Review: The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

4 stars for The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble.

The Mermaid's sister is an enchanting story of the seashell and the stork. High up in the Llanfair Mountain, two 16-year old sisters live with their part-faerie Auntie Verity Amsell in a little cottage. The narrator, Clara is a girl brought to Auntie Verity's house by a stork in her infancy while her sister, Maren is delivered to the same doorstep in a conch when she is a baby.

Though not related by blood, the two sisters are very close; so when Clara's very dear sister, Maren starts growing scales, Clara is devastated. She soon comes to terms that it is pointlss to ignore the truth as it will not erase what is to come and will be, for Maren's sprouting of the sparkling iridescent scales is but the beginning of her transformation to who she truly is. And the truth is, Maren comes from the sea, and to the sea she must return one day.

There are feelings of sadness, jealousy, self-pity and regret as Clara embarks on her mission to save Maren. Despite her resolve to overcome the challenges and difficulties encountered along the way, Clara cannot help but question her place and worth in the world. Deep in the recesses of her mind, Clara believes she is a plain Jane who may or may not turn into a stork one day, and secretly envies Maren for her transformation into her true self, a mermaid.

Beautifully written, this standalone book revolves around the themes of love, acceptance and choices. It teaches us that what we choose to believe does not change what is true, and that life is about making choices and choosing them wisely. Feelings can originate from sadness but ultimately may lead to joy depending on our beliefs and choices made.

Indeed this Young Adult Fiction, winner of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, is a splendid debut novel suitable for readers of all ages who love a good fantasy tale.

Publisher: Skyscape
Publication date: 1 Mar 2015

*** Favourite quote ***

Grief has its fingers about my throat and I can barely breathe.

~ The Mermaid’s Sister
Carrie Anne Noble

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There is no cure for being who you truly are...

In a cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain, sixteen-year-old Clara lives with her sister, Maren, and guardian Auntie. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions. By night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants—Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.

One day, Clara discovers shimmering scales just beneath her sister’s skin. She realizes that Maren is becoming a mermaid—and knows that no mermaid can survive on land. Desperate to save her, Clara and O’Neill place the mermaid-girl in their gypsy wagon and set out for the sea. But no road is straight, and the trio encounters trouble around every bend. Ensnared by an evil troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the ever-weakening mermaid.

And always, in the back of her mind, Clara wonders, if my sister is a mermaid, then what am I?

*Blurb from author's website*

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