The Little Mermaid

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Little Mermaid was my favourite film growing up. It was where my love of disney started. I love Little Mermaid Retellings and I think we all owe Hans Christian Anderson so much. Anyway I digress.

The illustrations are lovely, it is my hope there will be more in the final release however they add a great dimension to the story. This retelling and translation is good and something I think everyone should read if they are a fan of The Little Mermaid young, old and new fans alike.

Nice quick enjoyable read.

I’ve always loved the story of the little mermaid. I have many editions of this book purely because of the beautiful illustrations people do in them. I loved the drawings in the book and the added story at the end.

The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson is a beautifully written and illustrated childrens book. This is a well loved story in this house with my three children.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. I received this in exchange for my honest review. Disney's The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie growing up. I'm sure I watched it over a million times and at one point I could have recited it by heart. I just had to review this version as well. This book is directed at a middle school reader level. There is a few pictures, just enough to keep a child interested. Not too many where it would become a distraction. I enjoyed this version of The Little Mermaid. There is a lot of commentary amongst the sisters so that different angle is cool to see.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier was always one of my favourite stories from Hans Christian Anderson. This accompanied by The Little Mermaid makes a lovely volume for a gift to a child. Both stories are well translated and surprisingly more gripping than I had remembered. Having been lulled by the Disney version of The Little Mermaid it may come as a shock to some readers that the original version does not have the same happy ending as the film! Reading such lively stories with children is a great boost to a child’s imagination and creativity and as an older reader I thoroughly enjoyed becoming reacquainted with these classic tales. As no illustrations were available I am unable to comment on these.

My thanks to Steerforth Press and Netgalley for allowing me access to this digital preview version in return for an honest review.

I have always loved the little mermaid.
When I was young and I read the book for the first time, I remember being so disappointed that the mermaid (who was still Ariel to me) did not end up with the prince.

It is always nice to revisit stories from your childhood. Hans Christian Andersen, while often morbid tells great stories.

This was a lovely little version of The Little Mermaid with some beautiful illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a beautifully illustrated new translation of The Little Mermaid from the original by Hans Christian Anderson. The descriptive language is beautiful and evocative, and the black and white illustrations are stunning with the mermaids picked out in black ink whilst the surroundings are mostly detailed outline drawings.
Deep in the sea stands the idyllic castle of the Sea King where he lives with his six daughters and their Grandmother. His youngest daughter’s favourite possession is a marble statue of a handsome boy; she yearns to join the human world, yet she is not allowed up to the surface until she is 15.
When her fifteenth birthday finally arrives, she sees a young Prince celebrating his birthday. A sudden storm leads to her rescuing the Prince as his ship is destroyed but, of course, he doesn’t know who his saviour is, which causes heartbreak later.
The young mermaid is so determined to be with the Prince and gain an immortal soul that she seeks the help of the terrifying Sea Witch who takes her voice and gives her a potion that will make her human. If she cannot make the Prince fall in love with her, she will be doomed to death …
The youngest mermaid is a sympathetically drawn character who yearns for both human love and an immortal soul. When given the opportunity to save herself, she is not prepared to sacrifice her love which leads to a re-awakening after facing terrible hardship and disappointment. This was not an ending I was expecting, but it felt satisfying.
This is certainly not the Disney version of the story, but it is a rich re-telling which I really enjoyed.

I grown up with Hans Christian Andersen's stories so when I saw this book I had to read it. The little mermaid is a beautiful but sad story, but I loved to reread it. The illustrations are really beautiful but there are not so many of them. And I'm glad that at the end you can find the story of The True-Hearted Tin Soldier as a bonus.
Everybody should read Hans Christian Andersen's stories from little ones to adults.

A simple, elegant and not too graphic retelling of this old fairy tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It paints the picture of the Mermaid princesses and their underwater world in a way which will appeal to a young reader and not scare them too much. It is not the Disney version and is truer to the real tale, but in a gentle way. Would make a lovely gift.


There was a bonus of a second tale - The True-Hearted Tin Solider.

Yas please I love this version... its the only version for me because Disney did it dirty because they wanted it kid friendly!

"Far out at sea, the water is as blue as cornflower petals and as clear as the purest glass."  So begins this version/translation of the well known fairy tale.  It is nicely told here.  The text is accompanied by pen and ink drawings that enhance the text.  This Hans Christian Anderson tale is the basis for the Disney movie but is not the same.  Read this for yourself or with a child that you know. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to reread this beautifully written story.  All opinions are my own.

Somehow over the years, I missed reading The Little Mermaid, so I was glad to read this lovely edition. I knew about some of the differences between the Disney version and the original, mainly the part where she doesn't marry the prince and turns into sea foam. I didn't know about what happens after that, which I won't spoil here for anyone else who hasn't read it. I enjoyed the story, though I will accuse Anderson of using the "instalove" trope heavily lol! I give him credit for not going with a happy ending, however, but instead giving us an ending that is complex- while she didn't get entirely what she wanted, she's offered a way to get part of her wishes, which is a pretty good deal, if you think about it. The illustration are lovely, and add a nice element to the story.
This edition also includes The True-Hearted Tin Soldier (aka The Steadfast Tin Soldier), which honestly, I've never cared for. It's just so hopeless and sad! There are no illustrations for this story, and I'm really not sure why it was included.

#TheLittleMermaid #NetGalley

*received free copy from netgalley for honest review* Well, certainly not like the disney version... this classic was interesting, I don't believe ive ever heard it told quite like this and I mean who wouldn't love such a stunning cover?!

A classic tale that many do not know the truth of. This wonderful story is now being published with this new and improved cover which I absolutely love.

Little Mermaid has always been a favorite of mine, and this one is just beautiful! I love the cover art and found it easy to read. I think it will be exciting for students to fall in love with this classic fairy tale!

I'm always interested in the different tones that different fairytale retellings have. This version is a very solemn, sober one It keeps the original ending, not the Disney inspired one, and also includes The Tin Soldier at the end.

You're probably familiar with the stories already, so what's going to draw you to this version is the artwork. It's beautiful, detailed without being busy, old fashioned without being off putting. The cover has hints of gold and pearl, befitting the story.

This is a wonderful present for any child, or for anyone who appreciates a beautiful story.

Growing up only ever hearing the Disney version of The Little Mermaid, this is dark and haunting by comparison. I love it! Not your traditional love story by far.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I think we're all familiar with the story of The Little Mermaid. Many find it problematic in several areas, but I personally love it and find it haunting and beautiful. This is a wonderful, updated version of the classic we all know and love. Hopefully, it will inspire some new readers to discover this favorite classic!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Little Mermaid is obviously a classic, but this isn't the Disney version you're thinking of. It's even better.

The illustrations are GORGEOUS. This book is everything, and EVERYONE should read it.

<img class=" size-full wp-image-12577 alignright" src="https://spasciuti.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cover176934-medium.png" alt="the little mermaid" width="255" height="345" />An all-new edition of Hans Christian Andersen's <em><a href="https://spasciuti.com/review/the-little-mermaid-hans-christian-andersen/">The Little Mermaid</a> </em>came out in November of 2019, featuring brand new beautiful illustrations and another of the author's wonderful fairytales, that of <a href="https://spasciuti.com/review/the-steadfast-tin-soldier-hans-christian-andersen/"><em>The Steadfast Tin Soldier</em></a>.

I was really excited to request this from NetGalley, thrilled at the possibility of seeing the newest rendition. Of course, <em>The Little Memaid </em>is a story that is easily found and read online, but if you're looking for a volume to own for yourself, I can say without question that this is a very good one to pick up.

Not only are the illustrations gorgeous, but you get a bonus story as well!

And I think that's a real selling point here, especially considering that <em>The Steadfast Tin Soldier </em>is one of my favorites of Andersen's tales. I frankly don't think they could have picked a better one to include here. Both tales are exceptionally written and, while both somewhat dark at times, they're really enjoyable reads.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

This was so beautiful! I'm German so this story was one that I grew up with and only grew to love more as the years went by and these illustrations perfectly accented some of my favorite moments of the story - not to mention that the visualization of the life under the sea just made my heart smile.
The translation was well done and I think there is something for old fans of the original story as for new ones in here.

I loved the images in this book, they were beautiful!

I had set myself a personal task of reading more classic books and this was one of the ones that I chose – I loved the story and it was refreshing to read the original story and naturally, as with most fairy tales that have been picked up by Disney, the actual story is much darker so I would recommend you read it for yourself before you read it to your child.

This book also included the story of The True-Hearted Tin Soldier so that is an added bonus, but be warned it is not a happily ever after fairy tale!

This is definitely a book I would recommend and would give as a gift – highly recommended!!

A beautiful tale and a beautiful cover that helps you dream and imagine this old tale. Truly timeless story that still has power to capture your imagination

Such a good book to read.
The little mermaid is the youngest, loveliest and most curious of six daughters. Each daughter gets to go visit the surface on their fifteenth birthday. It was finally the little mermaid's turn and her mother prepared her so she could go for her one visit. While she was visiting the surface, she came upon a ship and it ended up sinking. The little mermaid was watching a young man who ended up falling off the ship, realized that he couldn't breath underwater and saved him. She took him to shore and stayed with him until she heard others come down to the beach and she knew that the young man was safe. But she wished that she could have stayed with the young man and be with him, she had fallen in love in such a short time. The little mermaid had to find a way to stay on surface and stay with her love and so she goes to visit the sea witch. There is a price to pay and a time limit or she will turn into sea foam if she couldn't get the young man to fall in love with her.
The little mermaid is more than happy to pay the price for love and she endures through all the pain just to be near her young man. He doesn't realize that she is the one that saved him, he thinks that it's another and treats the little mermaid like a little sister. He ends up falling in love and plans to marry the young lady that came down to the beach after the little mermaid got him to shore. The little mermaid's sisters find a way for her to return to the ocean but is unwilling to harm her love, so she returns to the ocean as sea foam but because of her good deed, she will not stay that way but will live on.

My only real experience of The Little Mermaid before reading this was from the Disney film, though I knew that wasn't the original story. The Little Mermaid in it's original form is a reminder that endings aren't always 100% happy.
Beautifully told and with well placed ink illustrations, The Little Mermaid tells the tale of the young mermaid who yearns to live life on land. The only way for this to happen is for a human to be bound to her in marriage forgetting about his love for his parents. SImilarly to the Disney adaptation, the mermaid falls in love with the prince and visits the sea witch exchanging her voice for human legs. In contrast, each step she takes in the story is painful, but her dance moves are graceful and applauded.

A beautiful story with a very different ending to the familiar film.

The story of the Steadfast Tin Soldier is one that was less familiar to me but again told the story of unrequited love and the hardship of the lead character.

I received an eARC of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well done classic. Loved the story and art. Very popular with the students. Would be interested in more.

A beautiful translation by Misha Hoekstra of the Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairytale. With stunning and intricate black and white (wish they were colour!) illustrations throughout, this edition, full of wonder and heart, is a treasured gem.

(i was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.)

I have never read the original The Little Mermaid story (or the second story in the back, The True-Hearted Tin Soldier) before and I had no idea it had a happy ending! I always thought she died in the end because the Prince didn't marry her, and all of her suffering was for nothing! But it has a different ending, and I can't believe there are no adaptations that include it!

It was short and had the same sort of 'moral of the story' type plot as all fairy tales tend to have, which was to be expected, but I liked how it was written, and the descriptions were really easy to picture.

The cover and the illustrations inside were fitting, and I liked the attention to detail.
I didn't even know that the nutcracker wasn't the original name for the second short story in the back of this book. It was even shorter, and sadder, but I also liked it.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes fairy tales, and to children who have never read the originals before because I feel that it loses something when altered to be more 'child-appropriate', the way Disney adaptations tend to.