A Tail Could Tell a Tale Locklyn Adair has never fit in. The legs she inherited as a result of her great-great-grandmother’s curse make it impossible for her to belong under the sea. When her niece is also born without a tail, Locklyn is determined to save her from similar rejection by sending her to the only place in the Undersea Realm where legs are acceptable – the Lost Island of Atlantis. Darin Aalto would do anything to protect his family, even spearheading an impossible quest to find treasure that has been lost for over a hundred years. But when his best friend, Locklyn, joins his crew, his ability to keep her safe—and his shot at winning her heart—comes perilously close to being swept away. A family curse, lost treasure, unrequited love, and a race against time intertwine as Locklyn and Darin seek to save their family, their kingdom, and eventually the entire Undersea Realm without losing each other. |
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Finally a mermaid story that doesn't star the Little Mermaid... Nope, our aquatic heroine has her own story to tell and it's a real doozy! To be honest, I was surprised when I found out that The Mermaid's Tale with it's vividness and complexity is more than just the start of Chronicles Of The Undersea Realm, it is also L.E. Richmond's debut novel. Color me impressed!
Right from the start I loved the way author L.E. Richmond cleverly blended locations in the real world - like the Mediterranean and the North Sea – with her imaginative and colorful Undersea Realm. The mix of the familiar and the magical almost makes you wonder if there is more to the ocean depths than we know... It also makes for some delightful and sometimes intense reading as the fate of the underwater realm falls onto the shoulders of one young mermaid without a tail.
The Mermaid's Tale is a fun adventure filled YA read with many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it all figured out – I didn't. As much as I love guessing things correctly I also love to simply be surprised by a story now and then. This first Chronicles Of The Undersea Realm book certainly delivered in that department.
There was only one single thing that I didn't like about The Mermaid's Tale...How could by L.E. Richmond leave me hanging like that?! How?! I already wanted to read the next Chronicles Of The Undersea Realm novel but now I am utterly desperate....
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Mermaid's Tale by L.E. Richmond a 4.5 Bark rating.
More from L.E.
The catalyst for this choice came from a novel published in England in 1815.
Darin Aalto, famous treasure hunting Merman from the Mediterranean, was inspired by none other than Mr. Knightley from Shropshire. He, like Jane Austen’s hero, is kind, experienced, confident, and attentive to the needs of others. On the other hand, my heroine, Locklyn Adair, is not much like Emma Wodehouse, struggling with a lack of confidence rather than the overabundance which plagues the young mistress of Hartfield.
Even though Locklyn differs greatly from Emma in temperament, she shares one marked similarity with her – a deep devotion to her sister’s children. In fact, it is to save her niece from the rejection which legs bring to Mermaids that leads Locklyn to encourage Darin to claim a disputed treasure which in turn leads to hostility from the warrior queen of a neighboring kingdom which leads to a duel to the death which leads to . . . You’ll have to read the book to find out.
L.E. Richmond was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest by an American composition teacher and a German bookseller. Her childhood consisted in a large part of imagining stories for her Playmobil characters and checking out as many books from the library as her family could fit on six library cards. Now she spends her time chasing two blonde baby boys, reading aloud to the hazel-eyed young man who has her heart, and attempting to transfer the stories in her head into words for others. Her passion is for words and stories that thrill the soul and she is continually amazed by the One who crafted the most epic story of all time. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
a hardcover copy of The Mermaid’s Tale and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
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