Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon

 Title: Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale

Author: Carolyn Turgeon

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

Rating: 3 Stars

Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning, as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart... -Goodreads

This book feels very much like the original Little Mermaid by Hans Christan Andersen but it gives a more in depth look at the characters and fleshes out the story. Of course, the story does take on a life of it's own separate from the original but, like I said, it feels the same.

The relationship between Margrethe and Lenia was beautiful. They are both royalty, one a princess of land the other of sea. They are in the same situation yet they would trade places with each other in an instant. Unfortunately fate is not so kind, they must play the hand they are dealt. Lenia longs to be with the prince that she loves and will sacrifice everything to be with him. Margrethe is in awe of Lenia, meeting her was her chance to experience magic and she loves the the world the Mermaid princess comes from. Reality is never as sweet as fantasy, Lenia must go through much pain (physical and emotional) to reach her dream and even then a happily ever after is not guaranteed. Margrethe, unable to reach the sea, focuses making peace between two countries. I can't say I liked the prince but he served a purpose in the story, providing tension and many other high emotions for the main characters.

This was a good retelling of The Little Mermaid and I did enjoy it, although I cannot remember even one cheerful part in the book. The story pulled me into both the world, on land and also the one below the sea. Overall it was a good book.