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The Wild Mermaid
Cora was thrilled. Today she would reach Atlantis, and after a long migration she was eager to finish the journey.
But when the Queen appoints Cora as the next soloist, she must take an unusual medication called physic. As the drug reshapes her mind, Cora discovers Atlantis to be far more sinister than her daydreams.
To escape, Cora must navigate the Queen’s palace. Along the way, she is befriended and betrayed. She learns that myths can be lies and tragedies often leave scars.
It’s an adventure that’ll ultimately transform her into The Wild Mermaid.
The Wild Mermaid is a new-adult Atlantean adventure. Recommended for ages 15+
But when the Queen appoints Cora as the next soloist, she must take an unusual medication called physic. As the drug reshapes her mind, Cora discovers Atlantis to be far more sinister than her daydreams.
To escape, Cora must navigate the Queen’s palace. Along the way, she is befriended and betrayed. She learns that myths can be lies and tragedies often leave scars.
It’s an adventure that’ll ultimately transform her into The Wild Mermaid.
The Wild Mermaid is a new-adult Atlantean adventure. Recommended for ages 15+
209 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2020
26 people are currently reading
894 people want to read
About the author
Mel Braxton
14 books73 followersMel doesn't know what to do with reality, so she daydreams of fantastical places. With strong heroines, thrilling plots, and toe-curling romance, she captivates readers with her storytelling. She loves her family, especially Lulu the dog, who mistakenly believes Mel’s job is to be a professional puppy cuddler.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 30, 2024
***Disclaimer: The author kindly sent me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my opinions.***
Now THAT is what I call an unputdownable book!
The Wild Mermaid totally took me by surprise with its complex characters, intricate world-building, and fast-moving plot.
This gem of a book completely unravels everything you think you know about the mythical city of Atlantis… we’re shown a far more sinister version of the underwater kingdom in this story, one that forces us to question all of the legends we’ve been told.
This is a short book (a little over 200 pages), but Mel Braxton packs so many thoughtful little details into every single page. I love how right away, as soon as the story begins, we readers can sense that there is something off about Atlantis… Cora, our main character, has been chosen to be Queen Mari’s new soloist, and it turns out the position involves so much more than just singing. As the soloist, Cora takes physic, a drug that rewires her brain, causing her to see Atlantis in a new (and much more eerie) light.
As the story progresses and Cora’s mind is reshaped by physic, she goes through a great deal of growth and development. Cora gains immense wisdom as she becomes more clear sighted and realizes just how sinister Atlantis really is. By the end of her journey, she has come such a long way from the mindless, bubbly, blissfully ignorant mermaid she once was. What I like about Cora’s story is that it’s so much more than an action packed, high stakes, underwater adventure… It’s a story about reclaiming your identity, and I absolutely love that.
I’d like to take a moment to appreciate just how interesting and WILDly creative Mel’s interpretation of mermaids and immortality is. I found it so intriguing that in the book, there were both immortal and mortal merfolk, and that the mortals were essentially slaves to the immortals. I also found it incredibly fascinating that the mortal mer started off as humans before they traded their freedom and memories for a tail and fins… How cool is that? It’s almost like a reverse Little Mermaid retelling!
We’ve discussed plot and setting, so now let’s talk about characters, another aspect of this book that completely blew me away! The Wild Mermaid had such a charming set of characters that I easily connected with right off the bat. Like I mentioned above, Cora was a really fun character to read about, and I loved seeing how she grew and developed throughout the story. I think that it’s truly commendable that Mel Braxton succeeded in crafting such a well developed main character in under 200 pages! There are so many authors that can’t accomplish that feat in double or even triple the number of pages!
There aren’t tons of supporting characters in The Wild Mermaid, but I really liked the few that we were introduced to. Sarina, for instance. She was strong-willed and tough, but she had a soft spot for those she cared about. So often in literature we see female characters pitted against one another, which is why it was so wonderful to see the friendship blossom between Sarina and Cora, despite the fact that they were brought together under rather unfortunate circumstances.
I’ve already gushed a ton about how this book is so wonderfully unique, so why not name another way in which it screams originality? I’m going to do a horrible job at explaining this, but in the story, Cora has an alter-ego named Kyla in her brain… Kyla is Cora’s human self. That is, before Kyla gave up her humanity and memories to become a mermaid. When Cora takes physic, her former self (Kyla) resurfaces in her mind. Throughout the book, Cora communicates with Kyla through sleep and dreams, and the two girls work together to escape Atlantis and overcome the many obstacles they meet along the way. The dynamic between Kyla and Cora was such an interesting one to read, and it might have even been my favorite part of the book. Their relationship was so captivatingly complex, for while they shared many similarities, their differences were what truly fascinated me. I think that both of the girls got the endings they deserved, and I’m so satisfied with the way Mel Braxton concluded their story. It was heartbreakingly beautiful, but so empowering at the same time.
Overall, this lovely little “tail” completely stole my heart (admit it… you saw that pun coming from a mile away). What I love most about this book is that beyond being action-packed, exciting, and full of endless twists and turns, it’s also beautiful, emotional, and full of exquisite themes.
To put it simply, I absolutely loved The Wild Mermaid, and I think you will too. ❤😉
Now THAT is what I call an unputdownable book!
The Wild Mermaid totally took me by surprise with its complex characters, intricate world-building, and fast-moving plot.
This gem of a book completely unravels everything you think you know about the mythical city of Atlantis… we’re shown a far more sinister version of the underwater kingdom in this story, one that forces us to question all of the legends we’ve been told.
This is a short book (a little over 200 pages), but Mel Braxton packs so many thoughtful little details into every single page. I love how right away, as soon as the story begins, we readers can sense that there is something off about Atlantis… Cora, our main character, has been chosen to be Queen Mari’s new soloist, and it turns out the position involves so much more than just singing. As the soloist, Cora takes physic, a drug that rewires her brain, causing her to see Atlantis in a new (and much more eerie) light.
As the story progresses and Cora’s mind is reshaped by physic, she goes through a great deal of growth and development. Cora gains immense wisdom as she becomes more clear sighted and realizes just how sinister Atlantis really is. By the end of her journey, she has come such a long way from the mindless, bubbly, blissfully ignorant mermaid she once was. What I like about Cora’s story is that it’s so much more than an action packed, high stakes, underwater adventure… It’s a story about reclaiming your identity, and I absolutely love that.
I’d like to take a moment to appreciate just how interesting and WILDly creative Mel’s interpretation of mermaids and immortality is. I found it so intriguing that in the book, there were both immortal and mortal merfolk, and that the mortals were essentially slaves to the immortals. I also found it incredibly fascinating that the mortal mer started off as humans before they traded their freedom and memories for a tail and fins… How cool is that? It’s almost like a reverse Little Mermaid retelling!
We’ve discussed plot and setting, so now let’s talk about characters, another aspect of this book that completely blew me away! The Wild Mermaid had such a charming set of characters that I easily connected with right off the bat. Like I mentioned above, Cora was a really fun character to read about, and I loved seeing how she grew and developed throughout the story. I think that it’s truly commendable that Mel Braxton succeeded in crafting such a well developed main character in under 200 pages! There are so many authors that can’t accomplish that feat in double or even triple the number of pages!
There aren’t tons of supporting characters in The Wild Mermaid, but I really liked the few that we were introduced to. Sarina, for instance. She was strong-willed and tough, but she had a soft spot for those she cared about. So often in literature we see female characters pitted against one another, which is why it was so wonderful to see the friendship blossom between Sarina and Cora, despite the fact that they were brought together under rather unfortunate circumstances.
I’ve already gushed a ton about how this book is so wonderfully unique, so why not name another way in which it screams originality? I’m going to do a horrible job at explaining this, but in the story, Cora has an alter-ego named Kyla in her brain… Kyla is Cora’s human self. That is, before Kyla gave up her humanity and memories to become a mermaid. When Cora takes physic, her former self (Kyla) resurfaces in her mind. Throughout the book, Cora communicates with Kyla through sleep and dreams, and the two girls work together to escape Atlantis and overcome the many obstacles they meet along the way. The dynamic between Kyla and Cora was such an interesting one to read, and it might have even been my favorite part of the book. Their relationship was so captivatingly complex, for while they shared many similarities, their differences were what truly fascinated me. I think that both of the girls got the endings they deserved, and I’m so satisfied with the way Mel Braxton concluded their story. It was heartbreakingly beautiful, but so empowering at the same time.
Overall, this lovely little “tail” completely stole my heart (admit it… you saw that pun coming from a mile away). What I love most about this book is that beyond being action-packed, exciting, and full of endless twists and turns, it’s also beautiful, emotional, and full of exquisite themes.
To put it simply, I absolutely loved The Wild Mermaid, and I think you will too. ❤😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2020
I loved this “tail” 😉 full of delightful twists and turns. It was a quick adventure (or beginning of an adventure?), and I’m looking forward to more stories in the series. A fun and playful read! 🧜♀️
September 27, 2020
This is a very unique and interesting story about a mermaid, Cora, journeying with her pod to Atlantis. All seems perfect until she arrives at the gates and is forced to take a drug called Physic and become the soloist...
I didn't expect this story to be so dark and fast-paced, but it is and I liked it! I also liked the writing style and the characters.
My absolute favorite thing, though, was Cora's bond with her animal companion Meryn. I LOVE animal companions!
I also really appreciated Kyla's character. Her scenes were intriguing. I honestly wish there had been more of her! I won't say too much about her because I don't want to spoil.
The ending was wrapped up nicely, but there is room for a new story.
I didn't expect this story to be so dark and fast-paced, but it is and I liked it! I also liked the writing style and the characters.
My absolute favorite thing, though, was Cora's bond with her animal companion Meryn. I LOVE animal companions!
I also really appreciated Kyla's character. Her scenes were intriguing. I honestly wish there had been more of her! I won't say too much about her because I don't want to spoil.
The ending was wrapped up nicely, but there is room for a new story.
May 12, 2020
The Wild Mermaid tells the story of a mermaid named Cora, who was about to finish her journey to Atlantis. But she must take a drug because the Queen wants her to be the next soloist. Because of this, she becomes a wild mermaid. I really enjoyed reading this book! The world-building was great and I liked the characters. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read adventure stories about mermaids.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 7, 2022
I really wanted to like this, but it was hard to get through it. The story has potential, but it needs an editor to revise it and "clean it up".
June 16, 2021
Advertised as a standalone yet it ends with a cliff hanger for another book. I wouldn't say this book is dark or sinister like some other blurbs for it either. The plot is a bit morbid if anything. The characters are a bit flat and the writing is a bit silly(?) for a new adult book. It fits into a more young adult for lower reading levels. Overall it was quick and cute retelling of Atlantis. Would not pick up the next book if it does develop.
March 24, 2021
Cora can't wait to return to Atlantis and the dazzling future that awaits her there, among the others of her kind. If only she could remember her previous visits. If only she could remember...well, anything. Soon she will discover that Atlantis is no safe place for a mortal mermaid. And there is something sinister occurring beneath the blinding lights and beautiful music.
This is a quick, pleasant read as it is on the shorter side, with very little padding. I think I would have liked it to be a little longer. But I really did like The Wild Mermaid, especially the deeper message about how our experiences can transform us. I remember reading an earlier version of this on Wattpad and I have to say I am blown away by how well it's been scrubbed and edited. Seeing how things changed certainly added to my enjoyment of it.
This is a quick, pleasant read as it is on the shorter side, with very little padding. I think I would have liked it to be a little longer. But I really did like The Wild Mermaid, especially the deeper message about how our experiences can transform us. I remember reading an earlier version of this on Wattpad and I have to say I am blown away by how well it's been scrubbed and edited. Seeing how things changed certainly added to my enjoyment of it.
September 3, 2021
I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.
At first, some of the writing made it seem as though this was meant for a slightly younger audience than I would have thought, but I'm almost positive this is due to I can't really say anything more without spoiling the whole story.
This book was relatively short, but it didn't feel short while I was reading it, if that makes any sense. I mean that in a good way. So much happens in such a short amount of time that it feels as though the book would be fairly hefty if it weren't an ebook. It's never overwhelming, though: no info dumps here. And no padding either, hallelujah!
The story grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go right from the start. It's a somewhat odd story, that never seemed to go quite where I thought it would. Yet, I loved it!
But here's my problem:
The book does work as a standalone, but there's clearly room for at least one, probably two, more books. I'm hoping this was left a little open-ended on purpose, to leave that door open, and that the author does decide to write a sequel because, like Cora, I want to hear the rest of the story!
At first, some of the writing made it seem as though this was meant for a slightly younger audience than I would have thought, but I'm almost positive this is due to I can't really say anything more without spoiling the whole story.
This book was relatively short, but it didn't feel short while I was reading it, if that makes any sense. I mean that in a good way. So much happens in such a short amount of time that it feels as though the book would be fairly hefty if it weren't an ebook. It's never overwhelming, though: no info dumps here. And no padding either, hallelujah!
The story grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go right from the start. It's a somewhat odd story, that never seemed to go quite where I thought it would. Yet, I loved it!
But here's my problem:
The book does work as a standalone, but there's clearly room for at least one, probably two, more books. I'm hoping this was left a little open-ended on purpose, to leave that door open, and that the author does decide to write a sequel because, like Cora, I want to hear the rest of the story!
June 23, 2021
I wasn't expecting too much out of this story. I went in completely blind. I can say I was pleasantly surprised. So complicated, intriguing, and eerie! I loved this "tail" it had so many complexities scattered throughout the story. From the get go, you can tell something is off but you don't really find out until you read deeper in the story. I love the interactions between Cora and Kyla. I loved seeing them work together to free themselves. There were lessons sprinkled throughout, which I found to be wonderful. An incredibly complex book and story with a pretty original plot and wrapped up into a shorter easier read.
May 9, 2020
Needs Editing!
"The Wild Mermaid" was probably a pretty good tale, but the editing of my copy was so poor that I not only did not want to finish reading it, I couldn't really understand what was going on. Hopefully, the published copy is better edited and does indeed reveal a good tale.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
"The Wild Mermaid" was probably a pretty good tale, but the editing of my copy was so poor that I not only did not want to finish reading it, I couldn't really understand what was going on. Hopefully, the published copy is better edited and does indeed reveal a good tale.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
March 15, 2022
Fresh and imaginative mermaid story
I was looking for a fantasy just like this. I just fell in love with the whole story. I am so sad it ended, I could have read 1,000 more pages of it! Beautiful message that I took away from it: resilience in the face of frightening challenges. 5 stars.
I was looking for a fantasy just like this. I just fell in love with the whole story. I am so sad it ended, I could have read 1,000 more pages of it! Beautiful message that I took away from it: resilience in the face of frightening challenges. 5 stars.
May 12, 2020
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD STORY. I FOUND IT WELL WRITTEN WITH A STORYLINE THAT KEPT MY INTEREST. THE CHARACTERS ARE WELL DEVELOPED AND WRITTEN AS WELL. I WOULD RECOMMEND READING.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 30, 2023
Wow, this could have been left in drafts. Never should I trust free kindle books again.
Reading feels like a hazy dream. You know when you're dreaming and the picture isn't clear and your jumping from one scene to another to keep it interesting but it just doesn't make sense.
Want to read
August 17, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/17/2021)! 🎁
November 23, 2021
A Fun Adventure
This was a fun ride! I hated to see it come to an end. This story kept me interested all the way through. Looking forward to reading more by this author!
This was a fun ride! I hated to see it come to an end. This story kept me interested all the way through. Looking forward to reading more by this author!
January 24, 2022
Gripping
This was a different kind of magical. Unpredictability beautiful. It also reminded me of the value within ourselves and how often we forget that we are important.
This was a different kind of magical. Unpredictability beautiful. It also reminded me of the value within ourselves and how often we forget that we are important.
March 12, 2022
Very enjoyable
The author spins a delightful and intriguing story. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
The author spins a delightful and intriguing story. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
January 19, 2024
very enjoyable
Mel knows how to tell a good story. The Mer world she creates is well thought out. Makes me wish I could live in the sea.
Mel knows how to tell a good story. The Mer world she creates is well thought out. Makes me wish I could live in the sea.
December 7, 2024
Interesting concept for a fantasy story. Enjoyed the some of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews