My Fair Mermaid

Tales of Eukarya

By: Sarah Beran

Narrated by: Emily Shaver

The Little Mermaid meets Pygmalion…

Maribel has learned to stay quiet. As an orphan relying on the generosity of family, and with six outspoken and energetic cousins, silencing her own voice is often the easiest way to keep the peace and ensure her own acceptance.

After helping her cousin rescue Prince Frederick from a shipwreck, Maribel finds herself as the unwitting accomplice in her cousin’s plot to marry the human prince. The plan is simple: Maribel will distract Frederick’s grumpy best friend, Professor Hadrian Higsley, so that the scheming mermaid can cozy up to the prince.

Between a friendly wager over slippers, her growing attraction to a certain translator, the appearance of a foreign fiancée, and an increasingly desperate cousin, Maribel finds it harder and harder to remain a silent observer. Will she finally find the courage to speak? Or will the little mermaid choose once again to give up her voice?

©2023 Sarah Beran (P)2024 Sarah Beran

Sweet Story

I loved the connections to My Fair Lady and The Little Mermaid. I thought it was clever and sweet. It was a very enjoyable story to listen too.

A fun story

[4.5 stars]
I really enjoyed this fairy tale retelling, a blending of The Little Mermaid and My Fair Lady. The story is light, fun, and entertaining. Of course, it doesn’t have great depth or complexity, but that’s also not what I’m looking for when I pick up a fairy tale.

I will warn that the FMC is treated very poorly throughout most of the book. Her cousins are terrible, and Naia is downright evil. Even the MMC regularly treats her in a rude and insensitive way. Actually, the MMC is the reason I docked the half-star from my rating, as I found him to be an unfulfilling character. His behavior is “explained” through his backstory and, yes, he does apologize to her whenever he is especially unkind… But I don’t think that makes for a healthy relationship, especially since he continues to treat her that way over and over, even to the end of the book. I would have liked to have seen more character growth from him, and a little more warmth and consideration towards the FMC.

That said, Maribel is great and I liked watching her grow into her own. I especially appreciated her relationship with Freddy (FINALLY someone who shows kindness and values her). I liked the My Fair Lady aspect to it, and found the writing thoroughly engaging.

I’ll definitely be continuing with the series.

Content:
There is no foul language, sex, or violence. The romance is limited to a chaste kiss. There is magic. Despite mentions of The Almighty, I wouldn’t say there is a real message of faith or God.

Sweet story! Great narration!

Loved the interplay of the origin stories, and the author does a really nice job infusing the story with her own creativity. The characters were relatable and felt connected.

The narrator was wonderfully listenable and she really shines in her dialogue, where the characters were all skillfully distinguishable with subtle differences.

I will keep an eye (an ear?) out for more from this writer/narrator duo!! Definitely recommend.