Review: A Tale of Cursed Tides

I received an ARC from T.R. Sherring for A Tale of Cursed Tides, which is a reimagining of "The Little Mermaid" with a twist. As we all know, I'm a sucker for "Little Mermaid" reimaginings, so I was excited to dive right into this one (pun intended). Before I begin my review, I know there are a lot of readers on my blog who prefer closed-door romance books. Although this book is technically closed-door, there are descriptions of sexual desire, implied spice for future books, and explicit language. Because of that, I don't think this book would be appropriate for closed-door readers. However, I did not find it distracting from the main story overall.

Alara is a princess from a mermaid kingdom that was cursed by a powerful entity called The Crow due to her mother falling in love with a human prince. Because of this, none of the merfolk can leave their kingdom, separating them from family and friends. Alara makes a deal with The Crow to break the heart of a human prince to win her people's freedom. However, Alara is not the type of person capable of going around breaking hearts. She immediately falls into Prince Tarben's good graces when she rescues his little sister, Amalie, from drowning, and is welcomed into his court. The two grow closer, and Alara soon realizes that she isn't capable of completing her task.

Although Alara's time at the castle unravels into a series of murder mysteries, the violence in this book did not come off as overly gruesome. The author does a wonderful job of weaving whimsical fairy tale-themed descriptions of palace life, fashions, and food. Her lyrical prose made me wish she had spent more time offering fantastical descriptions of the mer-kingdom, but most of the book takes place on land. The writing works well for a fairy tale setting and made me feel like I was experiencing life in Tarben's castle right alongside Alara. The murders and hidden secrets create just enough of a sense of unease to keep readers on their toes.

The book's climax was satisfying and well-written, with a believable explanation for the tragedies that transpired. I believe this book is intended to be the first in a series, but it also stands alone effectively. The inspiration for "The Little Mermaid" is clear from Alara's selflessness in wanting to help her people and her ultimate refusal to harm the prince in order to save herself. However, she does not give up her voice or have the same closeness with her sisters and the rest of her mer-family. I'd say this book is darker than the original story because of the murders, but "The Little Mermaid" is also a pretty dark story, so it's a toss-up.

If you're a fan of "The Little Mermaid" and comfortable with explicit content, T.R. Sherring's A Tale of Cursed Tides might be perfect for your next read. The mysteries and action are balanced with beautiful descriptions of royalty and seaside castle settings. Alara is a likable heroine who learns from her mistakes and cares about the people around her. Tarben is an appropriate match for her, and his colorful family adds interesting flavor to a familiar tale. A Tale of Cursed Tides comes out on March 26th to fulfill your mermaid fantasy needs.