What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula?
Rating: 4/5
What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula?
This is my fourth twisted tale!
Check out my reviews of the other twisted tales below!
This was fun and ended in such a cute happily ever after. Honestly, this was not at all what I was expecting. Especially this being my third twisted tale from Liz Braswell, and my fourth overall twisted tale. I thought I knew what to expect. I was expecting to read the same format as her previous books ~ A Whole New World and As Old As Time. Where those two started at a point like their movies, showing scenes basically word for word as they happened in the movie until a scene occurs where the twist happens usually within the beginning of the storyline.
Given the twist on the cover “What if Ariel never defeated Ursula?” We know this twist happens near the end of the storyline that we know. But I still expected the first part of the book to be like the other two, where it shows the twist and how it happened. Instead, we start the book in a timeline 5 years in the future with no explanation of what happened that day at the wedding.
We start the book in a timeline 5 years in the future with no explanation of what happened that day at the wedding.
Now, this different setup isn’t bad, it was refreshing, but also it had completely thrown me off from what I already knew from this author’s style. Though I will admit, I did miss reading those movie-like scenes. I was also bummed we never really learned the full events of that day at the wedding. We’re never told the full details of this twist, which was a bit of a disappointment. Especially since in the movie, everything led to Ariel getting her voice back and the battle against Ursula. Yeah, I’m really disappointed we didn’t get to read that scene and learn what happened…
This twist in a way, just kind of extended the timelines and added a whole new array of events to get them to a happily ever after. This style vaguely reminded me of Conceal, Don’t Feel. But that twist didn’t truly change the events that happened to the sisters. But it also ended in a happily ever after like its movie.
Though this twist in a way, just kind of extended the timelines and added a whole new array of events to get them to a happily ever after.
Another thing I was a bit surprised at was the lack of darkness. Braswell’s other two books that I’ve read, both were really dark in their own way. As Old As Time wasn’t nearly as dark as A Whole New World, but they were both dark to a degree. I didn’t see that same type of darkness with this one. So I’m again left confused with these twisted tales. I guess I’ll never be prepared for how it’s going to go. I’ll just have to go with the flow.
As for the story itself, I thought it was fun and cute. We got to see a new side of the world under the sea that we didn’t initially see in the original movie. We got to see Ariel interact with the dry world beyond spending time with Eric. It was fun and entertaining to read. I would love to see this version of The Little Mermaid made into a movie. It just adds a whole new level to the tale. Plus it was fun seeing Ariel as a more mature adult, in this new tale, she would probably be about 21.
It just adds a whole new level to the tale. Plus it was fun seeing Ariel as a more mature adult, in this new tale, she would probably be about 21.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this twisted tale. I couldn’t give it 5 stars because it didn’t feel like the other twisted tales. They got their happily ever after and it was cute, I loved seeing their story but I would have liked a little more from it. Maybe a little more darkness too! If you love fantasy especially with mermaids and The Little Mermaid, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
Keep an eye out for more of my reviews on these Twisted Tales!
This is my fourth twisted tale!
Check out my reviews of the other twisted tales below!