The Mermaid's Madness

3.25 stars

Danielle (Cinderella), Talia (Sleeping Beauty) and Snow (White) are tossed into a new adventure when the undine and their leader Lirea (The Little Mermaid) want to wage war. With Lirea's sister (Lannadae)'s help, they find the girls' grandmother, Morveren, who they are hoping will be able to help. Beatrice, the queen, has taken ill and Morveren has an object that might help Beatrice recover.

It's been a few years since I read the first book in the series, but I don't think I liked this one as much. I'm odd with fantasy – I like some (more likely YA or urban, and usually fairy tales or retellings), but usually not the real “traditional” fantasy. This felt a little more like the traditional fantasy that I'm not as crazy about, mixed with adventure. I quite enjoyed some parts of this, but then lost a bit of interest in other parts. I will still probably try the third book in the series, at least, before giving up on it. ( )

Cracking good fun, lady heroes. I don't regret that I stopped reading SF/F in the late Nineties, but I wouldn't have stopped if there had been a lot more like this. ( )

I'm always surprised when reading a book by this author. I go in expecting a quick light read, but he does unexpected things with the story or the plot, making the reading experience much richer. This is the Little Mermaid myth like you've never seen it before! ( )

Unfortunately, Jim Hines is like Holly Lisle - he writes very well, and beautifully evokes some very unpleasant and ambiguously motivated characters. Is Danielle the _only_ princess that doesn't have a rape-and-revenge story? Obvious villains aren't, obvious allies aren't (or are only as long as it suits their plans), emotional manipulation all over the place (the mermaids in various directions, Talia of Snow, Danielle of Talia and Snow, Danielle of her husband...sheesh). It's a well-written story, with vivid characters, an interesting setting and a complex plot - and as of right now I'm utterly uninterested in reading it again. I'll try Red Hood's Revenge and see if things improve, but I'm afraid Jim Hines may not be for me (I've stumbled similarly trying to read his goblin series). ( )

I really like the darker version of the fairy tales. I know I've already said that before, but really, this gives you the feeling that something like this could have happened in some alternate reality. How many times have you heard that everything worked out for a person, no sweat, but when you talk to them you find out...well, yeah it worked out but there was a ton of sweat involved in it. Or no, not really, it looked like it'd be fine and everyone pretty much lost touch and then...ugh. Well, there have been those that complained that there was little depth of character. I don't think that's true. I think that you have to have some very basic knowledge of the fairy tale, but I don't think there's anyone who hasn't heard the story of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White or Cinderella (at least in the US). Maybe you don't know it by heart, but there's enough background provided that if you remember key details like:Little MermaidFalls in love with shipwrecked humanWishes for legs to be with her loverDrama ensues due to evil spellCinderellaMother diesFather remarriesEvil step sisters and motherFather diesCinderella becomes servant to step sisters and motherCinderella has animal friends who help her with her workGoes to Ball due to Fairy Godmother's giftsGets prince after putting on glass slipper.Those who are two of the basic profiles that Hines manipulates to make these interesting, fun and exciting books. Now I'm not hiding the review because I don't think there are any spoilers. It's a pretty vague review I know, but I don't want to give any spoilers. ( )