Island of the Mermaids is a simple story, drawing upon an age-old myth
of sailors around the world, that is distinguished by its telling. Lyka Bloom
takes us back to the late 19th century, aboard the Tara Dane, soon
to fall prey to a story of unnatural source and even more unnatural fury. Like
the stories of that era, it is an epistolary tale, told in the form of journal
entries begun by the ship’s captain, and finished by his first mate.
The dialogue and descriptions are very well done, bringing the feel of
the times to life. It is easy to get lost on the deserted island with the crew,
and even easier to forget the technological conveniences of a century later.
These men (and woman) are trapped, lost, and alone . . . or they would be, were
it not for the sweet siren songs coming from the seas around them.
Lyka Bloom plays the story to the chest for the most part, hinting at
things and suggesting others, but saving the actual gender/species
transformations for the very end. We know it is already happened to others, and
we know it is coming for the captain, but that slow reveal makes his fate all
the more powerful. There is even a touch of mythology to the tale, explaining
the how and why of it all, which serves to top off a truly fantastic tale.
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