An Ode to Women Who Fight Fate

 Review by Ronica Wahi


A Tale of Mermaids

By Ann Parker

Published: July 26, 2022, The Book Guild.

Pages: 170.

ASIN: B0B7S1GK7J

Set in the late 17th century, with sea life forming a sizeable chunk of the narrative, A Tale of Mermaids takes the reader into a world that existed long ago. While fraught with tussles, revenge, sadness, and loss, this is yet a world that fascinates, for it tells of a reality that presently survives in only history books and historical fiction.

This tale is not of the mermaids of folklore who have mesmerized writers, artists, and others, but of – if the word mermaid is to be considered in its literal meaning – two young women who spend an invaluable part of their lives on the sea, on a pirate ship aptly named Mermaid.

Ann Parker creates two entirely different backgrounds for her two protagonists, and creates two equally interesting plots separately before chance brings the protagonists together. These early portions of the novel, in which the separate lives of the two are described, are the best written bits.

Alix is from a wealthy family in France and is engaged to a titled man. Alone, she is sent to live with the family of her fiancé, a family that welcomes her, though the coldness of the castle and the secrets she feels she is kept away from put her a little on edge, before she realises the horror of what life has dealt her. Vivien is from a poor family from Delaware and she has built a life of her own, a life much different from the one offered to young women of her times, before she knows that everything will tragically collapse for her.

It is thrilling to see how these two young women of all those centuries ago refuse to take what is served to them and instead take charge of turning their destinies around. Both encounter sharp turns in their individual journeys before their paths cross and then merge. While the “major” twist in the tale was guessable – owing to the mere fact that the two plots converge plus there were some slight hints dropped, there were certain twists that were quite unexpected.

Besides the thrill that the adventures and the misadventures of the protagonists provide, the book boasts of interesting angles and sub-plots. Besides being a tale of two women from distinct lands who transform into mermaids, this is a tale of love, yearning, and loss. This is also a tale of how the sense of entitlement of the powerful and the elite can destroy the lives of those whom they do not value, a tale of how the once-vulnerable and powerless people can bring about the downfall of the powerful when driven by the need for vengeance.

The choice of the time period is wonderful – the plot with the castles and the pirate ships, the women who carved their own ways at a point in history wherein many women did not venture to do so, and the interest quotient of another kind of existence. However, Parker could have added some more details about attire, food, code of conduct, and such other things of that era to bring that world more alive and to make the narrative even better.

Overall, A Tale of Mermaids is beautiful, exciting, and inspiring. It keeps the reader eager throughout to learn what is to come next.

To know how Alix and Vivien fight their fate and taste victory, grab a copy from Amazon today!

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3IqVhTu

Paperback, Import: https://amzn.to/3V1pq3B

 

DISCLAIMER: Ronica Wahi is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. If you make a purchase through any of the Amazon links provided by Ronica here, she may receive a small commission, without any extra cost to you.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fifteen Stars Under the Sky!

Image
Review by Ronica Wahi We are the Champions By Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak First published: February 14, 2020, Bushfire. Pages: 206.  ISBN: 9788193182130 “It takes a child to raise a village.” This statement on the back cover is enough for the reader to know that encountered will be extraordinary tales. Yes, extraordinary indeed, for isn’t a child someone who needs to be raised? What the reader knows from the cover is proved as he/she moves through the pages of this interesting and inspiring chronicle of the achievements of fifteen children from across India whom the authors Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak rightly hail as the Champions of Change .  The book is inspiring because it shows how determination and the will to accomplish something can be truly rewarding. Raising a voice against established practices is hard enough and these children have not only raised their voices but also fought to bring real change, change that is not limited
Read more

Thorns and Roses

Image
  Review by Ronica Wahi   Melita By Gill D. Anderson First published: July 16, 2020, InHouse Publishing. Kindle Edition Pages: 165.  ASIN: B08D66WSBF While there is a plethora of written work being produced on the corona pandemic and the imagined post-COVID world, Gill D. Anderson has come up with a novel where this unprecedented challenge faced by the human race plays the role of a catalyst in resolving strained relationships by drilling home the uncertainty of life and the necessity of holding close the ones who matter the most. Melita is the story of Melita and her daughter, Emily, and as the dedication says, is written “For mothers and daughters everywhere.”. Melita and Emily have not shared a close bond and the ties have been weakened over the years, with the relationship having reached “an impossible stalemate” by February 2020. With the mounting fear and restrictions on movement, regrets over what was not done to bolster their relationship seep in. In playing an esse
Read more

An Engrossing Thriller!

Image
  Review by Ronica Wahi Shamus Dust: Hard Winter. Cold War. Cool Murder. By Janet Roger First published: October 28, 2019, Matador. Kindle Edition Pages: 295.  ASIN: B07VV4SLHP Set in London and spanning a few days during which 1947 drew to a close and 1948 just began, Shamus Dust , Janet Roger’s debut novel, is a memorable recreation of a suffering, post-war city. In the novel, the city of London is in the grips of a harsh winter, both literal and metaphorical. The war had destroyed a substantial part of the city, adversely impacted the economy, and led to shortages; such circumstances, in general, eventually lead to increased disparities and increased crimes. Additionally, this London is struggling to maintain the remnants of the crumbling Empire. The choice of such a time of turmoil, along with the dreariness and gloom of a biting winter, heightens the dark elements and deeds – for it is crime fiction – in the plot. Moreover, the fact that Roger has chosen Christmas and
Read more