Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of "The Little Mermaid" (Once Upon a Time)

Reader reviewed by Ruthie

I actually probably enjoyed this retelling of The Little Mermaid more then the original! It was a new creative twist on it. Most people I know strongly dislike fairy tales but if they become you, I'd reccommend this book. There are many others in this "Once Apon A Time" series and I plan on reading them all!

Reader reviewed by EshInoBi

I finally got around to writing this review. It took me
quite some time to think about what to write about it. Though I will
try to write positively about it, as it was pretty amusing &
exciting, I just didn't like it. I didn't approve and like how the
author made the main character, Pearl (a simple fisherman's daughter)
and James (a prince) so intimate. It was very early on the story, and
then, all of a sudden these 2 new characters come from the blue and
love both of them... I just didn't like it... It might've been okay
with Kale, one of the new characters, being in love with Pearl, because
they were engaged since her birth and from him she finds out her true
ancestry. The girl who falls in love with Prince James, Faye, I just
don't approve of the love-at-first-sight thing. It just didn't seem
right, with the devotion James showed towards Pearl through the start.
Okay, so I won't rate positive, because I really don't want to. It was
just so catastrophically annoying.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie E.

When I think about Midnight Pearls, what do I think about?
This is the question I asked myself after I finished this delightful new addition to fairy tale mermaids book. Its a simple question to be answered, all I have to do is say my opinion. Easy enough, right? Thats what I thought when coming onto this site. But now as I sit here trying to think of what to say it has turned out to be harder than I once thought. How about I start off by telling you about the "J" hook, then ease into my opinion of the story...sound good? Okay then lets get started!
My favorite English Teacher of all time taught me the "J" hook. The "J" hook is pretty simple...its the very beginning of the story you wish to tell; the first page. Its like this...you have to have drawn in your reader from the very first page; very first sentence. If you fail to do this, then, no matter how good a story you wish to tell, the reader has already lost interest. So its very important for the writer to capture us from the very beginning, and to keep us interest through out the entire book, or risk lack of interest.
I bet your wondering where this is going, aren't you? The "J" hook has a lot to to do with my interest in Midnight Pearls. Debbie successfully caught my attention with her use of the "J" hook. but...
I love almost everything about Midnight Pearls, from such a capturing name...to the even MORE capturing story. Debbie completely caught my attention with the book. The beginning was so detailed and amazing that I couldnt look away! I LOVED the way it switched characters the way it did. Even more the better. BUT once it got toward the end it got less detailed by the page. Like how when it came to defeating the Wicked Sea Witch it was so easy...so short. Almost boring. Then with her daily activity in the castle? Not detailed...almost like I wasnt in the story any more. I thought you would have told of how Faye helps her brother get set free or at the very end I thought you would have detailed the real parents meeting their daughter again for the second time more so. I mean it was like...'hey mom and dad i know i havent seen you in 13 years but lets not get to emotional because its time to end the book now.' I'm very sorry if this is rude on my part but thats the only way i could think of to put it.

I really did love this book. I'm so glad that someone would remake fairy tales the way you did. Like i said this is a great book! i totally recommend it! This is just my opinion.

The very beginning sentence of this review I asked myself a question and now i shall answer it.
When I think of Midnight Pearls, I think about a lonely outcast girl who doesnt know who she is, but knows that something is missing. I think about how she thinks shes in love to one man and how she forces herself to think shes in love with another, and how her TRUE love reveals himself and wins.
A powerful read that is sure to touch your heart!

Reader reviewed by Christina

Although the book was really good, it had an unexpected ending; which can be good or bad. I personally did not love the ending and I believe the ending to be the thing that defines a book. It did not follow the original story and I think that threw me off a bit. I think it is a fun book to read, at least once.