The Seamaiden’s Odyssey is a visually striking book. Before I even opened the front cover I felt like I was holding a little treasure in my hands, a clam that opened up to reveal incredible illustrations.
The Seamaiden’s Odyssey is a folklore-style story about mermaid-like creatures. Sasha, a marine conservationist, discovers Marissa, a beautiful sea creature, trapped in a fishing net one day. She takes her in and nurses her back to health, forming a friendship with her as she regains her strength. Marissa tells her a story about the dangers of seafolk getting too close to humans, in exchange for her being returned to the ocean.
It took a while to warm to Doherty’s writing style. It’s not very descriptive, and although there’s some very detailed worldbuilding, we only get to see snippets of it. Gradually I understood that this story is narrated like a folk tale, and once I grasped this, I felt as though I was curled up by a snug fireside listening to some wise relative tell me a story. Although this style of writing works well for the story, I still wish that Doherty had included a few more descriptive passages so that we could properly immerse ourselves in this underwater world.
Tamsin Rosewell’s illustrations are what make this book remarkable, taking a sweet story and turning it into something incredibly beautiful. Her illustrations complement the story perfectly, heightening the tension at dramatic points with gorgeous, swirling images. I would recommend this book to any fans of fantasy and folklore who want a cosy book to read this winter.
Clara Kamlah, 18
The Seamaiden’s Odyssey
Berlie Doherty
Illustrated by Tamsin Rosewell
Uclan Publishing, 2024
Hardback, £14.99
ISBN: 9781916747197
