Two sheltered princesses, one wounded warrior; who will live happily ever after? Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while rumors of war threaten her kingdom. One gloomy, windswept morning, as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that he is not only a prince but also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom. Meanwhile, the mermaid princess, Lenia, longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart. A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. Beautifully written and compulsively readable, it will make you think twice about the fairy tale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page. Title Info. Dedication. Chapter 1. The Princess
Chapter 2. The Mermaid
Chapter 3. The Princess
Chapter 4. The Mermaid
Chapter 5.The Princess
Chapter 6. The Mermaid
Chapter 7. The Princess
Chapter 8. The Mermaid
Chapter 9. The Princess
Chapter 10. The Mermaid
Chapter 11. The Princess
Chapter 12. The Mermaid
Chapter 13. The Princess
Chapter 14. The Mermaid
Chapter 15. The Princess
Chapter 16. The Mermaid
Chapter 17. The Princess
Chapter 18. The Mermaid
Chapter 19. The Princess
Chapter 20. The Mermaid
Chapter 21. The Princess
Chapter 22. The Mermaid
Chapter 23. The Princess
Chapter 24. The Mermaid
Epilogue: The Princess
"Vividly imagined and skillfully told, Mermaid is a dark tale that shimmers with light."
"Mermaid is resplendent with shimmering details, the dark and thrilling story behind that comforting childhood memory. At once fresh and familiar, heartbreaking and full of hope, this dark retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid is like a gorgeous dream remembered."
"Turgeon's ability to breathe new life into the old bones of a beloved story we all think we know is unparalleled."
"There is a part of every reader that longs to return to the days of reading fairy tales and myths, when imagination had no limits and stories were spellbinding. Carolyn Turgeon's Mermaid evokes just that feeling. She is one of my new favorite writers."
"Turgeon has done a superb job of creating compelling characters and conflict from a story already familiar to readers."
"More robust than a fractured fairy tale, Turgeon's brooding retelling gives voice to both women, fleshing out an essentially tragic tale of destiny and desire…Guaranteed to keep you guessing who-if anyone-will live happily ever after."
"Absorbing, poignant, and heartbreaking. Readers who love fairy-tale retellings will find this fresh take difficult to put down."
"As moody and atmospheric as a gothic novel, Mermaid is a heartfelt portrait of young love and all its sweet complications. Sweeping and lush, an inspired and imaginative reimagining of my favorite fairy tale."
"A gothic love triangle with two equally matched heroines. This isn't kid's stuff."
"Magical and mysterious, Mermaid's twist on a classic tale is as ingenious as it is delightful."
"Turgeon takes the classic telling of The Little Mermaid, in all its original gore and beauty, and knocks its barrel on its side. Out of the top spills wondrous things; the perspective of Margrethe is beautifully rendered, and the stages of friendship to rivalry to grief to friendship between Lenia and Margrethe are so distinctly drawn and realistic that the reader will delight in them."
