Reviews: (by author)

Viguié, Debbie. Midnight Pearls. New York: Simon Pulse, 2003. ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-4016-6. $5.99

While Debbie Viguié’s retelling of “The Little Mermaid” retains a few elements of both the Hans Christian Andersen and Disney versions, the plot of the story is mostly her own creation.

During a terrible storm, a fisherman named Finneas finds a young girl with iridescent skin and white hair floating in the sea. He brings her home to his wife Mary who believes the girl is a gift from God since she is unable to bear her own children. They name her Pearl for the midnight blue pearl she had clutched in her hand.

Thirteen years go by, and Pearl finds her odd appearance alienates her from the superstitious townsfolk. Her only friend is James, the prince of Aster, who also knows how it feels to be under scrutiny. Together they share the secret of their long-time friendship. As Pearl and James reach adulthood, both are pressured to marry. Pearl’s only prospect is a blacksmith she barely knows, while James’ father hints at the benefits of marrying a princess from a neighboring kingdom. James and Pearl are not sure they love one another, but both feel marrying each other would be preferable to marrying strangers. The problem with this solution lies in their disparate positions; Pearl is a commoner who could never dream of marrying above her station and James is unsure the reception he would receive in choosing someone outside the aristocratic sphere.

The situation becomes more complicated with the introduction of a marquis named Robert. Robert asks Pearl’s parents for permission to wed their daughter. They gladly agree to betroth her to the charming and distinguished man. Robert is not the man he appears, however. He and his father Sir Stephen are plotting to murder both James and the king in order for Stephen, who is the king’s cousin, to ascend the throne.

Pearl cannot share her parents’ joy in this seemingly good match. In addition to Pearl’s unresolved feelings towards James, a mysterious man named Kale enters her life and she feels an immediate connection. Although Pearl has no memory of her life before being rescued from the sea, she has a sense of familiarity with Kale. Their bond stems from a shared background (both are merfolk in human form) as well as a childhood friendship and betrothal. Kale does all he can to help Pearl remember her past and her true identity.

Meanwhile, Faye, Kale’s sister who has also taken human form, intrigues James. Like previous versions of the tale, this prince vows to marry the woman who saves him from drowning. When James hits his head on the bow of a boat and sinks unconscious into the ocean, Faye rescues him. After James discovers the identity of his rescuer, he invites Faye to the castle and devotes all his attention to her.

Unbeknownst to either Pearl or James, the sudden appearance of Kale and Faye is premeditated. Both made a bargain with the Sea Witch in order to attain human form. Each have seven days in which to get their true loves to agree to marry them or they will die. In exchange for their gift of legs, both sacrifice something to the Sea Witch; Kale loses his sight while Faye loses her voice.

These physical limitations prove not to be Kale and Faye’s biggest obstacle to achieving their goal, however. As events unfold, it is clear Robert and Sir Stephen’s plot to kill the king has far-reaching effects on the lives of Kale and Faye and their respective love interests.

Does the conspiracy to kill the king succeed? Will Pearl remember her past and reclaim her true identity? Who lives happily ever after? The conclusion of the book answers all these questions and more.

In my attempt to write a brief plot summary of Midnight Pearls, the complexity of storyline became more apparent. The action unfolds at a breakneck pace conducive to a quick read, even at 198 pages. The downside is some plot points are rushed and some characters underdeveloped. This book is quite fun to read, however, and I could not wait to find out what happens next. This feeling alone makes the reading worthwhile.

Kira Hall, June 2007

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