People who love historical fiction and fairytale retellings will love this book!! You get multiple in this one, Cinderella and the Little Mermaid. The uniqueness of smushing them together was something I really enjoyed from this book. For the historical fiction lovers, you will be transported to 1700's Brittany, France, at the height of it's history with piracy and privateers.
Unfortunately it was a bit hard for me to get into. The first half of the book in my opinion lacked any intrigue, partly because I felt there was no 'fantasy'. It was very heavy on the historical aspects to begin with, and I needed some magic to make me want to keep going. In the second half however, I finally got what I was looking for and I began to feel the magic, the FMC's power, and the plot also got much more intriguing.
Another complaint is that I feel the book got very brutal very suddenly, which came as quite a shock. I can't decide whether this is a good thing or not. I appreciate a surprise, but it just felt so out of nowhere that I felt a bit uncomfortable.
The final parts and the very ending pulled on my heartstrings severely. I was so terrified that the book would end without us finding out if the characters made it back to each other, so I was very very grateful for the epilogue.

A beautifully lyrical fairy tale retelling, with chiseled language, historical French setting, and a refreshed dusted look at the old tales.
This is for people who enjoy AG Slater's beautiful prose, the hypnotic feel of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, the heart of Deerskin by Robin McKinley and generally literary fantasy.
I was attracted by the amazing cover - it's just gorgeous, had to read as soon as I learn it was a reinterpretation of the Little Mermaid (such a fertile, bitter sweet soil) and was not disappointed.
The integration of magic in the world in realistic touches is very well done and I loved that the main character struggled with her feet, but pushed in her determined way, so very strong from the get-go.

Well technically, I haven't finished it yet, but I've hit the near end of it. I'm already in love! This story has such a lyrical quality that you can't help but get pulled into the story. Reading it I imagined I was walking the shore getting sand between my toes, pulling the seaweed from my hair after a swim in the ocean in my nightgown.

Not a word is wasted. All the characters have depth and are so relateable that you could know them or meet them in real life...well maybe not a ocean witch or sea maiden.

I enjoyed the historical setting of the Napoleonic war and the blend of mythical folklore and the stories of the Little Mermaid and Cinderella.

Publishers, may I humbly request you release a hardback with some glorious stenciled edges. This story deserves such treatment. Otherwise, I'll be buying my own and attempting to paint it myself! It seems I'll be nagging my friends to read this one as well!

Thank you to HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a great romantic fantasy/fairy tale re-telling. One of my many gripes with current romantasy is absolutely insufferable FMCs, and Kell Woods succeeded in crafting a FMC who was her own person with challenges outside of the romance plot. Also points for not following the shadow daddy formula.

Absolutely loved the historical French element, it gave this book more of a magical realism feel.