This was an adorable, sweet read that I would definitely classify as something I'd pick up if I wanted a relaxing read or a book that'd cure a reading slump. That doesn't mean the topics in the story aren't big ones or important ones - there's a lot of feelings dealt with in the pages - yet they're handled in such a way that it isn't overwhelming. The two main characters are just delightful; each dealing with their own pressures put on them by outside forces yet finding a kindred spirit in each other. You can't help joining them on this little journey of opening up, learning about each other, and wanting more. Even the side characters are really interesting, especially the relationship between Prince Siren and his Mother, and the one between his own people and himself, making you want to know more. The worldbuilding so far was a little less than I wanted it to be, and there were moments where I wanted to see more such as when Prince Siren interacted with his people - and the disability rep present in the Shark Kingdom - but that aside everything was enjoyable. And, of course, the art is beautiful at every turn. Adding to that magic of feeling of an underwater landscape on each page. For volume 1 it was a nice start and is definitely a series I want to read more of in future, and would recommend to people as well.

(Closer to release, I will share this review on my Storygraph, Goodreads, etc. but for now I'm sharing it in the app only as requested.)

This was a super quick read and definitely mostly setup, but it ends at a point in the plot that makes you want to keep reading.

Character wise, there was some nice development between the main two characters, but not many others, so I assume that would come later.

The I only thing that I found odd was how fluent the boys were in current social media reactions. Which is of course a reflection of the time it was written, but felt weird considering there was no defined time period or multicultural communication in the story.

Overall, it was super sweet and goofy and I enjoyed it.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

So cute! I love the art style. The adventure part of the story hasn't come yet, but this is a good introduction to the world and gets you emotionally invested in the two main characters. I'll definitely read future volumes.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend and I can’t wait to buy a copy for myself 🙂

Rating 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adore this book! Not.only is this an enjoyable book for adults to read but it is also one that is great to read with your kids. There is some violence in this story but it's definitely appropriate for middle grade kids. Castle Swimmer is fast-paced fantasy webcomic/graphic novel set in a world where "nothing" exists outside of the ocean. There are so many wonderful characters to meet of all different types. At the heart of this story is also one of the sweetest romances that I have ever read! You will absolutely fall in love with our two heroes and the wonderful cast around them.

I’m in love with the authors art style and the way you can just see the expressions and feel the way the characters are feeling so deeply. The story and the plot is very layed out and it’s such a cool concept. You also can just feel for the characters and what they are going through. I think Kappa and Siren are so adorable and I can’t wait to see where the story takes them!

I read this when it was originally posted on WebToon and I LOVE the way it was adapted. The paneling is easy to read and it flows well, and the art is still so beautiful. The story is also so lovely—I love the connection Siren and Kappa develop.

Thank you to Netgalley for Providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I knew about Castle Swimmer because I was a frequent reader on Webtoon but I never managed to get to his novel (and now I don't read on Webtoon lol). So I was very excited when I saw that I was approved to read it. The story was very cute and I love that Kappa and Siren are becoming friends. The whole "Beacon" thing is interesting and I thought it might be touched on a little more but it wasn't. We saw one instance of Kappa not being able to fulfill the prophecy correctly and then just heard him talk about how the prophecies never go as planned. So I'm wondering if any of the prophecies he's supposed to fulfill have come true in the "correct way". I feel like these big prophecies might have been misconstrued over the years and maybe they are happening correctly but nobody realizes it. I'm hopeful for the next volume!

Castle swimmer manages to combine a compelling story with expressive art in to an adventure worth reading no matter your age.

The story follows Kappa and siren. Two young mermen on their quest to fight their fate and find their own paths instead.

Wendy manages to captivate with her use of colours and a simple but expressive art style. Its such a delight to see each new panel and the beautiful contrast of blues against Kappas Gold.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is cute and straightforward! At times I didn't really feel the stakes, but it was overall very enjoyable (I look forward to seeing how this story progresses both in the plot and in the artwork). I would recommend.

A queer fantasy romance about mer-selkies (men/maids, sharks, barracudas)
Emotional and full of prophecies, kappa is literally thrown into the ocean world as the beacon, alone destined to help people
Prince Siren is a mer shark prophesied to save the shark colony from a curse poisoning/causing pain, by killing the beacon
The characters had great chemistry and the ending left me wanting more

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the e-arc!

As a webtoon reader, I am enjoying the rise of print releases of popular webtoon series. I was not familiar with this series before reading this volume. After this volume, I became interested in the story and the characters. Castle Swimmer is about two mermen who reject their destinies and come together to forge new futures for themselves. The artwork is beautiful and it helped to accentuate the story and the characters. I would recommend checking out this print release or reading this series on webtoon.

So this was really cute but I feel like I'm missing the same enthusiasm that other reviewers have. I don't really know what it is. I mean I enjoyed it and I really like the artwork and I like the characters but I'm not blown away. It's a good and I'm going to keep reading it but it's not a five star for me.

Castle Swimmer is a mermaid love story following a “chosen one” who has failed to live up to expectations and a young royal who is tasked with taking care of the problem. Too bad the problem and the royal fall for each other as they talk through jail bars. Danger from multiple sides threatens their newfound relationship and the two must work together to change their fates.

This graphic novel has cute artwork and adorable main characters. While the plot is fairly straightforward, it will scratch the itch for readers looking for a mermaid love story with a little magic and politics.

I first read some of "Castle Swimmer" on Webtoon where it instantly hooked me, and I found myself scrolling through chapter after chapter, endlessly eager to continue. I'm super glad to see "Castle Swimmer" is soon to be published as a graphic novel, and I quickly requested the ARC. These chapters were just as investing and exciting as my first read!

Well that was fun! The art in this is beautiful and paints such a beautiful story on its own. The books starts in a sort of flash back that was confusing to me, but when we jump to the 'present' I started getting into it. The plot is dragged out a bit, but for good reason cause who doesn't want a montage of merfolk becoming friends? I kept checking the page count waiting for some resolution, even a small one, but alas we don't get one. That said, I absolutely want to keep reading it! I got this as an ARC from Netgalley and now I want to go hunt for the next episodes on webtoons.

thank you netgalley for giving me an arc

honestly i loved everything about this comic!! the art style is so pretty and the story so sweet and capturing. the characters stole my heart and i really hope to see them happy soon <3

One of my favorite comics made into a graphic novel! I haven’t reread in some time, so it was very nice to revisit. The fast friendship between Kappa and Siren into a budding relationship was very sweet and well done. It’s the sort of story you’ll keep coming back to and want more.

Likewise, the translation from WEBTOON to graphic novel was seamless. The panels lined up well and the artwork is still as stunning with vibrant colors and beautiful art. Martin has done a fantastic job creating a fantasy tale that is both parts heartwarming and fulfilling, even for a first volume.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy!

This graphic novel was cute… but that was about it for me. For the first volume, everything kinda feel flat. The artwork was beautiful, but I felt like the story was too short. For 280 something pages, it really felt like not much happened.

The synopsis masterfully summarizes what this book is about, but it doesn't mention how touching it is, how addictive and entertaining all the pages are, because it is impossible to put it down once you start. A solid script serves as an entry to a very well-constructed world, every detail carefully thought out, but without making it unnecessarily complicated.
Full review (April 24): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2024/04/comic-castle-swimmer-volume-1.html

La sinopsis resume magistralmente de qué se trata este libro, pero no menciona lo enternecedor que es, lo adictivas y entretenidas que son todas las páginas, porque es imposible soltarlo una vez que empiezas. Un guión sólido sirve como entrada para un mundo muy bien construido, cada detalle pensado minuciosamente, pero sin volverlo innecesariamente complicado.
Reseña completa (24 de abril): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2024/04/comic-castle-swimmer-volume-1.html