there were a lot of inconsistencies with the films and with the series that accompanied The Little Mermaid. there wasn't 5 minutes where she wasn't calling herself stupid for a decision she made when she was 16, as if that wasn't enough of an indicator that she made an unwise decision.

I was somewhat excited to read this book but felt a little let down by how to self aware Ariel became. Well I liked the idea of a what-if situation. This story does not do her character or her story justice at all.

Ariel has been my favorite Princess since I was 3 years old. She may have been young and impulsive and stubborn, but, she was also as sweet and pure-hearted as she was brave. Free to explore the human world, free to learn everything she's always wanted to know, free to be herself, free to live her dreams and, yes, free to be with the man she loved. She was miserable and she wanted to be free. She made the deal because her father was a tyrant who destroyed everything she cared about and shamed her for her fascination with the human world constantly. The 'Little Mermaid' TV series showed that in detail and she sang 'Part of Your World' in the original movie before she EVER laid eyes on Eric. She wanted to be human long before Eric ever showed up. Like she gave up her voice and her life to be with a man and she absolutely did NOT. But she suddenly knows where all of Ursula's/Vanessa's perfumes come from? And Prince Eric, the dedicated sailor, is suddenly interested in composing operas now? What? Why? The worst parts of the book were the parts where Ariel essentially called herself stupid for choosing to make the deal with Ursula to become human or made it sound like the only reason she became human was to be with Eric. So how, exactly, is it possible that Athena has been dead for 100 years? Also, Ariel sneaks into Eric castle and suddenly knows all about modern architecture? She didn't even know what a fork was when she was 16 and if Ursula won, Ariel would have no possible way of learning anything else about the human world.

This book takes place 5 years later, making her 21. When the original movie came out, she yelled, 'I'm 16 years old, I'm not a child anymore!' at Triton after she got caught going to the surface. Now all of the sudden Athena (Ariel's mother) has been dead for 100 years? Ariel was about 3 or 4 when her mother died. I get that this is a 'Twisted Tale', but the twist is supposed to be that Ursula won instead of Ariel. I was so excited! Now I'm SO disappointed!

Part of Your World by Liz Braswell