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Lena #1
Between the Sea and Stars
A Legend,
A Magical Shell
A Girl Who Dreamed Of Something More...
Lena, a Merrow girl, lives in the Skagerrak sea with her father, Carrick and her brother, Javelin who tells her of the legend of the Merrow Queen murdered by her human lover when greed takes over. But what’s worth spilling the queen’s blood? Gifted from Poseidon, himself, a magic shell gives any human the ability to control both land and sea.
When Javelin is called to join a clan of Merrow soldiers bent on protecting their waters from human invasion, Lena resists Merrow law and ventures to the shore with no choice but to swim to land.
With newfound legs, Lena is whisked away on a new adventure with new friends and new trouble. Everyone seems to want something from her as intrigue lurks around every corner.
Trying her best to hide who she is and remain safe from the dangers of the human world, will Lena finally find where she belongs, or will she be swept into a strong and stormy current by lust, greed, and jealousy?
A Magical Shell
A Girl Who Dreamed Of Something More...
Lena, a Merrow girl, lives in the Skagerrak sea with her father, Carrick and her brother, Javelin who tells her of the legend of the Merrow Queen murdered by her human lover when greed takes over. But what’s worth spilling the queen’s blood? Gifted from Poseidon, himself, a magic shell gives any human the ability to control both land and sea.
When Javelin is called to join a clan of Merrow soldiers bent on protecting their waters from human invasion, Lena resists Merrow law and ventures to the shore with no choice but to swim to land.
With newfound legs, Lena is whisked away on a new adventure with new friends and new trouble. Everyone seems to want something from her as intrigue lurks around every corner.
Trying her best to hide who she is and remain safe from the dangers of the human world, will Lena finally find where she belongs, or will she be swept into a strong and stormy current by lust, greed, and jealousy?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2018
29 people are currently reading
1135 people want to read
About the author
Chantal Gadoury
11books433followersChantal Gadoury is a best selling fairytale-retelling and romance author, living in the beautiful countryside of Muncy, Pennsylvania with her mom and family yorkie, Taran.
When Chantal isn't pursuing her next writing endeavor, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, and taking long walks to the sounds of BTS. She is a TikTok enthusiast, loves all things Disney and loves a good, romantic K-Drama.
Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues that love of writing today. After graduating from Susquehanna University with a degree in Creative Writing, writing novels has become a dream come true.
When Chantal isn't pursuing her next writing endeavor, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, and taking long walks to the sounds of BTS. She is a TikTok enthusiast, loves all things Disney and loves a good, romantic K-Drama.
Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues that love of writing today. After graduating from Susquehanna University with a degree in Creative Writing, writing novels has become a dream come true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
September 12, 2018
** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Chantal! I really enjoyed it!! =)**
”She was a fool,� he said.
“She was in love,� Lena amended.
I don’t know why but I absolutely love and adore this quote! I guess it’s because it resonates so much with me. We all do foolish things when we’re in love and the Merrow Queen that is mentioned in the book certainly was in love with her human lover. Unfortunately the story didn’t end all too well for her and even though it’s a sad legend, I still loved it. XD Well, Lena loved it too until she had to go to the shore and discovered the truth behind it all. This is an entirely different kind of story though. Or not? ;-P
Anyway, it’s been a while I last read a mermaid story but I really enjoyed this one. There was something about Chantal’s writing that drew me right into the book and it all felt so magical and dreamlike. You get those fairy tale vibes the moment you start to read and it was fun to allow myself to experience them without thinking all too much about it. This is definitely a book you have to feel and as long as you float with the current (pun totally intended ;-P) you’ll be more than just fine! =)
”This is only the beginning, it seems,� Edwin murmured. “Your journey will lead you somewhere between the sea and stars. Somewhere unknown, even to me.�
And as it seems Lena’s journey truly has only just begun! I didn’t know there would be a second book when I started to read this and damn do I hope that it will get out soon! I really need to know how it continues and I can’t wait to read what’s going to happen next. I mean the ending was very suspenseful and I just can’t accept that the book ended like this!!! >_<
”This inn is always filled with people,� Edwin was saying. “It’s strange, how rooms full of laughter can feel silent. How a hearth full of fire can feel cold. How conversations drifting through the walls can make a man feel� alone. You’ve brought warmth to my bones, Lena. You’ve filled this dark, empty room with your light. Fate brought you here for a reason. I believe that.�
As to the characters: I loved Lena and Mrs. Wyatt! They were both strong women and they stood up for themselves even though the men in their lives were trying their best to oppress them. Well, at least Lord Jarl and Asger tried. Which reminds me of the fact that there was actually a time I didn’t know who would turn out to be the main love interest. *lol* I kind of loved that though. I mean it doesn’t happen all too often that you wonder who might be the heroine’s lover and this only made the story even more intriguing.
”I don’t want to settle for what’s easy, Lena. I won’t. I’m better than that.�
I really hated Lord Jarl, but I actually liked Jace and Soren Emil. Asger� well I guess I always knew he’d never end up being Lena’s love interest. By the end of the book Jace and Soren both showed their true colours though and I guess from there on it’s pretty obvious who’s going to win Lena’s heart. Still, it was nice to wonder about it for a while and I have to give Chantal kudos for making it exciting. ;-P
Considering it all I really enjoyed “Between the Sea and Stars� and I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next! I’m almost sure we can expect another surprising turn of events and I’m definitely more than just ready for it! XD Chantal, please give us book two soon!
”She was a fool,� he said.
“She was in love,� Lena amended.
I don’t know why but I absolutely love and adore this quote! I guess it’s because it resonates so much with me. We all do foolish things when we’re in love and the Merrow Queen that is mentioned in the book certainly was in love with her human lover. Unfortunately the story didn’t end all too well for her and even though it’s a sad legend, I still loved it. XD Well, Lena loved it too until she had to go to the shore and discovered the truth behind it all. This is an entirely different kind of story though. Or not? ;-P
Anyway, it’s been a while I last read a mermaid story but I really enjoyed this one. There was something about Chantal’s writing that drew me right into the book and it all felt so magical and dreamlike. You get those fairy tale vibes the moment you start to read and it was fun to allow myself to experience them without thinking all too much about it. This is definitely a book you have to feel and as long as you float with the current (pun totally intended ;-P) you’ll be more than just fine! =)
”This is only the beginning, it seems,� Edwin murmured. “Your journey will lead you somewhere between the sea and stars. Somewhere unknown, even to me.�
And as it seems Lena’s journey truly has only just begun! I didn’t know there would be a second book when I started to read this and damn do I hope that it will get out soon! I really need to know how it continues and I can’t wait to read what’s going to happen next. I mean the ending was very suspenseful and I just can’t accept that the book ended like this!!! >_<
”This inn is always filled with people,� Edwin was saying. “It’s strange, how rooms full of laughter can feel silent. How a hearth full of fire can feel cold. How conversations drifting through the walls can make a man feel� alone. You’ve brought warmth to my bones, Lena. You’ve filled this dark, empty room with your light. Fate brought you here for a reason. I believe that.�
As to the characters: I loved Lena and Mrs. Wyatt! They were both strong women and they stood up for themselves even though the men in their lives were trying their best to oppress them. Well, at least Lord Jarl and Asger tried. Which reminds me of the fact that there was actually a time I didn’t know who would turn out to be the main love interest. *lol* I kind of loved that though. I mean it doesn’t happen all too often that you wonder who might be the heroine’s lover and this only made the story even more intriguing.
”I don’t want to settle for what’s easy, Lena. I won’t. I’m better than that.�
I really hated Lord Jarl, but I actually liked Jace and Soren Emil. Asger� well I guess I always knew he’d never end up being Lena’s love interest. By the end of the book Jace and Soren both showed their true colours though and I guess from there on it’s pretty obvious who’s going to win Lena’s heart. Still, it was nice to wonder about it for a while and I have to give Chantal kudos for making it exciting. ;-P
Considering it all I really enjoyed “Between the Sea and Stars� and I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next! I’m almost sure we can expect another surprising turn of events and I’m definitely more than just ready for it! XD Chantal, please give us book two soon!
May 29, 2018
Lena grew up on the tales of the Merrow Queen, the human lover who killed her and the magical shell that could give any human control over both the land and the seas. When her underwater world becomes too constricting, Lena is determined to walk among the humans, but what she finds is so foreign, learning to use her new legs is the least of her worries.
Everyone wants something from her, but who can she trust and who will do anything to gain the power she holds in the shell around her neck? A kindred spirit is closer than she knows, but evil is lurking in the shadows, only one step behind her.
Follow Lena as she learns the ways of man, affairs of the heart and fear of an evil she has never known. Has Lena given up everything she held dear beneath the sea for a foolish dream that has become a terrifying nightmare?
BENEATH THE SEA AND STARS by Chantal Gadoury is a simply delightful fantasy that whisks readers away into another time and place. With all the magic of fantasy and fairytale stories, the sweet innocence of Lena, the darkness of the dastardly villain and the simple goodness of so many characters makes this a memorable journey for all ages!
Ms. Gadoury brings back that feeling of tales from long ago with a spellbinding heroine who clearly is completely out of her depth on land, from human customs to the use of her new legs. Even if you don’t believe in mermaids, you will believe in Lena! This one is a true gem of a read!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Chantal Gadoury!
Series: The Lena Series - Book 1
Publisher: The Parliament House (March 1, 2018)
Publication Date: June 19, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Available from: |
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow:
Everyone wants something from her, but who can she trust and who will do anything to gain the power she holds in the shell around her neck? A kindred spirit is closer than she knows, but evil is lurking in the shadows, only one step behind her.
Follow Lena as she learns the ways of man, affairs of the heart and fear of an evil she has never known. Has Lena given up everything she held dear beneath the sea for a foolish dream that has become a terrifying nightmare?
BENEATH THE SEA AND STARS by Chantal Gadoury is a simply delightful fantasy that whisks readers away into another time and place. With all the magic of fantasy and fairytale stories, the sweet innocence of Lena, the darkness of the dastardly villain and the simple goodness of so many characters makes this a memorable journey for all ages!
Ms. Gadoury brings back that feeling of tales from long ago with a spellbinding heroine who clearly is completely out of her depth on land, from human customs to the use of her new legs. Even if you don’t believe in mermaids, you will believe in Lena! This one is a true gem of a read!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Chantal Gadoury!
Series: The Lena Series - Book 1
Publisher: The Parliament House (March 1, 2018)
Publication Date: June 19, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Available from: |
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow:
Read
November 7, 2022DNF at 24%. someone HAD to have paid off the 200 reviewers. the main character is a legitimate idiot, and this book objectively reads like someone who wanted to write a little mermaid fanfiction on wattpad. i don’t have the will to push through.
—�
recommend: do i even need to answer this�
—�
side note: you know when characters go into that self-absorbing pity where something happens and they have the “it’s all my fault, i should have…� paragraph? but it really wasn’t their fault and you, as a reader, know that and feel bad for them? yeah� it was always her fault this time. never not her fault. i nodded my head to every self-criticism because she SUCKED.
—�
recommend: do i even need to answer this�
—�
side note: you know when characters go into that self-absorbing pity where something happens and they have the “it’s all my fault, i should have…� paragraph? but it really wasn’t their fault and you, as a reader, know that and feel bad for them? yeah� it was always her fault this time. never not her fault. i nodded my head to every self-criticism because she SUCKED.
August 7, 2023
Between the Sea and Stars was simply a wonderfully written story that was perfectly descriptive. I enjoyed reading this story with scenes that were so beautiful that I almost forgot that I was reading a story. I felt drawn to Lena and her plight. I wanted so much for her and was a part of the her struggles. There was some love interests going on in this story, not a triangle so much but more than one person was interested in Lena. I liked though that Lena didn’t “struggle� with these attentions, she had feelings about what was taking place but in the end she knew who she was and what she wanted for herself. I liked that about her character. Between the Sea and Stars was an excellent read and I can not wait to read the continuation of the Lena series!
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Author, Chantal Gadoury. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Author, Chantal Gadoury. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
May 25, 2018
There is no doubt that Chantal is a wonderful story teller. This is my second book by her and I've been sucked right in from page one each time.
We have The Little Mermaid feel with Lena, who just wants to see what it's like on land... to be human. She feels stifled under the sea and doesn't want to just be another wife. She's a merrow who wants more. Stubborn to get her way, she's not prepared for what she actually gets.
There's a lot of things in this book that are easily predictable. You can never run away from your problems and Lena finds herself basically in the same predicament on land as she did in the sea. What's great about this book is the author's way of pulling you right in. It reads fast and had me swiping pages with a fury to see where it would head. I didn't even care that I pretty much knew what was coming.
The ending is SUCH a cliffhanger! Normally this irritates me, but I found myself still trying to swipe left hoping that somehow I would will more pages to appear. Alas, this did NOT work (but I still encourage you to try this - maybe you'll have more luck 😉).
As with most of these types of reads, the women are put in a secondary role and we see a lot of male characters in this story. The women are there to take care of them and play their roles. Remember, this is almost like a Disney story and that's to be expected. It's how we get characters such as Lena, who rebel against this stereotype. A fairy tale where Lena is there to save herself, not to have a man do that for her.
I absolutely adore books about mermaids and this one delivers. Engaging, fantastical and whimsical. Chantal brings us a rich fairy tale where sometimes getting what you want comes at a cost you can never run from. I need book two, NOW!
Thank you so much to the author for this copy!
We have The Little Mermaid feel with Lena, who just wants to see what it's like on land... to be human. She feels stifled under the sea and doesn't want to just be another wife. She's a merrow who wants more. Stubborn to get her way, she's not prepared for what she actually gets.
There's a lot of things in this book that are easily predictable. You can never run away from your problems and Lena finds herself basically in the same predicament on land as she did in the sea. What's great about this book is the author's way of pulling you right in. It reads fast and had me swiping pages with a fury to see where it would head. I didn't even care that I pretty much knew what was coming.
The ending is SUCH a cliffhanger! Normally this irritates me, but I found myself still trying to swipe left hoping that somehow I would will more pages to appear. Alas, this did NOT work (but I still encourage you to try this - maybe you'll have more luck 😉).
As with most of these types of reads, the women are put in a secondary role and we see a lot of male characters in this story. The women are there to take care of them and play their roles. Remember, this is almost like a Disney story and that's to be expected. It's how we get characters such as Lena, who rebel against this stereotype. A fairy tale where Lena is there to save herself, not to have a man do that for her.
I absolutely adore books about mermaids and this one delivers. Engaging, fantastical and whimsical. Chantal brings us a rich fairy tale where sometimes getting what you want comes at a cost you can never run from. I need book two, NOW!
Thank you so much to the author for this copy!
May 12, 2018
It's a "Little Mermaid" retelling that I've been searching for ages. A little dark, definitely reminiscent more of the original Andersen rather than Disney. Set in a Danish-inspired world (it might actually be Denmark from a century or two ago, I'm not sure), full of memorable characters and with an enchanting atmosphere that I came to associate with Gadoury's retellings. Somehow, she's even managed to make the Danish language sound beautiful which is nothing short of magic (no offence, Danes, I'm just too Swedified, take it as a friendly neighbourly tease).
What I like most about this story is that Chantal Gadoury is a master of writing stories with heroines who are strong in a relatable, not kick-ass way. Girls who run away from toxic or abusive relationships. Girls who deal with trauma. The YA genre is full to bursting with controversial-to-downright-not-right romance so it's always a nice relief to get some positivity in this aspect.
Overall, if you haven't read anything by Chandal Gadoury, what are you waiting for? (Hint: she's releasing a Hades and Persephone retelling later this year, which might be my most anticipated release at this stage) Now I can't wait for "Between the Sea and Stars" sequel!
What I like most about this story is that Chantal Gadoury is a master of writing stories with heroines who are strong in a relatable, not kick-ass way. Girls who run away from toxic or abusive relationships. Girls who deal with trauma. The YA genre is full to bursting with controversial-to-downright-not-right romance so it's always a nice relief to get some positivity in this aspect.
Overall, if you haven't read anything by Chandal Gadoury, what are you waiting for? (Hint: she's releasing a Hades and Persephone retelling later this year, which might be my most anticipated release at this stage) Now I can't wait for "Between the Sea and Stars" sequel!
May 15, 2018
*I was sent an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.*
"Your journey will lead you somewhere between the sea and stars. Somewhere unknown, even to me."
Enchanting and so much more. I couldn't put it down. Between the Sea and Stars is one of my favorite reads of the year!
The story follows Lena, a merrow who dreams of discovering the secrets of the human world, convinced that it must not be all terrible as her fellow merrow believe. But her curiosity has a terrible cost. Suddenly forced on land, Lena must face the consequences of her actions and live amongst the humans, keeping the truth of her nature a secret. But doing so might prove to be harder than she anticipated.
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I've loved it so much that I stayed up until 1 AM to read and only put the book away because I had to, not because I wanted to. This is not the first story I read by Chantal Gadoury, so I was already aware of her beautiful writing, but she has truly surpassed herself with this one. The chapters that took place underwater were so brilliantly executed that I truly believed I was there, beneath the sea, swimming with Lena and her brother Javelin. The descriptions of the merrow--from the way their hair moved to the color of their tails, their movements as they swam and even the struggle of Lena once she has to walk on her legs--was so realistic that one could hardly believe it was fiction. And that same magic was repeated once the setting switched from sea to shore.
I also loved the characters. Lena is an amazing female lead, both strong and fragile, afraid and brave, curious, smart, kind, relatable despite the fact she is what every girl has dreamt of being at least once: a mermaid. The supporting characters were just as great to read, may they be good, shady or just downright evil. I particularly loved Javelin, Lena's brother, with whom she shares an amazing bond (and I am always a fan of beautiful sibling relationships in books, having one just as beautiful with my own siblings); Edwin Wyatt, the old man that Lena befriends on land; and Soren Emil, book keeper, gentleman and the definition of cinnamon roll. (I think I am in love!)
When this book was over, I almost cried. What happens next? When will the next book be published? When will I see Soren Emil again? While I wait for these questions to be answered and for the sequel to magically drop in my lap, I'll shove the book in everyone's faces so they can read it. Hello, new obsession? Indeed.
"Your journey will lead you somewhere between the sea and stars. Somewhere unknown, even to me."
Enchanting and so much more. I couldn't put it down. Between the Sea and Stars is one of my favorite reads of the year!
The story follows Lena, a merrow who dreams of discovering the secrets of the human world, convinced that it must not be all terrible as her fellow merrow believe. But her curiosity has a terrible cost. Suddenly forced on land, Lena must face the consequences of her actions and live amongst the humans, keeping the truth of her nature a secret. But doing so might prove to be harder than she anticipated.
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I've loved it so much that I stayed up until 1 AM to read and only put the book away because I had to, not because I wanted to. This is not the first story I read by Chantal Gadoury, so I was already aware of her beautiful writing, but she has truly surpassed herself with this one. The chapters that took place underwater were so brilliantly executed that I truly believed I was there, beneath the sea, swimming with Lena and her brother Javelin. The descriptions of the merrow--from the way their hair moved to the color of their tails, their movements as they swam and even the struggle of Lena once she has to walk on her legs--was so realistic that one could hardly believe it was fiction. And that same magic was repeated once the setting switched from sea to shore.
I also loved the characters. Lena is an amazing female lead, both strong and fragile, afraid and brave, curious, smart, kind, relatable despite the fact she is what every girl has dreamt of being at least once: a mermaid. The supporting characters were just as great to read, may they be good, shady or just downright evil. I particularly loved Javelin, Lena's brother, with whom she shares an amazing bond (and I am always a fan of beautiful sibling relationships in books, having one just as beautiful with my own siblings); Edwin Wyatt, the old man that Lena befriends on land; and Soren Emil, book keeper, gentleman and the definition of cinnamon roll. (I think I am in love!)
When this book was over, I almost cried. What happens next? When will the next book be published?
August 13, 2019
What an amazing fairytale this is!! It’s a mermaid themed story. All of the characters have their own role. Besides, some conversations or dialogues touched me a lot.
July 28, 2018
4.5 stars!
Review to come
Review to come
July 21, 2020
First of all, there's a Phonetics Glossary at the end, which you would want to consult before you start reading this book.
Synopsis:
Book One of The Lena Series, Between the Sea and Stars, is a magical tale about Lena the mermaid who spends her days hunting small crabs and fishes. Inhabitants of the Skagerrak Sea, the merrows live a peaceful life beneath the water. Lena's brother Javelin's life is more adventurous than hers. Scavenging is his passion and he is a hit in the market where he trades the trinkets he finds in lost ships. But Lena has a secret adventurous wish of her own, she wants to explore the world above the water, something that is forbidden by their King.
But when an incident forces Lena to join the human world, she realises she's all alone now. And there's danger lurking in the form of a very nasty human who is after the shell she possesses, the Magiske Skal that gives her the power to transform into a human.
Review:
It reads like a beautiful fairy tale, only that it is so much more than that. This is my first read by and I'd be going back to her works again and again. There is a legend which involves humans and merrows. And a tragedy which is whispered through the sea. A reality that led to the merrows killing humans who ventured too close to the fact of their existence.
I was surprised to find throughout the text so many hidden layers to the story. It is like a secret which is revealed slowly, and yet it is a tightly knit tale. Also, the ending isn't a cliff hanger. It rather makes us eager as to what would happen next.
At first, I was a bit miffed at the character revelations which seemed to me to be arriving a little too late in the story. But then, I started looking at everything from Lena's point of view and it started to make sense. It is, after all, her story. Her path of discovery from leading a merrow's life to a human's and occupying the liminal space between them. Psst... There's a secret about her long-dead mother too.
The author built such beautiful relations, especially between Lena and Edwin. Javelin and Edwin (he's a grandfatherly character, so don't get any ideas) are the only two characters I will name in this review because otherwise I will start babbling and as good as give away the plot! Plus there are some wonderful sea references.
There's a slow burn romance too. But that is between Lena and ... a name I wouldn't give out now because this is the first book of the series and the build-up is something you wouldn't enjoy otherwise. Aptly titled, this was a treat to read.
P.S. Special mention to the beautiful cover and the artwork at the end.
Thank you to for an e-copy of the book.
The other books by the author that I have read and also recommend are:
The Shrike and the Shadows
Blinding Night
Originally posted on:
Synopsis:
Book One of The Lena Series, Between the Sea and Stars, is a magical tale about Lena the mermaid who spends her days hunting small crabs and fishes. Inhabitants of the Skagerrak Sea, the merrows live a peaceful life beneath the water. Lena's brother Javelin's life is more adventurous than hers. Scavenging is his passion and he is a hit in the market where he trades the trinkets he finds in lost ships. But Lena has a secret adventurous wish of her own, she wants to explore the world above the water, something that is forbidden by their King.
But when an incident forces Lena to join the human world, she realises she's all alone now. And there's danger lurking in the form of a very nasty human who is after the shell she possesses, the Magiske Skal that gives her the power to transform into a human.
Review:
It reads like a beautiful fairy tale, only that it is so much more than that. This is my first read by and I'd be going back to her works again and again. There is a legend which involves humans and merrows. And a tragedy which is whispered through the sea. A reality that led to the merrows killing humans who ventured too close to the fact of their existence.
Sorrow drops anchor in the eve, but it often sails away with the dawn.
I was surprised to find throughout the text so many hidden layers to the story. It is like a secret which is revealed slowly, and yet it is a tightly knit tale. Also, the ending isn't a cliff hanger. It rather makes us eager as to what would happen next.
At first, I was a bit miffed at the character revelations which seemed to me to be arriving a little too late in the story. But then, I started looking at everything from Lena's point of view and it started to make sense. It is, after all, her story. Her path of discovery from leading a merrow's life to a human's and occupying the liminal space between them. Psst... There's a secret about her long-dead mother too.
There’s nothing quite so pleasant, lass,� he murmured, “as spending a sunny day, lost beside the sea.
The author built such beautiful relations, especially between Lena and Edwin. Javelin and Edwin (he's a grandfatherly character, so don't get any ideas) are the only two characters I will name in this review because otherwise I will start babbling and as good as give away the plot! Plus there are some wonderful sea references.
Evening poured over the ocean like an octopus’s ink.
There's a slow burn romance too. But that is between Lena and ... a name I wouldn't give out now because this is the first book of the series and the build-up is something you wouldn't enjoy otherwise. Aptly titled, this was a treat to read.
P.S. Special mention to the beautiful cover and the artwork at the end.
Thank you to for an e-copy of the book.
The other books by the author that I have read and also recommend are:
The Shrike and the Shadows
Blinding Night
Originally posted on:
June 1, 2018
*I was sent an ebook ARC by the author in exchange of an honest review*
Having read Chantal Gadoury's , I went into Between the Sea and Stars with high expectations, especially because it is also a Little Mermaid retelling and that happens to be my favorite Disney movie of all time. My expectations were met! Chantal Gadoury was able to take something so familiar, and spin in into something absolutely recognazable but also completely original and magical.
However, I have some minor issues and I'll mention them as I go.
As far as the world building goes, I was very surprised especially by the underwater world. The merrow society isn't much different from our own: there is a market, there are poor merrow (something that for some reason had never occured to me when thinking of merpeople), money and children taking care of elderly parents! Another thing I found very interesting was that, while the idea of merrows hunting human sailors remains, in this book it is the men who are chosen for this role. This subversion of the image I have in my mind of the beautiful, deadly women hunting sailors was something I really liked....but that I had a problem with at the same time. The idea of female merrows I got from this book is one of women who stay home, take care of the family and are very much submitted to the males they marry. That was one aspect of the world I did not much enjoy, even if in Lena we do see signs of rebellion when she refuses a limitating marriage proposal. Overall though, it was an interesting world, although I would have enjoyed seeing more of the other merrows outside of the main characters.
As for the humans, we get a very stereotypical small town society: most of the life revolves around an inn, there is an old man who is considered crazy, a young man who does not fit in, an evil landlord and lots of creepy crawly men who naturally give the beautiful main character lots of dirty looks. All this, despite being a stereotype, works well with the story.
Another thing I would have liked to see more of is women. Apart from Lena, the only other women in this story are an old merrow woman we only see for a few pages, a merrow queen that is only mentioned as a myth and Jace's mother. Lena does not have a female friend, nor are other young women mentioned in this town.
The true power of this book, in my opinion, are the characters, beautifully complex in pure Chantal Gadoury fashion.
Lena, our protagonist, is a young merrow who hunts crabs to sustain her family (aka her father and her brother). Despite loving the ocean, Lena's favorite stories are of humans, especially the story of the merrow queen who fell in love with a human (Lena likes to pretend the unhappily ever after in that story doesn't exist though). I loved her enthusiasm and curiosity BUT my one issue with her was how submissive to men she was. When Asger (a merrow) kisses her, she lets him even though she doesn't like that he hunts humans. When Lord Jarl (the evil landowner) touches her, it unsettles her but she doesn't pull away. When Jace kisses her, she doesn't want it and when she tries to tell him off, he doesn't listen and insists that they are more than friends and she stays silent. Knowing that Chantal Gadoury does not shy away from mature content, the behavior of the men and Lena's submissiveness worried me in more than one chapter.
From this, I suppose you'll have understood that I'm not a big fan of the men in this book. I don't have much of an opinion on Asger. He's a character that fascinates me, but his possessiveness puts me off. I don't like Jace, the young man who saves Lena, because of the way he feels entitled to Lena's affections. To be honest, Jace is the character I like least. He does have some redeeming qualities, but he comes across to me like an ill tempered, selfish young man. I don't like Lord Jarl, who is EVIL. Literally. Who do I like? Soren Emil and Edwyn Wyatt.
Edwyn Wyatt is Jace's grandfather. As a human, Lena takes care of him. Despite his blindness, Edwyn sees more than most characters, and he protects Lena from the narrow-minded people around her. Thanks to Edwyn, Lena's path crosses that of Soren Emil, the young owner of a bookshop, thought to be crazy because of his beliefs about merrows. Soren Emil is also the only man who sees Lena as more than just a beautiful girl. On the contrary, he never oversteps boundaries of politeness and, unlike Jace, actually lets Lena speak. He might be the only man in the village with some common sense!
Overall, despite my minor issues, I really loved this book, and since it's a trilogy I'm sure there is more of the world and of the characters that we have not yet seen. I'm excited for book two!
And for more Soren.
Having read Chantal Gadoury's , I went into Between the Sea and Stars with high expectations, especially because it is also a Little Mermaid retelling and that happens to be my favorite Disney movie of all time. My expectations were met! Chantal Gadoury was able to take something so familiar, and spin in into something absolutely recognazable but also completely original and magical.
However, I have some minor issues and I'll mention them as I go.
As far as the world building goes, I was very surprised especially by the underwater world. The merrow society isn't much different from our own: there is a market, there are poor merrow (something that for some reason had never occured to me when thinking of merpeople), money and children taking care of elderly parents! Another thing I found very interesting was that, while the idea of merrows hunting human sailors remains, in this book it is the men who are chosen for this role. This subversion of the image I have in my mind of the beautiful, deadly women hunting sailors was something I really liked....but that I had a problem with at the same time. The idea of female merrows I got from this book is one of women who stay home, take care of the family and are very much submitted to the males they marry. That was one aspect of the world I did not much enjoy, even if in Lena we do see signs of rebellion when she refuses a limitating marriage proposal. Overall though, it was an interesting world, although I would have enjoyed seeing more of the other merrows outside of the main characters.
As for the humans, we get a very stereotypical small town society: most of the life revolves around an inn, there is an old man who is considered crazy, a young man who does not fit in, an evil landlord and lots of creepy crawly men who naturally give the beautiful main character lots of dirty looks. All this, despite being a stereotype, works well with the story.
Another thing I would have liked to see more of is women. Apart from Lena, the only other women in this story are an old merrow woman we only see for a few pages, a merrow queen that is only mentioned as a myth and Jace's mother. Lena does not have a female friend, nor are other young women mentioned in this town.
The true power of this book, in my opinion, are the characters, beautifully complex in pure Chantal Gadoury fashion.
Lena, our protagonist, is a young merrow who hunts crabs to sustain her family (aka her father and her brother). Despite loving the ocean, Lena's favorite stories are of humans, especially the story of the merrow queen who fell in love with a human (Lena likes to pretend the unhappily ever after in that story doesn't exist though). I loved her enthusiasm and curiosity BUT my one issue with her was how submissive to men she was. When Asger (a merrow) kisses her, she lets him even though she doesn't like that he hunts humans. When Lord Jarl (the evil landowner) touches her, it unsettles her but she doesn't pull away. When Jace kisses her, she doesn't want it and when she tries to tell him off, he doesn't listen and insists that they are more than friends and she stays silent. Knowing that Chantal Gadoury does not shy away from mature content, the behavior of the men and Lena's submissiveness worried me in more than one chapter.
From this, I suppose you'll have understood that I'm not a big fan of the men in this book. I don't have much of an opinion on Asger. He's a character that fascinates me, but his possessiveness puts me off. I don't like Jace, the young man who saves Lena, because of the way he feels entitled to Lena's affections. To be honest, Jace is the character I like least. He does have some redeeming qualities, but he comes across to me like an ill tempered, selfish young man. I don't like Lord Jarl, who is EVIL. Literally. Who do I like? Soren Emil and Edwyn Wyatt.
Edwyn Wyatt is Jace's grandfather. As a human, Lena takes care of him. Despite his blindness, Edwyn sees more than most characters, and he protects Lena from the narrow-minded people around her. Thanks to Edwyn, Lena's path crosses that of Soren Emil, the young owner of a bookshop, thought to be crazy because of his beliefs about merrows. Soren Emil is also the only man who sees Lena as more than just a beautiful girl. On the contrary, he never oversteps boundaries of politeness and, unlike Jace, actually lets Lena speak. He might be the only man in the village with some common sense!
Overall, despite my minor issues, I really loved this book, and since it's a trilogy I'm sure there is more of the world and of the characters that we have not yet seen. I'm excited for book two!
And for more Soren.
May 27, 2018
I’m a huge Disnerd and when I first heard about this book by Chantal I knew I had to get my hands on it when I found out it was The Little Mermaid retelling. This is also the first mermaid book that I have read and I loved it. Chantal just as a way with words, she grips you in to the story within a matter of pages and you don’t want to leave.
This story follows a Merrow named Lena who dreams of becoming human. She’s convinced that it can’t be that bad as fellow Merrow tell her Right?
Lena is a wonderful leading lady. She’s brave yet afraid and I absolutely loved that about her.
This book had me reading till the wee hours of the morning because I needed to know how it ended. I can’t wait to have the next book.
**i was sent and Arc copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**
This story follows a Merrow named Lena who dreams of becoming human. She’s convinced that it can’t be that bad as fellow Merrow tell her Right?
Lena is a wonderful leading lady. She’s brave yet afraid and I absolutely loved that about her.
This book had me reading till the wee hours of the morning because I needed to know how it ended. I can’t wait to have the next book.
**i was sent and Arc copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**
February 27, 2019
Another beautiful masterpiece by Chantal Gadoury! I've pretty much fallen in love with every one of Chantal Gadoury's book and this was no exception. If you're looking for a good Mermaid adventure, look no further.
I was immediately drawn into the world of the Merrow. It was so beautifully crafted and unique and I could easily envision the life that these characters lived. The story definitely kept me hooked and interested the whole way through and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I'll definitely be anxiously awaiting the sequel after that ending!
Chantal Gadoury always does such an excellent job of writing realistic and lovable characters. Strong heroines, but not always in the way you might think (which is refreshing) and swoon worthy love interests. I definitely found that in the pages of Between the Sea and Stars and loved it! Also, I am ALWAYS here for good sibling relationships in books, especially brother and sister relationships and I loved seeing that between Javlin and Lena.
So yeah, in short I loved this book, you should read it and I cannot wait for the sequel! 😍😍😍
I was immediately drawn into the world of the Merrow. It was so beautifully crafted and unique and I could easily envision the life that these characters lived. The story definitely kept me hooked and interested the whole way through and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I'll definitely be anxiously awaiting the sequel after that ending!
Chantal Gadoury always does such an excellent job of writing realistic and lovable characters. Strong heroines, but not always in the way you might think (which is refreshing) and swoon worthy love interests. I definitely found that in the pages of Between the Sea and Stars and loved it! Also, I am ALWAYS here for good sibling relationships in books, especially brother and sister relationships and I loved seeing that between Javlin and Lena.
So yeah, in short I loved this book, you should read it and I cannot wait for the sequel! 😍😍😍
June 15, 2018
*I was sent an ebook ARC by the author in exchange of an honest review*
Summer rings and this means, putting the blinds down, getting a drink and curling up in bed with a good mermaid book. And this is a good one, trust me.
As a child I loved to dream of becoming a mermaid one day. I honestly believed that my mother would turn up on my 16th birthday and tell me that I'm one of the merrow folk. Okay, but to admit, I also thought she would tell me I am a witch. She never did. But my love for mermaid tales and my longing to be part of the sea never stopped. It was always hard for me to find a good mermaid book, which leads to the fact that my expectations are never high. This is just a personal thing. However, I was pleased very much with Chantal Gadoury's Between The Sea and Stars. Now I can finally say I've got my love for mermaid books back (and trust me, the last time I was pleased with such stories was at the age of 11, so this is a big deal!).
This is my first book by Chantal Gadoury and as it always goes with first times, you have a feeling of anxiety - will you like the book? will you like the writing? the plot? the worldbuilding? the characters? And then, it swept me away into a magicial underwater world of love, longing and danger. I did very much enjoy Chantal Gadoury's storytelling and this won't be the last book of hers I read. *pinky promise*
Let us start with the story. It is, in fact, a Little Mermaid retelling. The protagonist Lena is one of the merrows, however she feels that this is not where she belongs. She craves for the stories and relics from the human world and how wonderful would it be ... to dance, to walk, to feel the sun on one's skin? When her brother gets summond by a clan of Merrow soldiers, Lena takes a chance - to catch a glimpse of the lands and humans. But things go wrong, and Lena is forced to flee. As a human she has to deal with the loss of her family, the sea, her life. Fortunately she meets people who take care of her and starts to learn what the human world really means. But danger does not only lurk in the depths of the ocean, it can be found close to one on the human lands.
I must admit, I am always hesitant with starting fairytale retellings. Those are stories we love, we know from childhood and you don't want to read just a copy of something if you can actually pick up the original. Well, let me assure you. This book took the original concept of The Little Mermaid and brought a wholy new story to us. I loved the plot, actually. I always think it's easier to know what will happen, when it's a retell, but Chantal Gadoury definitely has a way of twisting plot lines, bringing new life to such an old, beloved story. And bringing so many new characters! This has been probably my favorite part of this book. The characters! Chantal Gadoury brought complex, wonderfully written characters to this story. There is Lena, the protagonist, who struggles with longing, loss and her past. Still, she fights. She keeps doing, keeps seeing the good in people, is being kind. Then there's Lena's merrow family - Javelin and Carrick, her brother and father. I loved the relationship of Javelin and Lena, and the dynamic of the family. They keep together, fight together for survival and still are filled with joy and kindness. Asger, one of the Merrow soldiers, brings the complex social structure into the story. In the sea, there are soldiers, too. Asger being one of them. (And I loved the nordic vibes I got from that part!!) As we follow the story, we meet Jace, his mother, his grandfather Edwin, Soren Emil, and more. And I'd very much like to shout which characters has stolen my heart, but I'd let you guess when you pick up this book. I loved that we got a variety of characters on Lena's journey on land. I wasn't expecting to meet a complicated life on land and the more I was pleased that it was filled with such a background story.
As much as I would love to keep rambling about the characters, I do very much like to explain my rating and list some of the minor issues I had. While I love fast-paced stories as much as slow-paced, I did had a feeling some scenes were too rushed where I wished to get more details out of it. Those moments luckily didn't happen a lot, the pace was fast and overall quite fitting to the story. What did confuse me a bit was how well Lena adjusted to the human world. Gadoury did try to state differences like humans do dress, are able of reading, and yes Jam exists. And I loved that, but sometimes I had a feeling Lena knew way too much for someone who was never allowed to reach the surface of the ocean. To begin with, how is she able to know what a wolf is? While I really loved how similiar the merrow society is compared to the human one, I felt those differences could've been depicted better. Those however, are things that still can be worked on on the next books. That's why I definitely see them as minor issues, and don't held it against the book. For the first in a series, it was a great start!
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much! I can recommend it to anyone who is a mermaid-loving-dreamer. And to anyone who needs to experience a world of new sorts - maybe one between the sea and stars! The question of belonging and believing will not let go of you easily!!! So put on your mermaid blankets, hide away from the heat, and jump into an adventure magicial, unique and still reminiscent with characters who will steal your heart and make you crave for more.
Summer rings and this means, putting the blinds down, getting a drink and curling up in bed with a good mermaid book. And this is a good one, trust me.
As a child I loved to dream of becoming a mermaid one day. I honestly believed that my mother would turn up on my 16th birthday and tell me that I'm one of the merrow folk. Okay, but to admit, I also thought she would tell me I am a witch. She never did. But my love for mermaid tales and my longing to be part of the sea never stopped. It was always hard for me to find a good mermaid book, which leads to the fact that my expectations are never high. This is just a personal thing. However, I was pleased very much with Chantal Gadoury's Between The Sea and Stars. Now I can finally say I've got my love for mermaid books back (and trust me, the last time I was pleased with such stories was at the age of 11, so this is a big deal!).
This is my first book by Chantal Gadoury and as it always goes with first times, you have a feeling of anxiety - will you like the book? will you like the writing? the plot? the worldbuilding? the characters? And then, it swept me away into a magicial underwater world of love, longing and danger. I did very much enjoy Chantal Gadoury's storytelling and this won't be the last book of hers I read. *pinky promise*
Let us start with the story. It is, in fact, a Little Mermaid retelling. The protagonist Lena is one of the merrows, however she feels that this is not where she belongs. She craves for the stories and relics from the human world and how wonderful would it be ... to dance, to walk, to feel the sun on one's skin? When her brother gets summond by a clan of Merrow soldiers, Lena takes a chance - to catch a glimpse of the lands and humans. But things go wrong, and Lena is forced to flee. As a human she has to deal with the loss of her family, the sea, her life. Fortunately she meets people who take care of her and starts to learn what the human world really means. But danger does not only lurk in the depths of the ocean, it can be found close to one on the human lands.
I must admit, I am always hesitant with starting fairytale retellings. Those are stories we love, we know from childhood and you don't want to read just a copy of something if you can actually pick up the original. Well, let me assure you. This book took the original concept of The Little Mermaid and brought a wholy new story to us. I loved the plot, actually. I always think it's easier to know what will happen, when it's a retell, but Chantal Gadoury definitely has a way of twisting plot lines, bringing new life to such an old, beloved story. And bringing so many new characters! This has been probably my favorite part of this book. The characters! Chantal Gadoury brought complex, wonderfully written characters to this story. There is Lena, the protagonist, who struggles with longing, loss and her past. Still, she fights. She keeps doing, keeps seeing the good in people, is being kind. Then there's Lena's merrow family - Javelin and Carrick, her brother and father. I loved the relationship of Javelin and Lena, and the dynamic of the family. They keep together, fight together for survival and still are filled with joy and kindness. Asger, one of the Merrow soldiers, brings the complex social structure into the story. In the sea, there are soldiers, too. Asger being one of them. (And I loved the nordic vibes I got from that part!!) As we follow the story, we meet Jace, his mother, his grandfather Edwin, Soren Emil, and more. And I'd very much like to shout which characters has stolen my heart, but I'd let you guess when you pick up this book. I loved that we got a variety of characters on Lena's journey on land. I wasn't expecting to meet a complicated life on land and the more I was pleased that it was filled with such a background story.
As much as I would love to keep rambling about the characters, I do very much like to explain my rating and list some of the minor issues I had. While I love fast-paced stories as much as slow-paced, I did had a feeling some scenes were too rushed where I wished to get more details out of it. Those moments luckily didn't happen a lot, the pace was fast and overall quite fitting to the story. What did confuse me a bit was how well Lena adjusted to the human world. Gadoury did try to state differences like humans do dress, are able of reading, and yes Jam exists. And I loved that, but sometimes I had a feeling Lena knew way too much for someone who was never allowed to reach the surface of the ocean. To begin with, how is she able to know what a wolf is? While I really loved how similiar the merrow society is compared to the human one, I felt those differences could've been depicted better. Those however, are things that still can be worked on on the next books. That's why I definitely see them as minor issues, and don't held it against the book. For the first in a series, it was a great start!
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much! I can recommend it to anyone who is a mermaid-loving-dreamer. And to anyone who needs to experience a world of new sorts - maybe one between the sea and stars! The question of belonging and believing will not let go of you easily!!! So put on your mermaid blankets, hide away from the heat, and jump into an adventure magicial, unique and still reminiscent with characters who will steal your heart and make you crave for more.
June 19, 2018
Another lovely and captivating fantasy from this talented writer, who has yet to disappoint me in any way with her fantastic storytelling. This is more than a fairy tale, more than a love story - it is about trust, self-confidence, and perseverance. Truly compelling.
May 25, 2018
This was amazing and I had so many feels. Let me gather myself and write a proper review for an AMAZING book!!
June 16, 2018
*I have been sent an eARC of this book by the publisher in exchange of an honest review *
I had already heard about this author but this is the first book I read by her and, I have to say, people were not exaggerating when they said she is such a good writer!
Between the Sea and Stars is the story of Lena, a merrow who is curious about the human world despite her people are forbidden to venture too close to the shore after their Queen was killed by her power-hungry human lover. But an unfortunate turn of events forces Lena to go on land and hide amongst the humans, keeping her nature a secret. But this will prove to be more difficult than she imagined.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Even though she is a fantastical creature, Lena's curiosity, kindness and lack of kick-butt abilities make her a very relatable character which is why I liked her starting from page one! What I especially loved was the creative way in which the merrow world was described. It was my first time reading a mermaid book and it felt so magical! I absolutely recommend this book to people who enjoy reading fantasy, who are looking for good mermaid stories and if you love The Little Mermaid, then it's definitely the perfect story for you!
I had already heard about this author but this is the first book I read by her and, I have to say, people were not exaggerating when they said she is such a good writer!
Between the Sea and Stars is the story of Lena, a merrow who is curious about the human world despite her people are forbidden to venture too close to the shore after their Queen was killed by her power-hungry human lover. But an unfortunate turn of events forces Lena to go on land and hide amongst the humans, keeping her nature a secret. But this will prove to be more difficult than she imagined.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Even though she is a fantastical creature, Lena's curiosity, kindness and lack of kick-butt abilities make her a very relatable character which is why I liked her starting from page one! What I especially loved was the creative way in which the merrow world was described. It was my first time reading a mermaid book and it felt so magical! I absolutely recommend this book to people who enjoy reading fantasy, who are looking for good mermaid stories and if you love The Little Mermaid, then it's definitely the perfect story for you!
May 27, 2018
This is a beautifully written, more adult version of The Little Mermaid that reads more like folklore than something based off of a Disney story. I could clearly envision every scene depicted and almost physically feel the tension during the story's most climatic moments. While there are moments that may feel similar to the well known story, Chantal has woven in her own creativity to make it new. The only downfall to this story will be the wait for the next book in the series.
May 14, 2018
Lena would sacrifice anything to see the human world, but after the Skagerrak Queen is betrayed by her human lover, merrow are forbidden to breach the water- all but the Fosse-Sǿfolk who lead sailors to a watery death. When tragedy forces Lena to the land as a human, she realizes that not all dreams are worth their sacrifice. The world of the merrow is well researched and blends the mermaid lore into a story that grips you and makes you wish you lived in under the sea in Sogen Hav where Lena, her brother Javelin and the merrow that would have her heart, Asger, live.
“We’re a sorrowful species, Lena,� Edwin sighed. “Worse still, when we let ourselves believe we are suffering alone.� He patted her arm. “Fortunately, he said, “We live beside the sea.�
Once on land Gadoury’s writing weaves into existence a village with such wonderfully descriptive prose that, similar to how I felt reading “The Night Circus,� I felt like I had been there before in another life. I could tell you how many of the cobblestones holding together The Lundby Wyatt Inn are covered in moss, and what the wood grove that leads to the beach smells like- and yet the world building didn’t overwhelm me or take me away from the story.
The characters in the story all have their own unique tone, and Lena’s character arc is well done and not too pushy. I would have loved additional female characters, as there are SO many male characters in the story but this book was about Lena and I feel like Gadoury has a lot of room to bring in other characters in the next book. In the end I love that Chantal writes female characters who are strong without being kick ass. It’s nice to have heroines who any of us could be- not assassins, or girl’s with superpowers, but just standing up for yourself and what you want in life.
“When a ship goes down, when you can feel the whole world sinking around you…all you can do is try to save yourself.�
From the cover to the last page “Between the Sea and Stars� offers both nostalgia and new adventure wrapped in whimsical story telling. It’s a story that brings to life the regret of getting what you want and realizing it’s not worth the sacrifice, bringing together the magic of our childhoods and the realization that growing up sometimes means accepting loss and becoming stronger for it. And sometimes- sometimes, there are people out there that will believe with you.
I highly recommend this story to those who love rich fairy tales and adventures like, Christo’s “To Kill a Kingdom,� Shannon Hales� “Goose Girl,� or Disney’s “Treasure Planet.�
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chantal Gadoury through Parliament House Press. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. More reviews like this one can be found on reviewbythepage.com
“We’re a sorrowful species, Lena,� Edwin sighed. “Worse still, when we let ourselves believe we are suffering alone.� He patted her arm. “Fortunately, he said, “We live beside the sea.�
Once on land Gadoury’s writing weaves into existence a village with such wonderfully descriptive prose that, similar to how I felt reading “The Night Circus,� I felt like I had been there before in another life. I could tell you how many of the cobblestones holding together The Lundby Wyatt Inn are covered in moss, and what the wood grove that leads to the beach smells like- and yet the world building didn’t overwhelm me or take me away from the story.
The characters in the story all have their own unique tone, and Lena’s character arc is well done and not too pushy. I would have loved additional female characters, as there are SO many male characters in the story but this book was about Lena and I feel like Gadoury has a lot of room to bring in other characters in the next book. In the end I love that Chantal writes female characters who are strong without being kick ass. It’s nice to have heroines who any of us could be- not assassins, or girl’s with superpowers, but just standing up for yourself and what you want in life.
“When a ship goes down, when you can feel the whole world sinking around you…all you can do is try to save yourself.�
From the cover to the last page “Between the Sea and Stars� offers both nostalgia and new adventure wrapped in whimsical story telling. It’s a story that brings to life the regret of getting what you want and realizing it’s not worth the sacrifice, bringing together the magic of our childhoods and the realization that growing up sometimes means accepting loss and becoming stronger for it. And sometimes- sometimes, there are people out there that will believe with you.
I highly recommend this story to those who love rich fairy tales and adventures like, Christo’s “To Kill a Kingdom,� Shannon Hales� “Goose Girl,� or Disney’s “Treasure Planet.�
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chantal Gadoury through Parliament House Press. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. More reviews like this one can be found on reviewbythepage.com
May 30, 2018
** Firstly, I received this book for free, provided by Parliament House Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. **
In summary, I really enjoyed to read this book which is the first installment of a series called the "Lena series", a title which definitely could be more outstanding. To be honest here, I was quite disappointed in the name Lena chosen for the main character while there were others, especially the mer people with so, to my mind, extraordinary names. Anyways, it's Lena.
Talking about the characters, they were the reasons which kept me kind of glued to the book. I think, the plot itself, though it started very captivating (maybe it was just my admiration for the mer world), after Lena had become a human, I felt calm down and instead of having much action, there's a real ton of feelings and developments among the humans in the center of the plot. Actually, I had hoped for more thrill. Luckily, I at least got it in the end when I literally raced through the pages! And then it was over! I was pretty shocked because this cannot just end in such a moment, when there are so many questions on my mind, and a few worries left behind!
The plot, well, I wouldn't say it's necessarily predictable, though being sort of a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Unfortunately, there was no single moment which caught me off guard or blew me away. No moment which made me grin or laugh, or that superior feeling when my favorite rocks the scene. It was a comfortable read, that's it. Some scenes, additionally, were a bit off. For example, how could lord Jarl simply sneak into Edwin's chamber in the middle of the night and why did no one hear Lena scream? Also, I found the change of Jace's behavior kind of odd, though lord Jarl could be the reason... Hm.
The protagonists were real gems to the story. Each of them was unique and I didn't dislike a single one of them. Even rhe bad guy. I hope in book 2, he'll turn out to not be simply evil because this would be a disappointment to me. My favorit character was Javelin. Seriously, I fell for him on first and actually, his fate touched me the most, in comparison to all other happenings. Between Jace and Soren, I can't really choose. I'm actually most worried about Jace because it is not like him not to keep in touch with his family...
But I can tell, needing to know what becomes of them, is why I will definitely read book 2 when it's available.
In summary, I really enjoyed to read this book which is the first installment of a series called the "Lena series", a title which definitely could be more outstanding. To be honest here, I was quite disappointed in the name Lena chosen for the main character while there were others, especially the mer people with so, to my mind, extraordinary names. Anyways, it's Lena.
Talking about the characters, they were the reasons which kept me kind of glued to the book. I think, the plot itself, though it started very captivating (maybe it was just my admiration for the mer world), after Lena had become a human, I felt calm down and instead of having much action, there's a real ton of feelings and developments among the humans in the center of the plot. Actually, I had hoped for more thrill. Luckily, I at least got it in the end when I literally raced through the pages! And then it was over! I was pretty shocked because this cannot just end in such a moment, when there are so many questions on my mind, and a few worries left behind!
The plot, well, I wouldn't say it's necessarily predictable, though being sort of a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Unfortunately, there was no single moment which caught me off guard or blew me away. No moment which made me grin or laugh, or that superior feeling when my favorite rocks the scene. It was a comfortable read, that's it. Some scenes, additionally, were a bit off. For example, how could lord Jarl simply sneak into Edwin's chamber in the middle of the night and why did no one hear Lena scream? Also, I found the change of Jace's behavior kind of odd, though lord Jarl could be the reason... Hm.
The protagonists were real gems to the story. Each of them was unique and I didn't dislike a single one of them. Even rhe bad guy. I hope in book 2, he'll turn out to not be simply evil because this would be a disappointment to me. My favorit character was Javelin. Seriously, I fell for him on first and actually, his fate touched me the most, in comparison to all other happenings. Between Jace and Soren, I can't really choose. I'm actually most worried about Jace because it is not like him not to keep in touch with his family...
But I can tell, needing to know what becomes of them, is why I will definitely read book 2 when it's available.
June 13, 2018
Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Between the Sea and Stars is based on a Little Mermaid retelling, with Lena as our main character. Lena is a Merrow (mermaid) who dreams of taking a glimpse of the human world. She gets her chance when her brother joins a clan of mermen, called Fosse-Søfolk, who lure shipwrecked humans to their death. At her insistence, he takes her to the surface, but an unexpected turn of events forces Lena to leave the sea and enter the human world. Once ashore, Lena must try and navigate the strange land (literally, with her new legs) and human customs. Taken in by an inkeeper’s son, she soon meets his grandfather and friend, Soren � two people who believe the legend of the Merrow’s may not be the myth everyone else assumes it to be.
All of the characters in this book made me feel something strongly about them, which I find so important in a book. Even if the characters make me want to strangle them, that keeps me engaged in the story!
If I could have reached through the book and punched the innkeeper’s son, Jace, right in the nose, I would have. He was immature, pompous and chauvinistic. Lord Jarl, the evil landlord, made my skin crawl and I could almost feel the tiredness coming through the page from the innkeeper herself, Mrs Wyatt.
Lena’s brother, Javelin, Soren Emil and grandfather Edwin were by far my favourite characters in the book. They were such three dimensional and complex characters and Lena’s different relationship with each of them was special. I really enjoyed them all and am particularly looking forward to seeing more of Soren in the next book.
I understand Lena’s submissiveness went towards showing her naivety, under the sea and about the human world, but I would have liked to see her with a bit more sass. I mean, she was constantly made to feel uncomfortable by many of the men in the story and she just stood back and let it happen. I am hoping in the next book she can start to stand up for herself a whole lot more.
Speaking of the second book, you know those books where you read the last page, turn for the next page and there just isn’t one? When you flick back and forwards saying “Wait, What? Its ending there?!� this book was one of those books! Not at all in a ‘left me disappointed� way, but in an ‘I need the next book now!� way.
~
Between the Sea and Stars is based on a Little Mermaid retelling, with Lena as our main character. Lena is a Merrow (mermaid) who dreams of taking a glimpse of the human world. She gets her chance when her brother joins a clan of mermen, called Fosse-Søfolk, who lure shipwrecked humans to their death. At her insistence, he takes her to the surface, but an unexpected turn of events forces Lena to leave the sea and enter the human world. Once ashore, Lena must try and navigate the strange land (literally, with her new legs) and human customs. Taken in by an inkeeper’s son, she soon meets his grandfather and friend, Soren � two people who believe the legend of the Merrow’s may not be the myth everyone else assumes it to be.
All of the characters in this book made me feel something strongly about them, which I find so important in a book. Even if the characters make me want to strangle them, that keeps me engaged in the story!
If I could have reached through the book and punched the innkeeper’s son, Jace, right in the nose, I would have. He was immature, pompous and chauvinistic. Lord Jarl, the evil landlord, made my skin crawl and I could almost feel the tiredness coming through the page from the innkeeper herself, Mrs Wyatt.
Lena’s brother, Javelin, Soren Emil and grandfather Edwin were by far my favourite characters in the book. They were such three dimensional and complex characters and Lena’s different relationship with each of them was special. I really enjoyed them all and am particularly looking forward to seeing more of Soren in the next book.
I understand Lena’s submissiveness went towards showing her naivety, under the sea and about the human world, but I would have liked to see her with a bit more sass. I mean, she was constantly made to feel uncomfortable by many of the men in the story and she just stood back and let it happen. I am hoping in the next book she can start to stand up for herself a whole lot more.
Speaking of the second book, you know those books where you read the last page, turn for the next page and there just isn’t one? When you flick back and forwards saying “Wait, What? Its ending there?!� this book was one of those books! Not at all in a ‘left me disappointed� way, but in an ‘I need the next book now!� way.
~
August 3, 2018
This book was SO good!
I have to say, there are so many aspects to this book that made it super incredible and fun to read. I personally loved all the details that went into it, and how unique and different it was to read. I truly felt like I'd been sucked into a completely new world, and the story hooked me from the first page.
What I Liked:
1) How there was so much culture in the underwater world, including the rules and socialism there that affected morals and choices, even with Lena's own thought process.
2) How there is a nice balance between happy and sad moments.
3) How everything connected in the end--it was interesting to see things unfold and uncover secrets about certain characters.
4) How the first guy Lena runs into as a human ISN'T her default love interest. I love how she found that perfect boi halfway through the book. They are MEANT TO BE!
What I Disliked:
1) I'm pretty sad that certain characters died (I won't say which ones). It doesn't detract from the book but I'm still upset about it, I got really attached to them.
2) I also dislike that book two isn't out like, right now. Because I need it.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to settle in for an engaging, compelling, yet easy and fun read.
I have to say, there are so many aspects to this book that made it super incredible and fun to read. I personally loved all the details that went into it, and how unique and different it was to read. I truly felt like I'd been sucked into a completely new world, and the story hooked me from the first page.
What I Liked:
1) How there was so much culture in the underwater world, including the rules and socialism there that affected morals and choices, even with Lena's own thought process.
2) How there is a nice balance between happy and sad moments.
3) How everything connected in the end--it was interesting to see things unfold and uncover secrets about certain characters.
4) How the first guy Lena runs into as a human ISN'T her default love interest. I love how she found that perfect boi halfway through the book. They are MEANT TO BE!
What I Disliked:
1) I'm pretty sad that certain characters died (I won't say which ones). It doesn't detract from the book but I'm still upset about it, I got really attached to them.
2) I also dislike that book two isn't out like, right now. Because I need it.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to settle in for an engaging, compelling, yet easy and fun read.
July 26, 2018
I recieved this book from Parliament House Press in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know what to expect going into this story, but I was absolutely blown away from the beginning! I fell in love with The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen when I was a small child and nothing has changed since then. That's why I tend to red a lot ofretellings and have high expectations. But Between the Sea and Stars has easily met those - I really loved the story and can't wait for it to continue!
However there were a few thisngs I disliked: for one, every boy who sees our protagonist twists their head andalmost falls in love ith her immediately, which really annoyed me. Also the fact that nobody wondered why she was so weird was kind of irritating.
But other than that, I really have nothing negative to say! If you're interested in sea stories, mermaids and original retellings, this is definitely a book for you!
---
Vůbec mě nebavily popisy a fakt, že za hlavní hrdinkou se otáčí každý kluk, kterého potká. Ale jinak mě to vtáhlo, prostředí jako vystřižené z Malé mořské víly jsem si zamilovala a vážně ráda si přečtu další díly.
4/5*
//
I didn't know what to expect going into this story, but I was absolutely blown away from the beginning! I fell in love with The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen when I was a small child and nothing has changed since then. That's why I tend to red a lot ofretellings and have high expectations. But Between the Sea and Stars has easily met those - I really loved the story and can't wait for it to continue!
However there were a few thisngs I disliked: for one, every boy who sees our protagonist twists their head andalmost falls in love ith her immediately, which really annoyed me. Also the fact that nobody wondered why she was so weird was kind of irritating.
But other than that, I really have nothing negative to say! If you're interested in sea stories, mermaids and original retellings, this is definitely a book for you!
---
Vůbec mě nebavily popisy a fakt, že za hlavní hrdinkou se otáčí každý kluk, kterého potká. Ale jinak mě to vtáhlo, prostředí jako vystřižené z Malé mořské víly jsem si zamilovala a vážně ráda si přečtu další díly.
4/5*
//
June 13, 2021
2021 reread:
i've been meaning to reread this forever (seriously, i first read it in 2018?! that's an eternity ago), and i think it'll be easier to revisit it now that i'm the proud owner of a physical copy, haha. my memory is useless so i knew i'd need to reread this before book two (yes, i'm reading that immediately) and UGH it hurt just as much, even knowing what was coming. i'm not going to reread my og review yet... but i love lena so much. this is a retelling on the surface, but it's so so much more. i really noticed the contrast of lena and jace both wanting to sort of make their own way in the world, and going about it in such entirely different ways. i think this was my first by this author, but i've since come to appreciate how different her mcs are, yet they're all strong women trying to navigate the world. lena is so sweet and easy to root for, even though she seems like a bit of a pushover. she has a beautiful moment toward the end where she realizes the difference between belonging to someone and people belonging to each other. and soren...i need more love interests written like him. he is unapologetically himself, but in such a gentle and unassuming sort of way. they develop this sweet friendship in which he just shows her who he is, and if she likes him, that's great. any way he can support and uplift her, he does it. and she does the same for him. i think that's why i really enjoy gadoury's books even though i'm not really a fan of romance in general. she writes characters who often find each other when they're at their worst or lowest, and they just support the hell out of each other. and really, i like seeing that dynamic in any relationship, on page or in real life. i just...UGH. *clutches book fiercely* i really love this book. and i have a lot of trouble articulating why, but please read it. or i can just reread it for you? i like painful books, apparently. that make me smile. and now i want to go to the beach lol
did i only give this 4 stars?! not sure what's wrong with me. i'm going 4.5, but like 10 stars in my heart.
totally unrelated, but i named my car leena (yes, two e s) for the character leena from warehouse 13. i know they're spelled differently, but i DID also think of this lena when i named her. she's gray, but she's really sweet too. and i have a bag of shells in leena the car. this is irrelevant. please read this book lol
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
original review from 2018:
oh my goodness, I adored this book!!
this was my first ever e-arc - I saw a GR friend's review and marked it as to-read, and the author messaged me 😱 asking if I'd be interested in an e-arc and HELL YES I WAS. I was then slightly terrified because I'm an honest rater and Gadoury was so nice and what if I didn't like it?! I'm rambling. but anyway, it was awesome!!
I should definitely mention that this book comes out June 19th and is super affordable to preorder (I'm just saying). thank god it's a series because that ending was cruel, lol.
this is a little mermaid retelling, but it's written in a way that makes the story feel like it's more inspired by tlm than a straight up retelling. I thought I knew where it was going... but I didn't?! and I love that. I *love* being surprised by twists and not knowing who to trust.
also, I'm SO here for all of the ocean metaphors. delightful, haha. I'll take ten.
Lena is such a lovable character! her devotion to her family is so sweet, and I loved seeing her interact with Edwin later on. I've read way too many books lately with irritating female protagonists, and Lena was such a delight. she's flawed and definitely excuses people's bad behavior too much, but I think it's just because she's optimistic and wants to see the best in everyone. I'm a little worried for her because I've read the original fairytale of the little mermaid, and I know how it ends and ugh. I wouldn't dislike that sort of ending at all though. I love when books make me *feel* you know?!
I need the next book. right now. ugh.
this was a really short read, but I've had lots of bad headaches lately (thank you spring -____-) so I read it a bit slower than I normally would. I found myself thinking about these characters when I wasn't reading, wondering what would happen to them!
a few more random thoughts:
� this is a Danish inspired/set retelling, which I don't think I've ever read?! Danish words are used and mostly explained, or it's easy to tell what they mean in context. you know, if you're not crazy like me with Google translate open at all times, lol.
� there's a character named Jace (eye roll) but he's pretty interesting. even if I hated Jace of tmi so much that it's ruined the name for me... don't be put off by the name like I was at first. it's not so bad, haha.
� there is a bookstore!! and a general love of books. and tea. I'm here for it.
� although this is a bit of a quick/easy read, I don't think it's quite a "light" read. it deals with some heavy topics, and characters die! which I love. because I'm morbid and ridiculous and YES make me feel something.
� hooray for no awkward sex!!!! sjm has scarred me forever. my virgin eyes don't want to read any more smut masquerading as fantasy.
� I was worried at first when we were noticing male merrows' strong shoulders and all that...but they're bare chested. so. how could you not notice?! I forgive it.
� THIRD PERSON PAST. BLESS. I want to quit books written in first present ugh.
� the merrow are kind of like sirens, luring humans to watery graves. I like it.
� Lena snuggling her tail when her brother tells her stories is the sweetest, most pure thing ever <3
I think that's all I have to say in this poorly written/all over the place review. so fun! kind of dark. interesting characters, a world I want to revisit, and a Gemina-esque cliffhanger. and a gorgeous cover, if I'm being really shallow : )
i've been meaning to reread this forever (seriously, i first read it in 2018?! that's an eternity ago), and i think it'll be easier to revisit it now that i'm the proud owner of a physical copy, haha. my memory is useless so i knew i'd need to reread this before book two (yes, i'm reading that immediately) and UGH it hurt just as much, even knowing what was coming. i'm not going to reread my og review yet... but i love lena so much. this is a retelling on the surface, but it's so so much more. i really noticed the contrast of lena and jace both wanting to sort of make their own way in the world, and going about it in such entirely different ways. i think this was my first by this author, but i've since come to appreciate how different her mcs are, yet they're all strong women trying to navigate the world. lena is so sweet and easy to root for, even though she seems like a bit of a pushover. she has a beautiful moment toward the end where she realizes the difference between belonging to someone and people belonging to each other. and soren...i need more love interests written like him. he is unapologetically himself, but in such a gentle and unassuming sort of way. they develop this sweet friendship in which he just shows her who he is, and if she likes him, that's great. any way he can support and uplift her, he does it. and she does the same for him. i think that's why i really enjoy gadoury's books even though i'm not really a fan of romance in general. she writes characters who often find each other when they're at their worst or lowest, and they just support the hell out of each other. and really, i like seeing that dynamic in any relationship, on page or in real life. i just...UGH. *clutches book fiercely* i really love this book. and i have a lot of trouble articulating why, but please read it. or i can just reread it for you? i like painful books, apparently. that make me smile. and now i want to go to the beach lol
did i only give this 4 stars?! not sure what's wrong with me. i'm going 4.5, but like 10 stars in my heart.
totally unrelated, but i named my car leena (yes, two e s) for the character leena from warehouse 13. i know they're spelled differently, but i DID also think of this lena when i named her. she's gray, but she's really sweet too. and i have a bag of shells in leena the car. this is irrelevant. please read this book lol
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
original review from 2018:
oh my goodness, I adored this book!!
this was my first ever e-arc - I saw a GR friend's review and marked it as to-read, and the author messaged me 😱 asking if I'd be interested in an e-arc and HELL YES I WAS. I was then slightly terrified because I'm an honest rater and Gadoury was so nice and what if I didn't like it?! I'm rambling. but anyway, it was awesome!!
I should definitely mention that this book comes out June 19th and is super affordable to preorder (I'm just saying). thank god it's a series because that ending was cruel, lol.
this is a little mermaid retelling, but it's written in a way that makes the story feel like it's more inspired by tlm than a straight up retelling. I thought I knew where it was going... but I didn't?! and I love that. I *love* being surprised by twists and not knowing who to trust.
also, I'm SO here for all of the ocean metaphors. delightful, haha. I'll take ten.
Lena is such a lovable character! her devotion to her family is so sweet, and I loved seeing her interact with Edwin later on. I've read way too many books lately with irritating female protagonists, and Lena was such a delight. she's flawed and definitely excuses people's bad behavior too much, but I think it's just because she's optimistic and wants to see the best in everyone. I'm a little worried for her because I've read the original fairytale of the little mermaid, and I know how it ends and ugh. I wouldn't dislike that sort of ending at all though. I love when books make me *feel* you know?!
I need the next book. right now. ugh.
this was a really short read, but I've had lots of bad headaches lately (thank you spring -____-) so I read it a bit slower than I normally would. I found myself thinking about these characters when I wasn't reading, wondering what would happen to them!
a few more random thoughts:
� this is a Danish inspired/set retelling, which I don't think I've ever read?! Danish words are used and mostly explained, or it's easy to tell what they mean in context. you know, if you're not crazy like me with Google translate open at all times, lol.
� there's a character named Jace (eye roll) but he's pretty interesting. even if I hated Jace of tmi so much that it's ruined the name for me... don't be put off by the name like I was at first. it's not so bad, haha.
� there is a bookstore!! and a general love of books. and tea. I'm here for it.
� although this is a bit of a quick/easy read, I don't think it's quite a "light" read. it deals with some heavy topics, and characters die! which I love. because I'm morbid and ridiculous and YES make me feel something.
� hooray for no awkward sex!!!! sjm has scarred me forever. my virgin eyes don't want to read any more smut masquerading as fantasy.
� I was worried at first when we were noticing male merrows' strong shoulders and all that...but they're bare chested. so. how could you not notice?! I forgive it.
� THIRD PERSON PAST. BLESS. I want to quit books written in first present ugh.
� the merrow are kind of like sirens, luring humans to watery graves. I like it.
� Lena snuggling her tail when her brother tells her stories is the sweetest, most pure thing ever <3
I think that's all I have to say in this poorly written/all over the place review. so fun! kind of dark. interesting characters, a world I want to revisit, and a Gemina-esque cliffhanger. and a gorgeous cover, if I'm being really shallow : )
May 15, 2018
Wow this was my very first mermaid adventure. I can honestly say I loved it. I could not put my down. I will honestly say I am usually not into YA genre, but Chantal has made me realize what I have been missing. If you are looking for a good mermaid adventure, look no further. I honestly could not put this book down. This book is way up there on my top reads of 2018. I am looking forward to reading more from Chantal, they are waiting on my kindle for when I get a chance. This story is so relatable! I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a good mermaid adventure. This is a must read.....
July 27, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. Though I do feel it was a great set up for the next book, it was fun to read. It kept me wanting to see what was going to happen next. I love the Little Mermaid retelling from the original Danish texts, not the Disney version. I also enjoyed the twists that Chantal Gadoury took to make it her own as well as to encase more story line.
Although I thought Asger sounds more attractive than Soren, from the moment Soren came into the book I felt he was a good guy. Which to do that with writing is amazing to me. The writing made me cry and grin and feel giddily excited throughout the whole book. I am so thankful to Parliament for letting me review this book.
I love love love this cover and I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens!
Although I thought Asger sounds more attractive than Soren, from the moment Soren came into the book I felt he was a good guy. Which to do that with writing is amazing to me. The writing made me cry and grin and feel giddily excited throughout the whole book. I am so thankful to Parliament for letting me review this book.
I love love love this cover and I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens!
November 16, 2018
I was sent a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn’t know much about it other than it was about mermaids and although it is about mermaids, it’s also a whole lot more.
I think it was written well, it kept me interested and I was invested in the main character, which is obviously what you want when reading a book!
I love the fact that it is essentially a retelling of The Little Mermaid and although it’s a completely new version of it, it still feels familiar in the way of the Disney version too.
If you enjoy stories about mermaids or fairytale retellings then I think you need to check this one out!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn’t know much about it other than it was about mermaids and although it is about mermaids, it’s also a whole lot more.
I think it was written well, it kept me interested and I was invested in the main character, which is obviously what you want when reading a book!
I love the fact that it is essentially a retelling of The Little Mermaid and although it’s a completely new version of it, it still feels familiar in the way of the Disney version too.
If you enjoy stories about mermaids or fairytale retellings then I think you need to check this one out!
June 29, 2020
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*
This felt like a variation of the original Little Mermaid.
There were simple side characters, the typical bad guy who convinced a weak boy to become his servant by offering riches and debt payments, events somehow forced to make everything fit, men who thought they could own a woman just by giving her pleasure or because they had power over her and a stubborn MC who always realised she had done wrong when it was too late.
I enjoyed the story, but the narrator sounded quite robotic on the actual narrated parts. She was however brilliant when making each character on their dialogues.
This felt like a variation of the original Little Mermaid.
There were simple side characters, the typical bad guy who convinced a weak boy to become his servant by offering riches and debt payments, events somehow forced to make everything fit, men who thought they could own a woman just by giving her pleasure or because they had power over her and a stubborn MC who always realised she had done wrong when it was too late.
I enjoyed the story, but the narrator sounded quite robotic on the actual narrated parts. She was however brilliant when making each character on their dialogues.
May 7, 2018
This book, this story, is the greatest thing I've read in a long time. the world is so beautifully crafted, I could see it clearly in my mind. beautiful wording, amazing plotline, wonderfully believable characters. if you are hesitant about reading a mermaid fantasy, afraid it might be run of the mill or something too close to the little mermaid, you will love this book. theres a fresh aspect to everything in the story and it's just so beautiful.
I could not put my phone down while reading it, but I did only because I didnt want the story to end. I wanted to savor every chapter and honestly I cannot wait for the second book (or a third, if it happens).
I wish I could post a collection of .gifs to express my complete obsession with this. but since I cant, I'll take a quote from Lady Gaga: "talented. brilliant. incredible. amazing. showstopping. spectacular." take that .gif and also add in Aziz Ansari making his iconic excited face from Parks and Rec.
please, for the love of literature, read this book.
I could not put my phone down while reading it, but I did only because I didnt want the story to end. I wanted to savor every chapter and honestly I cannot wait for the second book (or a third, if it happens).
I wish I could post a collection of .gifs to express my complete obsession with this. but since I cant, I'll take a quote from Lady Gaga: "talented. brilliant. incredible. amazing. showstopping. spectacular." take that .gif and also add in Aziz Ansari making his iconic excited face from Parks and Rec.
please, for the love of literature, read this book.
January 3, 2019
To be 100% honest, I didn't expect to really loveeee this book..but I was wrong. It was featured as a The Little Mermaid retelling so I knew I would be interested but I didn't realize how invested I would become with this book! There were solid plot points that connected a few different smaller stories, from the personal story of Lena to the legends of the merrows and more. I fell in love with so many of the characters and their personalities. Many had glaring flaws, which made them even more relatable and interesting to read about. My only "problem" is that I didn't realize I was at the end when I was so now I have to wait for the second book to find out what happens! 😫
*This story was provided to us by The Parliament Press for an honest/unbiased review.
*This story was provided to us by The Parliament Press for an honest/unbiased review.
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