𝚁𝙴𝙻𝙴𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚃𝙴: October 22, 2024
𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙼𝚈 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂:
Absolutely adorable. A mer-boy born as the Beacon and the prince who must kill him for a prophecy.

Kappa and Siren had the BEST meet cute.
Omg, the artistry really showed what they thought at first sight and my heart exploded in giddiness!
And then Kappa opened his mouth and Siren laughed, and I KNEW this one was going to be amazing.

My heart ACHED for both Kappa and Siren.
Kappa was the Beacon.
That was who he was.
He travelled and fulfilled prophecies.
But he wanted so much more.
And Siren had done nothing with his life because he was protected.
He felt useless.
Watching these two, sweet mer-boys get to know each other was perfect.
The sweetest little mer-romance is brewing.

I can’t wait for more!
I’m definitely going to invest in a physical copy of this series because it’s too gorgeous not to!

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.

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.

This is a cute little story. I enjoy the artwork, and the story seems to be developing in an interesting direction. I am definitely curious to see where it will go, and think it will be a good addition to the graphic novel collection at my library.

This is such a lovely story about two mermaids that everyone has expectations of that they don’t want to for fill.
I never read it on webtoon so this was my first introduction to this wonderful world. I can’t wait to read the rest of the story.

Thank you netgalley to provide me with this arc. This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wendy Martin, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Castle Swimmer: Volume 1. What an absolute treat this graphic novel has been! As someone who's recently gotten into graphic novels, this was a perfect reminder of why stepping outside of your usual reading box can be so rewarding.

Castle Swimmer follows Kappa, a merman born to fulfill the prophecies of sea creatures all over the ocean. Burdened by a predetermined fate, Kappa's journey takes a turn when he's pulled into the prophecy of the Shark Kingdom, where their prince, Siren, is destined to kill him to break a curse that haunts their people. What unfolds is a tender, engaging story about defying destiny, with Kappa and Siren forming an unlikely bond.

The artwork is breathtakingly beautiful, with vibrant depictions of underwater life and different merpeople designs that make each scene feel alive and immersive. Kappa and Siren are easy to love, and their evolving relationship is heartfelt and touching. Watching them navigate their feelings while caught between duty and desire makes for a compelling read.

Wendy Martin's storytelling is whimsical, yet thought-provoking, weaving in themes of self-sacrifice, responsibility, and the desire for freedom from fate. It’s not just the stunning visuals that captivated me but also the emotional depth and complexity beneath the surface. Kappa’s internal struggle, as someone who is seen as a beacon of hope but treated as a tool, is incredibly poignant. Likewise, Siren's turmoil over being expected to take an innocent life adds layers to the narrative, making the stakes feel real and heavy.

While this volume sets the stage, leaving readers with a slow build and much anticipation, the promise of more adventures is enough to keep me eagerly waiting for Volume 2. I was so enchanted by this story, and it felt like a warm hug. I can’t recommend it enough for fans of graphic novels who love a blend of heartwarming romance, stunning art, and thought-provoking fantasy.

Five stars for this captivating and visually stunning debut! I can’t wait to see where Wendy Martin takes Kappa and Siren’s story next.

The artwork was swimmingly beautiful to soar through. I was extremely lucky to have been given the chance to read this. While I recently got into comics and graphic novels, this one proved to me that trying something new can be the best part of life. I like to throw myself into books I would normally never read because it helps me to learn outside my box. Try new things, explore and learn more about life , be selfless. I adored this treasure. Take a chance!

Did you ravenously consume webcomics on Smackjeeves in the early 2010s? My god, do I have a graphic novel for you. Castle Swimmer fulfills a need I'd forgotten I had. The art, the humour, the characters... this if so For Me™ it hurts.
Of course, that does mean that I don't quite know who to recommend this too - is it too tumblr coded for younger generations? Well, I don't care, because to me... it was perfect.
I love a story about people who are unhappy with their prescribed destiny and are trying to get out of it; combine that with an engaging plot, likeable and relatable characters, a still immature but charming artstyle, and what do you get? An immaculate graphic novel.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

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!

Born to be the answer to countless prophecies is a tough job to crack. When all the nations of the ocean all want the world from you life is tough and it seems that you will always be seen as a commodity and not a person. When the prophecy of the sharks calls for Kappa’s death at the hands of their prince in order to break a curse on their people, Kappa is captured and he doesn’t want to die.

The prince doesn’t want to kill an innocent person either and as the boys get to know each other feeling build and they plan a way to escape and break the curse without sacrificing Kappas life.

This Webtoon is so sweet yet full of responsibilities that are so much greater then any individual. What is the life of a beacon who has to die for one prophecy when he has yet to fulfill the prophecies of so many other nations? Yet, are prophecies of nations prosperities worth more than saving a nation from a curse that kills many of their people every day?

This webtoon with a beautiful art style has so much more going on with it underneath the surface. It’s hard to know what to root for and things are so complicated. All I can think is I want to read more and more of it. I want to see what becomes of the mer-people and if they will survive their curse or will Kappa be sacrificed in the end?

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

Kappa is a Beacon - a magical creature who is blessed (cursed?) to play a role in the prophecies of various underwater kingdoms the world over. He even looks the part, with his beautiful, shimmering gold scales and aura of light. You'd think he'd love his life's purpose - after all, everyone is always thrilled to see him - yet it's a lonely, unfulfilling existence ... especially when the prophecy doesn't play out as expected. (And, given that prophecies are tricky things, they rarely do.)

Yet Kappa's "visit" (scare quotes because it's hardly voluntary) to the Shark Kingdom will present him with an entirely new threat, as this kingdom's prophecy involves his death. More specifically, Kappa must die at the hands of the kingdom's only un-scarred prince in order to break a decades-long curse that plagues the Shark merpeople.

For his part, Prince Siren has crumbled under the weight of his kingdom's prophecy. So that he may remain alive and intact, he'd had to watch his peers be sent to battle while he remains safe and sheltered in the castle ... reflecting on the morality of killing an innocent being to save his people. Things only become more twisted when Siren meets Kappa, and the two begin to fall in love. Can they find a way to thwart the prophecy, or will Siren be forced to choose between Kappa and his family?

CASTLE SWIMMER is absolutely lovely: sweet and life affirming, comfort food for the heart and soul. The artwork is enchanting: from the various merpeople to the sea creatures and, of course, Kappa and Siren, the nonhumans who populate CASTLE SWIMMER are freaking adorable. Pruney fingers aside, it's almost enough to make me want to live there, among the underwater caves and jellyfish. Kappa and Siren's budding romance is just [heart eyes] (think: HEARTSTOPPER underwater). It's such a beautiful story (and quick read) that I was sad to see Volume 1 come to an end. Luckily, the series is available on Webtoons, where Martin is already up to episode #186 (!). (Volume 1 is just episodes 1-19, with a few bonus stories at the end.)

in the meandering and whimsical introduction to the castle swimmer series, a pair of young mermen meet and inspire each other to defy their intertwined destinies.

i’m new to graphic novels, but i found this one to be absolutely darling. the art is lovely (i love the different mermaid styles!), and kappa and prince siren are cute and easy to root for. i was left wanting more despite the slow pace here (we don’t get any of those promised adventures in this volume) and i’m looking forward to picking up volume 2!

This was a very cute and fun read.
I loved the art style and the concept. The main characters were adorable, and I can’t wait to see all the adventures they get up to.

I remember first reading this on Webtoons and I was delighted to see that it is coming to print. This is an adorable and heartwrenching comic that explores the central theme of providing for others at the expense of yourself. This is shown both through Kappa (the Beacon) and Siren. Kappa is born into a life that consists nearly entirely of serving others without ever being given to oppurtunity to chose that path for himself. Siren is similarly caged into the expectation that he will save his people from the curse that plagues them, but is asked to compromise his own wants, wishes, and morals to do so. Only when their paths cross do they begin to consider there could be other paths they can pursue. This comic also includes adorable queer representation though the romantic plot is only one small aspect of a much larger story.

This book was excellent! I'm glad that this webtoon is getting turned into a physical copy. The characters are very likeable and the story is easy to read.
I loved the relationship between Kappa and Siren, it progressed well as the book continued.
This is definitely one of my favorite reads this year!

Cute art and a cute story that is sure to appeal to a lot of our tween and teen graphic novel fans. The only reason I'm not giving it more stars is that this definitely reads like a first volume and doesn't feel at all complete on its own, which makes it a little less usable for things like book clubs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

one of my favorite webtoons! such a fun aquatic story with beautiful art style and unique plot

The story starts with this gold merfish named kappa is known as the beacon who is destined to help with many prophecies from many fish villages/ species. one species has a prophecy where the shark prince named siren has to kill kappa. however, this becomes a difficult task when the prince siren and the gold merfish kappa falls in love GASP

Will the prince choose to kill the love of his life to save his people from this deadly curse? Or will the prince save his love and betray his people including his parents

the prophecy by taylor swift

despite the forrbidden lovers tagline, this is such a precious mermaid webtoon!!! It’s also funny like silly goofy. I wasn’t expecting this cute comic to be a COMEDY

I really enjoyed this! After seeing a couple rave reviews on goodreads from friends, this went from a maybe to must read for me and I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC from NetGalley.

I really like the premise of two characters connected by opposing roles in a prophecy who both bond because of it and struggle with it. We got to see some personality and sweetness between them and their shared experiences of being othered and saddled with intense expectations due to this prophecy.
It feels like it’s going an interesting direction with free will and destiny and obligations to self and others, and I’m really looking forward to the next volume.

I wish more happened in this first volume, but we’ve been set up with a solid cliffhanger and I’ve got a feeling I might enjoy future volumes even more as the adventure really gets rolling.

Definitely recommend, a great graphic novel that is volume 1 in a longer series to be published in the future.

rating: 3.5★

though the premise is v intriguing, this was a bit of a slow start for me. i was surprised at how little action overall happens in this first volume. i would read the next volume or continue on webtoons though bc i hear it picks up.

the art style is very cute and i love the mermaid designs, but i did feel like the choice to have monochromatic color themes to panels made it feel a bit underwhelming sometimes.

the extra content however was very intriguing, i liked the extra details and thought put into little things about this world!

an honest arc review ♡

I am in love with this story. A gorgeously written illustrated tale about love, family, fate, and how to choose what is right over what you’ve been taught needs to be. This story is so touching and complicated, the relationship between Kappa and Siren is beautiful and handled so delicately. It m such an instant fan of Wendy Martin and can’t wait to read more!

While I was immediately captivated with the first pages; the prophecy, the style, the setting and the beacon, soon my excitement left its place to a bit of disappointment.
I am still curious about what will happen next, and perhaps the more exciting story lies in the next volumes, but I expected more depth, layers, world-building and character establishment in this volume.