Originally on webtoon, this web comic was adapted into these beautiful graphic novels. The art style is gorgeous and I love the deep and bright colours the artist used.

In volume 2 we followed Siren, Prince of the sharks, and Kappa, "The Beacon", as the fight against a prophecy and as their feelings for each other grow stronger.

Also, there's a trans side character 😍

I think those might be aimed at a middle grade age range, but a very enjoyable read for adults too.

Wendy Martin, you continue to inspire me every day. You make translating a web comic into a book look so so easy. Each illustration looks incredible with certain panels taking my breath away. I appreciate Penguin Random House for publishing this book and allowing me to review this early.

I found myself actually laughing during this comic and the found the humor to be excellent. For example, Kappa claiming he's DONE with being the "beacon" only to have that familiar cord yanked once more. Most scenes that include the oldest shark also bring me joy. Although, what I enjoyed most of all during this book was how Martin was able to subvert a few common tropes for a great twist (one that I'm a huge fan of).

Random Note: I love random Trans Rep in books. I also love my Lobster and Needle Fish Queens!

These graphic novels are such sweet, fast reads. I really enjoyed this follow up to Volume 1, that delves deeper into the prophecy and explores Kappa and Siren's relationship more! A great read for teens and grown ups alike!

Thank you NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the comic ARC.

This is one of the cutest comic books, I have read.
Siren and Kappa are too freaking adorable. Really enjoyed reading how they planned their escape plans.

3.5

The prophecy thing is so repetitive, but maybe because it’s only the second book. I can’t wait to dive deeper (pun intended) into more of a plot in later books. I love all the characters, however misguided they all are. I’m excited for the story to progress.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

Very cute overall. I think anyone who enjoyed the first volume will enjoy this one as well. Kappa and Siren are sweet together. I was surprised at what happened to the queen, so I'm interested in seeing how that plays out in future volumes.

Very cute and I'm excited to see how this one progresses. I don't have the bandwidth to stay up to date with webtoons so I love when they get published as graphic novels. I love all the sea images and different fish inspo the characters are created from. This one is a bit cuter than the first if only because we get a little bit more progression, which is to be expected as a story continues. I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐

Ahhh Kappa and Siren will always have my heart! I've been a fan of Castle Swimmer since it's debut on Webtoon, so seeing it being officially published was so exciting to me! I snagged an ARC of volume 2 just so I could scream about how good this story is! Conflicting curses, political intrigue, a queernormative world, fascinating and diverse characters all with their own stories, ah! Perfection! Read this if you want a slow-burn, forbidden romance between two silly fish guys with all the stakes of underwater kingdoms being at risk, and a big curse to break!

a super cute graphic novel!! i loved the first one so obviously i had to read the second one. i’ll never get over these two and i really hope they get to see each other again!

I've been following Castle Swimmer since the very beginning, and it’s so exciting to see it in book form. This second volume continues the beautiful journey of Kappa and Siren, and I’m so invested in their story.

The adaptation from webcomic to print was done perfectly, keeping the charm and flow of the original. The worldbuilding is stunning, with so much depth and beauty, and there’s still plenty left to explore. The humor is fantastic, too—it’s silly in the best way, bringing levity to the more emotional moments.

And knowing what’s coming next? Trust me, it only gets better. If you haven’t started this series yet, now is the perfect time.

One of my favorite webtoons, I just had to come here and leave a review for it. Excited that it's getting put into physical form. That way more people can interact with the story!

Castle Swimmer: Volume 2 by Wendy Martin is such a good story. I loved every single second of this book and the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

This volume picks up right where the last one left off, just as I expected coming from a webcomic, which I love. We see the characters mature a lot more this time around and how some of them are more complex than we thought. Obviously Kappa and Siren are my favorites, but Queen Susca and Skiff earn our love as well.

There's also an advancement in the art along with the layout. I love the behind-the-scenes looks at the technical processes, so the note at the end by Jem Milton was a nice bonus. We're talking about a total format change, but Jem made sure everything stayed coherent, fluid, and perfect.

I felt that some dialogue was repetitive, but it didn't bother me enough to affect the overall reading. It's one of those books that you read in one sitting, not only because it's a graphic novel, but also because it's a light style. While it's true that it's a young adult story, it also touches on strong themes that make it great for adult readers.

Castle Swimmer, Vol. 2 is already one of my favorite reads of the year. With a well-crafted plot, engaging pacing, adorable characters, and artwork that's a delight to the eyes, I don't see how anyone could not enjoy this book. More than one person should note the release date to order their copy, plus there's an extra chapter, art, and exclusive notes to this edition that I love. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Net-Galley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book.

Beautifully illustrated and such a heartwarming tale. I love that it picked up straight over volume 1.

I’m now invested in these characters and their adventures and I’m in suspense untill I can get my hands on volume 3!

Such a sweet yet deep story. The Plot follows a merman who's job is to make the dreams of underwater creatures come true but it comes at a high cost to him. The soft and tender romance between the main characters is done really well and realistically and is the main highlight for me.

I loved this book! Watching Wendy go from webtoon to true publication is so amazing to watch unfold. I am so proud of what she is accomplishing. So glad I got the chance to read the new volume.

If you’re a fan of the cute and sweet vibes of Heartstopper I think that you’ll have a fun time with this series. I enjoyed volume one more and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it might be because cuteness of the art style makes the stakes not feel as high. I would still recommend checking this series out though and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you thought the first volume of Castle Swimmer was a wild ride, buckle up—volume two takes things to a whole new level! The stakes are higher than ever as Siren and Kappa navigate not only the treacherous waters of their kingdom but also the intense emotions and dangers threatening their very lives. There’s something truly magical about the way their relationship evolves in this volume. I swooned so hard during every scene with them! The chemistry between Kappa and Siren is undeniable, and the risks they’re both willing to take for each other just melted my heart. The tension between them is palpable, especially with the looming threat of the queen’s deadly spear.

What really hooked me this time, though, is the adventure and unpredictability. Siren and Kappa’s escape plans are full of twists, and I loved seeing their courage and cunning come to the forefront. The addition of the neighboring queens and their potential alliance adds even more layers to the plot—trust is hard to come by, and you never know who might betray them next. Add in the gorgeous artwork and a bonus chapter that gives us a deeper look at these two mermen, and you’ve got a volume that leaves you eager for more! If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend diving into Castle Swimmer—it's a perfect blend of heart-stopping action and sweet romance!

Thank you Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Graphic for the ARC! <3

Castle Swimmer is one of the best webtoons I've ever read. The storyline is so creative and different from anything else out there and the characters are so wonderful. The art conveys such emotion with each page and I get sucked in and spit back out begging for more. Truly a fantastic comic that im so happy has a physical print now that I can put on my shelves!

The art is fantastic like always. However, I just struggled to figure out what was going on. I would have loved to see more character development and more explanation of the world.