THE MERMAID - By Christina Henry (2018)

"Why would you come here if you could swim in the sea and be free?" Charity asked.
"I fell in love, " Amelia said...
..."Yes, it traps you," Charity said. " It puts you in a cage that you can't escape."

This book was such a magical and delightful reading experience! I was beyond surprised since most books I have read revolving around or with mermaids come out pretty flat. (The last decent book was Caroline Turgeon's 'Mermaid' which she basically took the original story of Hans Christian Andersen 'The Little Mermaid' and twisted it.)
The beginning does feel slightly pushed, giving you a quick, yet insightful background of our Mermaid...however, when you get over that hump, the story flows enchantingly with engaging characters. I love most, that Christina Henry gave our Mermaid Amelia, some real depth and compassionate intelligence. Here is a supernatural being in our world and the way Henry wrote it added a taste of realism. THIS could be a thing. A real Mermaid roaming among us.

Another great talent that Henry shows is her strong ability to write from numerous perspectives in the book. You effortlessly get a great sense of everyone's views and character traits, that moves the story along like a gentle rocking on the waves. You will lose time being immersed in this fantasy story that takes place in a foregone reality.

This book would be great in a TV mini-series and an excellent addition for a Book Club. With great questions included in the back of the book, it will get many in depth conversations starting.
One question that stood out was asking which character you connected with the most and why. I found that one an interesting one, since most likely everyone will say the Mermaid. It's her adventure we are on, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I mean, I know I DID. Its her heartache that you feel for, her need to see the world, and then resent it. Her falling in love...again. And more. I know I have my personal reasons where I deeply resonated with Amelia the Mermaid. I would be really interested in if other readers would connect to the other characters and why.


"The ocean was a violent place, yes, but it was violence without malice. When a shark ate a sea lion, it did not hate the sea lion. It only wanted to live. 
    The human world was not so marvelous as it had seemed from the water. And her reasons for staying in New York, for going on tour, for being a part of Barnum's performance machine, now seemed both shallow and foolish. Money? She's wanted money to travel and see all the wonders of man? What was there to see besides the misery people inflicted on one another?"