When I was a little girl one of my favorite Disney cartoons was The Little Mermaid. I mean, the animation, the songs, the characters – what more could you need, right? So you can imagine my excitement when I found out Disney was releasing a live action version of the movie on Friday, May 26, 2023. My inner nine year old self was ecstatic and it got me thinking – how can we prepare ourselves to see the new movie? Well, we can rewatch the cartoon or we can dive into (no pun intended) some Little Mermaid-inspired books. And that is how this post came to be.
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In today’s post I’m going to share some of my favorite Little Mermaid retellings that are perfect to read and add to your TBR – just in time for the new movie. So let’s jump in . . .
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Prince of Song & Sea by Linsey Miller
The first book on this list offers a different take on The Little Mermaid story – Prince Eric’s point of view. In this retelling Prince Eric has been cursed: if he kisses anyone who is not his true love he will die. Anxious to find a cure to the curse, Eric desperately searches for answers by sailing to the Isle of Serein – the home of the legendary sea witch. But after he’s rescued by a beautiful girl with bright red hair and an enchanting singing voice, Eric begins to realize that maybe love has nothing to do with magic but everything to do with choice.
The Siren by Kiera Cass
This book follows a siren named Kahlen who is bound to the Ocean to lure humans to a watery grave with her voice. She knows her place. But everything changes when she meets Akinli, a handsome young human who steals Kahlen’s heart. Falling in love can jeopardize everything but letting the chance at love slip away might be too much to bear. Can Kahlen and Akinli make their starcrossed relationship work? Or will it all be lost to the sea? You’ll have to read and find out.
Daughter of the Pirate King / Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Leveseller
These next two books are for my Pirates of the Carribean fans. Both follow 17 year old pirate captain, Alosa, as she and her crew are sent on a mission to retrieve the key to a legendary treasure trove. When she deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies (in order to search their ship), she meets her match when she comes face-to-face with the surprisingly clever, surprisingly handsome, first mate Riden. But no one will stop the daughter of a pirate king from getting her treasure. Book two is the compelling sequel and follows Alosa as she learns more about her mother, the Siren Queen.
A Song of Sea and Shore by Katherine Macdonald
When the Sea Queen threatens war with the humans, her youngest daughter, Nerina, rushes to warn them as well as Prince Kai – the boy she’s loved since they were children. But when she’s tricked by the Sea Witch, Nerina discovers that she can no longer communicate who she is and that the humans have forgotten that mermaids exist. Can Nerina overcome the obstacles before her? Will she ever be able to make Prince Kai love her? And can they come together to stop a war and save lives on the land and in the sea? This book will keep you guessing until the end.
Midnight Pearls by Debbie Viguie
This next book is one of my favorite retellings. In a quiet fishing village a lone fisherman rescues a little girl from the sea. Taking her in with his wife, they name the child Pearl. Pearl grows from being a mysterious child to an unusual young woman who’s not always welcome in the village. She has only one friend, Prince James, but their friendship is shaken when a conspiracy against the royal family and an evil enchantment from the sea begins to surface. Pearl realizes that maybe there’s more to her past than what meets the eye and that maybe she can break the enchantment and save the royal family.
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
I fell in love with this next book just by reading the inside cover. It’s about a mermaid named Simi who collects the souls of those who die at sea and blesses their journeys back home. But when a living boy is thrown overboard Simi saves his life and everything changes for her. Not only has she gone against an ancient decree, but she also must face the punishment waiting for her. Dangers face her on every side and the only way to save herself is to face vengeful gods and legendary creatures with the help of the boy she rescued. This book grabbed my attention from the first line and didn’t let it go until the last page.
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
This last book follows Princess Lira, the most lethal of all sirens, who is forced to kill one of her own kind. As punishment her mother, the Sea Queen, transforms Lira into a human and gives her a task – she has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain human forever. Prince Elian is the heir to the most powerful kingdom and one of the best siren hunters around. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, he is suddenly faced with a decision: believe the woman when she says that she is the key to ridding the world of sirens or trust his instincts and learn what she’s hiding? This book will take you on a ride you’ll never forget.
The Little Mermaid comes to theaters on Friday, May 26, 2023.
P.S. I’ve heard some not-so-great reviews about the live action film so I would highly recommend picking up one of these books on my list to help fill in any nostalgic gaps the movie might leave.
Verse of the Day: When He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight. – Proverbs 8:29-30
