Rapunzel and the Sea Witch (or, The Little Mermaid and the Tower) by Kim Bussing is the third book from the traditionally published series The Princess Swap. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Unfortunately, I have not read the second book in the series yet, but I don't think I missed anything important since each book can be enjoyed as a standalone. Like Cinderella and the Beast, this book contains a role reversal between two classic princesses. In this case, the swap occurs between "The Little Mermaid," whose name here is Hana, and the self-titled "Rapunzel." Since these are two of my favorite fairy tales, I'm going easy on this one. While I think this book would be an enjoyable read for its younger target audience, I'm not sure I'd recommend it for teens and adults who also enjoy fairy tales.
Hana, the youngest mermaid of six sisters, was always curious about the human world. She also hopes to stop a dangerous storm from swallowing her peaceful undersea kingdom of Avalon. Meanwhile, Rapunzel is a girl who was kept locked in a tower by the calculating Lady Grimm, who told her that her curse posed a danger to herself and others if she left. However, it is never made clear exactly what her curse is. When Hana secretly steals a contract from the sea witch, Madame Divine (cleverly named after the drag queen that Disney's Ursula was based on), she unexpectedly finds herself standing on two legs, locked in a tower. Meanwhile, Rapunzel ends up in Madame Divine's lair and makes an agreement to trade her voice for the chance to travel freely without her curse harming those around her. The two girls encounter two boys on their travels, a prince who fell off a ship, and Jack, of magic beanstalk fame, but there aren't any direct references to romance.
From the summary alone, it should be clear that a lot is happening in this book. Most of it is very interesting, especially for fairy tale fans, but there's very little explanation for any of it. How do Rapunzel and Prince Oliver breathe underwater when they aren't merfolk? Why did Hana immediately find a way out of the tower when Rapunzel lived there her entire life? What is Rapunzel's curse? Why does the storm pose a threat to Avalon? Readers need to go with the flow without questioning anything. If you do that, it can be a fun ride. This story reminded me a lot of
Into the Woods, and it suffers from many of the same flaws, including a bloated cast and too many references to other stories. Not only does it depend on readers already knowing the stories of "The Little Mermaid" and "Rapunzel," but it also features characters and plot elements from
"Jack and the Beanstalk."
Another thing this book has no shortage of is villains. Aside from Madame Divine and Lady Grimm, this entry introduces a new character called the General, who poses the biggest threat of all. The story already had plenty of conflict from the little mermaid's wicked sea witch and Rapunzel's lying maternal figure, but as a
modern princess story, the writer probably thought it was necessary to include a male villain. The General is primarily a psychological threat, spreading prejudice between humans and merfolk to start unnecessary wars between them. Although I was intrigued upon learning his true identity, it would have packed a bigger punch if the story hadn't been so convoluted. The threat of the storm, Rapunzel's supposed curse, and various hostages gave the main characters plenty to deal with. Hana, Rapunzel, Jack, and Prince Oliver all prove themselves as brave and worthy protagonists who make excellent role models for younger readers of this series.
Rapunzel and the Sea Witch is a creative and action-packed retelling of two classic fairy tales, with a unique role reversal and plenty of exciting plot twists. While it may be enjoyable for younger readers, the convoluted storyline and lack of explanations may make it less appealing for teens and adults. The characters are well-developed and make for great role models, but the story suffers from a bloated cast and too many references to other tales. Overall, fans of fairy tale retellings and adventure stories may find this book entertaining, but others may find it overwhelming. The book is most suited for its target audience of middle-grade readers between the ages of 8 and 12.
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