I loved the blend of stories to create this whole new adventure; with some The Little Mermaid influence as well as a take on the story of King Midas.
This book is told from two points of view; Lira’s and Elian, and I have to say that upon their meeting I was pleasantly surprised that neither did the whole “omg (s)he’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen” and their interactions definitely didn’t start on the best footing, so their “relationship” built really quite naturally and authentically.
The characters individually had fantastic development too, with cycles in their behaviour as they learn and adapt to new information and experiences. These aren’t protagonists who always get it right, but they are ones who are resilient, and strong-willed.
I liked their connection too, though both Lira and Elian have very different upbringings, they are both set to inherit a kingdom, yet bringing them together has made them see that the terms under which they receive them are no longer satisfactory.
The secondary characters are also brilliant, and whilst we don’t see much of the secondary Siren characters – I’m hoping we see more of the Sirens and the sea kingdom in general in later books because it just sounds so magical. Going back to the connections with The Little Mermaid, Lira’s mum is literally Ursula, but think more evil, and more attractive. As mentioned before I love how close to the original tales this book lies, yet the story is so different and puts a unique and exciting spin on stories many of us know well.
It’s also a super easy read, sometimes with fantasies all the fictional names, places, and creatures can become overwhelming but this book is expertly done and makes for a fantastic read whatever reading mood you’re in. The descriptions bring both the underwater and land-based settings to life perfectly.
I’m awarding this book 5/5 without a moment’s hesitation; it’s captivating and re-imagines some wonderful classics. I love the protagonists which is always a huge thing for me, and I just felt they were all so natural in their behaviours, expressions, and developments. Their relationships – romantic or otherwise – are so realistic, making the characters relatable and likeable (or as relatable as they can be when they’re pirates and sirens and you’re a muggle!) If you love a good retelling and love YA fantasy then I’ve got no doubts that you’ll love this too!
This book is told from two points of view; Lira’s and Elian, and I have to say that upon their meeting I was pleasantly surprised that neither did the whole “omg (s)he’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen” and their interactions definitely didn’t start on the best footing, so their “relationship” built really quite naturally and authentically.
The characters individually had fantastic development too, with cycles in their behaviour as they learn and adapt to new information and experiences. These aren’t protagonists who always get it right, but they are ones who are resilient, and strong-willed.
I liked their connection too, though both Lira and Elian have very different upbringings, they are both set to inherit a kingdom, yet bringing them together has made them see that the terms under which they receive them are no longer satisfactory.
The secondary characters are also brilliant, and whilst we don’t see much of the secondary Siren characters – I’m hoping we see more of the Sirens and the sea kingdom in general in later books because it just sounds so magical. Going back to the connections with The Little Mermaid, Lira’s mum is literally Ursula, but think more evil, and more attractive. As mentioned before I love how close to the original tales this book lies, yet the story is so different and puts a unique and exciting spin on stories many of us know well.
It’s also a super easy read, sometimes with fantasies all the fictional names, places, and creatures can become overwhelming but this book is expertly done and makes for a fantastic read whatever reading mood you’re in. The descriptions bring both the underwater and land-based settings to life perfectly.
I’m awarding this book 5/5 without a moment’s hesitation; it’s captivating and re-imagines some wonderful classics. I love the protagonists which is always a huge thing for me, and I just felt they were all so natural in their behaviours, expressions, and developments. Their relationships – romantic or otherwise – are so realistic, making the characters relatable and likeable (or as relatable as they can be when they’re pirates and sirens and you’re a muggle!) If you love a good retelling and love YA fantasy then I’ve got no doubts that you’ll love this too!