IN SHORT: This young adult book mixes historical fiction and fantasy in the vein of a Fairy Tale. It’s a fast, simple read.

REVIEW

Sixteen-year-old Clara lives a simple, happy life with her Sister, Maren, and her guardian, Auntie, in the cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions, and by night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants — Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.

Then comes the day when the tale of their arrivals becomes more than another fairy tale. Shimmering scales appear just beneath Maren’s skin. She’s slowly becoming a mermaid, and if she isn’t returned to the sea she will die.

Clara, O’Neill and her mermaid-sister set out for the shore, but when the trio becomes ensnared by a dangerous troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the weakening Maren before it’s too late.

All the while, in the back of Clara’s mind, she wonders… If her sister is a mermaid, what is she?

The Mermaid’s Sister is a straightforward, simple fantasy story. In places, the writing is beautiful and perfectly fitting for a fairy tale. Other places are a little more awkward to read. Its writing style alone makes it impossible to know if it’s meant to be a children’s book with mature themes or adult fiction that doesn’t take itself seriously. 

This story is clearly a fantasy mixed with the whimsy of a fairy tale, as well as elements of early 20th-century rural America. Llanfair Mountain sounds like no place I’ve ever been, but evidently it’s located in Pennsylvania. Some, like me, might find these details confusing, while others might find it charming.

Overall, The Mermaid’s Sister is a fast, easy historical fiction fantasy read and the perfect story to binge if you’re looking for something short with the light overall tone of a child’s tale.

RATING

Rated: Mild. There is no language. Violence includes a horse being run to his death and shot. An abusive man uses threats of poison to enslave others. A girl is lusted for by a man and nearly forced into his bed. A woman is shot, a man dies from a heart attack, and another man is eaten by a dragon. A topless mermaid is ogled by two men.

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