An intriguing new series with at least two storylines that are sure to intersect in the future. Planning to buy for my library's narrative fantasy lovers!

In this story, some individuals are born with animal traits and are heavily discriminated against. The main character, Mio, happens to be one of these individuals. As a princess born a mermaid, Mio has always been hidden away and been told to suppress her mermaid nature out of shame. Throughout the story, Mio learns to be proud of herself and her powers. I think this was a cute story, although I wouldn't say it was original.

This was a really great first volume! I'm very interested to see where the story goes. We get to see a lot of Mio but I'm really curious about Yuri. There seems to be more to him than just what we learned in volume one. I can't wait to read the next volume!

I was really confused coming into this book. I felt like even for a manga, the story wasn't well fleshed out. I was gravitated by this manga because of the title and the synopsis, but it didn't make me want more. It felt rushed for a first volume. I felt like when I was settling into one scene, I was immediately taken to another. I see a lot of potential for this series to be fun and full of life lessons and I think I would have enjoyed seeing the princess' character growth. But I don't think this was it for me.

As a longtime manga reader and Shojo lover, I wanted to check out In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1 because of its premise and because it was one of Viz’s newest releases. I love fairytales and I am especially drawn to when they are used and molded to create new, enchanting stories for newer generations. In this case, Princess Mio has been born into a world where there are people, humans and folks who are not quite humans. Called “Unhumans” this race of people look different: some have horns, claws, wings, tails, scales with animal features and limbs.

Unhumans are so unique that they are in fact even feared and discriminated against to a not so shocking degree: some countries have straight outlawed them and the bans against them from barring certain borders is an everyday occurance. One such kingdom, Blognig is such a place and unbeknownst to most everyone is the fact their own princess, isolated from the people, locked up in the castle—is a mermaid!

Mio was born with the powers of the merfolk. Instead of being loved and adored, she is merely tolerated and controlled. Rebuked and trained to one day be betrothed to Prince Chika. Regardless if they’ve never met. Everyday she makes progress in retaining a more human form longer and longer in hopes of completely repressing her lovely tail and her mannerism in her true form.

Yoshino Fumikawa’s story hits a bit on the nose: switch out unhumans with mutants or inhumans or any fictional marginalized group and one can see the plight of Mio and those like her. This should give food for thought for readers who could think of real life groups of people who are marginalized like queer folks or people of a certain nationality or ethnicity as the feared and discriminated group. This manga delves straight into the fantasy and romance genres with a flourish: Miya Tashiro’s artwork flows in the Shojo way: beautiful transformations, handsome male leads, unique ways screentones in the backgrounds are used and the like. I especially loved the world building in the artwork–being able to see the few examples of other unhumans and how even mothers of those born as unhumans was interesting.

I would recommend In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1 to those who already like and read Shojo manga and to those who are just now starting their journey into manga for the preteen to teenage girl pipeline. I think that age group will enjoy and follow Mio’s story. On the Viz website the publisher elaborates the Teen rating: “May be suitable for early teens and older. For example, may contain violence, infrequent use of strong language, suggestive themes or situations, crude humor, alcohol and/or tobacco use.” In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1. There’s a little blood, some threats of violence, a few people being imprisoned (and breaking out) but nothing that would push this manga to gore or big triggering claims.

What I like best of In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1 is the age appropriate story about a young woman, who is different ,starting to come into her own. She was raised to think and see of herself, the world and how it works in a certain light. She’s been taught that she’s unworthy, unlovable and only a tool the way she is now–with help with Chika–a handsome young man who was sent to be her tutor (and who may be hiding a secret identity) –she’s seeing that she is more. So much more. She wants to change decades, perhaps centuries old ways and laws and the end of this first volume seats her leaving home in a start to do that.

I think preteen and teen readers who like Shojo manga and/or look for female protagonist led stories centering girls will lean towards Mio and his struggles and triumphs. For older readers like myself, we might be looking for a manga with a little more narrative heavy meat on the bones, yet I can see younger readers enjoying this. This should be a title that parents,librarians and booksellers should consider for readers who are girls, femme presenting as manga continues to sell and be requested everywhere–and we should NEVER count out or ignore those who like Shojo. (When I was a teenager it was manga volumes like Fruits Basket that changed the way people saw how much manga sold and how many girls and women were buying it) As a plus: a bonus story about a royal subject with wings by the same creative team is included and ties into the same story universe that the central story takes places in.

I really enjoyed this manga.
Whilst quite basic and fast paced, it's the ideal read if you want something light and cute and just smile.

The art style for this was so pretty. This is a great start to a wonderful new manga series! Reminds me of Mermaid Melody a bit

A lovely and beautiful first foray into the world of the Mermaid Princess, Mio. Unhumans are not welcome in her father's kingdom of Blognig. But Mio can't help that she was born as a Mermaid, no more than twins can help being born as fox spirits, or a lonely girl can change her fate as an Angel... But when an outsider named Yuri Ban arrives to show her the ways of her betrothed Prince Chika and his kingdom of Aquatia, she finds herself questioning right from wrong in a world she once saw as black and white. She doesn't want to become human. She wants to become herself.

The artstyle is simple but pretty. The dialogue is well-translated into English. The small cast of characters allows you to get to know most of them quite well. And mystery lurks under the surface... And it's not hard to solve, either. But overall, a very fun little manga.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its exploration of Mio's journey towards self-discovery. From the outset, readers are drawn into her internal struggle as she navigates the complexities of her dual identity as both a princess and a mermaid. As Mio learns to accept her true nature, readers are treated to a poignant portrayal of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

Furthermore, the dynamic between Mio and her tutor, Yuri, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Yuri's hidden secrets are a compelling parallel to Mio's struggles, highlighting the universal nature of identity and the importance of authenticity.

While "In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1" offers a refreshing take on the classic fairy tale trope, it also serves as a timely reminder of the power of diversity and inclusivity in shaping a more compassionate society. Mio's journey is a beacon of hope in a world where difference is often met with hostility, inspiring readers to embrace their uniqueness and stand tall in the face of adversity.

Overall, "In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1" is a captivating tale combining fantasy, romance, and social commentary elements to create a truly unforgettable reading experience. With its richly drawn characters and thought-provoking themes, this book will resonate with readers of all ages. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed reading it. The incorporation of various fairy tale themes into the narrative, whether purposeful or not, gives it personality. Everyone knows the story of the little mermaid, but what if she wasn't really like the fairy tale - it's a twist that I have seen in other books, especially Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw (adult horror fiction).

This is a cute intro into what I hope will turn into a magical tale. While the world building we see is limited, and not very original (unhuman/fae/vamps/whatever Others vs humans is a generic and a thinly veiled racism allegory) it does allow for the story to be of greater interest to younger readers.

The artwork is very pretty. There's a great sense of flow and movement to the water sequences. I look forward to seeing other unhumans!

Overall, a solid start. I'd say 3.5 rounded up because of its potential. I'll be sure to pick up the next few volumes!

This was an okay read for me. I can see how the series could get good and this was a set up first volume. The story deals a lot with racism and discrimination, but put in a way that feels less like a real world issue by being human and unhuman, but the underlying tone is still there. I think there is a little bit of a twist in there about Prince Chika - I don't think I misunderstood, but it happened so quickly that it almost didn't feel real. I do love the main character and how despite everything she's been through she still wants to be a good person.

The story could have been fleshed out even more in this first volume though, because the last 25% of the manga was a short story - and I didn't really care very much about it. I would have rather that chunk of the book been spent of the main characters and the story I was here for.

Thanks to #NetGalley for an e-copy of #IntheNameoftheMermaidPrincessVol1 by Yoshino Fumikawa to read and review.

In the kingdom of Blognig, "unhumans" (which I kind of suspect is a translation of "ajin"), those born with special powers or features, are discriminated against to the point where any unhuman children born are summarily removed via forced relocation. That means that when Mio, the princess of Blognig, is born a mermaid, her father tries everything to change her, including hiring a shady doctor to concoct a medication. Mio has accepted that she's less than for her entire life, until one day Yuri comes from another kingdom to teach her about the land she'll marry into, Aquatia. Yuri tells Mio that she's not "less than," she's "more than," as in "more than enough, just the way she is," and while there's perhaps a little bit of boy saves girl here, mostly what he's teaching her is how to save herself.

It's a bit heavy-handed, and in places the volume reads like An Elementary Schooler's Guide to Racism, but it works better than a lot of other similarly-themed fantasy tales that try to do the same thing. Watching Mio find herself and her courage is rewarding, and even the first part of a short story set in the same world but featuring an angel who's kept in a sideshow (a la Gabriel Garcia Marquez) is equally strong and doesn't feel like it's just there to pad out the volume. Blending folklore and more typical manga fantasy, this is a solid debut, and I'm excited to read the second volume, for both Mio and Eno (the angel)'s stories.

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess introduces the reader to the main character, Princess Mio, and the world that she lives in.

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess Volume One
Written by: Yoshino Fumikawa
Publisher: Shueisha Inc.
English Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: February 6, 2024

The story is set in a world where some people are born not quite human, having strange powers and looking different. Theese people have become known as “unhumans.” Some kingdoms have passed humans-only decrees, which causes fear and bigotry of the “unhumans” to flourish. One of those kingdoms is Blognig, where, unbeknownst to its populace, its princess, Mio, was born a mermaid. Mio’s father banished Mio’s mother for giving birth to an “unhuman” and has never let Mio leave the castle. The king has spent a lot of time and resources trying to find a way to turn Mio into a human before her 16th birthday, when she is supposed to marry Prince Chika from the neighboring kingdom of Aquatia. Mio and Chika have been sending letters back and forth to each other, and Mio is very fond of him.

At the beginning of the story, we see that medication that scientists have been developing to help Mio become human. Unfortunately, it currently only lets her legs work for 30 minutes. With only six months to go before Mio’s birthday, there’s a lot of pressure to turn her human. As part of preparing her for her upcoming marriage, a tutor from Aquatia named Yuri Ban is brought in to teach Mio about Aquatia and its customs.

At first, Yuri seems to be upset by the fact that Mio is allowed to stay in Blognig, but that anyone else born “unhuman” in the country is deported. However, after he learns that Mio has been compiling a secret archive of the “unhumans” born in her country in the hopes of finding out why they’re so despised, Yuri starts acting kinder toward her. He tells her about mermaids and their abilities, as well as about some of the other “unhumans” out there. Later, when he sees how the staff treats Mio, Yuri declares that he won’t stay silent in the face of injustice. When Mio protests, Yuri tells her that “nothing could be more painful than betraying my beliefs.”

As we see throughout the rest of the volume, Yuri helps Mio sneak out of the castle so she can be around seawater (since she’s never been allowed to be near it) and experience the power it gives her. He also encourages her to not suppress her true self and to live her life. A short while later, Yuri helps sneak Mio out into the nearby town and to experience what her subjects are going through. By chance, she encounters a mother whose “unhuman” children were deported. With the information the woman gives, Mio is able to give her a possible lead as to where her children are.

Unfortunately, Mio and Yuri are caught sneaking back into the castle and are taken to the king. When Mio tries to argue with her father and asks why she can’t be a mermaid, he makes it clear that he thinks “unhumans” are cursed and that they’ve been trying to purge Mio of the curse for all these years. After Mio declares that she wants to live as a mermaid, Yuri Ban is imprisoned and Mio is detained to her quarters. However, Mio receives some unexpected help from her two assistants, which leads to Mio freeing Yuri and the two of them running away together.

I thought that Volume One did a great job of setting up Mio and Yuri’s story, and concluding with the two of them escaping was the right point to end at. After reading this volume, I really got the impression that there’s more to Yuri Ban than what we see on the surface. I was especially convinced of this when I saw some of the panels depicting Yuri’s expressions when Mio talks about Prince Chika. I have a suspicion about who Yuri could be, but this mystery is obviously left unanswered at the end of Volume One. I suspect that the reader will learn more about him as the series progresses.

It should be mentioned that there’s an additional chapter after the final chapter of Mio’s story that focuses on another “unhuman” named Eno. She’s an angel who has been taken in to be part of a sideshow. Eno is indebted to, and in love with, the manager that runs the show.

One day, a couple of men bring in a young man who they believe is “unhuman” to be part of the sideshow. However, they don’t know what his ability is. Eno goes to see Ayun, the young man, to use her healing powers to help him. However, she discovers that Ayun can heal himself. She suspects he’s an angel but wonders why he doesn’t have wings. After Eno’s wings are plucked so her feathers can be sold, Ayun heals her wings. The chapter ends with Ayun promising to tell Eno why he doesn’t have wings, and the text says the story will be concluded in the next volume.

I’m a little torn about the inclusion of Eno’s chapter. On one hand, it allows the reader to get to know another “unhuman” and their situation. But on the other, it just kind of feels tacked on at the end of the volume. There was a great stopping point for Mio’s story, and Eno’s chapter kind of feels like it breaks the flow.

When it comes to the character designs that appear in this volume, I couldn’t help thinking that Mio’s character design kind of makes her look like Chi from Chobits. She’s got the same type of hair, and her mermaid ears kind of look like Chi’s ears. I found this similarity to be a little distracting at times. Eno also kind of resembles Mio, except for the fact that she has normal ears, wings, and her hair is usually braided. But the facial features between the two characters are just similar enough that I had to remind myself that the character I was seeing in the final chapter was Eno and not Mio. Admittedly, Yuri’s design doesn’t stand out terribly much, but this could have been done intentionally, especially if I’m correct as to who I think Yuri might actually be.

As for the rest of the art, I have to give artist Miya Tashiro credit for panels that feature closeups of characters’ faces. These closeup panels emphasize that the artist has a strength for depicting facial expressions on the characters. Also, some of the details that the artist includes in those closeup panels look quite impressive.

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess is a shojo manga. Even though Mio declares that she admires Prince Chika, there are hints included in this volume that she may be developing feelings for Yuri Ban. In addition to the romance angle, though, this series also includes bigotry against those who are “others” as part of its worldbuilding. I do appreciate having this angle included, because it elevates the story from being just a simple love story. Hopefully, future volumes will be able to tackle the bigotry angle as strongly as Volume One did.

If you’re a fan of shojo manga, I think you’ll find something to appreciate in the first volume of In the Name of the Mermaid Princess.

A cute and fantastical mermaid tale that will have my YA readers waiting for the next one. I love the illustrations and everything just feels so magical. I can't wait for the next volume.

I really liked this one! The back of the book made me expect a more mermaid positive spin on the classic tale. Instead, we have a world where unhumans as they are dubbed here, are sent away from society. Our titular princess is forced to appear more human for the sake of her father. This doesn't last forever, thankfully. I look forward to her further adventures as she becomes comfortable with her true self and meets others like her as she gets to see the world.

This was cute! I liked the princess's design and the characters that were introduced. It reminds me a lot of +Anima. I will keep an eye out for the next volume.

I enjoyed this cute story of a mermaid princess who is shunned by her father, the King, for being unhuman but sticks to her desire to remain in mermaid form and create a country in which both humans and unhumans can live in harmony no matter the cost. The premise is interesting despite the story being a bit disjointed. The art is also lovely, especially the scenes with water.

This one felt a little disjointed to me in the beginning; some of the dialogue felt very abrupt and I didn't understand what they meant by deducting points. By the end, the story grew on me and I liked the inclusion of Eno's Journey. It showed a place that wasn't like Blognig, where the unhumans are hated and banished, but also not like how Aquatia is described, where unhumans can live and be who they are freely. Eno is not hated but she's not truly free, while Mio is royal but told to be something she is not and taught not to accept herself as she is. Both girls start off trapped, one by family in the only life she's ever known, and one by gratitude for the man she considers to have saved her. I would like to see more unhumans, but considering volume 1 takes place in Blognig where any unhuman (besides Mio) is banished, it makes sense that we don't see any other than the princess except when referring to another character's children. With Eno's story, the author is able to show the reader a few more ideas for unhumans which is nice. Both Mio and Eno are upbeat and kind of naive despite their circumstances and I didn't expect much character development from any of the side characters but I was pleasantly surprised. While there isn't a lot, there is still enough to show that each character is more complex than meets the eye, which is a big theme here. There are clear morals to the story and they are well delivered throughout. The idea behind this story is interesting and I look forward to seeing what happens in volume 2.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mio is a mermaid in a kingdom that treats Unhumans as second-class citizens and deports them if discovered. When she meets her new tutor—who not only accepts but encourages her in exploring her identity as a mermaid—a friendship blossoms and she begins to question and rebel against the injustices perpetuated against the magically-inclined citizens of her kingdom.

The first volume was compelling: the bubbly art style suited the story and Mio’s progression towards questioning herself and her kingdom’s customs was enjoyable to read. Art-wise, the screentone choices to depict shading and texture on the characters (particularly their clothes) were varied and compelling, and the way the artist drew ocean and water was very pretty. In terms of the story, I hope that in the following installments, we get more answers about why the people of Mio’s kingdom are distrustful of magic and magical creatures in the first place. I was also surprised by how fast-paced the story was for a shojo manga—a surprising amount of action happened within the first few chapters and it makes me wonder if the next few volumes are going to take place on a journey.

I’d recommend this to shojo/fantasy fans in upper elementary or older! People who liked reading Cursed Princess Club by lambcat will likely enjoy this manga.

Thank you NetGalley and VizMedia for the opportunity to read this volume!