3.5. I think it was 3 stories on one volume? It had me a tad confused. I loved the art style and it was keeping me engaged and entertained. It has an HEA and I actually loved the ending and the mermaids! Thank you netgally for this arc!

Mermaid Prince is a manga that presents three short stories, each offering a glimpse into the complexities of human emotions. Although brief, the collection captures a sense of longing and introspection.

The first story, "Ametsukigahara," deals with two friends who grow distant as they face the pressures of growing up. It’s a tale that addresses the difficulties of meeting societal expectations, though its abrupt ending might leave you wanting more.

In "A Day of Snow," we follow a librarian who encounters two homeless people, leading her to question her assumptions about others. This story is both tender and reflective, exploring themes of kindness and hidden struggles.

The titular story, "Mermaid Prince," centers on Mugi, a newcomer to a coastal town, and Matori, a classmate who sees him as her savior. Together, they explore a local legend about a mermaid who grants wishes. This story, though a bit longer, captures the wonder and melancholy of childhood, yet also ends on an open note.

While Kaori Ozaki’s stories may feel too brief, Mermaid Prince offers a reading experience for those who appreciate subtle and evocative storytelling.

"I'm complete as i am, so why would I need to add another person to my life?"

Mermaid Prince - Kaori Ozaki
Pub date: Jun 25, 2024
★★★☆☆

(Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exhange for an honest review!)

One word for this: comforting. Mermaid Prince is an anthology contains several stories that is totally different to one another. This manga in particular is hard on philosophy, not only intrigue within one person but also the connection between them and their surrounding people mainly in coming of age period especially in Ametsukigahara and Mermaid Prince itself. Some contains magic while some of the other is just an ordinary slice of life. Last but not least, i would recommend this to people who's in searching for meaning in their life. Reading this would be a nice little rest and reassurement.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc.

When reading it I didn’t realize it was short stories at first. So I was super confused when I went into the second story. My thoughts on the first story was it was okay. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other two stories. The second story I found super sweet. Working in a library found myself connecting most with it. The third story was super cute. I had so much fun reading it. I loved the illustrations and really liked seeing the pictures in color.

Overall, this was a great read!

I got an ARC from NETGALLEY, however this is my honest review.

This really wasn't for me. I thought this was a short story--not a collection of short stories. And not all the stories were about mermaid--only the last one. I didn't really like the first story, it was to depressing and dark. However the message overall was positive at the end. My favorite story was actually the middle one. Even though it was kind of sad too .

I just wish there were more mermaids.

A cute manga that involves several real life issues. Sometimes it was a bit confusing but very cute.

Heads up this is a short story collection (which initially I didn't realise), I picked this up because the cover and title sounded cute I saw the words "slice of life" and "manga" and thought sure I rarely read slice of life manga. The 3 stories individually were super cute but I would've preferred that all 2 be separate longer mangas so that definitely affects my rating but it still gets a 4 which isn't bad at all. So needless to say I'd recommend it it was super cute!

This book contained 3 short stories. The last one though, the mermaid prince was my favorite. It was about a boy coming to terms with his situation and moving through his grief to acceptance.

I really liked the artwork in this book, and the storytelling made this a quick read. It flowed, was not choppy, and the artwork really helped the tell the short stories. The expressions were clear and understandable.

I would say, if looking for a short manga read that also ends up with 3 happy endings, grab this one for sure!

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is actually two unrelated stories published together under the title of the second. I didn't love the first one. I'm not really sure what the plot was. But the second story, Mermaid Prince, was charming. This is a manga so you have to read from right to left, which threw me for a second. I've never really become adept at reading them. I enjoyed the few colored pages distributed throughout.

There is some nudity and a few non-graphic intimate situations, particularly in the first story.
Three stars because I truly did not care for the first story.

This is a compilation of three stories, of which Mermaid Prince is last. In the first, a teenage girl struggles with growth pains and life in general by acting up any way she can to feel alive. It shows the everyday reality of Japanese school girls in a way that isn’t manga cutesy.

The other two are more magical realism. A librarian is nice to a homeless father and son, only for them to (maybe) turn out to be wild boars in human shape. And in the last story, a teenage boy has to move to a remote island to live with his sister and brother-in-law. He hates everything, especially his BIL, but when accident strikes, he’s willing to risk his life to ask a mermaid to help his BIL.

All stories were good but sad, with hopeful endings. Illustrations were good, but characters in all stories looked so alike that I thought the first two stories were about the same person.

First story: has elements that I would describe as potentially depressed of our main female character. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I got it. The MFC was kind of cruel to her friend, a risk taker, and then an odd hook up scene.

Second story: I liked this one it follows a librarian who has empathy for people and a tale of wild boars.

Third story: this is our mermaid story. Our MMC again is Showing signs of depression and taking unnecessary risk but I liked this one the most. It has a happy ending.

The art was very pretty but I think I would have been okay only reading the last story. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

The actual mermaid prince story was good - lovely illustrations.

The other stories about high school girls were hella pervy - upskirts, sex, no panties etc. no thanks

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are three short stories in this book with entirely different themes. I love Ozaki's style and I have another book by her which I've not read yet called "The Gods Lie" and I might correct this really soon. I was so happy when I found "Mermaid Prince" and I absolutely enjoyed these three odd but beautiful stories.

This book has 3 different stories in it that are not connected, each story we see that the characters are dealing with their own struggles. The way they deal with them aren't always healthy ways, all of the characters are high school age. I enjoyed the last story. The best which is what the title and picture on the cover is based off.

Although it’s not a story too complex like other fantasy mangas, it was a nice read.
It was cute to watch the change of attitude of Mugi towards the Island and the people around him.
Very cute indeed.

Kaori Ozaki's intriguing collection of short stories, Mermaid Prince, explores themes of self-discovery, transition, and belonging. In "A Prince Out of Water," Mugi, an adolescent grappling with his new existence in Okinawa, finds comfort in the tales of mermaids and their appeal. The narrative combines poignant examination of personal development with magical realism. The collection also has "One Snowy Day," in which a librarian encounters an enigmatic father and son amid a bitter winter storm, and "Ametsukigahara," which centres on a girl's battle with shifting friendships. Mermaid Prince is a moving look at finding one's place in a changing world with its complex tale and moving artwork.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mermaid Prince by Kaori Ozaki is a delightful and surprising read that I picked up on a whim. It turned out to be a fun and easy palate cleanser after diving into heavier books.

This collection of short stories blends light-hearted humor with unexpected spiciness. The title story follows Mugi, a city boy adjusting to life in Okinawa, and his friendship with a girl who believes he's a prince. Themes of loneliness, friendship, and the search for belonging are beautifully explored, with the art style perfectly capturing the joy and melancholy of the characters' journeys.

While the book has its lighter moments, it also touches on deeper emotions and the complexities of growing up. The spicy scenes caught me off guard but added an intriguing layer to the stories, making them more memorable.

In conclusion, The Mermaid Prince is a solid read that balances humor, nostalgia, and introspection. I’m glad I gave it a chance and would recommend it as a refreshing break between more intense reads.

Weird. Main girl is just weird. And not in a way that I enjoy reading. The whole panties thing made me question what I was reading. Did not finish.

Was very rushed and lost the plot, feeling like it transtioned to a whole other book half way through. There was too much of a hyperfixation on this young girl being chaotic without any backstory as to why she was the way she was.

This volume contains three stories and all three hold a similar thread of not quite fitting in. The first story was the one I chewed on the most, because it was much less straightforward then the other two. It also touches on some uncomfortable topics, but it really stick with me after I finished it. The second story was about a homeless family using a library. I was glad to see the library policy of "For Everyone" transcending borders. Also, that one patron exists everywhere. The third story is the title one, and different family structures and a wish from a mermaid make for a interesting end point. This is good! I have also heard good things about the other series by this author. I think it's time to check them out!