Review: Adriana and the Apothecary's Apprentice

Adriana and the Apothecary's Apprentice is the latest fairy tale retelling by my friend Kae-Leah Williamson, set in a mermaid universe. Like her other stories, this book is available for free on Wattpad, but don't be deceived. It has the length and depth of a full-length novel, combining two classic fairy tales in a rich fantasy setting. This book is a retelling of "The Little Mermaid" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" with themes of prejudice, superficiality, and grief. It brings together an unlikely couple who have trouble fitting into their societies and find solace in each other.

As customary of Kae-Leah's stories, this one begins with a prologue of how the main character's parents met, foreshadowing her future romance. Adriana is the princess of Bellasea, a superficial mermaid kingdom that places the most value on physical appearances. Unfortunately, her father is not conventionally attractive, which creates some discord in the kingdom since he is destined to become king. Fortunately, Adriana's mother doesn't care much about appearances and falls for his personality. Sadly, she passes away shortly after Adriana's birth, and he gets remarried to a beautiful but heartless queen named Belladonna, who makes an attempt on Adriana's life out of jealousy toward her beauty.

"The Little Mermaid" mixes well with "Snow White" here. Adriana's escape to land is not only an opportunity to find love, but also to escape her wicked stepmother by hiding somewhere that she wouldn't be found. The sea witch, Morgana, is presented as a sympathetic character. Though she is misunderstood due to her ugliness, she always has Adriana's best interest at heart. She gives Adriana legs in exchange for her long hair, which is both a reference to the sisters from the original "Little Mermaid" and a symbol of transformation from Adriana's Asian-coded heritage. Adriana takes refuge with the Howlands, a family of three apothecaries and their four cats. She takes a particular interest in Jacob, who is allergic to cats and has few admirers due to his regular sneezing fits and scarred face.

Though this story takes place in a whimsical setting, it gets quite dark at times. Adriana and her family grieve multiple losses throughout the book. The superficiality of the land and sea kingdoms in this story creates problems for both Jacob and Adriana, leading to a dangerous witch hunt as a result of Adriana's mermaid identity. Still, the book ends with a sense of hope and healing as Adriana and Jacob can connect with each other due to the prejudice they have struggled with all their lives. I was a little surprised by the ending, but it was very much in line with Kae-Leah's other stories from this series.

Adriana and the Apothecary's Apprentice is a beautifully crafted tale of love, acceptance, and self-discovery, set against the enchanting backdrop of a mermaid universe. Kae-Leah Williamson's unique blend of classic fairy tales and rich world-building will capture your heart and leave you eager for more. All of her mermaid retellings, including this one, are free to read on Wattpad. If you love mermaids and fairy tales, I highly recommend checking them out.