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railway1721's review against another edition
I really enjoyed this book. At first it took a bit to get used to the switching of perspectives but I found as that went on I wanted more of it. I feel like the stories end with a satisfying closure that isn't exactly a "happy ever after" and I like that. Sure the good guys win, but there are a lot of trade offs in that win. I can't wait to read the next.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
3.0
I was really looking forward to this one, and not just because it dovetails with my own mermaid story. The mermaid fiction that isn't a rehash of "The Little Mermaid" is few and far between, unless ups the mush or turns mermaids into monsters. Before I start let me just say I love me some Jim C. Hines. He's a cool guy and the writer I can most relate to in this world. I like his work.
But the story left me dissatisfied, maybe because my hopes were too high. It's an action-oriented plot, meaning characterization and plot get pushed to the background. There's lots of pirate ship fights, tense trespassings into enemy territory, and hand-to-hand/magic-to-magic combat. That means there's no neat revelations or "oh crap" moments that provoke an emotional reaction and make the plot page-turning like "The Hunger Games" did. It's a straight shot through -- no literary techniques like chekhov's guns or red herrings or allegories.
The characters are great, but I wished they had been explored more. And I felt he was padding near the end (maybe because I know he was padding near the end because he wrote it on his blog). Maybe it's just me, but I wanted to see more of the mermaid world. He had a great antagonist--Ariel made into a serial killer--and it looked like he was going to do a good job with her, but then she was reduced to a mewling, muttering straitjacket-wearer huddled up in a tower. Her potential as an enemy ended up largely ignored, and heroes are only as good as their enemies. 3.5 stars.
But the story left me dissatisfied, maybe because my hopes were too high. It's an action-oriented plot, meaning characterization and plot get pushed to the background. There's lots of pirate ship fights, tense trespassings into enemy territory, and hand-to-hand/magic-to-magic combat. That means there's no neat revelations or "oh crap" moments that provoke an emotional reaction and make the plot page-turning like "The Hunger Games" did. It's a straight shot through -- no literary techniques like chekhov's guns or red herrings or allegories.
The characters are great, but I wished they had been explored more. And I felt he was padding near the end (maybe because I know he was padding near the end because he wrote it on his blog). Maybe it's just me, but I wanted to see more of the mermaid world. He had a great antagonist--Ariel made into a serial killer--and it looked like he was going to do a good job with her, but then she was reduced to a mewling, muttering straitjacket-wearer huddled up in a tower. Her potential as an enemy ended up largely ignored, and heroes are only as good as their enemies. 3.5 stars.
tani's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first book in the series, but it was still a fun read. Hines plays a lot with interpretation - the story from one person's perspective is very different from someone else's perspective, and our own perspective changes continually as the story progresses. I'd say that the first half of the book was kind of slow, but the second half was action-packed and fast-paced, and I pretty much read that in one sitting.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
This series is fun, first we have fairytales, second kick-ass heroines. What's not to like.
Cinderella, Snow and Sleeping Beauty (they do have other names but whatever) have to solve one big problem here. A mad mermaid. And since this follows the real fairytales, and not those nice silly Disney ones, then yeah the mermaid's prince was a d#ck. Just like Talia's prince was a d#ck. But Cinderella/Danielle's prince is a keeper.
So we have a mad mermaid and her followers attacking and sinking ships. There will be adventures on the sea, princesses to save and mysteries to solve.
There is humor, friendship and adventures. A nice light fantasy series
Cinderella, Snow and Sleeping Beauty (they do have other names but whatever) have to solve one big problem here. A mad mermaid. And since this follows the real fairytales, and not those nice silly Disney ones, then yeah the mermaid's prince was a d#ck. Just like Talia's prince was a d#ck. But Cinderella/Danielle's prince is a keeper.
So we have a mad mermaid and her followers attacking and sinking ships. There will be adventures on the sea, princesses to save and mysteries to solve.
There is humor, friendship and adventures. A nice light fantasy series
lammerman's review against another edition
4.0
http://lhubert3.blogspot.com/2010/01/mermaids-madness.html
butterfly2507's review
4.0
Meine Review:
http://butterflyyintheskyy.blogspot.com/2013/06/die-fiese-meerjungfrau-jim-c-hines.html
http://butterflyyintheskyy.blogspot.com/2013/06/die-fiese-meerjungfrau-jim-c-hines.html
unicorn23's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book better than the first one because we had quite a few Talia/Snow moments. Now that Snow knows about Talia's feelings for her, I'm looking forward to how she addresses this in the next book. Can't help but ship them and I ship them hard.
The whole Lirea story and how her grandmother fucked up her life was crazy. That's definitely not the story of the Little Mermaid that we are familiar with.
The whole Lirea story and how her grandmother fucked up her life was crazy. That's definitely not the story of the Little Mermaid that we are familiar with.
anzuk's review against another edition
4.0
Swimming through the ocean was like flying through another world.
Long story short
On her latest sea expedition, Queen Beatrice is accidentally stabbed by Lirea, a mermaid that can shift into human form. The dagger Lirea was wielding is an enchanted one, and it absorbs Beatrice’s spirit. Danielle, Talia and Snow have to catch the culprit and save the queen’s life.
My thoughts
I absolutely love pirate tales. And mermaids. And underwater adventures (thank you SpongeBob). And the three princesses. And kelpies.
I do not like spawning though. It’s too fishy for my taste.
Fishy. Get it?
The Mermaid's Madness was an incredibly fun read. Hines’ retelling of The Little Mermaid is extremely interesting and, as usual, way better than the original. The characters were very detailed and varied. I really liked Lirea, her madness was extremely well portrayed. I more than once felt bad for the poor thing. Another character that I liked was Hephyra. She made one hell of a captain. I hope we’ll meet her again soon. I kind of doubt it, but here’s hoping. /end of positive things
And now the negative ones. I was expecting to give The Mermaid's Madness five stars. That’s how much faith I have in Jim C. Hines. I am very sad to say that this is a mere 3.5 star book. Why? Because it went terribly slow at times. Some events were unnecessary, some decisions stupid, some characters a pain in the ass (yes, I’m talking about Snow). All of this made me want to put the book aside for a while and start something else. Something better. This is never a good sign. The good news is that after 50 to 60 percent I didn’t feel like this anymore.
So there you have it folks. Book two of the Princess series, The Mermaid's Madness makes up for its slow parts with a fun adventure, great characters and unique realms. I really enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait to get my claws on the next installment, Red Hood's Revenge. Lady of the Red Hood assassin? Count me in!
Favorite quote
“The first time somebody strikes you, you’re shocked. You lack the reflexes to block or dodge the blows or to roll with the ones you can’t. The earlier you can learn those skills, the easier it is to deal with the next fight.”
3.5 stars
Review also posted on
mbrown13669's review against another edition
4.0
I really like the darker version of the fairy tales. I know I've already said that before, but really, this gives you the feeling that something like this could have happened in some alternate reality. How many times have you heard that everything worked out for a person, no sweat, but when you talk to them you find out...well, yeah it worked out but there was a ton of sweat involved in it. Or no, not really, it looked like it'd be fine and everyone pretty much lost touch and then...ugh.
Well, there have been those that complained that there was little depth of character. I don't think that's true. I think that you have to have some very basic knowledge of the fairy tale, but I don't think there's anyone who hasn't heard the story of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White or Cinderella (at least in the US). Maybe you don't know it by heart, but there's enough background provided that if you remember key details like:
Little Mermaid
Falls in love with shipwrecked human
Wishes for legs to be with her lover
Drama ensues due to evil spell
Cinderella
Mother dies
Father remarries
Evil step sisters and mother
Father dies
Cinderella becomes servant to step sisters and mother
Cinderella has animal friends who help her with her work
Goes to Ball due to Fairy Godmother's gifts
Gets prince after putting on glass slipper.
Those who are two of the basic profiles that Hines manipulates to make these interesting, fun and exciting books. Now I'm not hiding the review because I don't think there are any spoilers. It's a pretty vague review I know, but I don't want to give any spoilers.
Well, there have been those that complained that there was little depth of character. I don't think that's true. I think that you have to have some very basic knowledge of the fairy tale, but I don't think there's anyone who hasn't heard the story of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White or Cinderella (at least in the US). Maybe you don't know it by heart, but there's enough background provided that if you remember key details like:
Little Mermaid
Falls in love with shipwrecked human
Wishes for legs to be with her lover
Drama ensues due to evil spell
Cinderella
Mother dies
Father remarries
Evil step sisters and mother
Father dies
Cinderella becomes servant to step sisters and mother
Cinderella has animal friends who help her with her work
Goes to Ball due to Fairy Godmother's gifts
Gets prince after putting on glass slipper.
Those who are two of the basic profiles that Hines manipulates to make these interesting, fun and exciting books. Now I'm not hiding the review because I don't think there are any spoilers. It's a pretty vague review I know, but I don't want to give any spoilers.