ailish's Reviews > Kiss of the Selkie

I need to preface this review by saying I absolutely love this series, adore being in this world and reading each fairy-tale retelling, and that despite my feelings on this book, I'm still looking forward to reading each book that comes next.

Now on that positive note...

Before reading Kiss of The Selkie I had my reservations. Possibility of a mermaid/pirate fantasy? A re-telling of The Little Mermaid where the MC is a killer? Sign me up baby. So what's the issue? I am not a fan of plot-lines that centre around bridal competitions, or absolutely anything that resembles The Bachelor or The Selection. I had a bad feeling that this story wasn't going to be my cup of tea, and let me tell you I spat that shit out while reading (this is my analogy for not liking the book).

Most of my dislike for the book can be attributed to personal taste and so it wouldn't be fair to call the book bad, however I do have some small criticisms toward the writing. I feel like this applies to all of her books in the Entangled with The Fae series, but these books always start so slow. It can be so hard to get into each book because of the sluggish pacing and boring content for at least the first 100 pages while Tessonja sets up the story, not to mention how she goes over all the world-building facts we already know in each individual book, however once you get past that story-set up the pay-off is always so worth it. Most of the time.

Honest to god I think I had more fun tearing this book to shreds (metaphorically) in my notes than I did actually reading it. The parts of the book I was looking forward to were non-existent - she doesn't turn into a Selkie for the entire book. Rather than it taking place in the SeaCourt it takes place on land in a church. The love interest is not a pirate, he's a PRIEST. I'm sorry but as an Irish gal I cannot tell you how unsexy and unattractive the idea of a priest love interest is to me, big ew big ick. I would compete to get away from this man, not compete to win his favour.

Which brings me to the competition and boy do I have feelings on this one. I absolutely despise the idea of winning your boyfriend in a competition. Like holy shit do we have layers and layers of problems to unravel in that sentence alone. And you can play the "not like other girls" card all you want, I know she isn't really competing at first and is there to kill him, but girl you are still trying to win!!!! You are competing against other women for one mediocre man. I cannot stress this enough, if a man is not on his knees gasping, begging, tears down his face wants you that bad, why are you interested? You're telling me this man gets to try out different girls like they're ice-cream flavours and you still want him!? You're still competing!? That's your man!? GIRL that's everybody's man. And I truly could not deal with the second hand embarrassment of everyone knowing that she was a princess competing in a bridal pageant for a priest. Like girl stand up 😭

Personal opinions aside lol I saw a lot of reviews saying there was no chemistry between the two love interests compared to other books and that it was a bit of insta-love, but I feel like compared to the first book their relationship was a bit more slow-burn and believable. Tessonja writes a really good love story and she's fantastic at writing these fairy-tale retellings.