Overview
Set in the waning days of the Dutch Golden Age, this enchanting, lush reimagining of The Little Mermaid is perfect for fans of Jesse Burton’s The Miniaturist and Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar.
The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.
When her attempts at overseeing the household at the family’s estate lead to her chance encounter with a young man with russet hair and sparkling eyes the color of the sea, she finds herself strangely drawn to him. As Clara grows closer to Maurits, she must choose between the steady, gentle life she has been raised for and the man who makes her blood sing.
But Maurits isn’t who he seems to be, and his secrets, once hidden beneath the waves, threaten to rise up and drown them both. And when an ancient bargain, forged in blood between the mythical people of the sea and the rulers of the land, begins to unravel, Clara finds herself at the heart of a deadly struggle for power.
Review
I love Hester Fox’s books. This one was not what I expected. I am more of a witch and ghost reader. So reading about merpeople was definitely a change from the norm. But…I enjoyed this tale.
The Dutch Republic, 1650. One fine spring day in Friesland, twenty-year-old Clara van Wieren is faced with an ill omen: a whale, beached and rotting in the noonday sun. But Clara doesn’t believe in magic and superstition, and this portent is quickly dismissed when a proposal from a wealthy merchant arrives, promising Clara the freedom she seeks from her mother’s overbearing rule.
I loved the setting….1650 Dutch republic! This added so much to this novel. It really helped make the merpeople and their world fit. Like I said, this is not my genre but this story is masterfully written with love, family drama, magic and history all rolled into one. And goodness, the mystical creatures add so much to the story with their creativity!
The narrator, Lauren Ezzo, nailed all these voices. And let me tell you, there are quite a few, especially with the mystical creatures. Did I say she nailed it…she nailed it!
Need a story that has a little bit of everything…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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