
Member Reviews

Thank you to Net-Galley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book.
Beautifully illustrated and such a heartwarming tale. I love that it picked up straight over volume 1.
I’m now invested in these characters and their adventures and I’m in suspense untill I can get my hands on volume 3!

Such a sweet yet deep story. The Plot follows a merman who's job is to make the dreams of underwater creatures come true but it comes at a high cost to him. The soft and tender romance between the main characters is done really well and realistically and is the main highlight for me.

I loved this book! Watching Wendy go from webtoon to true publication is so amazing to watch unfold. I am so proud of what she is accomplishing. So glad I got the chance to read the new volume.

If you’re a fan of the cute and sweet vibes of Heartstopper I think that you’ll have a fun time with this series. I enjoyed volume one more and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it might be because cuteness of the art style makes the stakes not feel as high. I would still recommend checking this series out though and I’m excited to see what happens next.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you thought the first volume of Castle Swimmer was a wild ride, buckle up—volume two takes things to a whole new level! The stakes are higher than ever as Siren and Kappa navigate not only the treacherous waters of their kingdom but also the intense emotions and dangers threatening their very lives. There’s something truly magical about the way their relationship evolves in this volume. I swooned so hard during every scene with them! The chemistry between Kappa and Siren is undeniable, and the risks they’re both willing to take for each other just melted my heart. The tension between them is palpable, especially with the looming threat of the queen’s deadly spear.
What really hooked me this time, though, is the adventure and unpredictability. Siren and Kappa’s escape plans are full of twists, and I loved seeing their courage and cunning come to the forefront. The addition of the neighboring queens and their potential alliance adds even more layers to the plot—trust is hard to come by, and you never know who might betray them next. Add in the gorgeous artwork and a bonus chapter that gives us a deeper look at these two mermen, and you’ve got a volume that leaves you eager for more! If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend diving into Castle Swimmer—it's a perfect blend of heart-stopping action and sweet romance!
Thank you Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Graphic for the ARC! <3

Castle Swimmer is one of the best webtoons I've ever read. The storyline is so creative and different from anything else out there and the characters are so wonderful. The art conveys such emotion with each page and I get sucked in and spit back out begging for more. Truly a fantastic comic that im so happy has a physical print now that I can put on my shelves!

The art is fantastic like always. However, I just struggled to figure out what was going on. I would have loved to see more character development and more explanation of the world.

Took me a while to get around to doing this review. Yes, I've been busy, but also I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other one, but I couldn't quite pinpoint why (which made it harder for me to write this review).
After some thought, I can say that the pace and plot were the main issues for me in this sequel. This graphic novel was originally posted on Webtoon, meaning it had to be split into volumes afterward when it was picked up by a publisher. I feel like the choice was centered around publishing volumes of around the same length, which, unfortunately, didn't work out so well in this case. A lot happened in the first novel, and then not much in the second one, slowing down the pace significantly.
I was still happy to get back to this world and these characters, even if just for a little while.

There was a lot of plot in this volume. We do learn a little about a couple of characters' motivations, but the majority of this volume was dedicated to moving the plot forward. It was very quick paced and I would have been on the edge of my seat had I not read the original webcomic first. We don't really get much of Kappa and Siren bonding, but the scenes we do get are very emotional and impactful. One thing that did annoy me about this volume was the humor. It is just so bad. I honestly thought the humor was bad in the last volume too, but it didn't really disrupt the story so I didn't worry about it. This time though, I just found myself rolling my eyes at almost every joke. I don't think I laughed once. There were a couple jokes that I didn't mind, because I think they fit the character, but I still didn't find them funny at all. Even though I really don't like the humor in this comic, I still love the story and the characters.

4.5 Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me i with an e-copy of this book!! I loved the first one and am so honored to have been chosen to receive an advanced copy of this! I really loved it. It had me flipping through so fast! I can’t wait for the next installment of the story!!

If the first part of this story was engaging, the second part is even more so. As the plot unfolds, you'll find yourself growing even more attached to the characters. I particularly enjoy how the author develops the friendship between Siren and Kappa; it's one of the most adorable things I've ever read. I'm looking forward to seeing how this story progresses and what awaits our protagonists in their next adventures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for providing this ARC.

I love love love this webtoon. It's not only a great story about not being a slave to your pre-determined destiny but is a good example of healthy relationships.

This was so good! The art style is super cute and the characters are funny as heck. I'd say more, but I feel I'd spoil it. Kappa and Siren are so cute together. I can't wait to read more.

Castle Swimmer vol 2
5/5 Stars 🌟 This will be reviewed on instagram 27/1
Thank you NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for this eARC
I remember reading castle swimmer on webtoon back in the day! As soon as I seen volume 2 out on NetGalley I knew I had to reread volume 1 and catch up! It’s been so long!
I love this cute comic and I love it as a little cozy read, the art is beautiful and its story was so eye catching.
Honestly seeing it go from a webcomic to a published comic makes me so happy ❤️

Castle Swimmer is one of my favorite WebToons that I have ever read and I absolutely love that it is getting a print run. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this so that I can have it forever! Kappa and Siren are so unbelievably cute together and I am so thankful to have gotten this e-arc! I will be rereading the entire webcomic now.

This is such a cute story with great art. I really love the characters and how they interact with each other. I read this originally on Webtoon, but I loved revisiting the story in graphic novel format. This is the type of story you can read over and over and enjoy more every time.

I started reading it on webtoon some time ago but when I got accepted for the arc I was so happy! Personally I prefer the layout of the book instead of the one designed for phone screens.
The drawings are really bright and vivid and they make me want to go live under the see with the other sharks and sea creatures!
Also the storyline is really interesting and the dinamic between Siren and Kappa is so tender, cute and somehow special. I can’t wait to read more about them and to see what could happen when they’ll meet again!

Episodes 20-41 of the webtoon
Funny, sweet and heart touching!
Very avatar esque comedy perfect for middle grade and pre teens
Prince Siren tries to protect the Beacon Kappa from execution
Queen Susca is growing impatient with siren and is willing to do the execution herself
Siren and Kappa struggle with their feelings for each other, they are clearly in love but their positions strain their futures

The stakes feel higher and the emotions run deeper in this charming follow-up to Castle Swimmer. Siren and Kappa's relationship blossoms against the backdrop of danger and impossible choices, and the humor and heartfelt moments balance the tension beautifully. With stunning art, lovable characters, and an unexpected twist, this volume keeps the magic of the series alive while setting the stage for more adventures.

#ad I received this book as an ARC but the opinions are entirely my own. I was excited to read this sequel as the first one ended on the cliff hanger and the artist showed their current art style at the end. For me it felt like nothing happened in the first 50% it was only then that we saw some engaging plot, however this ends in a way that I’m not desperate to continue the series. Like I said in the first volume I do like the character designs for all the different merpeople and the thought that went behind their design. Unfortunately it wasn’t the enough for volume 2