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The Mermaid's Tale
In a city of majesty and brutality, of warring races and fragile alliances, a sacred mermaid has been brutally murdered. An abomination, a soulless Arukh is summoned to hunt the killer. As the world around the Arukh drifts into war and madness, her search for justice leads her on a journey to discover redemption and even beauty in the midst of chaos.
The Mermaid's Tale is violent and brutal and haunting and beautiful.
The Mermaid's Tale is violent and brutal and haunting and beautiful.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
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352 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 23, 2017
4.5/5
“Insane, I knew. Words meant nothing, she was full of her own kind of madness. It would kill her, sooner or later.
Madness kills us all.”
**I received this novel for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Buddy read with Sir Twerks .
This book was wonderful. Seriously... What a beautiful story full of feels, violence and loads of good stuff. This novel definitely exceeded my expectations. I thought this book was gonna be shit. Plus it is shelved as a 'dark fantasy' so I was expecting just a standard grimdark. Actually no I expected a grimdark with mermaids? Which scares me.. I don't like mermaids, so I thought this book would be terrible and extremely cheesy, it did take a good 80 pages for me to be drawn into the story however I was wrong about it being shit and cheesy, I'm so happy I was wrong. This novel is so much more then just a 'Grimdark', it was so freaking amazing and it was literally an emotional roller coaster. I can't remember the last time I read something so full of feels, I know what your thinking... "This girl is always talking about the feels" I know I'm extra and always get the 'feels', but this novel was different, this novel made me laugh & more importantly cry. It got to the point where I would have to put the book down and just cry hysterically for like ten minutes then try to blow my nose for an hour. I have never felt feels like this. Not even joking or exaggerating, imagine someone grabbing your heart and squeezing it for fun, until it explodes. That's clearly what this book does to you. I couldn't take the feels. We always talk about feeling sympathy for characters, well I've never felt empathy like I have for the main character in this book. She's so goddamn precious, I hate this author, why is the author such a cruel man to make us feel this way? Why does he torture my precious Arukh endlessly. But anyway this book has definitely left a lasting impression on me and I'll be thinking about the story for a very long time.
You've never heard of this author?! Clearly you've been living under a rock.....
So have I, don't worry. This author is so unknown. Who even is D.G Valdron? When this book was recommended to me by one of my favourite authors (Fletcher because the dudes got good taste), I tried researching the man who wrote it, I literally found nothing. There's a blank goodreads page with no photo, 14 reviews on this book and that's it. Upon searching deeper I finally found his paperback edition of The Mermaids Tale, the book was $32. I thought to myself 'what the actual heck the pages must be made of solid gold or some shit'. Anyway that lead me to the publisher & I finally found a picture and some information on the author. He is literally a man of mystery and I'm so intrigued... Is he even real or what?! The real point im trying to get at is, that I have found a hidden gem & the publisher is willing to share the ebook for free for a whole entire two weeks to help with awareness, this novel is deserving of so much love and praise. It is so brilliantly written and the story itself is so wonderful. If you don't download it while it's for free, you missed your chance at discovering what a treasure this story is.
“What a strange pathetic mad thing she was.
We all were.”
So basically this novel is about a world at war. All races are warring against one another in a city full of brutality. Imagine a world with nearly every beast you've learnt about in mythology. Trolls, Mermaids, Selks, Kobolds, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Humans (obviously the rarest beasts of mythology, like who has ever seen or heard of a human before?), there's Giants, Vampires & Arukh (Orcs). There is a special magical race who are consider sacred, they are the Mermaids, born from Selks but permanently water bound. The Selks find a Mermaid murdered and call in an Arukh to investigate. The Arukh are abominations, prone to violence, soulless killers & basically scum of the earth. Our Main character soon finds out that she's on the hunt for a mass murderer who has a fetish for mutilating and raping their victims. But during her search for the killer the Arukh goes on a journey of self discovery and looks for her own redemption. This novel is hauntingly beautiful, heart breaking & will leave you breathless. Told in first person perspective this mystery novel is a must read for people who are not highly sensitive to graphic violence and rape. The writing is sensational, especially when you take into consideration the fact that this is pretty much a debut novel. I didn't come across any mistakes and found the writing to flow perfectly. The prose is definitely unique, I personally have never read anything like this novel before, its beautiful, lyrical, philosophical, flowery, wonderful & a journey of self discovery. I loved this story so much.
“What does Arukh mean?”
I sat on the dock again. The Mermaids were gathered in the water around me. I wasn’t sure which of them had asked.
“It is a word of the goblins. It means abomination. Abomination in the eyes of God.”
“Which God?”
“All of them.”
The emotions I had while reading this novel were so intense. The way the Arukh are treated tore me to shreds, our main Arukh lets the way other think of her define who she is, people think she's an animal so she herself thinks of herself as an abomination and an animal. By the end of the novel I was furious with the way Arukh are treated, especially my Arukh. She's so clever, kind, badass & doesn't kill mercilessly. I loved her and hate the way she was treated and hated reading about the on going battle she had with herself daily, it broke my heart. Imagine thinking of yourself as scum and an abomination but also protecting and caring for others, but then always thinking your not good enough to protect anyone and always knowing you'll be shun and tortured by others. Imagine every single person you ever meet instantly hating you because of your race? At some points in the novel I felt I was suffocating, this story definitely is confronting and sometimes hard to read, not because the writing is difficult to cipher but because it deals with things us humans hate to think about, the three main themes in this novel are; Rape, murder & racism.
Luckily there was some good stuff happening too, the journey of self discovery is inspiring and there a lot of humor thrown in to break up all the grim stuff happening "I saw one dwarf stick his buttocks out an upper floor and shit in the street.” there is talking shits “I had a dream,” the Vampire announced. “I dreamt that I squatted, and dropped a large piece of shit. And then it began to speak to me.”
“This was your dream?” I asked.” .
Also the mystery of the murderer in this novel keeps you guessing until the end, it's full of twists, unexpectedness & badassery. A fantastic novel that I will definitely read again soon and I can finally justify paying the $32 for the paperback edition.
“My chest felt full, like there was something inside trying to get out. My eyes were burning. I blinked again and again to clear them, but they still burned.”
😭😭😢
“This is why whenever you find an Arukh, it must be destroyed!”
I turned and fled.
Behind me, a Mermaid called, “we know.”
“Arrah!” I roared, running into the night.
They had destroyed me.”
Recommended to all fantasy fans. Please remember that this novel is a grimdark so if your a sensitive fucker stay away please.. there is themes of excessive rape (gang rape aswell), graphic violence & racism.
You can find this review and my other reviews at Booksprens.
September 6, 2017
“It’s hard to dream when someone is trying to cut your head off.”
Where’s the line between the animal and the human? What defines us as humans? I felt this book strike the core of this matter. Oh wow, what a read. This book is dark, engaging, a bit annoying, interesting and full of hard life. With a slight touch of light, shining in the horizon, while sitting near the ocean and listening for the Mermaid’s Tale…. What a tale.
I knew that this book is smth peculiar and it is for sure. Lets take the characters for example. A bunch of various creatures and only some humans. A strange main heroine. Or not a heroine? I liked this interestingly strange angle to look into the world of beasts to find the things which define us, humans. And be shocked at how true it is.
I’m not sure if I like the main heroine. At first she’s presented in a gripping way. Almost a twin sis of one of my faves in Malazan, Karsa Orlong. I liked to see her struggle in life, follow her through hardships and see the final outcome, who she became.
What kept me at bay from fangirling a bit and made the reading prolonged is that I felt that the book and the investigation is a bit longer than necessary, it felt dragging a bit. On the other hand, other side characters interested me a lot and I’d like to know more about them for sure. I mean, nowadays to find a not shiny-ass vampire is a treat and I found it in Mermaid’s tale. Also I liked the adaptation of Four Horsemen theme in the story.
A treat! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFAxJ...
The other creatures inhabiting Mermaid’s Tale are fascinating, colorful and multilayered. There are always lessons to be learnt not only about the world around us but also about the people who are in it. It was interesting to explore a part of it in this read.
To sum up, a great read nonetheless.
Where’s the line between the animal and the human? What defines us as humans? I felt this book strike the core of this matter. Oh wow, what a read. This book is dark, engaging, a bit annoying, interesting and full of hard life. With a slight touch of light, shining in the horizon, while sitting near the ocean and listening for the Mermaid’s Tale…. What a tale.
I knew that this book is smth peculiar and it is for sure. Lets take the characters for example. A bunch of various creatures and only some humans. A strange main heroine. Or not a heroine? I liked this interestingly strange angle to look into the world of beasts to find the things which define us, humans. And be shocked at how true it is.
I’m not sure if I like the main heroine. At first she’s presented in a gripping way. Almost a twin sis of one of my faves in Malazan, Karsa Orlong. I liked to see her struggle in life, follow her through hardships and see the final outcome, who she became.
What kept me at bay from fangirling a bit and made the reading prolonged is that I felt that the book and the investigation is a bit longer than necessary, it felt dragging a bit. On the other hand, other side characters interested me a lot and I’d like to know more about them for sure. I mean, nowadays to find a not shiny-ass vampire is a treat and I found it in Mermaid’s tale. Also I liked the adaptation of Four Horsemen theme in the story.
A treat! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFAxJ...
The other creatures inhabiting Mermaid’s Tale are fascinating, colorful and multilayered. There are always lessons to be learnt not only about the world around us but also about the people who are in it. It was interesting to explore a part of it in this read.
To sum up, a great read nonetheless.
August 23, 2017
This is exactly why I love to be on goodreads! This is NOT a known book and it caught my eye through Luna her updates ( you did a great job giving it the attention it deserves). I kinda put this on my vacation read list, and I started ahead ( vacation starts end of the week ) cause I couldnt choose one of the physical books I still want to read. Man am I glad it turned out this way :)
Im not an extensie reviewer so Ill just put down how Ive experienced this book. And I give it 4.5 stars.
The world has all the cool fantasy creatures you want, even vampires! And naive, horny mermaids :D
The plot is told through a female Arukh (Orc), and she is an amazing badass. Arukh are at the bottom only to be used and discarded in the society in this world. They are simple minded and full of violence (rape scene included). But then you have our heroine Arukh thats in the spotlight. And she is smart. And you grow on her quickly and the most beautiful part is how she grows and learns things during her search for the murderer. Its amazing how DG Valdron managed to let you experience the growth so vividly and full of emotion. Cause honestly...the only emotion Arukh have is hate. And yet our Arukh surpassed that and is slowly becoming more whole.
The journey she goes through to find the murderer ( yes its a murder mystery a la Tolkien xD ) starts slow and you start to get the grasp of how the world works, how the races see eachother and there is war. Right when I thought that it might start to drag it picked up the pace again ( anyway enough for me to keep engrossed ). She quickly starts piecing things together, and it was exciting! And the journey is NOT easy, she is hated because she is Arukh. And gets totally misunderstood and beaten. But she is resilient, and keeps going. Knowing and believing she is right! And she is...and Im totally fan girling...cause fudge who WOULDNT! <3333
Highly recommended if you like fantasy, mystery, crime, grimdark. The writing is vivid and captivating.
Im not an extensie reviewer so Ill just put down how Ive experienced this book. And I give it 4.5 stars.
The world has all the cool fantasy creatures you want, even vampires! And naive, horny mermaids :D
The plot is told through a female Arukh (Orc), and she is an amazing badass. Arukh are at the bottom only to be used and discarded in the society in this world. They are simple minded and full of violence (rape scene included). But then you have our heroine Arukh thats in the spotlight. And she is smart. And you grow on her quickly and the most beautiful part is how she grows and learns things during her search for the murderer. Its amazing how DG Valdron managed to let you experience the growth so vividly and full of emotion. Cause honestly...the only emotion Arukh have is hate. And yet our Arukh surpassed that and is slowly becoming more whole.
The journey she goes through to find the murderer ( yes its a murder mystery a la Tolkien xD ) starts slow and you start to get the grasp of how the world works, how the races see eachother and there is war. Right when I thought that it might start to drag it picked up the pace again ( anyway enough for me to keep engrossed ). She quickly starts piecing things together, and it was exciting! And the journey is NOT easy, she is hated because she is Arukh. And gets totally misunderstood and beaten. But she is resilient, and keeps going. Knowing and believing she is right! And she is...and Im totally fan girling...cause fudge who WOULDNT! <3333
Highly recommended if you like fantasy, mystery, crime, grimdark. The writing is vivid and captivating.
September 20, 2017
Okay, first of all who the heck is D.G. Valdron?!
About the Author
Den Valdron, is a reclusive writer, originally from New Brunswick, currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over the years, he has published in print and online a variety of short stories of speculative fiction, and articles on obscure pop culture topics. Like many writers, his previous occupations have included mechanic, carpenter, schoolteacher, journalist and ditch-digger. He is currently an aboriginal rights lawyer. He loves B-movies and tries to be nice to people. The Mermaid’s Tale is his first published novel.
I know we usually see the “About the Author” bit at the end of a book and/or review but I wanted to put it first in my review today. Why? Because I want to hear more from this author soon!
D.G. Valdron’s The Mermaid’s Tale feels like a new and fresh experience in the fantasy genre. It features all the species that fantasy lovers are used to and some we don’t get to see often; vampires, orcs, giants, trolls, hobgoblins, goblins, dwarves, selkies, mermaids… But these species are not cut from the same cloth we are used to and this time we are reading it from the POV of a female “arukh.” How frickin’ fantastic is that?!
What is an “arukh” you ask? Well, it’s another word for orc, defined here as a mixed breed, a cross between a vampire and a goblin, and these arukh do not have names. Arukh is what they are! The different species fall into levels in society and the arukh are at the bottom of the totem pole, known as soulless abominations. The arukh life is one of brutality, often at its own hands. They are a very violent species, full of anger and hatred at all things, which can come in very useful. The dominant species see them as tools for the dirty work. After all, they aren’t afraid of anything, they are mad, bad and dangerous to be around.
The female arukh in question has been summoned to the waterside where the mermaids reside. One of the mermaids has been butchered in a brutal fashion and this particular arukh is known for her smarts in these matters. As the arukh works to unravel this murder mystery, we follow along with her and learn more about this crazy world of hers.
Make no mistake; The Mermaid’s Tale does contain violence and graphic sexual situations. This is a dark world, one of danger on all sides, teetering on the brink of a war between the species. It’s also balanced with some hilarious banter with mermaids regarding sex and general playfulness. The arukh’s interactions are captivating and her journey of self-discovery makes this one of the best books I’ve read this year. So yes, I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
I want to thank the publisher (Five Rivers Publishing) for providing me with the ARC through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program for an honest review.
5 ghosts
About the Author
Den Valdron, is a reclusive writer, originally from New Brunswick, currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over the years, he has published in print and online a variety of short stories of speculative fiction, and articles on obscure pop culture topics. Like many writers, his previous occupations have included mechanic, carpenter, schoolteacher, journalist and ditch-digger. He is currently an aboriginal rights lawyer. He loves B-movies and tries to be nice to people. The Mermaid’s Tale is his first published novel.
I know we usually see the “About the Author” bit at the end of a book and/or review but I wanted to put it first in my review today. Why? Because I want to hear more from this author soon!
D.G. Valdron’s The Mermaid’s Tale feels like a new and fresh experience in the fantasy genre. It features all the species that fantasy lovers are used to and some we don’t get to see often; vampires, orcs, giants, trolls, hobgoblins, goblins, dwarves, selkies, mermaids… But these species are not cut from the same cloth we are used to and this time we are reading it from the POV of a female “arukh.” How frickin’ fantastic is that?!
What is an “arukh” you ask? Well, it’s another word for orc, defined here as a mixed breed, a cross between a vampire and a goblin, and these arukh do not have names. Arukh is what they are! The different species fall into levels in society and the arukh are at the bottom of the totem pole, known as soulless abominations. The arukh life is one of brutality, often at its own hands. They are a very violent species, full of anger and hatred at all things, which can come in very useful. The dominant species see them as tools for the dirty work. After all, they aren’t afraid of anything, they are mad, bad and dangerous to be around.
The female arukh in question has been summoned to the waterside where the mermaids reside. One of the mermaids has been butchered in a brutal fashion and this particular arukh is known for her smarts in these matters. As the arukh works to unravel this murder mystery, we follow along with her and learn more about this crazy world of hers.
Make no mistake; The Mermaid’s Tale does contain violence and graphic sexual situations. This is a dark world, one of danger on all sides, teetering on the brink of a war between the species. It’s also balanced with some hilarious banter with mermaids regarding sex and general playfulness. The arukh’s interactions are captivating and her journey of self-discovery makes this one of the best books I’ve read this year. So yes, I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
I want to thank the publisher (Five Rivers Publishing) for providing me with the ARC through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program for an honest review.
5 ghosts
April 30, 2016
If after I die, anyone remembers me as an editor, it will be for bringing this book to market.
April 8, 2023
Boy, this book really packs a punch. What a fantastically unique fantasy story.
This book won’t be for a lot of people. There are trigger warnings for a lot of things.
Review to come on my channel.
This book won’t be for a lot of people. There are trigger warnings for a lot of things.
Review to come on my channel.
July 8, 2016
I was given this book for free through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.
I'll admit that this book is quite far out of my comfort zone. It is a genre that I rarely read and within the first few pages, assumed that I would not be able to enjoy. But I was so wrong. This story is raw and painful and in many places quite ugly. There is war and murder and rage. But the story starts to weave so intricately that it draws you in and makes you feel invested in it.
The main character is from a race that is completely discounted by all others, not even allowed to be an afterthought...not even given the recognition of being alive though they live and breathe and die like the rest. But she is hired to do a job - investigate the murder of a mermaid - and as she works to fulfill her obligation she starts to become self aware. And this in a world where no one will give her any credit for even having a life of any value, much less credit for self awareness. So we have two plots progressing in a parallel manner - a murder investigation and our main character starting to realize that she does hold value in the world and why should she accept that she does not, simply because that is the consensus of others? In the end, even those who see her as vile see that they have some lessons to learn about the others they share their world with and their views on those different from them.
I'll also say that it was quite refreshing to see a story this brutal have a female for the lead character. She certainly doesn't use her feminine wiles to get ahead - as she has none. But she is strong and confident and is able to survive using her ever growing wit and intelligence to get her through.
A very good read - 5 stars.
I'll admit that this book is quite far out of my comfort zone. It is a genre that I rarely read and within the first few pages, assumed that I would not be able to enjoy. But I was so wrong. This story is raw and painful and in many places quite ugly. There is war and murder and rage. But the story starts to weave so intricately that it draws you in and makes you feel invested in it.
The main character is from a race that is completely discounted by all others, not even allowed to be an afterthought...not even given the recognition of being alive though they live and breathe and die like the rest. But she is hired to do a job - investigate the murder of a mermaid - and as she works to fulfill her obligation she starts to become self aware. And this in a world where no one will give her any credit for even having a life of any value, much less credit for self awareness. So we have two plots progressing in a parallel manner - a murder investigation and our main character starting to realize that she does hold value in the world and why should she accept that she does not, simply because that is the consensus of others? In the end, even those who see her as vile see that they have some lessons to learn about the others they share their world with and their views on those different from them.
I'll also say that it was quite refreshing to see a story this brutal have a female for the lead character. She certainly doesn't use her feminine wiles to get ahead - as she has none. But she is strong and confident and is able to survive using her ever growing wit and intelligence to get her through.
A very good read - 5 stars.
May 6, 2023
This is a completely unique and different fantasy book. It's presented through the eyes of a female Orc who is limited in her ability to communicate and understand the world around her.
I found it daunting in the beginning to understand everything that was happening but step by step I got immersed in this fantastical world and in the Orc's thought process. It's not an easy book to read and requires much attention from the reader but it is worth it.
The world is also very interesting, full of different creatures (mermaids obviously, Trolls, goblins, dwarves and many more) and very well constructed.
This is basically a murder mystery but the author tackles many other issues in the process, mainly racism.
My main issue was that the murder mystery felt at times a bit repititive and that hurt the pacing a bit, especially in the first half of the book.
I think that experienced fantasy readers should definitely check this one out. There were some scenes extremely strong that will stick with me for a long time (be warned that there is a very uncomfortable sexual assault scene).
The Mermaid's Tale is the definition of underrated book and I hope more people experince this powerful journey.
7,4/10
I found it daunting in the beginning to understand everything that was happening but step by step I got immersed in this fantastical world and in the Orc's thought process. It's not an easy book to read and requires much attention from the reader but it is worth it.
The world is also very interesting, full of different creatures (mermaids obviously, Trolls, goblins, dwarves and many more) and very well constructed.
This is basically a murder mystery but the author tackles many other issues in the process, mainly racism.
My main issue was that the murder mystery felt at times a bit repititive and that hurt the pacing a bit, especially in the first half of the book.
I think that experienced fantasy readers should definitely check this one out. There were some scenes extremely strong that will stick with me for a long time (be warned that there is a very uncomfortable sexual assault scene).
The Mermaid's Tale is the definition of underrated book and I hope more people experince this powerful journey.
7,4/10
May 16, 2020
The Mermaid’s Tale is a thought-provoking book. But before I get into those thoughts, a few disclosures. I share a publisher with Den, Five River’s Publishing, and I’m a tiny bit acquainted with him, virtually at least. We’re both members of SF Canada, Canada’s National Association of SF professionals. And editor Robert Runte edited both our books when he was Senior Editor of Five Rivers. I don’t believe any of those factors has influenced my opinion of The Mermaid’s Tale.
I’ve been curious about this book for a while because there is some buzz about it. People are talking about it, writing about it. After The Mermaid’s Tale came out, I read comments by others that suggested this book was a cut above. On Goodreads and in emails. So I went into this book with high hopes. I wanted to like it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Sometimes when I give a book a five star rating it’s not because I think it’s the best book ever written. Sometimes I’m employing other criteria. Maybe I think it’s a five star book for that author, or there’s some other quality about the book that elevates it to five star status. You may not agree with this approach. I don’t care—it’s my approach, refined over time. Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that in this case I’m giving The Mermaid’s Tale five stars because I think it actually deserves five stars. I think it’s a five star book.
The Mermaid’s Tale is about orcs and dwarves and goblins and hobgoblins and vampires and giants and trolls. I already knew this wasn’t going to be your usual mermaid, orc, troll story because it’s Den and because of the buzz around the book. This book contains these sorts of fantasy/horror characters, and that might make it sound juvenile, but I assure you it’s not. One of the many strengths of the book is the spin it puts on all of that. These aren’t the mermaids, orcs and trolls we grew up with. They serve a purpose. They have much more depth. We feel for them. Boy do we feel for them.
The book is from a small independent publisher. Like I said earlier, it's one that I share with Den. It’s print-on-demand so individual print copies might be a bit more expensive than you’re used to, but I considered it worth it. I actually bought this book twice: first the inexpensive e-book version, then, because I realized I don’t like reading e-books, the print version. I’m glad I did. The print copy looks and feels great and was a pleasure to read.
You might be asking yourself: who is Den Valdron? This is a bit of a problem for Den and authors like him. When you're not a name author, few are going out of their way to find books by you. So who is Den? He’s an aboriginal rights lawyer originally from the Maritimes in Canada. A man who’d probably rather spend most of his time writing but can’t because you can’t make a living writing these days, with rare exceptions. So he can’t pump out as much material as required to make an impression. He could be a Stephen King but he’s not as prolific and hasn’t pulled off a Carrie yet. But he might—just give him time.
Den won’t break out with this book, I expect. It’s special, all right, but it’s got a jaw-dropping act of violence near the beginning that I suspect some people won’t be able to get past. I can imagine it would be pretty triggering for some. It reminded me of a scene in one of Stephen R. Donaldson’s books, Lord Foul’s Bane, that I first read when I was about seventeen, and that almost made me stop reading that book, I was so outraged. The scene in Den’s book did not make me stop reading it, but I wondered about it. I wanted to understand its place in the book. It’s not random, it’s not gratuitous, it’s ugly and horrible. It’s integral to the plot, to the characters, to the theme. It would not be the same book without it. It’s referenced later in the book. It speaks directly to the characters’ pain. It’s tragic and awful and something that happens in the real world and therefore merits inclusion. How do we deal with such violence if we simply bury it, refuse to acknowledge its existence, and don't talk about it in our art?
The Mermaid’s Tale deals directly with such violence. This is a story about characters who live in a violent world. It’s a story about the impact of that violence on them. It’s a story about characters who must live with the knowledge that they are reviled by everyone around them. Everyone, even themselves. It’s a story about the corrosive impact of that terrible knowledge upon them. But this isn't just fantasy; all of that violence and hatred exists in our own world too. This is a reflection of that, and forces us to reflect upon that fact.
I should probably also mention that it’s a murder mystery, but, although important and well executed, and it’s the mystery that provides the scaffolding, that aspect is almost incidental. It’s the story, but not what the story’s actually about. The Mermaid’s Tale is greater than the sum of its parts.
We live in a world saturated with art and entertainment. It’s a golden age for television. A century's worth of films to choose from. Hundreds of thousands of books published every single year. Much of this art and entertainment is very good, some of it sublime, created by gifted people know what they’re doing. We can’t possibly sample even a fraction of it. Like the unnamed protagonist in The Mermaid’s Tale who doesn’t stand much of a chance in her world, a violent book about an orc by an unknown author from a small publisher may not stand much a chance in this world.
And that's a shame, because a book of this calibre deserves to be much more widely read.
I’ve been curious about this book for a while because there is some buzz about it. People are talking about it, writing about it. After The Mermaid’s Tale came out, I read comments by others that suggested this book was a cut above. On Goodreads and in emails. So I went into this book with high hopes. I wanted to like it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Sometimes when I give a book a five star rating it’s not because I think it’s the best book ever written. Sometimes I’m employing other criteria. Maybe I think it’s a five star book for that author, or there’s some other quality about the book that elevates it to five star status. You may not agree with this approach. I don’t care—it’s my approach, refined over time. Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that in this case I’m giving The Mermaid’s Tale five stars because I think it actually deserves five stars. I think it’s a five star book.
The Mermaid’s Tale is about orcs and dwarves and goblins and hobgoblins and vampires and giants and trolls. I already knew this wasn’t going to be your usual mermaid, orc, troll story because it’s Den and because of the buzz around the book. This book contains these sorts of fantasy/horror characters, and that might make it sound juvenile, but I assure you it’s not. One of the many strengths of the book is the spin it puts on all of that. These aren’t the mermaids, orcs and trolls we grew up with. They serve a purpose. They have much more depth. We feel for them. Boy do we feel for them.
The book is from a small independent publisher. Like I said earlier, it's one that I share with Den. It’s print-on-demand so individual print copies might be a bit more expensive than you’re used to, but I considered it worth it. I actually bought this book twice: first the inexpensive e-book version, then, because I realized I don’t like reading e-books, the print version. I’m glad I did. The print copy looks and feels great and was a pleasure to read.
You might be asking yourself: who is Den Valdron? This is a bit of a problem for Den and authors like him. When you're not a name author, few are going out of their way to find books by you. So who is Den? He’s an aboriginal rights lawyer originally from the Maritimes in Canada. A man who’d probably rather spend most of his time writing but can’t because you can’t make a living writing these days, with rare exceptions. So he can’t pump out as much material as required to make an impression. He could be a Stephen King but he’s not as prolific and hasn’t pulled off a Carrie yet. But he might—just give him time.
Den won’t break out with this book, I expect. It’s special, all right, but it’s got a jaw-dropping act of violence near the beginning that I suspect some people won’t be able to get past. I can imagine it would be pretty triggering for some. It reminded me of a scene in one of Stephen R. Donaldson’s books, Lord Foul’s Bane, that I first read when I was about seventeen, and that almost made me stop reading that book, I was so outraged. The scene in Den’s book did not make me stop reading it, but I wondered about it. I wanted to understand its place in the book. It’s not random, it’s not gratuitous, it’s ugly and horrible. It’s integral to the plot, to the characters, to the theme. It would not be the same book without it. It’s referenced later in the book. It speaks directly to the characters’ pain. It’s tragic and awful and something that happens in the real world and therefore merits inclusion. How do we deal with such violence if we simply bury it, refuse to acknowledge its existence, and don't talk about it in our art?
The Mermaid’s Tale deals directly with such violence. This is a story about characters who live in a violent world. It’s a story about the impact of that violence on them. It’s a story about characters who must live with the knowledge that they are reviled by everyone around them. Everyone, even themselves. It’s a story about the corrosive impact of that terrible knowledge upon them. But this isn't just fantasy; all of that violence and hatred exists in our own world too. This is a reflection of that, and forces us to reflect upon that fact.
I should probably also mention that it’s a murder mystery, but, although important and well executed, and it’s the mystery that provides the scaffolding, that aspect is almost incidental. It’s the story, but not what the story’s actually about. The Mermaid’s Tale is greater than the sum of its parts.
We live in a world saturated with art and entertainment. It’s a golden age for television. A century's worth of films to choose from. Hundreds of thousands of books published every single year. Much of this art and entertainment is very good, some of it sublime, created by gifted people know what they’re doing. We can’t possibly sample even a fraction of it. Like the unnamed protagonist in The Mermaid’s Tale who doesn’t stand much of a chance in her world, a violent book about an orc by an unknown author from a small publisher may not stand much a chance in this world.
And that's a shame, because a book of this calibre deserves to be much more widely read.
February 20, 2020
Well worth a read. It has minor flaws but makes out for them with a unique world-building and fascinating protagonist.
The language isn’t sophisticated but it can’t be - DG Valdron has written the book from the point of view of an Orc (known also as Arukh, Hagrik, and many other terms that, in this world, translate as abomination). The Arukh have no names, and other races treat them as soulless monstrosities. The story’s protagonist and her beliefs about the world are challenged as she tries to solve the mystery of a killed mermaid. Her view of the world is simple, violent and brutal. Because of this, she makes a lot of mistakes.
The story is raw, painful, dark, and uncompromising. Despite the slower beginning, it quickly engaged my attention and made me root for the main character. Her understanding of herself and the world increases as the story progresses and it’s a fascinating journey.
Edit: read in 2017. It was a poorly written review. This one isn't much better but communicates the same message more concisely :)
The language isn’t sophisticated but it can’t be - DG Valdron has written the book from the point of view of an Orc (known also as Arukh, Hagrik, and many other terms that, in this world, translate as abomination). The Arukh have no names, and other races treat them as soulless monstrosities. The story’s protagonist and her beliefs about the world are challenged as she tries to solve the mystery of a killed mermaid. Her view of the world is simple, violent and brutal. Because of this, she makes a lot of mistakes.
The story is raw, painful, dark, and uncompromising. Despite the slower beginning, it quickly engaged my attention and made me root for the main character. Her understanding of herself and the world increases as the story progresses and it’s a fascinating journey.
Edit: read in 2017. It was a poorly written review. This one isn't much better but communicates the same message more concisely :)
July 30, 2016
The Mermaid’s Tale is a fable of personhood wrapped in a murder mystery framed by a fantasy setting, peopled by familiar races that are presented in subtly original ways.
Valdron’s protagonist has no name. Most Arukh (orcs) don’t. The few that have been so graced have earned their names by distinguishing themselves from their mad and murderous brethren. Each race has its own name for the Arukh, but all of them translate to either abomination, or abortion.
The Arukh are the sterile offspring of vampires and goblins and considered to be soulless. They are housed in lodges and governed by trolls, dwarves, or vampires and are largely used as expendable troops in warfare, which the various races engage in frequently with one another.
Something horrible has happened, though. A mermaid, one of a race considered sacred, has been brutally murdered. The selk call upon the Arukh to investigate and find the killer. It is implied that this particular Arukh is known for her skill in this area, but not why.
As she investigates, the trail of the killer leads the Arukh to each of the races in turn and the world is eventually fleshed out very cleverly in the form of told tales and legends. The mystery is what first draws readers in, but the world and its stories are what compel readers to continue turning pages.
Valdron’s world is a young one of unmitigated violence and the Arukh’s life is one of degradation. She fails repeatedly in her quest and makes many wrong assumptions, but for all that, the story itself is one of hope and redemption and the climax and denouement are both satisfying and bittersweet.
Readers will be left wanting more (moar!) of Valdron’s world and more of his surprisingly complex protagonist.
I lurved The Mermaid’s Tale.
Valdron’s protagonist has no name. Most Arukh (orcs) don’t. The few that have been so graced have earned their names by distinguishing themselves from their mad and murderous brethren. Each race has its own name for the Arukh, but all of them translate to either abomination, or abortion.
The Arukh are the sterile offspring of vampires and goblins and considered to be soulless. They are housed in lodges and governed by trolls, dwarves, or vampires and are largely used as expendable troops in warfare, which the various races engage in frequently with one another.
Something horrible has happened, though. A mermaid, one of a race considered sacred, has been brutally murdered. The selk call upon the Arukh to investigate and find the killer. It is implied that this particular Arukh is known for her skill in this area, but not why.
As she investigates, the trail of the killer leads the Arukh to each of the races in turn and the world is eventually fleshed out very cleverly in the form of told tales and legends. The mystery is what first draws readers in, but the world and its stories are what compel readers to continue turning pages.
Valdron’s world is a young one of unmitigated violence and the Arukh’s life is one of degradation. She fails repeatedly in her quest and makes many wrong assumptions, but for all that, the story itself is one of hope and redemption and the climax and denouement are both satisfying and bittersweet.
Readers will be left wanting more (moar!) of Valdron’s world and more of his surprisingly complex protagonist.
I lurved The Mermaid’s Tale.
June 13, 2016
A truly interesting read, at first I though it was going to be a two or three star book but it captivates as it progresses.
One of the few books that see the world from that cannon fodder, the Orc. Yes, this book is about Orcs and just about every other race (vampires (not the usual), trolls goblins ......), the mermaids only briefly coming into it. The world building is a basic framework allowing your imagination to fill in the blanks and the main character (no name - read the book to find out more) really develops as the story progresses.
Fantasy fans, read this book for a different perspective, I can guarantee you will be thinking about it for a long wile after you have read the last word. A;lso please write a review as this is one book I am interested in other folks opinion.
One of the few books that see the world from that cannon fodder, the Orc. Yes, this book is about Orcs and just about every other race (vampires (not the usual), trolls goblins ......), the mermaids only briefly coming into it. The world building is a basic framework allowing your imagination to fill in the blanks and the main character (no name - read the book to find out more) really develops as the story progresses.
Fantasy fans, read this book for a different perspective, I can guarantee you will be thinking about it for a long wile after you have read the last word. A;lso please write a review as this is one book I am interested in other folks opinion.
January 7, 2022
D.G. Valdron's 'The Mermaid's Tale' was a completely unexpected read. When I began the book, I never thought I'd come to love the lowly Arukh, a kind of female orc. The story of her investigation into a mermaid's murder led me on a journey that, along with the protagonist, had me questioning everything I think I know about life. Who we are, what we value, and an extraordinary quality, disguised in the ordinary, that causes one to rise above their circumstances, perhaps even their nature, to change the status quo. When I was done the book, I was overwhelmed by emotion. D.G. Valdron, I eagerly await your next book.
August 25, 2016
I absolutely loved this book; it's already one I know I'll remember for a long time. I would never have thought a book about an orc would be one of the best existential works I've ever read. The world building was very well done and the main character's evolution was super engaging. I read it in two days, I couldn't put it down.
August 24, 2020
I'm going to just give you the straight dish to save you the trouble of reading through the rest of this: the Mermaid's Tale is my favorite fantasy book of all time, and it's not even particularly close. It may well be in my top-ten all time favorite books, full stop.
There's so much to this book it's difficult to know where to begin. Let me say this - despite what the title (and the font of the title) may suggest, this is not a Young Adult book, or at least it's the kind of book that young adults should be reading in secret, wide eyed and terrified. It deals with some incredibly rough subject matter, and gets this out of the way within the first dozen pages. It tells the reader very clearly what it is, and if it's too much for you than I'm afraid that it doesn't get lighter as it goes on.
The book centers around a mystery - the killing of a sacred being, a mermaid. To solve this mystery, an Orc is enlisted. The Orc's of this univere are universally despised, seen as little better than animals if not worse - and indeed, they generally act like animals.
The book is set in a primordial city, the first city in the world. Here, various fantasy races exist in an uneasy state of truce that is constantly degenerating into war and politics. In the course of trying to solve this mystery, our heroine becomes embroiled in some of these conflicts.
If we want to talk about some of the more basic elements - the fantasy world itself is fascinating. Certainly some of the best world-building I've ever seen in a fantasy novel. The book often descend into long, meandering pasage as our heroine observes the peoples around her, their conversation and their manner, their culture and outlook on the world. Not only is each culture well written and fascinating in its own right, but once the pieces of what exactly this world is comes together you learn to appreciate it on a much deeper level. Playing with classical fantasy elements, twisting them into familiar yet novel shapes, is a very old game by this point, but I have never seen it done as well as it was here.
The writing and the plot are fantastic. The author's style is inimitable, the way he is able to slip into the shoes of the Orc uncanny. The mystery of it keeps you guessing and keeps you enthralled, the world around the heroine never ceases to fascinate. It's exciting, it's funny when it needs to be, but above all it's dark. It's a deeply haunting book - many of the passages in it have stuck with me for years. I first read it four years ago, an entirely different person, and yet I still find that it brings me to tears at points.
It's an assertion of humanity. What does it mean to be a human? How is our humanity stripped away from us, how do we strip it from others - and how can we get it back?
If you like dark fantasy, this book is an absolute must-read. That's not hyperbole, that's not exaggeration. Though it is fantastic as a piece of speculative fiction, as a piece of genre fiction, it often surpasses that limiting category into being something else entirely. Something deeply horrific, deeply sad, deeply moving.
Read the Mermaid's Tale.
There's so much to this book it's difficult to know where to begin. Let me say this - despite what the title (and the font of the title) may suggest, this is not a Young Adult book, or at least it's the kind of book that young adults should be reading in secret, wide eyed and terrified. It deals with some incredibly rough subject matter, and gets this out of the way within the first dozen pages. It tells the reader very clearly what it is, and if it's too much for you than I'm afraid that it doesn't get lighter as it goes on.
The book centers around a mystery - the killing of a sacred being, a mermaid. To solve this mystery, an Orc is enlisted. The Orc's of this univere are universally despised, seen as little better than animals if not worse - and indeed, they generally act like animals.
The book is set in a primordial city, the first city in the world. Here, various fantasy races exist in an uneasy state of truce that is constantly degenerating into war and politics. In the course of trying to solve this mystery, our heroine becomes embroiled in some of these conflicts.
If we want to talk about some of the more basic elements - the fantasy world itself is fascinating. Certainly some of the best world-building I've ever seen in a fantasy novel. The book often descend into long, meandering pasage as our heroine observes the peoples around her, their conversation and their manner, their culture and outlook on the world. Not only is each culture well written and fascinating in its own right, but once the pieces of what exactly this world is comes together you learn to appreciate it on a much deeper level. Playing with classical fantasy elements, twisting them into familiar yet novel shapes, is a very old game by this point, but I have never seen it done as well as it was here.
The writing and the plot are fantastic. The author's style is inimitable, the way he is able to slip into the shoes of the Orc uncanny. The mystery of it keeps you guessing and keeps you enthralled, the world around the heroine never ceases to fascinate. It's exciting, it's funny when it needs to be, but above all it's dark. It's a deeply haunting book - many of the passages in it have stuck with me for years. I first read it four years ago, an entirely different person, and yet I still find that it brings me to tears at points.
It's an assertion of humanity. What does it mean to be a human? How is our humanity stripped away from us, how do we strip it from others - and how can we get it back?
If you like dark fantasy, this book is an absolute must-read. That's not hyperbole, that's not exaggeration. Though it is fantastic as a piece of speculative fiction, as a piece of genre fiction, it often surpasses that limiting category into being something else entirely. Something deeply horrific, deeply sad, deeply moving.
Read the Mermaid's Tale.
unfinished-try-again-later
December 24, 2018I don’t think I can do it. I don’t think I can finish this audiobook. I’ve tried so many times in the past year and I just can’t get into it. I don’t know if it’s the narrator alone or the language involved in the story or both that’s putting me off but I just can’t seem to get through it. There’s a lot of gore and war but not a lot of clarity. The mystery aspect is interesting as is the fact that the protagonist seems to be of a race that’s not just looked down upon but basically shunned by all the rest but something is just making listening to this like pulling teeth for me. I’m going to give it one more try in this next week before the year is up and if I can’t get all the way through I’m shelving it for good.
Read
August 3, 2019Good
July 7, 2020
I read this because I saw someone mention how dark it was. It was certainly dark and twisted.
August 19, 2020
Great standalone book. It is certainly grim dark but the blunt humor evens it out. But the ending is triumphantly hopeful
August 11, 2021
Very imaginative and graphic, it lacked a compelling narrative.
August 11, 2022
I imagine this book had been written by someone that records snuff films in his basement.
October 16, 2023
Great story , dark and atmospheric, brutal and has a great message, unique setting and writing style.
Underrated gem, highly recommend if you like a dark fantasy story.
Underrated gem, highly recommend if you like a dark fantasy story.
January 22, 2021
This book features incredible world-building and brilliant explorations into some of the most important themes of the human experience: the relationship of the individual to the community, the relationship of identity to society, the psychological impacts of racism and tribalism, the universality of experience, and most of all, the power and beauty of empathy. These themes are woven in seamlessly with the narrative without losing any of their power in a way that seems personal and actionable rather than abstract. More than just an entertaining read, I feel like The Mermaid's Tale will make me a better a person.
July 14, 2021
I genuinely love this book. While it is dark and heavy, very heavy. It was and is a fresh breath of air when it comes to classical fantasy creatures, it shapes and twists them in a way that did not feel boring or tired, something completely new. I found the story to be heartbreaking and gut wrenching yet I would laugh every other sentence. The creatures and world lore were more than interesting. It does have a lot of vulgarity but that just adds to the depth of the world. Fair warning though, some of the subjects touched on are very difficult. Beautiful story, definitely want more of this author.
January 6, 2019
This is my #1 book of all time!
January 2, 2024
Best book I've read in a while. I didn't realize how deep and complex this one was going to be.
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