D.G. Valdron

A great combination of fantasy and detective: An Arukh, a creature without a soul, is hired to find the person who killed a mermaid. In her search for the killer she soon finds the mermaid wasn't the only victim. She becomes more and more involved in her search, meeting various people from different races, and finding more wisdom and feeling than was thought possible for an Arukh.

I very much enjoyed the story; it is at first a bit complex with the many different races living in the fantasy show more world, but it also makes for a very rich and intriguing universe. The detective part of the story is a real page turner and keeps you guessing and eager to find out who the killer is. It is, however, not merely a detective story. Added to the story is a broader, political dimension of the different races that are all warring with each other and distrustful of an Arukh who is trying to find a murderer, making the case much more complicated. The Arukh has to go through a lot of trouble to talk to the right people, and to get people to listen.
Apart from that, the story has a great psychological character development: though Arukh are supposed to be soulless killers, over time the Arukh finds she really cares for the mermaid and wants justice to be done. She doesn't always comprehend her own feelings, but over the course of the novel she goes through an amazing development, making friendships and coming to understand more about emotions and connections to others.
The novel succeeds in giving you something to think about, on a more philosophical level: who do we consider to be part of 'our group' - and what does it mean to be an outcast? How can you say that it is ok to murder outside your own group, and expect never to get hurt yourself? And maybe we shouldn't let stereotypes and rumors determine our reactions to others, but take the time to get to know the 'Arukh's in our society...

A lovely read, definitely a novel I would recommend to anybody who loves fantasy, but even for none-fantasy-lovers there is plenty to like in this story. show less

This was an unexpectedly engaging and thought-provoking book. Like some of the other reviewers, I had trouble getting into it at first - the opening few scenes contain a fair amount of gore and war and fighting etc., plus the somewhat clumsy introduction of a dizzying number of different races (goblins, trolls, etc.) which at first were hard to keep track of. But as the narrative continues, it slowly begins to define these groups and shows the complicated interrelationships between them.

The show more protagonist, who doesn't have a name, tells us repeatedly in the early scenes that her species, the Arukh, are brutish and stupid and don't care about anything and have no morals, etc. -- yet throughout the course of the book we see otherwise. And we see her in fact slowly realizing that she has allowed other people's preconceptions of her race to color her own sense of self. I found that aspect of the story really fascinating and well-done.

The main story, of course, is of the protagonist's attempts to figure out who murdered a mermaid; and once she identifies the killer, the rest of the story is about her attempts to get justice. It's an interesting story because although the protagonist has been hired to investigate this case for money, it's clear that she also has a personal interest in it, the more so as she discovers how many other people - mostly women - have been violated and killed by the same individual.

The resolution was just a little too "pat" for my taste, but I did like that it isn't a simplistic "and then everyone was nice to each other forever" type of ending. And it certainly gave me a lot to think about. show less

Okay, first of all who the heck is D.G. Valdron?!

About the Author
Den Valdron, is a reclusive writer, originally from New Brunswick, currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over the years, he has published in print and online a variety of short stories of speculative fiction, and articles on obscure pop culture topics. Like many writers, his previous occupations have included mechanic, carpenter, schoolteacher, journalist and ditch-digger. He is currently an aboriginal rights lawyer. He loves show more B-movies and tries to be nice to people. The Mermaid’s Tale is his first published novel.

I know we usually see the “About the Author” bit at the end of a book and/or review but I wanted to put it first in my review today. Why? Because I want to hear more from this author soon!

D.G. Valdron’s The Mermaid’s Tale feels like a new and fresh experience in the fantasy genre. It features all the species that fantasy lovers are used to and some we don’t get to see often; vampires, orcs, giants, trolls, hobgoblins, goblins, dwarves, selkies, mermaids… But these species are not cut from the same cloth we are used to and this time we are reading it from the POV of a female “arukh.” How frickin’ fantastic is that?!

What is an “arukh” you ask? Well, it’s another word for orc, defined here as a mixed breed, a cross between a vampire and a goblin, and these arukh do not have names. Arukh is what they are! The different species fall into levels in society and the arukh are at the bottom of the totem pole, known as soulless abominations. The arukh life is one of brutality, often at its own hands. They are a very violent species, full of anger and hatred at all things, which can come in very useful. The dominant species see them as tools for the dirty work. After all, they aren’t afraid of anything, they are mad, bad and dangerous to be around.

The female arukh in question has been summoned to the waterside where the mermaids reside. One of the mermaids has been butchered in a brutal fashion and this particular arukh is known for her smarts in these matters. As the arukh works to unravel this murder mystery, we follow along with her and learn more about this crazy world of hers.

Make no mistake; The Mermaid’s Tale does contain violence and graphic sexual situations. This is a dark world, one of danger on all sides, teetering on the brink of a war between the species. It’s also balanced with some hilarious banter with mermaids regarding sex and general playfulness. The arukh’s interactions are captivating and her journey of self-discovery makes this one of the best books I’ve read this year. So yes, I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!

I want to thank the publisher (Five Rivers Publishing) for providing me with the ARC through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program for an honest review. show less

I was given this book for free through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.

I'll admit that this book is quite far out of my comfort zone. It is a genre that I rarely read and within the first few pages, assumed that I would not be able to enjoy. But I was so wrong. This story is raw and painful and in many places quite ugly. There is war and murder and rage. But the story starts to weave so intricately that it draws you in and makes you feel invested in it.

The main show more character is from a race that is completely discounted by all others, not even allowed to be an afterthought...not even given the recognition of being alive though they live and breathe and die like the rest. But she is hired to do a job - investigate the murder of a mermaid - and as she works to fulfill her obligation she starts to become self aware. And this in a world where no one will give her any credit for even having a life of any value, much less credit for self awareness. So we have two plots progressing in a parallel manner - a murder investigation and our main character starting to realize that she does hold value in the world and why should she accept that she does not, simply because that is the consensus of others? In the end, even those who see her as vile see that they have some lessons to learn about the others they share their world with and their views on those different from them.

I'll also say that it was quite refreshing to see a story this brutal have a female for the lead character. She certainly doesn't use her feminine wiles to get ahead - as she has none. But she is strong and confident and is able to survive using her ever growing wit and intelligence to get her through.

A very good read - 5 stars. show less