Book Review: Prince of Song & Sea by Linsey Miller

The Little Mermaid has been one of my favorite Disney movies for as long as I can remember. I loved the idea of underwater concerts, swimming through the sea, and having a mermaid tale. To this day, mermaids are my favorite mythological creature - and I even have a tail of my own I love to swim in! It's a movie that has always felt like home, and will always make me happy if I need a lift. That being said, there was one gripe I have always had with the animated movie - Prince Eric was one of the flattest characters I had ever experienced in any form of media. Where I felt the live-action movie did a great job at fixing the problem and giving the character depth, I still found myself wishing for more.

Linsey Miller's Prince of Song & Sea gave me exactly what I wanted by reimagining Ariel's beloved Prince by telling the story from his point of view - with a twist: Eric was cursed by Ursula that he will die if he kisses someone who isn't his true love. This has left our prince with a fear of connection - afraid that even a kiss on the cheek from his mother would kill him. It's fascinating seeing Eric behind the awkward and distant facade - to the point it explains away all of the awkwardness we see in the animated movie.

In addition, the book gives so much life to the country of Vellona - a country I did not even know the name of until this book. There are customs, celebrations, and most importantly - superstitions. And those superstitions are the basis of this plot. Ghost ships, mermaids, and curses are the children's stories that become real - all through Ursula's meddling with the human world. However, despite the many problems - both supernatural and physical Vellona faces, Eric's love of his country shines through in all of his descriptions.

Ursula herself is the person I felt had the biggest change in the story - becoming a much eviler being than she was in the movie. Instead of only wanting the ocean - which was terrible enough - she wants to control both the land and sea. She paints herself as a victim, banished from Triton's court because she is more powerful than the king of the seas. However, her willingness to use dark magic and steal souls was the actual reason behind Triton's banishment - especially as it's revealed in the novel the more souls she can siphon power from, the more powerful she gets. It's an interesting way to look at dark magic and the horrors we saw Ursula accomplish within the original movie.

Ariel's characterization in the novel was also a highlight - brave, bold, and curious. I think my favorite thing about the way she was portrayed was how much wonder she found in everyday things. It was an excellent reminder to find joy in the little things, something I think humanity as a whole needs a reminder to do. In no way was her characterization lacking from the change in point of view, in fact, it was heartwarming to see the way she was described through Eric's eyes.

Overall, this book is a supernatural adventure set within the world we have longed to be a part of. We get crucial character development for Eric and a fascinating depiction of what would happen if Ursula wanted both the land and sea. And it's the first book in a series, I am very much looking forward to looking at Prince Phillip's perspective in the next book Prince of Thorns & Nightmares.

Prince of Song & Sea is available through Disney Books