There is so much I want to say about this comic, that I don´t know where to start. Castle Swimmer is one of the first comics I read on Webtoon and it has a special place in my heart, Kappa and Siren own my whole heart and they are the reason I believe in love. This story is so much more than their romance tough, it´s about self-sacrifice and deciding your destiny. I did cry multiple times because of it.
This is a still ongoing comic so the start feels a bit slow but it picks up soon enough and after that is so much fluff and trauma!! Somehow!!!
The art style and the colors are just breathtaking and this reminds me I have to read more comics / graphic novels.

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this webtoon book. I liked the story line and found it refreshing. I do subscribe to webtoons and have heard about it. I would recommend

Mermaids are a tale as old as time. I've always been fascinated by them and been drawn to their stories, so I was eager to dive into Castle Swimmer.

This volume starts off pretty slow. The reader is introduced to the two main characters: Kappa and Siren. Getting to see their interactions as they navigate the prophecy they are part of was something else to watch. They really became adorable together and I couldn't wait to get more of their interactions as it made me melt a little.


The art style was cute and I liked the character design. Each background followed a more monochromatic palette allowing the characters to really shine and while this is great, more depth to the background and panels would have been excellent.

Castle Swimmer, Volume 1 is a good introduction to the world and characters. I am curious about it and would like to continue this world to see how Kappa and Siren's lives play out.

Oh that was absolutely adorable! I cannot wait to read more of Kappa and Siren's story in future volumes. I love them already.

🥹🥹

I had been hearing about Castle Swimmer for YEARS and yet I somehow never started reading it (I'm a fool). I was really happy to be able to snatch an ARC on ng but needless to say one volume wasn't enough and I had to go read everything that's on the webtoon app. I'm only here to review this first volume though, so I will premise that it's very much introductory to the rest of the story (which...!!) but it manages to set the tone and feel for it beautifully. Oh, and the art style is really gorgeous. I really can't recommend it enough!

This was so cute!

The story, while a little slow at times, was an interesting premise. I enjoyed seeing these two characters deal with their opposing roles in a prophecy.

I also struggle a lot with illustrations in graphic novels feeling "uncanny valley" if not stylized in some way. I really enjoyed how beautiful these illustrations were. I loved all of the different character designs and details that brought this world to life.

I'd be interested in continuing with the series in volume 2.

4.6 stars

This was a wonderful surprise!

When I started it, I was worried it would be too childish for me. Regardless, I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. I was enthralled in the story and didn't even see the ending coming. I wasn't ready to leave the world yet. The author did a wonderful job, especially with the characters and the atmosphere.

The characters were well developed, if not for a small lack of depth. However, I know it's the first in a series and it might get resolved later on in the volumes to come. Plus, I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between the characters. It felt genuine and believable, and all the relations had something unique.

Regarding the ambiance, to me, it comes down to the drawings. Not only were they wonderful, they also conveyed a lot. For example, the emotions were well-depicted in the face of the characters (blushing, admiration seen through their eyes, etc.) It helped connect with the story.

I can't wait for the next one to come out.

I love the illustrations in this beautiful undersea story. One character has a glowing force inside him that leads him to people he’s supposed to help. The panels really capture that illuminated look of the glowing force. The different underwater kingdoms include merpeople based on different sea creatures, such as sharks or crustaceans, which I thought was clever. I’ve never seen that done before.

The characters’ expressions can be a bit exaggerated and cartoonish. I enjoyed the anime feel of some of their reactions to things. The story follows both Kappa, the beam, and Siren, the prince who must kill him if he’s to fulfill a prophecy and break the curse on his people. It shows their loneliness and the growing bond between them, which really drew me into the story.

The backmatter contains a couple of short stories about Kappa and Siren, too. They’re so sweet. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of this series. It’s perfect for anyone interested in a high-stakes, sweet fantasy story under the sea.

I want to preface that I actually read this a long time ago on webtoon when it first came out however I saw this become a graphic novel and couldn’t help myself. I wanted to experience the same emotions that I felt when I first read this years ago. This is a very sweet story about two boys who come from different worlds and decide to defy all odds to find themselves which leads them to leaning on each other . It’s super low angst and just a lovely start.

Thank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Graphic for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is actually my second time reading this story, the first time I read it on Webtoon and I was really excited to see that they´re gonna make it into a graphic novel.

Both Kappa and Siren are such beautiful and selfless characters, that sacrifice all their lives to please other people. Kappa is constantly fullfiling others prophecies to help their kingdoms, and Siren has been inside his room all his life waiting for the moment where he´s supposed to save his people from the curse and doesn´t get to live his life to the fullest.
This is a story about making our own choices in life, taking the wheel and directing our path to where we want to go, and letting go of the expectations that our families and other people put on ourselves.

I recomend this to people who liked <i>The Moth Keeper</i> and <i>Bloom</i>.

This is pure magic. The illustrations are beautiful and help you really feel in the world of the story. I absolutely ate this up and am so excited it is now released so I can share it with my students!

'Castle Swimmer' is a fun, light read that still manages to pose some thoughtful questions about duty and familial expectations. The art work is cute and of a consistent quality throughout, with careful use of color. Much of this first volume is spent setting up the premise for the series, so readers looking to be immediately hooked may find their patience tested, but Wendy Martin lays out several threads that should be intriguing to see fully realized in future volumes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Graphic for an advanced digital copy to review.

This story is about Kappa, a beacon that grants prophecies, and Siren, a prince that has to kill the beacon in order to save his kind from a curse. I read this first on Webtoon and was pleased to find out that they released it in book format. I'm glad that the formatting was so well done, since Webtoon is a story shown vertically by scrolling, and now the story is on paper, which requires some tweaking.
This first volume starts the story off slowly, focusing on Kappa and Siren, their growing relationships, but also their individual worries for the future and their « destinies ». Both characters have immense pressure put on their shoulders since birth and have to live with the guilt of wanting to choose their own path in life. I can already tell that the next volume will have a lot of action, so I can't wait to see it!

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc. These are all my honest thoughts and opinions.

I remember when Castle Swimmer first started releasing on Webtoon!

It feels like just yesterday I was waiting for the newest update!

Castle Swimmer is the story of a Merboy named Kappa and his ‘life’s purpose’ as the underwater world’s Beacon. The Beacon’s job is to make prophecies come true, but it’s never as easy as it sounds. Against his will, Kappa is dragged into Siren’s life. Siren is the shark prince of a kingdom that is slowly dwindling to nothing because of a curse. It is said in their people’s prophecy that the Beacon will one day free them of their curse by allowing Siren to kill him. But can Siren do it? Can he fulfill his Kingdom’s prophecy by murdering Kappa, his new friend, in cold blood?

For starter’s Kappa and Siren are literally the CUTEST PAIR. EVER. They are perfect and in this first volume the reader gets to see their friendship begin. Even if the circumstances aren’t great, the two bond almost instantly over their similarities and life pressures. They’re so wholesome to read about and the artwork tops the cake at bringing the story and plot to life. I’m so glad this story is being published physically and more people can enjoy the story of Castle Swimmer!

Easily a 5/5-star rating. I will be purchasing a copy when it releases as well as promoting it at my Library. A highly recommended read for all ages!

My thanks to Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for the Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book is expected to be published October 22th, 2024.

What a beautiful graphic novel.

5 out of 5 stars.

Castle Swimmer: Volume 1 by Wendy Martin is a mermaid story with a difference. Kappa is the Beacon - the light of the ocean.
The illustrations are simply beautiful and I really enjoy the colours and differences in characters, for example: between Kappa and the shark prince Siren. Apart they are beautiful, but side by side they're truly a vision.
The plot is simple: each part of the ocean has a prophecy involving the Beacon - the shark one shows the prince slaying the Beacon which doesn't feel right to Siren. Over his visits the two become close, learning about each other and themselves.

Would highly recommend this book to literally everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I’ve been a fan of Castle Swimmer since it was first published on Webtoon. When I saw it on NetGalley, I knew I needed to request it immediately! Kappa and Siren are such great characters and I adore their dynamic. It was really nice to revisit their story from the beginning. I’d describe this as a cozy queer romance with some angst. The story is a bit of a slow build, which allows you to really feel the character development. I selfishly wish this first volume went further into the story, but I’m looking forward to the next book!

I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful art style, and I stayed for the sweet, heartwarming story. I really enjoyed the beginning of the tale of Kappa, who has a destiny to fulfill prophecies.

One of the things I appreciated most was how the story took its time. It doesn’t feel rushed at all, allowing the characters to naturally develop as the plot unfolds. You really get to know them, and that makes the journey even more engaging.

I’m definitely excited to read the next volume and see where the story goes from here!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this Arc in return for honest feedback

This was a super cute, but also dark, comic about merpeople and about the Beacon, that all of the different mer-cultures have prophecies about. But the Beacon is just a boy, named Kappa, and when one of the prophecies involves killing the Beacon, it creates a lot of trouble under the sea.

While this definitely has dark themes, around free-will and consent, it's also a sweet story about two merpeople getting to know each other and maybe break free from what is expected of them.

Really enjoyed it and will likely search out the next parts of it on WebToon!

This is a very enjoyable and readable beginning to this series, and I will look forward to the next volume.

3⭐️

I first read this on WebToon and immediately loved it, so seeing it was available on NetGalley was super cool and a no brainer to request. I loved having the opportunity to read this as an ARC! The art and colors are so so pretty!! Siren and Kappa are super cute together and I really like both as individuals, I can’t wait for more!