga two-parter, Eno has had to face the harsh reality of her world, but she’s found a meaningful friend in it. She had been living nothing but a cotton candy sweet dream up until someone came to nudge her awake. Now that she’s opened her eyes, she chooses to not close them again. Instead of lingering on her bittersweet past, she chooses to spread her wings and fly forward into the dawn, embracing the horizon like she’d never seen it before.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess continues Mio's journey after she and Yuri escape from her kingdom. With Yuri injured, Mio has to fend for herself with the help of some kind strangers. Not all kingdoms are fully against Unhumans, but there is danger regardless.

I enjoyed seeing Mio become more self-sufficient and interact with more characters. Her growth is an important part of this manga, and it's nice to see her come out of her shell. It's also good to note that her growth is not linear, and the steps backwards are as important as the steps forward.

We don't see much of Yuri in this volume, and one of the new characters introduced has all the hallmarks of being a potential love interest to Mio, so I'm interested in seeing if that goes anywhere.

The Eno side story also gets another chapter, which is a nice touch. The side story shows more of the world from a different perspective, and it would be cool if Eno shows up in the main story later, though likely not necessary.

Overall, this was a good volume 2, and I look forward to volume 3.

[Kiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

In continuation from the previous volume, Princess Mio is currently on the run from her hateful father and after some strife she and Yuri end up in a seaside town. In an attempt to earn money using her skills/powers, Mio learns some new things about herself.

As the story progresses I find myself having more and more of a difficult time connecting with the story. I am not a fan of conflict that involves a character getting pulled back and forth between the same issue over and over again, as Mio is with her powers being dangerous/helpful. She constantly questions whether she belongs in a world with regular humans and that will get old for me quick. Still, the different types of non-humans are interesting and the story is much more smooth than in the first volume.

[Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eno and Ayun's story is sweet.
Ayun's story is so sad and Eno suits him so well because she just shows him how to fly and the other way around she shows him that there is more to life. I hope we will see more of them.

I also like Mio's story. I think she's such a beautiful character and you can see how she has to deal with everything and how the information throws her off track. Jurai coming in as a new character is also great and I hope he helped Yuri.
He also seems so lost and I'm looking forward to his backstory. In general, I'm excited about the story because it has so much potential.

[Haleigh Gravgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of "In the Name of the Mermaid Princess" continues to captivate with its adventurous storyline and intriguing character development. The exploration of Mio and Yuri's journey, as well as the complexities of their magical abilities, adds depth to the narrative. The tension surrounding Yuri's loss of control over her powers creates an engaging conflict, leaving readers eager to see how it will be resolved. Overall, a solid addition to the series.

[Mia•Loves•Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story progressed interesting and cute. Got to know some new characters and creatures. As well as the magical powers a mermaid seems to have. And Mia almost got kidnapped because of that.
It was also so cool to get to know about the creatures of the 4 elements. She is one of them. And with that, one of the most important and dangerous creatures in this world.
So I am exited to get to the third book soon.

[Carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Okay RUDE, I am no closer to finding out who Yuri really is. So Mio and Yuri are traveling to a city to figure out who she really is, but they get injured and are being taken care of by this weird doctor of unnatural beings. To pay the bill, Mio uses her powers and salt water to heal people, but it tips off the locals, who pursue them. She’s falling for Yuri, with no Prince Chika in sight…

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not paced very well all the time because the mangaka want to insert a lot of stuff into the story and not every aspect get quite the time they'd need but despite that I like it a lot. Art is really pretty too.
In some way Mio makes me think of Terra from Final Fantasy VI, maybe that's why I have fondness for her.

[Leanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this manga. Under a fun, action packed story, there are a lot of major points being expressed to the reader about accepting yourself, others, and being a good person. The characters all feel complex and so does the world. I love how alive everything feels even only being 2 volumes in! It’s great!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting series so far! It reminds me of old school shoujo, even down to the art style (which I mean in the best way)! I really hope this keeps going in the direction it is going!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for the review!

[Ribbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mio and Yuri end up in some random city rather than progressing the plot in a sensible manner. More lore is invented to make Mio more special and give her more to angst over.

The winged girl's story wraps up satisfactorily, the benefit of being limited to only two chapters.

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mio learns more about how to accept who she is as a person and unhuman thanks to Yuri. Though their adventure takes them somewhere unintended, but she's able to learn more. The short story at the end about the angel is so good too.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful story. I love the characters, the plot, and it’s very healing for my inner child. I definitely recommend to people who are into fantasy, romance, mythical creatures, and finding kind people who believe in you and help you achieve your dreams.

[Shelly Argeneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine schöne Fortsetzung mit wunderschönen Zeichnungen ❤️

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

love!

Love the story, the characters, the artwork is gorgeous. Cant wait to see what happens next in book 3. Love!

[Bell (wicked era 💚🫧) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is just SO PRETTY

[Holly Letson]

I've been enjoying this series thus far. Both Mio and Eno have interesting stories.

[Emma (littledollreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so clunky and lacking in good narrative flow.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanemura vibes intensify!

[Vikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐