ALA Booklist (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Evie, Anna, and Nik were inseparable, no matter that Nik was a prince, Anna a noble, and Evie a poor villager. But then Anna drowned, and even Evie, who possessed magic she hid even from her dearest friends, couldn't save her. Evie and Nik are still close, even though the other villagers ostracize Evie for acting above her station. When Nik almost drowns, Evie catches a glimpse of his supernatural rescuer. At first, she doesn't believe her eyes e may be a witch, but surely there's no such thing as mermaids t then a mysterious girl who bears a striking resemblance to Anna appears in the village, desperate to see Nik. As Evie agrees to help her, she starts to wonder if her friend really did drown all those years ago, or if she became something else. Though the characters and dialogue are sometimes more old-fashioned and other times more modern, this spin on The Little Mermaid is full of plot twists and heart-in-throat action. Fans of twisted fairy tales will find plenty to love.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Deftly transforming a fairy tale into a richly layered exploration of culture and relationships, Henning tells the origin story of the Sea Witch from Hans Christian Andersen-s -The Little Mermaid.- Sixteen-year-old Evie is a child of Havnestad, a Danish fishing town, and of the sea, but she also possesses a dark secret that could see her killed by her own people. After the death of their mutual best friend, Anna, Evie and the crown prince, Nik, forge a friendship, which is tested daily by public judgment as well as their private pain from the loss of Anna. Evie finds welcome escape from her grief with Iker, Nik-s cousin, a crown prince in his own right and the young man who has captured her heart. Then Annemette, a mysterious young woman, arrives in the kingdom and quickly fills the role that Anna previously held in Evie and Nik-s lives. Exquisitely detailed examinations of Danish seaside traditions lend gravitas to a debut novel rooted in the sea and its mercurial moods. A focus on Evie-s internal monologue and romantic attachments unfortunately overshadows the subtly nuanced explorations of magic and its uses, but readers who persevere will be rewarded with richly woven threads of fairy tale allusions and a surprising ending. Ages 13-up. Agent: Rachel Ekstrom, Folio Literary Management. (July)

School Library Journal (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Gr 7 Up-This prequel to "The Little Mermaid" opens with a prologue in which two girls and a boy are playing and tragedy strikes. Years later, the story continues with Evie, who is secretly a witch, and her best friend Crown Prince Nik, who is celebrating his 16th birthday with an extravagant party aboard a ship. A storm brews, and Nik is thrown overboard and almost dies; but he is saved by someone with a beautiful singing voice. Flashbacks show readers that the duo was once a trio. Anna, the third friend, had tragically drowned four years earlier, and her body was never recovered. Evie meets a mysterious girl who showed up on shore, who looks and sounds like Anna but calls herself Annemette. This young woman is a mermaid, was responsible for saving Nik from drowning, and insists that she is not Anna. She is able to take on human form for four days and can live as a human forever if she secures true love's kiss in this time. Evie vows to help and keep her secret, and Annemette will keep Evie's magic powers a secret, as well. It will become apparent to readers where the characters' hearts' desires are pointing them, especially as big twists play out. Some Norse terminology and mythology are interwoven and help create a vivid setting. The ending feels a bit rushed and the closing action happens quickly, but romance and fantasy fans won't mind. VERDICT This enjoyable read will entertain and be a great fit for collections where fairy-tale retellings are popular. Megan Huenemann, Norris High School, Firth, NE