Reviews

Kiviuq and the Mermaids by Noel McDermott, Toma Feizo Gas

earth_and_silver's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

4.0

A fun, flavorful monster legend with delicious painterly illustrations. 

amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

3.75

The only thing that would have made this more excellent is if the ending wasn’t so rushed, but I loved the horrific mermaids!

elizabethlk's review against another edition

4.0

I have been reading through as many Inhabit Media books as I can manage to grab from the local library, as I have enjoyed the ones I initially read so much, and this is yet another. I have read other stories of Kiviuq, one of the most significant figures in traditional Inuit stories, so I had an idea of what to expect here, and I was definitely not let down.

Noel McDermott's telling of this story is lively and entertaining, as he delves into one of Kiviuq's adventures. I have read very little of mermaids in Inuit stories, other than enough to know that they exist, their tales are like seals, and they can sometimes be helpful and sometimes deadly. In this story, the mermaids chase after Kiviuq with deadly intent, with the writing accompanied by Toma Feizo Gas's creepy illustrations. This is a wonderful adventure story, with a bit of a creepy twist.

I definitely recommend this for anyone looking to read a traditional Inuit story, or anyone looking for a creepy mermaid tale. Recommended for all ages based upon whether or not a creepy mermaid image is going to spook you too much.

reader_rachael's review against another edition

3.0

An Inuit folktale revolving around the winter survival of Kiviuq, an Inuit legend, and his encounters with mermaids. These mermaids are not the disney-version, though! Fishy and dangerous, these mermaids are doing their best to try and throw Kiviuq overboard. A short story that intrigues the imagination, it makes the reader want to read more about Inuit folktales and livelihood.

canada_matt's review against another edition

4.0

In this Inuit tale, the reader learns all about Kiviuq, who was out chasing a seal one day. While the seal was able to elude capture, Kiviuq ended up lost in the middle of the sea. Luckily, he noticed a beautiful mermaid, hoping that she would be able to guide him back to safety. However, her long teeth and black fingernails soon began piercing the skin of his boat and Kiviuq panicked as he sought shore and away from the chaos. While he did drift away and slept, Kiviuq soon found himself in the presence of many more mermaids out to ensure he tripped and drowned. Barely able to beat them back with his paddle, Kiviuq is able to make it back home and to a safe place. However, the open waters would forever haunt him.

elizabethlk's review

4.0

I have been reading through as many Inhabit Media books as I can manage to grab from the local library, as I have enjoyed the ones I initially read so much, and this is yet another. I have read other stories of Kiviuq, one of the most significant figures in traditional Inuit stories, so I had an idea of what to expect here, and I was definitely not let down.

Noel McDermott's telling of this story is lively and entertaining, as he delves into one of Kiviuq's adventures. I have read very little of mermaids in Inuit stories, other than enough to know that they exist, their tales are like seals, and they can sometimes be helpful and sometimes deadly. In this story, the mermaids chase after Kiviuq with deadly intent, with the writing accompanied by Toma Feizo Gas's creepy illustrations. This is a wonderful adventure story, with a bit of a creepy twist.

I definitely recommend this for anyone looking to read a traditional Inuit story, or anyone looking for a creepy mermaid tale. Recommended for all ages based upon whether or not a creepy mermaid image is going to spook you too much.