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leelulah's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent language and story. Mantains the original story of mermaids and at the same time, makes it fresh. Free TOR story
lamusadelils's review against another edition
4.0
La historia de alguien que dejó pasar la oportunidad de lo fantástico
directorpurry's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
lightreading's review
3.0
"When you give your heart to the ocean, you either drown, or spend your life wishing you had drowned.”
Describing this short story in 3 points because I'm tired: the prose is beautiful; the regret is poetic; the main character is relatable but somehow less likeable for it.
Describing this short story in 3 points because I'm tired: the prose is beautiful; the regret is poetic; the main character is relatable but somehow less likeable for it.
lsmith36's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t really find myself connecting to the message or the characters here. While I thought it was beautifully told, I couldn’t find myself really caring.
alchemistra's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
A parable about men and their inconstancy. Short and somewhat bittersweet.
A parable about men and their inconstancy. Short and somewhat bittersweet.
shenereads's review against another edition
4.0
“When you give your heart to the ocean, you either drown, or spend your life wishing you had drowned.”
paperbackstash's review against another edition
4.0
Choose wisely when your time comes. Live—or die—without regret.
Mermaids are amazing, and it's hard to get enough of their legends. At least I haven't had my personal fill of them yet, they seem hard for me to find other than mere glimpses in stories. This is a short story - again, only a mere glimpse of a mermaid tale. The writing is haunting and lovely, the main character a weak man who lives to regret not taking a chance. The writer's pause between reflective thought and her subtlely in dialogue that says it all is skillful.
The mermaid is easy to fall in love with - subtle and sweet but clever. I do think the old hag's story would prove true and to love her is to meet your death, as so many other mermaid legends go, but that brings together the haunting charm of the mermaid tales and voyages in the epic, vast sea.
It's haunting, it's whimsical, it's mind-bending - perfect reading. The tone is almost gothic and works well to give me reading willies.
At the end of the story there are some questions I wondered though.
Why was it dangerous to say her name? Because it would bring the hag?
Was the hag who she would become one day, as a result of age?
Read the story here - Men who wish to drown
Mermaids are amazing, and it's hard to get enough of their legends. At least I haven't had my personal fill of them yet, they seem hard for me to find other than mere glimpses in stories. This is a short story - again, only a mere glimpse of a mermaid tale. The writing is haunting and lovely, the main character a weak man who lives to regret not taking a chance. The writer's pause between reflective thought and her subtlely in dialogue that says it all is skillful.
The mermaid is easy to fall in love with - subtle and sweet but clever. I do think the old hag's story would prove true and to love her is to meet your death, as so many other mermaid legends go, but that brings together the haunting charm of the mermaid tales and voyages in the epic, vast sea.
It's haunting, it's whimsical, it's mind-bending - perfect reading. The tone is almost gothic and works well to give me reading willies.
At the end of the story there are some questions I wondered though.
Spoiler
Why was it dangerous to say her name? Because it would bring the hag?
Was the hag who she would become one day, as a result of age?
Read the story here - Men who wish to drown