Book Review for The Mermaid Riot by Joy E. Held

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form. 

The Mermaid Riot, by Joy E. Held, is a historical fantasy about what happens when humans try to impose their will on the natural world, regardless of whether their conflicts are with other humans or creatures beyond their understanding. One night, Dr. Nathaniel Trask accidentally captures a mermaid. In the hopes of remediating his financial situation, Trask decides to study the mermaid and enlists the help of Tobias “Tobi” Doyle with his investment. Meanwhile, Tobi finds himself becoming enchanted with the creature as he tries to find ways to keep her alive and thriving for Trask’s observations. In the background is Serena Robinson, a local aristocrat suspicious of Tobi’s endeavors, though desperate all the same to reconnect with her old childhood friend. Once she realizes what Tobi and Trask are doing, she becomes frightened by the danger the mermaid is in and soon finds herself and Tobi trying to keep from being ensnared.

I absolutely loved the backdrop of post-Civil War South Carolina. It reminded me of Southern goth stories where people attempted to cling to their fortunes, anguished for what they once had. This was seen with the feud between Serena and Tobi’s families, and how much of an income gap there appears to be between the haves and the have-nots. The fact that Serena can think about going to college and having a life outside of Kingston shows just how far removed she is from financial disaster. It’s clear that she sees it, and she’s empathetic towards it. But it’s still a detail that definitely plays into the dynamics of Serena and Tobi’s relationship.

Speaking of which, I enjoyed how cute and awkward the main couple’s interactions were. Serena and Tobi obviously have feelings for each other, and it’s because of those feelings that Tobi hasn’t succumbed to Mari-Morgan’s charms. I also appreciated how Serena was able to understand what exactly Mari-Morgan was doing and use her wiles to get her home. Did it sever their connection completely? No, but both she and Mari-Morgan left the wonder in Tobi’s mind. As strange as this sounds, I don’t blame Mari-Morgan for her actions; if she were in any other story, she would’ve been our Little Mermaid happily finding her prince. But unfortunately, she fell into the hands of Trask, and even she recognizes how dire of a situation she was in. 

Something that stood out to me was how much a majority of the female characters knew as opposed to their male counterparts. The Root Seller Woman and Rosie knew the implications of having a mermaid on shore. They understood what must be done to help Serena and Tobi, no matter what hole they dug for themselves. Serena and Mari-Morgan knew more than what they were letting on, though Serena initially having close ties to the mermaids did not help things at all. It seems Held heavily leans on the idea that women have been closer to the (un)natural world than men and that, when trying to understand it, men allow their pride to get in the way, thus destroying whatever’s beautiful spiritually. Trask, Serena’s father, and even Professor Ludwig are detractors of the boundaries that humans and mermaids have. Hopefully, Tobias can change that; at least the ending seems to give us that. I agree with Serena as well when she consoles Tobi. After all, “just because some grownups chose to deceive us to boost their egos doesn’t mean you and I have to play their games.”

I enjoyed this book, and as such, would give it a 5 out of 5 stars.