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The Mermaid's Revenge
Terrified of the world, Sylvia lives with her mother in a luxury penthouse apartment. For Sylvia, everything is a cause for fear and panic. Isolated and friendless, she has no interest in the outside world at all. And then, one day, her mother unveils her latest purchase.
A mermaid.
A real, live mermaid, captured and placed in a water tank.
For Sylvia, the mermaid is both terrifying and fascinating. Repulsive and beautiful. Soon, however, Sylvia discovers that the mermaid hasn't just been brought to London so it can be put on display. And as the mermaid makes plans to escape its terrible fate, Sylvia is thrown into a horrific battle for survival.
The Mermaid's Revenge is the story of a scared little girl who comes face to face with the true horrors of the natural world.
A mermaid.
A real, live mermaid, captured and placed in a water tank.
For Sylvia, the mermaid is both terrifying and fascinating. Repulsive and beautiful. Soon, however, Sylvia discovers that the mermaid hasn't just been brought to London so it can be put on display. And as the mermaid makes plans to escape its terrible fate, Sylvia is thrown into a horrific battle for survival.
The Mermaid's Revenge is the story of a scared little girl who comes face to face with the true horrors of the natural world.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2017
264 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Amy Cross
668 books1,698 followersAmy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
January 7, 2025
I don't like leaving overly negative reviews, and hope that this doesn't come across as such. I thought this book had a really interesting premise, but just didn't come together for me. I don't think the writing itself is bad, but the characters were very shallow, bland, and predictable. They were almost all killed quickly, in not so unique ways, and without much leadup or payoff. The story itself moved way too quickly and just didn't resolve a lot of the plot points by the end. I feel like if there was some more background on Sylvia and her mother, the mermaid, her fallen kingdom, and her eggs, the character's motives being fleshed out and clarified further, and a more logical ending, that the book would have been drastically improved.
July 30, 2021
Are Mermaids People? 🧜♀️
The prolific Amy Cross takes a popular fairytale and spins it on its ear!
Sylvia lives with her mother, and some employees, Randall, Miss Harper and Dr. Collier.
At nine years old, Sylvia is a nervous wreck! Everything intimidates her. And she’s intimidated by everything.
Her mother is rich, spoiled, block-headed and determined to have her way. Everything that Sylvia is not.
Capturing a “real” mermaid 🧜♀️ is going to make her the envy of her “friends.” And she actually does it!
Probably because of her loneliness, and isolation, Sylvia feels an affinity with the mermaid, and comes to look upon her as a friend.
But what are the plans of her mother, for this rare specimen? Is Dr. Collier to be trusted? What are they up to?
Are mermaids real? Are they friendly? Are they dangerous?
Little Sylvia is living with one, so she is about to find out...
The prolific Amy Cross takes a popular fairytale and spins it on its ear!
Sylvia lives with her mother, and some employees, Randall, Miss Harper and Dr. Collier.
At nine years old, Sylvia is a nervous wreck! Everything intimidates her. And she’s intimidated by everything.
Her mother is rich, spoiled, block-headed and determined to have her way. Everything that Sylvia is not.
Capturing a “real” mermaid 🧜♀️ is going to make her the envy of her “friends.” And she actually does it!
Probably because of her loneliness, and isolation, Sylvia feels an affinity with the mermaid, and comes to look upon her as a friend.
But what are the plans of her mother, for this rare specimen? Is Dr. Collier to be trusted? What are they up to?
Are mermaids real? Are they friendly? Are they dangerous?
Little Sylvia is living with one, so she is about to find out...
February 3, 2018
Whoa. I had never read a book from this author and I was in for a threat! It caught my attention because... how could you do a thriller with a mermaid? Like, really? My curiosity was picked and I was rewarded. This author has a LOT of imagination and can create things like mermaids and make them 100% real for you. All her characters were round, all had reasons and motives, even the "bad guys" and the thrill was amazing!
I've got to read more fom her!
I've got to read more fom her!
February 25, 2018
Really good, although not as good as her other books but do like the author and will continue to read. she is awesome
August 16, 2020
actual rating: 3.5
This is kind of ridiculous and you have to suspend your disbelief every step of the way but it is just weirdly readable and enticing considering that the only character in the book you won't want to strangle is the mermaid who is barely a character until the last few chapters. Very fast paced and shorter than it looks [only took me about an hour and a half to read], I would pick it up if you're interesting in mermaid stories that are darker and have a bit of a scientific slant to them [although Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant is a much better option for that really].
This is kind of ridiculous and you have to suspend your disbelief every step of the way but it is just weirdly readable and enticing considering that the only character in the book you won't want to strangle is the mermaid who is barely a character until the last few chapters. Very fast paced and shorter than it looks [only took me about an hour and a half to read], I would pick it up if you're interesting in mermaid stories that are darker and have a bit of a scientific slant to them [although Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant is a much better option for that really].
January 30, 2018
This was definitely a different kind of mermaid tale, but if course as an Amy Cross book that's a given. I hated every single character in this book which made it hard to immerse myself in the story.
November 27, 2018
Sylvia finds it that it is not a good thing to have a mermaid for a pet, and this is not a nice mermaid,not your Splash mermaid, but a wicked mermaid and I loved the mind blowing ending for this twisted ‘tail’
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July 8, 2018Mermaids. In folklore and culture, these cryptids fall in love with human princes like a well-loved Disney ginger. Others drown unwary seaman. They are as enigmatic as their ocean home. Amy Cross has created a powerful, tragic being intent upon restoring her freedom and escaping experimentation.
Cross's horror thriller is told from the first person point of view of an ill ten year old, Sylvia. Sylvia's timid and prone to bouts of temper like her wealthy mother. Her world consists of a controlled diet, indulgent lessons from a private tutor, and the company of her volatile mother. Her caregivers seem at turns caring and others greedy and manipulative. Sylvia falls victim to their misguidance.
When her mother has a secured lab in their posh London apartment suite outfitted and prize cargo imported, Sylvia's life changes. Her mother has found a pair of merfolk. Only the female survived the captivity. Sylvia finds the creature beautiful, fascinating, and alluring, though she recognizes its strength. She forms a connection with the mermaid, but Sylvia's a guide-less child.
With gore to satisfy horror fans and enough heart to bring a touch of humanity to this thriller, The Mermaid's Revenge presents a few twists.
My only complaint is the text could have used another examination by an editor.
Cross's horror thriller is told from the first person point of view of an ill ten year old, Sylvia. Sylvia's timid and prone to bouts of temper like her wealthy mother. Her world consists of a controlled diet, indulgent lessons from a private tutor, and the company of her volatile mother. Her caregivers seem at turns caring and others greedy and manipulative. Sylvia falls victim to their misguidance.
When her mother has a secured lab in their posh London apartment suite outfitted and prize cargo imported, Sylvia's life changes. Her mother has found a pair of merfolk. Only the female survived the captivity. Sylvia finds the creature beautiful, fascinating, and alluring, though she recognizes its strength. She forms a connection with the mermaid, but Sylvia's a guide-less child.
With gore to satisfy horror fans and enough heart to bring a touch of humanity to this thriller, The Mermaid's Revenge presents a few twists.
My only complaint is the text could have used another examination by an editor.
February 7, 2018
I’m a fan of Amy’s writing and I gotta say this one was pretty cool in concept, execution, and plot. It had some feels. I’ve never read anything like it.
May 19, 2018
Horrible - DNF
February 17, 2018
Wow. Weird book. What would be a basic horror- ish story is intensified by coming from a 10 year old girl's perspective. I didn't like Cross's reiterations throughout the entire story though. She'd say a phrase, then repeat it in another way, then state the obvious, then repeat it a different way again. I know this is commonplace to writing, but it was more than excessive in this book, even for the voice of a kid. I feel like Cross should have just went for a shorter story.
The plot is slow as hasty pudding, there's instead a lot of buildup and intensity. The resolve is acceptable, and in general there are just a few twists and turns.
In short read this book if you like weird stories, horror- ish stories, or obscure mermaid stories. Do not read this story if you desire a well- formulated/ over- formulated plotline, or an action- filled story. I liked it though. It was good enough for me.
The plot is slow as hasty pudding, there's instead a lot of buildup and intensity. The resolve is acceptable, and in general there are just a few twists and turns.
In short read this book if you like weird stories, horror- ish stories, or obscure mermaid stories. Do not read this story if you desire a well- formulated/ over- formulated plotline, or an action- filled story. I liked it though. It was good enough for me.
April 17, 2018
This is the first book I've read by popular author Amy Cross, and I found it to be very enjoyable. The tale is told in the first person voice of nine year old Sylvia, whose wealthy mother has gotten her hands on the last mermaid alive. In addition to her mother,Sylvia has to deal with her private tutor, and with her mother's manager/assistant. What is to become of the mermaid is dependent upon the relations between these four characters, and the scientist hired to guide the decisions based on keeping the mermaid alive. There are exciting twists and turns in this novel, combined with an exciting ending. I will be trying other books by Ms. Cross. My only complaint is that there are a number of mistakes that better proofreading would have caught. It's almost as if the job of checking this book prior to publication had been left to me. :)
January 23, 2018
Not sure about this one.
I can't make up my mind about this story. It was well crafted, as all Amy Cross stories are, but there was something missing. It just didn't hang together. It wasn't a ghostly tale, it wasn't strictly a straight forward horror story. Nature fighting back? On balance, it wasn't for me.
I can't make up my mind about this story. It was well crafted, as all Amy Cross stories are, but there was something missing. It just didn't hang together. It wasn't a ghostly tale, it wasn't strictly a straight forward horror story. Nature fighting back? On balance, it wasn't for me.
April 14, 2024
Me tomó mucho tiempo decidirme a comenzar a leer esta novela y tan solo unas pocas horas para completarla.
La historia se centra en Sylvia, la sobreprotegida hija de 10 años de una mujer multimillonaria que secretamente adquirió la última sirena viva en el mundo.
La novela en sí fue muy rápida de leer, mucho más de lo que me esperaba. Sin embargo, el ritmo es más bien lento y algo tedioso hasta pasado el 60% del libro. Las escenas de acción fueron pocas y la autora las estiró a lo largo del último tercio.
Esperaba un poco más de terror y violencia, ya que me la vendieron como una historia oscura. La novela, sin embargo, está narrada desde el punto de vista de Sylvia, un hecho que me pareció muy irritante. Francamente, en este caso en particular, hubiera preferido que la historia se contara en tercera persona. Además, muchas veces, el vocabulario de la protagonista se sentía sumamente adulto para tratarse de una niña tan pequeña. Al menos esa es mi opinión.
Otra cosa que me irritó mucho fue lo crédula y confiada que era Sylvia, hasta el punto de llegar a tomar decisiones muy estúpidas. Obviamente esto se debe a que se trata de una niña sobreprotegida, pero creo que a la autora se le pasó la mano. En este sentido, algo que podría rescatarse es la reflexión acerca de los daños que pueden causar los padres a sus hijos en el afán de protegerlos del mundo.
Los demás personajes me parecieron acartonados y unidimensionales, lo cual me parece lamentable en el caso de la madre de Sylvia, pero especialmente en el de la dichosa sirena, que se convirtió en un accesorio más que un personaje. Me hubiera gustado ver las cosas un poco desde el punto de vista de ella; de ese modo, la venganza hubiera tenido un poco más de peso.
Ese es otro tema, la venganza. Como va en el título, pareciera que tuviese mucho más prominencia de lo que realmente le da la autora en la historia. En mi opinión, se trata más bien del viaje personal de Sylvia hacia la madurez y la valentía, y no tanto en la venganza de una sirena malvada.
En fin, la historia es entretenida dentro de lo que cabe, pero me pareció más bien una gran decepción. Qué pena.
La historia se centra en Sylvia, la sobreprotegida hija de 10 años de una mujer multimillonaria que secretamente adquirió la última sirena viva en el mundo.
La novela en sí fue muy rápida de leer, mucho más de lo que me esperaba. Sin embargo, el ritmo es más bien lento y algo tedioso hasta pasado el 60% del libro. Las escenas de acción fueron pocas y la autora las estiró a lo largo del último tercio.
Esperaba un poco más de terror y violencia, ya que me la vendieron como una historia oscura. La novela, sin embargo, está narrada desde el punto de vista de Sylvia, un hecho que me pareció muy irritante. Francamente, en este caso en particular, hubiera preferido que la historia se contara en tercera persona. Además, muchas veces, el vocabulario de la protagonista se sentía sumamente adulto para tratarse de una niña tan pequeña. Al menos esa es mi opinión.
Otra cosa que me irritó mucho fue lo crédula y confiada que era Sylvia, hasta el punto de llegar a tomar decisiones muy estúpidas. Obviamente esto se debe a que se trata de una niña sobreprotegida, pero creo que a la autora se le pasó la mano. En este sentido, algo que podría rescatarse es la reflexión acerca de los daños que pueden causar los padres a sus hijos en el afán de protegerlos del mundo.
Los demás personajes me parecieron acartonados y unidimensionales, lo cual me parece lamentable en el caso de la madre de Sylvia, pero especialmente en el de la dichosa sirena, que se convirtió en un accesorio más que un personaje. Me hubiera gustado ver las cosas un poco desde el punto de vista de ella; de ese modo, la venganza hubiera tenido un poco más de peso.
Ese es otro tema, la venganza. Como va en el título, pareciera que tuviese mucho más prominencia de lo que realmente le da la autora en la historia. En mi opinión, se trata más bien del viaje personal de Sylvia hacia la madurez y la valentía, y no tanto en la venganza de una sirena malvada.
En fin, la historia es entretenida dentro de lo que cabe, pero me pareció más bien una gran decepción. Qué pena.
March 26, 2018
I've read mixed reviews about author Amy Cross - readers tend either to love her books or to hate them. I can't say that I've fallen to either extremes here. The Mermaid's Revenge is a decent thriller with mixed moments. This creepy tale is told from the perspective of ten-year-old Sylvia, daughter to a reclusive and eccentric billionaire mom who's sweet one moment and a raging lunatic the next. Mom has somehow captured the world's last mermaid and brought her into a giant tank into their luxury apartment building in London. Mom is convinced that the mermaid holds the secret to health and long life.
And then, mom dies, and poor little rich Sylvia is left in the hands of two deceitful, greed staff members. With a mermaid in a tank of water.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book, and I empathisized with Sylvia's isolation. Like her mom, she's prone to fits of anger, but as an heiress, she's also coddled and isolated. She has an instant connection to the mermaid, and author Cross gives us enough forshadowing that a smart reader can ultimately deduce the endgame - for Sylvia, at at any rate.
I was disappointed in the book's ending and felt that it was rushed. Both staff members were pretty shallow characters, and the mysterious old man on the island who's searching for the ultimate death seemed a glaring stereotypical character that just felt wrong. Overall, however, I enjoyed the story, and in particular, the mermaid's revenge. Both of them.
And then, mom dies, and poor little rich Sylvia is left in the hands of two deceitful, greed staff members. With a mermaid in a tank of water.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book, and I empathisized with Sylvia's isolation. Like her mom, she's prone to fits of anger, but as an heiress, she's also coddled and isolated. She has an instant connection to the mermaid, and author Cross gives us enough forshadowing that a smart reader can ultimately deduce the endgame - for Sylvia, at at any rate.
I was disappointed in the book's ending and felt that it was rushed. Both staff members were pretty shallow characters, and the mysterious old man on the island who's searching for the ultimate death seemed a glaring stereotypical character that just felt wrong. Overall, however, I enjoyed the story, and in particular, the mermaid's revenge. Both of them.
January 11, 2018
I really enjoyed this book because of the subject matter mainly. I couldn't resist reading about how one of these creatures could survive in captivity and, of course, Amy Cross has such a remarkable imagination (read "Stephen" if you doubt me) I knew I was in for an interesting read. I did want to shake Sylvia sometimes for being so scared all the time, but this was a story, and who is to say how we would react in any situation. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because I was disappointed that we didn't learn more about the mermaid colony - how they came about, how they survived, why they lured sailors to their death. That's just my way of thinking, but otherwise I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of fantasy.
December 31, 2017
Tantalizing
Sylvia is a ten year old girl whose mother always told her she had dry skin. After her mother died she was told she had a rare kind of cancer. The same cancer that killed her mother. Her mother bought two mermaids in hopes of finding a cure for herself and Sylvia.
This book is very well written, and I recommend reading this Sci-go to anyone who wants to escape reality for a little while.
Amy Cross has an amazing ability to opening the imagination while skillfully creating numerous avenues of thrills and chills!
Sylvia is a ten year old girl whose mother always told her she had dry skin. After her mother died she was told she had a rare kind of cancer. The same cancer that killed her mother. Her mother bought two mermaids in hopes of finding a cure for herself and Sylvia.
This book is very well written, and I recommend reading this Sci-go to anyone who wants to escape reality for a little while.
Amy Cross has an amazing ability to opening the imagination while skillfully creating numerous avenues of thrills and chills!
April 1, 2018
Great story!!!
I highly recommend to readers who enjoy imagining the possibility that maybe we don't know everything about what's out there! What if mermaids are real? I loved the story being told from a child's perspective. It reminded me of viewing the world thru innocent eyes. Remember when you trusted adults just because they "said so"! This is the first Amy Cross book I've read and I can assure you that I will be seeking out her other books. It's not very often a writer can surprise me anymore. I was delighted at the plot twists I didn't see coming!
I highly recommend to readers who enjoy imagining the possibility that maybe we don't know everything about what's out there! What if mermaids are real? I loved the story being told from a child's perspective. It reminded me of viewing the world thru innocent eyes. Remember when you trusted adults just because they "said so"! This is the first Amy Cross book I've read and I can assure you that I will be seeking out her other books. It's not very often a writer can surprise me anymore. I was delighted at the plot twists I didn't see coming!
February 23, 2018
At first I didn't think the title was in the literal sense .Then, events took place to make me realise otherwise. The book was cruel for quite lengthy periods throughout my read. Certain characters showed to be manipulative turncoats.This all added spice to this page turning volume
I recommend that anyone looking for a new slant on the extraordinary need look no further than in these pages.
ese p
I recommend that anyone looking for a new slant on the extraordinary need look no further than in these pages.
ese p
January 8, 2021
There is no such thing as a zero-calorie protein shake...
It is not the most complicated story. Doesn't have to be a bad thing but was hoping for it to be a bit more "mermaidy".
It does do a pretty good job of portraying just how little agency a 10 yr old would have in such a situation. On the other hand, her simplistic morale and inaction did not make for a very 'interesting' protagonist.
The ending is a bit silly.
It is not the most complicated story. Doesn't have to be a bad thing but was hoping for it to be a bit more "mermaidy".
It does do a pretty good job of portraying just how little agency a 10 yr old would have in such a situation. On the other hand, her simplistic morale and inaction did not make for a very 'interesting' protagonist.
The ending is a bit silly.
January 21, 2018
Awesome awesome awesome!!
Wow this book just grabbed me and pulled me in. I was so enthralled and so entranced by it. This was definitely a different kind of mermaid book, but in a excellent way!! Mystery, murder, mayhem!! Betrayals and spine tingling Gore!! I highly recommend this book!! Loved it!!!
Wow this book just grabbed me and pulled me in. I was so enthralled and so entranced by it. This was definitely a different kind of mermaid book, but in a excellent way!! Mystery, murder, mayhem!! Betrayals and spine tingling Gore!! I highly recommend this book!! Loved it!!!
February 5, 2018
On so good.
Good story and good flow to story. Some nice, surprising twists and turns. One has to remember that the main character, Sylvia, is only 9 going on 10. She is insulated and isolated, which affect her decision making. If you think you have it figured out, take a breath and wait.
Good story and good flow to story. Some nice, surprising twists and turns. One has to remember that the main character, Sylvia, is only 9 going on 10. She is insulated and isolated, which affect her decision making. If you think you have it figured out, take a breath and wait.
January 3, 2018
Another horror story from a great author
The story starts to draw you into it from the beginning and my mind went into overdrive thinking forward how it would play out as Sylvia's condition and anger issues had me thinking the story would go a different way to how it did.
The story starts to draw you into it from the beginning and my mind went into overdrive thinking forward how it would play out as Sylvia's condition and anger issues had me thinking the story would go a different way to how it did.
January 5, 2018
This was another top-notch Amy Cross tale!
A totally unique spin on Mermaids and the whole myth. Once again Amy Cross found a way to take a legendary/supernatural creature and totally change it up with her incredible imagination! Awesome ending!
A totally unique spin on Mermaids and the whole myth. Once again Amy Cross found a way to take a legendary/supernatural creature and totally change it up with her incredible imagination! Awesome ending!
April 16, 2018
Silly mistakes
Very good writing as usual with another unusual storyline. Unfortunately the spelling and wrong working crops up from time to time. However, this did not ruin the story.
Very good writing as usual with another unusual storyline. Unfortunately the spelling and wrong working crops up from time to time. However, this did not ruin the story.
April 27, 2018
Easy read
I chose this book as I have read many of the authors books
It was different to most of the work I ha previously read by Amy Cross
I prefer her spooky stories but still could not put this book down
I chose this book as I have read many of the authors books
It was different to most of the work I ha previously read by Amy Cross
I prefer her spooky stories but still could not put this book down
October 16, 2018
Mermaid got her revenge.
For me it was a little log and drawn out but damn did the mermaid get her revenge. I would have liked to have like a epilogue with exactly was down there but it is all good.
For me it was a little log and drawn out but damn did the mermaid get her revenge. I would have liked to have like a epilogue with exactly was down there but it is all good.
November 4, 2018
Cool premise. (
Even good writing but ....way too fast of an ending! I figured it out the second the doc found the Newman's patella! If course, she'd have kegs! Who doesn't know the the story of Hand Christian Anderson?? The little girl wasn't so lucky or ... Was she?
Even good writing but ....way too fast of an ending! I figured it out the second the doc found the Newman's patella! If course, she'd have kegs! Who doesn't know the the story of Hand Christian Anderson?? The little girl wasn't so lucky or ... Was she?
January 9, 2019
Another winner.
Another great book by a great writer! Terrifying and so crazy but it's great. Thank you for another great story. You always deliver the best! Thank you and keep writing!
Another great book by a great writer! Terrifying and so crazy but it's great. Thank you for another great story. You always deliver the best! Thank you and keep writing!
January 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this one; the characters were strong; the ending let me down, however. I won't give it away, but I thought the protagonist could've been fiercer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews