Tips for Tuesday - Books: Year of the Mer, Dog Person & King the Wonder Dog and Other Stories; Movie: Proud Princess

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: Year of the Mer, Dog Person & King the Wonder of the Dog and Other Stories 

Me -Year of the Mer by L.D. Lewis is a dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid, following Arielle's descendant Yemi, who is forced into exile after discontent within her kingdom causes her to be ripped from her throne. If she wants to take back her place as heir, she may have to seek out the only person with enough power to help her: the sea witch Ursla.

This book has a really interesting concept. Arielle's decision to become human impacting multiple kingdoms for generations due to a political divide involving war and devastation is unique and intriguing. However, the execution of this concept left much to be desired.

First of all, there was a fair amount of made-up terminology thrown around as early as the first page. Some terms were explained right away, while others were not. Either way, there was so much of it that it was difficult to understand what any of it meant, or what was happening much of the time, especially while at the same time trying to understand brand new characters, locations, politics, etc.

Additionally, the book was very slow-paced. Oftentimes, it felt like nothing was happening or there were pages full of extensive info-dumping. This made it difficult to remain invested even though the plot itself was compelling.

Still, other portions of the book were entertaining, and Yemi was an enjoyable character to follow. There was also a sapphic romance between her and her bodyguard, Nova, which was a bit underdeveloped but still cute.

If you love fairy tale retellings and you don't mind slow pacing and somewhat convoluted worldbuilding, you might really love this book. Otherwise, it's probably not the best fit for you.

Mom - Today, I recommend Dog Person by Camille Pagan. Ever since the love of his life, Amelia, died, Miguel has barely been able to function. He hardly ever even goes out, not even to the bookstore he and Amelia owned together, which is now in danger of failing. It's up to Harold, Amelia's aging dog, to keep a promise to his late owner and help Miguel move on with his life and find love again.

This is a truly beautiful, deeply emotional book. It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The characters are fully drawn, good-hearted, and extremely likable. There are lots of found-family vibes, and the relationships between the characters are extremely touching.  Not only are there touching relationships between people, but between people and dogs, and even between two dogs, as Harold becomes a role model for a puppy. If you love a book that makes you happy cry and sad cry, especially one that is centered around the world of books, you should love this one. 

Mom again - Today, I recommend King the Wonder Dog and Other Stories. These slice-of-life stories are about people dealing with the issues of aging and loneliness. While dogs and other animals figure in each of the tales, they are not always central to the story. However, the stories in which the animals figure more prominently are, for the most part, the more interesting stories in the collection.  In any case, if you are of a certain age yourself, you can definitely relate to at least certain aspects of these stories. If not, it's a glimpse at what may be to come and a reminder of the importance of human connection.  

Today, we recommend Proud Princess, a family-friendly film about a prince who disguises himself to woo a reluctant princess. Even though much of the story is cliched, there are enough new elements to keep it fresh. If you enjoy this type of film, you will probably like it. On the other hand, if you are not a fan of princess movies, this film is not likely to change your mind. 

And that's our view. Year of the Mer, Dog Person, and King the Wonder Dog and Other Stories were published today. Proud Princess is available On Demand starting today. 

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