Review: A Baker's Tail

A Baker's Tail is the latest free book in Kae-Leah Williamson's series of mermaid-themed fairy tale retellings on Wattpad. I've been reading these stories since the beginning, and they are whimsical, inclusive, and a lot of fun. This one is loosely based on "Swan Lake." It takes place in a Russian-inspired fantasy kingdom with many references to real fairy tale contributors. This is Kae-Leah's most inclusive story yet in terms of characters with real disabilities. Odette has a consistent stutter, and Prince Siegfried has a learning disability similar to dyslexia. The story demonstrates that everyone deserves to live out their fairy tale dreams, regardless of who they are.


The first six chapters of A Baker's Tail focus on the romance between Odette's parents, Angelica Tschaikovsky and Pavel Lebdev. The extended prologue, which takes up roughly a fifth of the book, is a welcome addition that offers a charming love story with arguably better pacing and development than even the book's main couple. Angelica is a lost princess who runs away from her noble lineage to escape an arranged marriage to a dangerous tyrant. She seeks shelter with an extended relative at a bakery where she falls in love with a baker named Pavel. Their romance grows organically, as well as their family. When Odette is a little girl, Angelica becomes pregnant again. What was meant to be a therapeutic walk along the beach turns violent when Angelica is swept away by the ocean during a freak storm, leaving Odette an orphan.

The ties to "Swan Lake" are apparent, but the transformation into a mermaid instead of a swan is a big diversion from the original story. Instead of being isolated on a lake by day, she is thrust into an entirely new world under the sea and meets many characters from other works in this series. It would have really brought the story full circle to have Odette fall in love with a merman despite her fear of the ocean. The romance takes place on land with a prince named Siegfried, after the original ballet, who falls in love with Odette after visiting her family's bakery. This makes the underwater scenes come off as extraneous at times. However, Odette's exploration of the mermaid kingdom helps her to overcome her fear of water, giving the book an overall theme of healing after trauma.

Odette's transformation by the wicked Rothbart and Siegfried's forced love for Odile are both caused by the Ruby of Rusalka, an enchanted relic with some unusual rules attached to it. When used by a man, it turns its target into a mermaid by night, and when used by a woman, it can force its target to fall in love with her. It is not explained why these abilities change based on the user or why its powers are so specific. Regardless, both Odile and Rothbart make good use of it, but Siegfried is not affected in the way that Odile hoped. His feelings for Odette shine through the ruby's brainwashing, allowing the couple to have a better ending than the original ballet.

A Baker's Tail is a delightful addition to Kae-Leah Williamson's series of mermaid-themed fairy tale retellings, offering a fresh and inclusive take on the classic "Swan Lake" tale. With its charming characters, engaging storyline, and themes of self-discovery and acceptance, this story is sure to captivate readers of all ages. The extended prologue provides a lovely backdrop to the main story, and the underwater world adds a unique twist to the traditional fairy tale narrative. Despite some minor inconsistencies with the Ruby of Rusalka's powers, the story's heart and message shine through, making it a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance.
I have always dreamed of being a writer and creating the next great fairy tale princess heroine. Princesses inspire us to be our best selves. While you're here, feel free to follow my page on Facebook, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out my books. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter.

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