My thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion for this ARC of The Moorings of the Mackerel Sky. I would give it 3.5 stars if that were possible.

First, this is not a fantasy novel about mermaids per se. Readers anticipating that will be disappointed. It is instead the tale of a small seaside village marked by a mermaid myth, one that winds up being true. The inhabitants of Mackerel Sky likewise wind up being descended from the original mermaid in various ways, or sea witches, or genetically part-merwin.

The author uses the mermaids to explain several tragedies that strike the town, as well as one character’s homosexuality and another’s birth defect. Readers are likely meant to sigh with satisfaction that the gay teenager isn’t “other” because he is gay but because his mother was (shhh) a mermaid. Likewise, a disabled child born with a rare syndrome didn’t really die of her condition. She was (shhh) really a real mermaid. Rather than this move affecting the magical realism the author probably aimed for, it comes off as an offensive apologia for queer and disabled individuals. So after hundreds of pages of tragedy for the three main characters (a young mother, a gay adolescent baseball player, and an abused unwanted boy), the resolution is —-ta da —- mermaids!?

Also, the book is far too long, the structure a diffuse mess (where were the editors for this?), and the author retells the origin myth no less than a half dozen times. What made me finish this was that some of the characters were appealing, such as the sea witch Mrs Myra. Other characters, such as the three old women in wheelchairs blatantly representing the Fates, made me roll my eyes, caricatures than characters. What’s more, the mermaid lore itself is inconsistent, with a variety of mermaids popping up to save lives, take lives, wage war,any time the author needs a dues ex machine to do some heavy lifting (or wet work, as the case may be). If this were a book about the inconsistencies of oral history in the small town, or a book in which otherness was the core and mermaids but a motif, that might have worked. But I am left with a sense of at once too muchness and not enough. How can such a long yarn feel ultimately so forgettable?

This was a very sweet, lovely book. I love when books manage to balance the magical aspects and emotional depth instead of favoring one, and the author did very well, allowing the characters to shine while keeping the fantastical elements. This is definitely more magical realism than fantasy, so if you are someone who typically reads more general fiction/literary fiction, I think you will still really enjoy this. I would say the strongest aspect of this book is the atmosphere, the author really nails it and I felt truly immersed in this town and the community. I think the book was missing the “oomph” factor that would make this a five-star, but I still really enjoyed my time with it.

ARC provided by NetGalley

The Moorings of Mackerel Sky is such a fun example of the creativity that is abundant in Maine as a setting. I'm a big fan of literary fiction, so when I saw this book on NetGalley, one that takes place so close to my home, I had to take the chance.

This novel was a brilliant debut, while it is absolutely fantastical and exploratory of myth, grief, and the troubles we face here as Mainers; it felt very true to the location in which it is set. The characters jump off the page, many of them feel like people that I went to high school with, or share very similar names. (I swear I have cousins with the same names as some people in this book!) I may be a bit defensive of portrayals of my home, as anyone who lives in Downeast Maine would be, but I do feel as though novel does my home proper justice, while also being its own entity that feels as fantastical in someways as Narnia or other favorite fantasy locales.

I would highly recommend this book to anybody who is into mermaid stories, who might be curious about what Maine is like, or who enjoys stories of small town connections, and the interactions that affect each of us more deeply than we may be aware.

This book was so magical, and gave me that falling into a dream feeling that I love. With a sprinkle of magical realism, THE MOORINGS OF MACKEREL SKY is perfect for readers who enjoy mermaid lore, the haunting grief that lies dormant within us, and the connection people have to myths and monsters. All of it, however, is grounded in the real world, making MACKEREL SKY feel both accessible and relevant. I loved the writing and how descriptive it was. I felt like I was standing with one foot in the ocean and one foot planted firmly in reality while reading this, and it was the most wonderful feeling.

Please read this book!

This was a really beautiful debut. You really grow to care for the characters as the story goes on, and I cried through the last few chapters--not a bad cry, just a lot of emotions. The pacing felt a little bit off to me, and I was impatient with the switching of perspectives just as I was getting invested in one storyline, but overall, I'm really glad I gave this book a chance.

A good literary fiction, but not one that grabbed me too much. I recommend picking it up if you're a fan of slow-moving, lyrical works.

Lovely, quietly queer magical realism novel set in coastal Maine that focuses on love, found family, and the way small town neighbors can become a village or tribe for one another.

Very reminiscent of some of Alice Hoffman's New England-set works like Practical Magic and Blackbird House, with the focus on fables and generational tales of magic and in this case, mermaids!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I didn't dislike this book, but it was really missing something for me. The world-building was interesting at first, but didn't really come together. The characters were okay, but I didn't really connect with them. It was almost there, and again, I didn't dislike it, but didn't love it either.

I feel like mermaids draw a lot of readers in. There's something so fascinating about them. I was initially drawn to the premise of this book and I'm delighted that the story lived up to it. The plot is consistently entertaining and pretty fast-paced, especially for a story like this that needs some world building. The Maine setting is delightful. The author does a very good job of fleshing out the characters so the reader is invested in what happens to them. I especially appreciated the theme of a community coming together in hard times.

I am a sucker for a few things in life: mermaids & atmospheric writing are absolutely on that list.

I am thrilled to announce this book holds all that and more. The magic pouring out of each scene and character is incredible. The setting itself becoming a character? Show stopping.

This was all at once warm and sweet while also leaning heavily on nostalgia in a way that had my hair standing on end. An incredible read that leaves you wishing for more.

This magical realism story about mermaids in Maine really drew me in. I loved all the characters so much- they were each fleshed out and real. They told such an interesting and interwoven tale, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the subtle queer theme and how this community bands itself together in times of need. I would definitely recommend this book!