A wonderful blend of magic, mystery, and mermaids, this book will have readers enchanted from beginning to end.

The world building is wonderful, the characters are real, and the romance is swoon worthy. I enjoyed being able to go along for the ride with Aria and Sebastian as they fought to save their world…and ours. I’m excited to see what happens next in their story!

This is the perfect book for young adult readers looking to get swept away into an adventure they won’t soon forget.

The Mermaid Tale of the Lost Empire by Lydia D
Book 1
Spoiler free
•
3⭐️
Teen/YA, Fantasy, Romance
Narration: Single POV

— enemies to lovers

— fairytale retelling

— self discovery

This book is described as being “inspired by the little mermaid and the legend of atlantis“ and i also noticed some similarities to “the Prince of Egypt” as well.

We meet Aria, the crown princess of Merfolk and daughter to an overprotective King. She has a curious rebellious nature, and seeks adventure and purpose. Along her journey she meets a number of potential romantic interests. We’re promised enemies to lovers & a HEA, which is often what many seek in a romantic fantasy.

I will note that when reading the description i overlooked the mention of it being a Christian novel, but there were a number of references in the writing (e.g. guardian angels, prayer, God’s mercy/forgiveness, seeking guidance from God instead of oracles, mentions of the flesh, purity, abstinence) that definitely emphasised some Christian teachings. These were not the sole focus of plot, but like you would find in biblical stories, certain messages and lessons were taught in this novel.

If you’re reading this book due to your interest in authors like Sarah J Maas/Stephanie Garber, please note that the similarities to the authors is due to the fantasy/fairytale nature of this novel, and not necessarily the writing style.

LIKES:
• enemies to lovers trope (though there could have been more tension)
• seeing the different kingdoms
• multiple sources of conflict (government-to-citizens, character-to-character, environment-to-world)
• unconditional love
• some of the side characters were very interesting and i would’ve loved to hear more about them

DISLIKES:
• there were some typos, another round of editing may be necessary
• needed to pull harder at my emotional strings, there was a lot going on but the main plot’s stakes didn’t seem as high as the b-plot’s.
• i would have liked some clarity on decision making process for the FMC it felt she was sometimes impulsive in a way that didn’t align with her inner narration.
•i feel some of the religious messages could’ve been more seamlessly inserted, in a way that felt less stiff and forced (i think it’s possible to get these messages across in a way that can appeal to people from different backgrounds while retaining the religious values of the author)

only started reading this a few days ago and I can already say that this was an amazing read!

I couldn't stop reading it!

I highly recommend this to anyone who loved the little mermaid!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I heard it was a retelling of The Little Mermaid and Atlantis, I was in. The Christian aspect of the description intrigued me, but I didn't know what to expect. The author does a good job of weaving the fantasy elements in with Christianity and does so without coming off as too preachy. The story itself was enjoyable. I found myself invested in Aria's story and the development of her relationships. The ending of the story had me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know how it would all end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy of A Mermaid Tale of the Lost Empire by Lily D. This was an enjoyable story and really showcased how love can overcome the odds.

Thanks for the ARC of this book netgallery. I loved it. It took me a few chapters to get into because I'm not normally one for mermaids but I really enjoyed the character development and the way the story flowed. Bastian what can I say, loved him. Aria a spoilt princess who is at least able to recognise that she is a pain at times! A good story that's morals point to the consequences of being selfish. Good clean story but with great chemistry between the characters. Felt relatable even though we are talking merfolk. Could have seen a different ending, also could see room for another book!

"A Mermaid Tale of the Lost Empire" weaves a captivating blend of "The Little Mermaid" and Atlantis for fantasy fans. Aria's quest for freedom, a mysterious protector, and an enticing romance lead to a transformative journey. While pacing could be improved, the tale beautifully explores love prevailing against the odds. A solid 3.75-star read, enchanting and intriguing.

Aria, princess of the merfolk, always dreaming of worlds beyond her own. As she sneaks away for her adventures, her father has posted her with a personal guard, Bastian. With a map she has found to Atlantea she slips past Bastian to go to this place above the water. Once there she meets Prince Atlas and is determined to make the most out of her newfound freedom. A sheltered princess she strives to build relationships and connections with the people she meets and always thinks the best of everyone but when things go wrong who can she really trust?

“A Mermaid Tale of the Lost Empire” by Lily D. was very fun to read. I really liked her spin on the little mermaid and the characters from it with two love interests. I loved how the city above the sea was modern with its technology. I did not like however that the mermaids believe in the Christian God, which in my opinion takes away from the magical aspect. One of my favorite things about the books was the characters, Bastian and Prince Atlas which were unexpected from what I thought they would be. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars and really want to read more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing access to the e-arc.

I love the concept of this book. That it is more focused on the royalty and a rebellious princess. I also liked the religious aspects as well. I do think there could have been more.

The story was just slow paced. It was hard to read at times. It felt like the story was jumping from scene to scene.

Overall, I loved the idea of the story. I do think anyone who wants a different version of The Little Mermaid would enjoy it.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

A gorgeous cover. The story starts off strong. It takes place in a beautiful world under the sea, satisfying the imagination. Then there's the impatient and wild princess, who wants to escape from her confinement in the palace (her prison) and learn about the world. Her domineering father is irritating, how he keeps the crown Princess ignorant, trapped, and uneducated, which ultimately leads to her leaving home. No surprise there.

Pros
The idea of a prophecy and mention of spirituality in a fantasy is refreshing. Many authors avoid this most important topic. There was a lot of symbology in this book as well. But . . . I don't remember the prophecy being written out for the reader, which is something that should've gone into the beginning of the story.

It's always been a pet peeve of mine when reviewers give low ratings because they requested to read a book in a genre they don't like. It clearly said on the main page, where the reviewers request the book, that it's "Christian fiction." If you don't want to read a religious book, don't request to read it! In that sense, a lot of the low reviews from readers who chose a genre they don't like, which is unfair.

The world building is beautiful, with the rivers that flow through the palace, and the hot springs on land.

It's a light, easy read, with an interesting plot that kept me wanting to read later than I should have. I kept wanting to know what would happen next.

Cons
One reason for the reduced star, was that halfway through the story, the plot becomes riddled with holes. For instance, There’s the three month pregnant woman, who, about a week later, is suddenly eight months pregnant. Then there were things that hadn’t been adequately explained, like her mothers story, and depth into why it matters to Aria, and the prophecy itself wasn't shown. Many things were told instead. Once in Atlantea, she’s spends her days not quite doing anything of importance. It didn't feel like she was actively trying anything to learn about the prophecy or her mother.

Overall, there needed to be more information, more showing, and more explanations in general.

Aria
For every positive attribute Aria has, ten flaws follow, making her a villain unto herself, and making it difficult for the reader to root for her. She knows when something is bad and therefore does it, knows when something is good and therefore doesn’t do it. It doesn’t seem to be intentional, rather lack of self control and empowerment on her part, and the fact that she’s not the brightest crayon in the box. While there are people in the world who are like this, it’s difficult to find reasons to like her as a main character. She is similar to Arial from the Little Mermaid.

On the plus side, there is character growth for Aria, she's kind, and I understand her need for freedom.

It deserves a higher rating for the exciting story, but there are too many plot holes.

Triggers: no triggers.

I'm always down for a retelling and a retelling about the Little Mermaid in an Atlantis setting? Sign my name on the dotted line right now! So it will come as no surprise that when I saw this on offer for an early read/review on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. Plus - just look at the cover. So pretty.

Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I couldn't move past the religious over-tones in this book. It was everywhere. Inescapable. That aside, the world building held promise but the characters and the insta-love love triangle were hard to digest. Also - there are times where 'tell' is so vital (no one wants to read 3 chapters of a character shutting the door) but when there's almost no dialogue and a whole lot of tell? Yeah. Nah. Not for me. It's through dialogue that we truly learn about characters and it's such a fun way to find out extra little bits of information about the world.

As always, a huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read/review early. All thoughts are my own.

2.5/5 ⭐️

I have never read Little Mermaid retelling, so when I saw that piece on NegGalley shelves I immidietly requested for an ARC. Add really pretty cover and I thought I found myself really good piece of a fantasy book.

I am disapointed, truly am, those religious aspects, that are placed like everywhere in this book were killing me. They weren’t subtle, not for me, that’s for sure.

On the other hand the world-building was very promising, I thought, that maybe when I ignore the religious side of that book, it still can be good. Well, the world-building is an only positive thing I found. Characters were plane, this whole love triangle felt so forced, I didn’t feel any tension, no build-up feelings.

For me it wasn’t good read, but maybe some of readers will find this book entertaining.

Tropes:

🧜🏻‍♀️ well-builder fantasy world
🧜🏻‍♀️ Little Mermaid retelling
🧜🏻‍♀️ Atlantis
🧜🏻‍♀️ love triangle
🧜🏻‍♀️ mermaids and pirates

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGo Social for that eARC.

I read a few reviews on this one before reading and fortunately for me I've not read the little mermaid or Atlantis so I read this within a clear mind. I don't normally enjoy fantasy but this was an interesting read and kept me engaged all the way through!
I really enjoyed the beginning with learning about Aria and the world she lives in. What I found very good was the constant feelings and emotions from Aria all the way through and it was clear how she felt and as the reader you were really able to stick with her. I really liked the imagery and description of this book as it really painted a picture and I could image each place clearly in my mind.
I felt the ending could have been more dramatic and I would have liked to have seen Atlas get his comeuppance, but hey it was a happy ending.

First I would like to thank the author and publisher for the netgalley copy of "A Mermaid Tale of the Lost Empire."

Initially I was deeply enthused by the idea of this book based on the Little Mermaid retelling and the addition of the Lost City of Atlantis (Atlantea). However, I quickly found that this book was a struggle to muddle through. The FMC was very juvenile and hard to like. It was absolutely a hot and cold on her interactions with the MMC and their relationship never seemed genuine. I eventually skimmed the final chapters to make it through the end. Not a book I enjoyed overall, despite it's potential based on the premise.

Some aspects are similar to The Little Mermaid
A lot of religion talk for a mermaid book
Some banter weird
She was stringing both guys along
All over the place

I loved this book!! I loved all of the complexities of these characters and their relationships, the bravery they exuded, and the evolution they experienced. And their character’ arc and growth was phenomenal too. It definitely resonated with me and pulled on my emotions, which I love in a story. Can’t wait to read more from the author!!

Unfortunately this book was not a favorite, I can’t exactly say I enjoyed it..

It took me two tries to get through this book, I DNF it on the first go and tried again after some time. I’m able to say that my opinion does not change on this story, I just did not enjoy it.

It had all the potential to be such a great and unique story but it was very poorly executed. It was meant to be a retelling of The Little Mermaid, and as someone who absolutely loves that film, I am unsure if I expected too much from the book or if it just was not worth the read in general.

I felt the “chemistry” between characters and love interests were not authentic and a bit forced into the reader. This could also be a sensitive subject for those who may not be religious, as it did have many religious aspects to it.

It’s my personal opinion that this book was just not eye catching to me, and quite frankly very difficult to read through, as it took me two tries.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this title.

I have read a few retellings now and I was so excited for this one. Unfortunately it fell a little flat for me and I could not remain engaged. DNF’d at about a quarter of the way through.

I don’t believe I was the right target audience for this book and I hope it finds its way in to the hands of readers who can truly appreciate it, possibly those dipping their toes in to the fantasy genre.

I wanted to love this book so much. The Little Mermaid plus Atlantis had my 90s-baby heart so excited, plus the cover is gorgeous. Unfortunately it fell a bit flat.

To start with, while the story is marketed as a mashup of The Little Mermaid and Atlantis, when in reality, it is a mashup of The Little Mermaid, Atlantis, the book of Revelation, and stories of the early church. The whole reason that Aria went to Atlantea was because the end of times prophecies were starting to come true and she wanted to see if Atlantea had any solutions. (Spoiler alert, this is left almost completely unresolved at the end.) Long story short, the end of the world is coming because humans and merpeople are being so immoral. The comparison between Atlantea and America were a bit too pointed, with men in the women's bathrooms, mentions of population control, and discussion about the disregard for unborn life. While I generally love a good parallel, this one was too obvious and didn't feel like it fit the story.

Second, the pacing felt off. They jumped from action scene to action scene without any transitions, and I think the author forgot that readers don't have access to her brain when they are reading this, because there are so many contextual details and explanations that are left out. It was a bit challenging to keep up with the plot and the world building as a result.

Finally, Aria was just a hard character to like. I wanted to like her, but she kept knowingly making bad decisions without really attempting to justify them. And Sebastian (her guardian) just keeps picking up her pieces and falling in love with her, even though she betrays him multiple times. It just felt a bit unrealistic and hard to relate to.

Overall, this book had a lot of potential. I loved the concept, but it felt like reading a rough draft.