The Mermaid

Christina Henry
Skip to product information

The Mermaid

Christina Henry
Release date:
Regular price $23.00
Sale price $23.00 Regular price $0.00
Final Sale. No returns or exchanges.
Oversized: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.
Overweight: This item will be shipped by appointment through our delivery partner.

Digital download

Immediate access in your Kobo library

Deliver to

In stock online. Free shipping on orders over $49

Buy online, pick up at Bay & Floor

Free pick up today

Find it in store

Out of stock

Found in: SCI-FI/FANTASY, Fantasy General

Earn 115 plum points and save more with plum Rewards. Learn more

View full details

Overview

336 PAGESENGLISH

Promotional Details
"Beautifully written and daringly conceived, The Mermaid is a fabulous story, in both senses of that word. It's full of magic and passion and courage, set against a convincing historical backdrop in which women, much less mermaids, have only the power they seize for themselves. Henry's spare, muscular prose is a delight. I loved this novel."—Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches

"There is a current of longing that runs through The Mermaid: longing for the sea, for truth, for love. It is irresistible and will sweep you away."—Ellen Herrick, author of The Sparrow Sisters

"In her latest novel, The Mermaid, Christina Henry weaves a captivating tale of an intriguing young woman who finds herself in the world of the greatest showman, PT Barnum. Original and magical, this is a novel to dive into and savour."Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Cottingley Secret
 
“Beautifully eloquent language…the credible historical setting will draw readers into this lovely reimagined fairy tale.”—Booklist (starred review)


Praise for Lost Boy


“Christina Henry shakes the fairy dust off a legend; this Peter Pan will give you chills.”—Genevieve Valentine, author of Persona

"A riveting rewrite of Peter Pan...Never wanting to grow up, never wanting anyone else to grow up, doesn't look like such an innocent and charming ambition anymore."—The Wall Street Journal

“Multiple twists keep the reader guessing, and the fluid writing is enthralling...Henry immerses the reader in Neverland and genuinely shocks...This is a fine addition to the shelves of any fan of children’s classics and their modern subversions.”—Publishers Weekly

“This wild, unrelenting tale, full to the brim with the freedom and violence of young boys who never want to grow up, will appeal to fans of dark fantasy.”—Booklist

“Turns Neverland into a claustrophobic world where time is disturbingly nebulous and identity is chillingly manipulated...a deeply impactful, imaginative and haunting story of loyalty, disillusionment and self-discovery.”—RT Book Reviews

“Once again, Henry takes readers on an adventure of epic and horrific proportions...Her smooth prose and firm writing hooked me up instantly and held me hostage to the very end.”—Smexy Books

“We all have a soft spot for the classics that we read when we were growing up. But…this retelling will poke and jab at that soft spot until you can never look at it the same way again.”—Kirkus Reviews

Lost Boy owes more to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies than it does Barrie, as Henry examines the darker side to leaving a bunch of boys to fend for themselves… This audacious and gripping treatment of this well-known story is expertly told by Henry’s emotive, evocative prose.”—Starburst Magazine

Lost Boy is a fantastic adventure story with a Lord of the Flies sensibility… Henry’s writing is among the most substantive and touching in the fantasy genre.”—I Smell Sheep

Overall rating: 4.3333335 / 5 from 6 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["book","story","read","amelia","romance","characters","writing"].

Review highlights

Reviews

Love it

"Love her writing so much. Her take on these stories is always fun."

Moss (5/5)

Good

"As I am a fan of books like the Night Circus and Water for Elephants, I assumed I would like this story focusing on P. T Barnum's ""discovery"" of the ""Fiji Mermaid"". I wasn't wrong, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed those other two. Although predictable at parts, I did enjoy it."

Remy (3/5)

So good.

"4. 25 stars. I loved this book. The era, the being torn between land and sea, the lyrical narrative. Maybe it's because I grew up by the ocean; the atmospheric setting had me from the beginning. I will read Henry's other books as I enjoyed this one so much. She made the magical possible and Amelia relatable, even being a mermaid. It's refreshing to read something mythical without it being so fantastically overdone that it feels implausible."

QuietDay (4/5)

A beautiful story

"The Mermaid by Christina Henry just blew me away - I love it. It reimagines the story of PT Barnum and his Fiji mermaid - with a fantasy twist. Even as a retelling of a historical event, it still felt really original and fresh. Henry’s characters are solid and feel quite real, and the world she has created is incredibly detailed. It is also quite an emotional book, diving through the many layers of grief, rage and love. The pacing lagged at times, but overall it was still an engrossing read."

Leigh A. (4/5)

A Stunning Adult Fairytale

"The Mermaid is an absolutely breathtaking take on an adult-version fairytale. Mesmerizing, absorbing and utterly delightful, I adored every single page of this book. Amelia is a real-life mermaid, who lives between land and sea. Only when Amelia agrees to join P. T. Barnum's museum sideshow will she learn how horrific mankind can truly be. There is so much that could be said about how wonderful this story is - beginning with how gorgeously it is rooted in true storytelling. This is one of those rare books that will sweep in and steal your heart entirely, leaving me more than a little disappointed that I have yet to meet a real mermaid in this life. This has quickly become a top recommendation for summer must reads for me - I cannot wait to share the magic of this book with everyone I can."

Candice (5/5)

Stellar Mermaid Story

"Gah, my heart! I honestly can't get enough of Christina Henry's retellings! And this one might just be my favourite! THE MERMAID was a beautiful story of love, adventure, betrayal, sacrifice, trust, independence, and self-discovery. The story opens with a beautiful romance and leads to main character Amelia being convinced to join P. T. Barnum's circus. From there, she struggles with her identity in this new human world, the friends she begins to make, and the way she is seen as a truly alien being. The writing is gorgeous as ever, and the story is compelling, but it was the characters were the highlight. Barnum is a little more humane here than he would become later, Levi has a great tortured conscience, but it's Amelia who of course steals the show. She is AWESOME. She's strong, independent, unashamed, and never bowing to Barnum's demands. I was worried that the ending would be a heartbreaker, but it turns out to be the perfect ending to a truly amazing book. I cannot recommend it enough. This is the perfect summer read for anyone looking for a spellbinding, character driven story, sweeping romance, and a love for mermaids and magic. THE MERMAID is an incredible read, and should not be missed!"

AmyS (5/5)

Q&A

  • Published date: Jun 19, 2018
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 336
  • Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
  • ISBN: 9780399584046
  • Dimensions: 5.5" W x 0.81" L x 7.0" H
Christina Henry is the author of Lost Boy, Alice, Red Queen, and the national bestselling Black Wings series featuring Agent of Death Madeline Black and her popcorn-loving gargoyle, Beezle.

Recently Viewed