The Mermaid by Christina Henry

Title: The Mermaid

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 325

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Once there was a mermaid called Amelia who could never be content in the sea, a mermaid who longed to know all the world and all its wonders, and so she came to live on land.

Once there was a man called P. T. Barnum, a man who longed to make his fortune by selling the wondrous and miraculous, and there is nothing more miraculous than a real mermaid.

Amelia agrees to play the mermaid for Barnum and walk among men in their world, believing she can leave anytime she likes. But Barnum has never given up a money-making scheme in his life, and he's determined to hold on to his mermaid.

I was excited for a dark retelling of a mermaid story. What I got was a bit of a bore. Barnum is not a great historical figure or book character. He’s definitely a bit of a villain. Despite all of that, I was fairly interested in that story. Seeing how a real life mermaid becomes an exhibit for Barnum’s museum could have been a good novel. And yet, Henry decided to interject a big romance plot line and lost me. The romance plot line was plodding and boring and really dragged down the story. I got to the end without my dark storyline and felt very disappointed.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

Title: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock

Author: Imogen Hermes Gowar

Publisher: Harper 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 496

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Set In Our World

One September evening in 1785, Jonah Hancock hears an urgent knocking on his front door near the docks of London. The captain of one of Jonah’s trading vessels is waiting eagerly on the front step, bearing shocking news. On a voyage to the Far East, he sold the Jonah’s ship for something rare and far more precious: a mermaid. Jonah is stunned—the object the captain presents him is brown and wizened, as small as an infant, with vicious teeth and claws, and a torso that ends in the tail of a fish. It is also dead.

As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlors and brothels, all of London is curious to see this marvel in Jonah Hancock’s possession. Thrust from his ordinary existence, somber Jonah finds himself moving from the city’s seedy underbelly to the finest drawing rooms of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of the coquettish Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on—and a shrewd courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting sparks a perilous liaison that steers both their lives onto a dangerous new course as they come to realize that priceless things often come at the greatest cost.

Another Book of the Month selection that’s been sitting on my shelf for way too long. I picked this one up not really knowing what to expect. Ultimately, I really liked this story involving a merchant, a courtesan, a mermaid, and a real mermaid? However, this really took awhile to get into this story. The first 100 pages are pretty slow moving and are very focused on the Mr. Hancock and Angelica’s separate storylines. Once we get them together, the story really picks up. The writing style is a bit strange. It is written in the style of the late 1800s. Definitely a style that takes some time to get used to, but I did enjoy the writing. Interesting book, but not one that I would recommend to everyone.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Title: Sirena

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Publisher: Scholastic 1998

Genre: Myths and Fairy Tales

Pages: 210

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Telling Tales; A to Z: N; Support Your Local Library

How I Got It: Library loan

In Donna Jo Napoli's beautiful prose, the tragic love story between a mermaid and a mortal comes to life for young readers. When Sirena meets Philoctetes, Hercules' friend, she falls in love. But the young warrior must return home to fight the Trojan War and leave his magical love behind.

A retelling of the classic mermaid/siren myths of Ancient Greece.  I loved that Sirena is a mermaid who does not act like a human.  Too many times mermaids act like humans with fish tales.  Thankfully we see a very different being in this story.  Napoli's words read like poetry.  They flow almost like the currents of the ocean.  My only issue is with Philoctetes himself.  He's not a very good hero and I'm not very attracted to him.  Yet, I understand Sirena's need for love and belonging.  And it's that need that kept me reading.  Now I need to check out Napoli's other retellings.

Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Fish Out of Water (Fred the Mermaid #3)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Jove Books 2008

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 270

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; March Fantasy Month; A to Z Titles: F

Fred the Mermaid has taken the bait and chosen to date Artur, Prince of the Black Sea, over human marine biologist Thomas. And just in time. The existence of the Undersea Folk is no longer a secret, and someone needs to keep them from floundering in the media spotlight. Fred has all the right skills for that job, but has a hard time when her real father surfaces and tries to overthrow Artur’s regime.

The conclusion to Fredrika the Mermaid's story was a fun read for the day.  During the second book, I was concerned about the direction of the love story.  Thankfully, the love story righted itself and ended well.  A fun fantasy with a failed royal coup and the appearance of long-thought-dead relatives.  I really enjoyed reading Fred's journey out in the open.  Now, I really think it's time to move on to something a bit more deep.... (wait for the next review, you'll get the joke)

Fred the Mermaid

1. Sleeping with the Fishes
2. Swimming without a Net
3. Fish Out of Water

Swimming without a Net by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Swimming without a Net (Fred the Mermaid #2)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Jove Books 2007

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 271

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; March Fantasy Month

As Fred the Mermaid tries to fit in with her own kind, she finds herself hooked on both Artur, the High Prince of the undersea realm, and Thomas, a hunky marine biologist. She's also caught between two factions of merfolk: those happy with swimming under the radar-and those who want to bring their existence to the surface.

Another fun breezy read.  This one focusing on Frederika Bimm's introduction into the Undersea Folks' world.  It was interesting to see how she attempted to fit into the Undersea Folks with the discussion of her background and her bio-dad.  And the addition of some new characters like Tennian and King Mekkam breathed new life into the story.  Read in a day... not too memorable, but a good rainy day's read.

Fred the Mermaid

1. Sleeping with the Fishes
2. Swimming without a Net
3. Fish Out of Water

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Sleeping with the Fishes (Fred the Mermaid #1)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Jove Books 2006

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 268

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; March Fantasy Month

Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue.

While volunteering at the New England Aquarium, Fred learns that there are weird levels of toxins in the local seawater. A gorgeous marine biologist wants her help investigating. So does her merperson ruler, the High Prince of the Black Sea. You'd think it would be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things. Think again.

Fun book.  Reminded me of Davidson's Alaskan Royal Family series.  Lighthearted most of the time, a cute love story, a steamy sex scene (one and not even involving the man character) and a sort of wrap-up.  A fun, distracting read for a icky day.  Davidson is definitely a go-to author of light breezy entertaining reads.

There's not a whole lot to say about the book, but I did enjoy it.  Of course there are two more books in this series.  And I have both from the library.  So, guess what I'm reading next?  Yep, next up is Swimming without a Net.

Fred the Mermaid

1. Sleeping with the Fishes
2. Swimming without a Net
3. Fish Out of Water