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The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
Mallory Ortberg | 2018 | Gender Studies, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
5.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
So this JUST came out. I'd had my eye on it for a few months, and put a request in as soon as my library ordered it. The author recently came out as trans, so it's also part of my effort to read more inclusively. Ortberg definitely played with gender and sexuality in several of these tales; in one of them people decided whether to be the husband or the wife, independent of their gender, in their marriage. (One party to the marriage in the story stated "I've been trained for both roles.") In another all of a man's daughters used male pronouns and that was never explored further. That was slightly odd.

These were dark, twisted versions of these stories. "Our Friend Mr. Toad," for example, involved gaslighting and psychologically torturing poor Mr. Toad. I found that one particularly disturbing. I enjoyed the title story, Ortberg's version of Beauty and the Beast, which has a very different ending from expected. I also really liked "The Daughter Cells", inspired by The Little Mermaid. I LOVED "Fear Not: An Incident Log."

I think this was a great, albeit strange, little book. It's unique, for sure, and a quick read. If you're looking for a fairy tale collection that is VERY different, try this one.

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
Beautiful To Me (End of Ever After #3)
Beautiful To Me (End of Ever After #3)
E.L. Tenenbaum | 2019 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Beautiful To Me (End of Ever After #3) by E.L. Tenenbaum
Beautiful to Me is the third book in the End of Ever After series, although they can be read in any order. For me, this was the saddest book so far, although once again, excellently written. You find out about the Little Mermaid, through the eyes of one of them. That's right, there were two, but you really need to read this for yourself to get any more information!

I loved how E.L. Tenenbaum was able to change this story into something more enriched with emotion, simpler and yet more complex. The descriptions of both land and sea are breathtaking, and will fill you with longing.

Excellently written, with a smooth and flowing pace, this book held my attention from beginning to the end. I went through every emotion as I read it, and yet I was still surprised at how the story unfolded. I loved/hated the ending, simply because I can't imagine going through what 'she' goes through.

Absolutely stunning, and highly recommended by me. I now want to return and read the other two again. Simply superb.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Secrets Submerged (Isla Emerged #1.5)
Secrets Submerged (Isla Emerged #1.5)
Deidre Sequeira | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
67 of 250
Kindle
Secrets Submerged ( Isla Emerged book 1.5)
By Deidre Sequeira

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Pain. Deception. Family.

Eleven months ago, Isla became the matriarch of her merfolk kingdom. Unfortunately, transitioning from being an exiled princess to being a queen is tougher than she anticipated. Isla is haunted by the trauma her mistakes have left behind, the sacrifice her father made, and the glimpse Anita gave her at a secret that had been buried for nearly thirty years.

Only Anita and the secret she holds close to her heart can give Isla any measure of closure and make the road ahead clearer for Isla to grow as Queen. But, much like the young mermaid, Anita is wracked by guilt because of her past complacency, the lies she believed, and the damage that was done.

Do they dare risk their friendship—and Isla’s fragile sanity—by exposing a truth that could change everything?

This novella bridges the gap between the series' first book, Isla Emerged, and the full length sequel.


This is the perfect refresher and set up for the next book of the series. After reading book 1 I knew it was going to be good and I’m glad I wasn’t disappointed. The author has given you a refresher, some history and made you excited for the next one.
  
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Merissa (11765 KP) rated The Little Morgen (Fairytales of the Myth #2) in Books

Jan 27, 2021 (Updated Aug 7, 2023)  
The Little Morgen (Fairytales of the Myth #2)
The Little Morgen (Fairytales of the Myth #2)
Miranda Grant | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE LITTLE MORGEN is the second novella in the Fairytales of the Myth series, and in case you've not realised, this time it is the Little Mermaid that gets the dark retelling.

This one I didn't enjoy quite as much, and let me tell you why. There is just too much that goes on for the number of pages you get! This made the story feel a bit disjointed to me, the pace is slightly too quick. There were so many characters and I didn't really get a feel for any of them, including Thalliya and Ragnar. There was no time to build a connection between them, or for a relationship to develop. I also found the epilogue slightly confusing as I've only just read Burn Baby Burn and the names given for Bjerner's parents jolted me.

What I did enjoy was the amount of world-building Miranda Grant puts into every story. The details were amazing. One of my favourite parts was when Ragnar bit into an orange!

So, not one of my favourites, but still a great story if you like dark and twisted retellings.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 27, 2021
  
Sirens Desire ( Dark Tides book 3)
Sirens Desire ( Dark Tides book 3)
Devyn Quinn | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
2 of 230
Kindle
Sirens Desire ( Dark k Tides book 3)
By Devyn Quinn

After defeating the covert agency that threatened to destroy her and her sisters, Addison Lonike grudgingly resumes her life as an EMT in Maine. She would love nothing more than to take on the dangerous Mer queen, Magaera, who is hell-bent on destroying them. But with two baby nieces on the way, she can't take the risk - that is, until Mason McKenzie arrives.

Captain of the naval task force on the hunt for Queen Magaera in the Mediterranean, Mason sees the perfect recruit in Addison. But while at sea, the pair is pulled under a wave of passion that threatens their independent natures - and their mission. An encounter with a new race of male sea-shifters further complicates Addison's desires. Now, she must choose between a life of the sea or fulfilling the deepest longings of her heart..


This is the last book in The Dark Tides series and it was overall a good book it didn’t quite blow me away but it concluded the series nicely. The series on a whole was really good following 3 sister who have to deal with people learning their secrets, they go through love loss and betrayal. It’s definitely worth it if you like mermaid centered romance.