- Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages
- Publisher: Bantam; Reprint edition (Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553584979
- ISBN-13: 978-0553584974
- Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 3.1 x 17.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,111,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Shana Abé has entranced countless readers with her passion-filled novels of adventure, intrigue, and romance. Now the author of The Secret Swan delivers a gift from the sea: three hauntingly beautiful tales connected by a legend, a locket, and a love beyond time.
531 a.d.: The tiny island of Kell is said to be enchanted, inhabited by an extraordinary creature who comforts shipwrecked sailors passing into the next world. Prince Aedan of the Isles believes in no such nonsense—until he awakens on Kell itself and meets the sensuous siren who rescued him from the sea.
1721: Ronan MacMhuirich, Earl of Kell, is the target of an unlikely assassin: Leila, a mysterious woman from an exotic land. But his irresistibly beautiful would-be slayer is in just as much danger as Ronan when she falls for this man with a magic of his own.
2004: What do you do when you inherit a Scottish island you never knew existed—and find yourself pursued by a handsome stranger who wants to buy it from you? That’s what happens to Ruri Kell when she accepts Iain MacInnes’s invitation to visit her birthright, and listens to a proposition as sinfully tempting as everything else about him.
Three seductive love stories, three passionate couples, all linked by one of the most romantic myths of all.
531 a.d.: The tiny island of Kell is said to be enchanted, inhabited by an extraordinary creature who comforts shipwrecked sailors passing into the next world. Prince Aedan of the Isles believes in no such nonsense—until he awakens on Kell itself and meets the sensuous siren who rescued him from the sea.
1721: Ronan MacMhuirich, Earl of Kell, is the target of an unlikely assassin: Leila, a mysterious woman from an exotic land. But his irresistibly beautiful would-be slayer is in just as much danger as Ronan when she falls for this man with a magic of his own.
2004: What do you do when you inherit a Scottish island you never knew existed—and find yourself pursued by a handsome stranger who wants to buy it from you? That’s what happens to Ruri Kell when she accepts Iain MacInnes’s invitation to visit her birthright, and listens to a proposition as sinfully tempting as everything else about him.
Three seductive love stories, three passionate couples, all linked by one of the most romantic myths of all.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed SA's "The Smoke Thief" immensely and already have it's sequel on order. After such a great introduction to a newly discovered author, I then ordered several other books by Shana Abé, including "The Last Mermaid"
I've already stated in a previous review that SA does not get the reader hooked on her stories with dark, explosive action scenes, or charm the reader with her humour. She carried off "The Smoke" Thief" I think because it was such a cracking story line; however there was nothing of this in "The Last Mermaid". The basic premise was good, that of the last living Siren who saves a drowning man, Kell. In return for his life he must offer her his heart and soul and never leave her. He is initially entranced by his beautiful mermaid and together they dwell happily with their children on an isolated island off the Scottish coast, until one day Kell grows distant, soon resenting his sea born wife and children and his inability to leave the island as they can. In a moment of insanity he snatches the locket which contains his soul from the Siren's neck, dooming himself to death and the Siren to a lonely existence. Before returning to the open seas, the Siren in her pain curses love. To keep her island and children safe from faithless mortals she ensures three generations of her line will find love almost impossible.
Each of the three stories within this book are set in different time periods; 512 ("The Legend"), 1721 ("The Hero") and the Present ("The Siren"). I felt that the last story was the most moving, as modern American Jessie has no idea of her heritage until she finds herself swimming in the waters of Kell, an island she's inherited, with a fish tail instead of legs. I also enjoyed the fact that the Siren is male in "The Hero", a man up against a deadly female assassin and her mentor dubbed "The Hand of God". The first story in this book is "The Legend", the story of a Prince rescued by a Siren after he is betrayed. I felt this was the dullest story by far; however my aversion to historical romance does make me somewhat biased. In fact it took several sittings to read my way through this 200 page story before moving on to the other two far superior offerings.
If you want wrenching emotions, humorous word play and action, then I'm afraid to say that you should give "The Last Mermaid" a miss. If however you prefer a softer, more haunting quality to your romance then I recommend this book to you. As a big fan of writers such as Sherrilyn Kenyon and Gena Showalter, I personally just don't find SA to be as exciting an author as this pair.
I've already stated in a previous review that SA does not get the reader hooked on her stories with dark, explosive action scenes, or charm the reader with her humour. She carried off "The Smoke" Thief" I think because it was such a cracking story line; however there was nothing of this in "The Last Mermaid". The basic premise was good, that of the last living Siren who saves a drowning man, Kell. In return for his life he must offer her his heart and soul and never leave her. He is initially entranced by his beautiful mermaid and together they dwell happily with their children on an isolated island off the Scottish coast, until one day Kell grows distant, soon resenting his sea born wife and children and his inability to leave the island as they can. In a moment of insanity he snatches the locket which contains his soul from the Siren's neck, dooming himself to death and the Siren to a lonely existence. Before returning to the open seas, the Siren in her pain curses love. To keep her island and children safe from faithless mortals she ensures three generations of her line will find love almost impossible.
Each of the three stories within this book are set in different time periods; 512 ("The Legend"), 1721 ("The Hero") and the Present ("The Siren"). I felt that the last story was the most moving, as modern American Jessie has no idea of her heritage until she finds herself swimming in the waters of Kell, an island she's inherited, with a fish tail instead of legs. I also enjoyed the fact that the Siren is male in "The Hero", a man up against a deadly female assassin and her mentor dubbed "The Hand of God". The first story in this book is "The Legend", the story of a Prince rescued by a Siren after he is betrayed. I felt this was the dullest story by far; however my aversion to historical romance does make me somewhat biased. In fact it took several sittings to read my way through this 200 page story before moving on to the other two far superior offerings.
If you want wrenching emotions, humorous word play and action, then I'm afraid to say that you should give "The Last Mermaid" a miss. If however you prefer a softer, more haunting quality to your romance then I recommend this book to you. As a big fan of writers such as Sherrilyn Kenyon and Gena Showalter, I personally just don't find SA to be as exciting an author as this pair.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I'm such a fan of Shana Abe, her prose is often sheer poetry, so beautiful. However I wouldn't recommend this as an intro to her work. The idea sounded really exciting but I was really disappointed with the stories, they all seemed to be missing a certain something. I would have gave it 2 stars if not for the lovely prose.
The first story (siren and the king) and the second story (assassin and the selkie) were fine but seemed to fizzle out and run out of spark. Maybe they would have worked better as longer romances? It was a shame because I really wanted to like the characters but they didn't seem that developed. They were both 7/10
However the last story was the worst. Maybe its just me but I just didn't get it and I found myself skimming the pages. It was the only one with a modern setting and I just couldn't get into the story. It sounds a bit harsh but feel this was the weakest story and really let the whole collection down.
Unless you are a die hard fan who has to collect everything by Shana Abe, I would give this a miss and glom her other wonderful works ie Secret Swan etc
The first story (siren and the king) and the second story (assassin and the selkie) were fine but seemed to fizzle out and run out of spark. Maybe they would have worked better as longer romances? It was a shame because I really wanted to like the characters but they didn't seem that developed. They were both 7/10
However the last story was the worst. Maybe its just me but I just didn't get it and I found myself skimming the pages. It was the only one with a modern setting and I just couldn't get into the story. It sounds a bit harsh but feel this was the weakest story and really let the whole collection down.
Unless you are a die hard fan who has to collect everything by Shana Abe, I would give this a miss and glom her other wonderful works ie Secret Swan etc
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
31 reviews
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
4 Romances in 1 Magical Mermaid Tale
14 Dec 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
THE LAST MERMAID is a fantastic departure from the typical romance novel. Incorporating four magical love stories in one, THE LAST MERMAID begins with a mermaid's tragic curse of lost love, then moves to the first story, which is about a betrayed King of Scotland who is rescued from a watery grave by Ione, the lonely siren of the cursed island of Kell. This segment was packed with medieval adventure (Scottish warriors against Saxon thugs), and I thought Aeden was a fantastic hero, though Ione the mermaid bugged me at first for being so needy (I grew to like her, especially toward the end, when she risked all for Aeden). Following this story, we move ahead to the 1700s, in which Ione and Aeden's descendant, the male siren Ronan (Earl of Kell), is targeted for death by a beautiful Spanish assassin named Leila (who has some magic of her own). Ronan and Leila's story is filled with intrigue and painful attraction (I couldn't wait for them to FINALLY hook up). However, I think I liked the last story the best, which begins in modern-day Los Angeles. The heroine, half-Japanese Ruri, has just inherited the Island of Kell (which she didn't even know existed) and is "seduced" into visiting it by Iain, a hot pirate-like Scot who wants to buy it. Their story wraps up the four (yes, four) romances quite nicely, with just a little magic twist. For a romance novel, THE LAST MERMAID is prettily written (you can practically taste the saltwater and see the island in your mind), though the author sometimes overdoes it (she has a certain obsession for eye and hair color). The actual lovemaking scenes are also elegant, meaning they are less steamy and more romantic. Overall, I thought this was a lovely novel, eloquent and satisfying, and would recommend it to anyone interested in adding a touch of magic to her day.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
The Last Mermaid
3 July 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
An avid reader of historical romances and fantasy romances,
I found this book to be totally enchanting!!!! Once I started it, I couldn't escape the mermaids' lure. This was the first book of Shana Abe`'s that I had read, but she held me
spellbound. After having read so many books of this kind, I can pretty much tell you what the story will be about after the first chapter...not so with this one!!! When I completed the novel...I felt sad that it was over. I thought about the story for weeks after reading it. I went to the bookstore to get more of her books...but they didn't have any! I couldn't believe they didn't know what an amazing find this writer is and I told them so!
The legend's beginning and its end...throughout time...
the timelessness...
If you miss this one...you really missed out! I'm not going to describe the plot..since that has already been done. But I could see this one in my head ...feel it..magical but almost real. WOW! Shana Abe` has moved to the top of my favorite authors list!
I found this book to be totally enchanting!!!! Once I started it, I couldn't escape the mermaids' lure. This was the first book of Shana Abe`'s that I had read, but she held me
spellbound. After having read so many books of this kind, I can pretty much tell you what the story will be about after the first chapter...not so with this one!!! When I completed the novel...I felt sad that it was over. I thought about the story for weeks after reading it. I went to the bookstore to get more of her books...but they didn't have any! I couldn't believe they didn't know what an amazing find this writer is and I told them so!
The legend's beginning and its end...throughout time...
the timelessness...
If you miss this one...you really missed out! I'm not going to describe the plot..since that has already been done. But I could see this one in my head ...feel it..magical but almost real. WOW! Shana Abe` has moved to the top of my favorite authors list!
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Totally Awesome Love Stories!
2 July 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an amazing tale set in three separate time periods and linked together by the prologue that explains the myth and how the curse came to be as the original mermaid of Kell lost her one true love and how her descendants all fought and found their way to discovering their destinies and true love.
531 a.d. --- The Picts ambushed Aedan, a Prince of the Isles who would one day be King. Mortally wounded he was then shipped out to the middle of the ocean near the mysterious island of Kell, dumped overboard and believed to have drowned. Actually, he did drown, but through the enchanted ministrations of the siren Iona, who lived on the enchanted island of Kell, Aedan was restored back to life. Love blossoms with exquisite sensuality between the two, yet Aedan felt impelled to build a vessel to return to his home and save his people knowing that he would be leaving a part of his soul behind with Iona. Deliberating over the knowledge that a slow death would occur should she leave the island of Kell, Iona follows Aedan to inform him that she would be having his child only to find that once again, Aedan was betrayed, a prisoner in his own castle and near death. Risking her own life by leaving the magical waters of Kell, Ione would save Aedan once again, but could she survive herself? - Thrilling, with intense action and sensuality.
531 a.d. --- The Picts ambushed Aedan, a Prince of the Isles who would one day be King. Mortally wounded he was then shipped out to the middle of the ocean near the mysterious island of Kell, dumped overboard and believed to have drowned. Actually, he did drown, but through the enchanted ministrations of the siren Iona, who lived on the enchanted island of Kell, Aedan was restored back to life. Love blossoms with exquisite sensuality between the two, yet Aedan felt impelled to build a vessel to return to his home and save his people knowing that he would be leaving a part of his soul behind with Iona. Deliberating over the knowledge that a slow death would occur should she leave the island of Kell, Iona follows Aedan to inform him that she would be having his child only to find that once again, Aedan was betrayed, a prisoner in his own castle and near death. Risking her own life by leaving the magical waters of Kell, Ione would save Aedan once again, but could she survive herself? - Thrilling, with intense action and sensuality.
1721: Ronan MacMhuirich, Earl of Kell, mysterious and beloved laird of his clan is the target of an unlikely assassin. Rarely appearing in the London social circles he and his clansmen traveled to the city to try and discover who was attempting to kill him. Searching for an assassin he discovered instead a mysterious and beautiful woman from an exotic land. Leila, not only a skilled assassin, but also gifted with `sight' that could prove to be much more dangerous to Ronan than any assassins weapon. Irresistibly drawn to one another, the beautiful would-be slayer and Ronan (a male siren) would discover a magic more powerful than either of their gifts - the magic of love found only by true soul mates. - Very ORIGINAL, passionate and sultry!
2004: Ruri Kell, is still dealing with the unexpected death of her parents when several things happen. First she receives a very old silver locket; discovers she has inherited an island no one knew existed; and a devastatingly handsome Scot, Dr. Iain MacInnes, has arrived at her door offering her an astronomical amount of money to buy the island. The one condition of the sale is that she must travel to the island (she who is deathly afraid of water) and `see' it first before selling. Unknown to Ruri was that she was the last descendant of the Kell's, and knew nothing of her father's family history. Iain had been waiting several lifetimes for her and for himself too and would only be free to love when she could `remember' who and what she really was.
All three stories/books were very original, sensual and passionate love stories, my favorites being Aedan and Ronan's stories. Ms. Abe is a favorite author of mine and it has been a long time between books. I am delighted to say this was well worth the wait and I heartily recommend this for lovers of this fantasy genre as an enjoyable and very original read. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---
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