*REVIEW* Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning, as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart...

A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. It will make you think twice about the fairy tale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page.

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  This is probably one of my twists on a fairy tale retelling.  The story was told from 2 points of view. Lenia the beautiful mermaid princess and Margrethe, the princess of the north.  Both believe that they have fallen in love and are willing to sacrifice everything to get the prince to love them back.  Ultimately you know one will end up broken hearted and as I read dread filled me that either one of these girls would loose everything.  It was a beautiful retelling in all of its dark and sad ways.

  Lenia has always dreamed of life above.  It was all she could do to wait until her 18th birthday to visit above.  On that day her entire life changes.  She sees death and how fragile human life really is and meets the man that changes it all.  Instead of shying away she only becomes more determined to be a part of the world above.  Her love grows and determination to be above and with him seems worth every sacrifice that she will have to make.  I love her for this, for every bit of her beauty she has ten times the strength.  What she chooses and the consequences that she must deal with are amazing and horrifying all at once.

  Margrethe is the princess of the north.  She is well loved by her father and has lived a very sheltered and protected life.  When a hansom stranger is left for her to save she finds herself with a lot more than she bargained for.   What I loved about Margrethe was the same thing that drove me nuts.  She is so darn stubborn.  When she decides she must be with the Prince and he WILL love her that is how it is.  When she finds that the Prince loves another she decides that she still must be with him love or not. 

  There really wasn't much of the prince in this story rather than the girls talking about him.  He is the heir to the throne in the south and some what of a charmer.  Upon him first meeting Lenia and the bit of interaction they had to start I grew irritated at him.  However given the type of time period that this is written in I get it.  He is true to royal behaviour and to a point I respect that.  He wants to follow his heart but does his needs out weigh that of his kingdom.  When faced with that choice it's not like he takes the decision lightly.  It's hard to like him but his role in the book in undeniable. 

  In the end my heart broke with the girls.  I mean tears in my eyes wish I could run and  stop it all from happening.  This is a heartbreaking and at the same time beautiful tale of two girls that just want to follow their hearts.  Carolyn Turgeon's writing was smooth and mesmerizing right from the start and I couldn't help but feel the start of heartbreak then.  There are so many ways I wish this book had ended and many more that I wanted it to end.  However when it came down to it, it ended in heartbreak and tears the way it should have.  This book is proof that happily ever after is not always easy and just because you risk it all doesn't mean you get what you want.