ohhh, i don't know how to properly explain my love for this trilogy. i think the best compliment that i can offer, is that i've never been more grateful that 10 year old me will get to grow up to read this one day. (i mean, i'm an adult now and i already read it... etc. but it's a metaphor or whatever, you get what i'm saying).

10 year old me loved mermaids. so does 28 year old me. but neither of us ever thought we'd get to read a story about two mermaids falling in love and having an adventure. one that makes no big deal about that queerness. it's just another part of the girls who are having an adventure and saving the world. it's important, because it's a part of them, but it's not the only thing the story revolves around. and it's doesn't end in tragedy. 10 year old me never could have imagined that, because she didn't see any other girls like her in anything she was reading, she had no idea for years that it was even a possibility. but now, after slogging through hundreds of stories revolving around that queerness (which, we're important and formative for different reasons) it's just... so lovely to be able to get to read an epic story of sea adventure, mermaids, warriors, power struggles, coming of age, all wrapped up in a beautiful love story between two girls.

10 year old me got a mermaid love story, and for that, she is innately grateful. ( )

The writing is fine, but I didn't like the sudden addition of new characters, or the departure from a very focused, interpersonal story to the sprawling war narrative ( )

Brb crying. I’m going to miss my girls ( )