This is the best and ultimate mermaid love story. It is completelly romantic in tone and trully moving. Inspiration for Andersen, Wilde and Tchaikovsky, admired by Poe and Lovecraft, this is a story that any lover of fantastic tales will enjoy profoundly. It is my personal favorite.

This is the orignal Fairy Tale Noir, which inspired all the rest: ballet, opera, Giraudoux's ONDINE, and Osborne's HAUNTED WATERS. This novella examines the spiritual question of the Soul--that elusive quality of mankind. Can it be other than God-given? Can it be acquired through marriage or noble deeds; bartered or even outright sold? Does possession of a soul make one's life easier or more difficult, one's decisions clearer or more complex?

This 175-year-old fairy tale from the enchanted forests of Germany is intensely poetic and Romantic in style, yet it echoes Medieval sagas of hopeless, emotional quests. The ageless theme is the danger of unnatural union between a mortal and an immortal, human and supernatural beings--regardless of the sincerity of their Love. This short tale is further condensed by the skillful translator, yet it retains the flavor of dark mystery of the original. Fouque's sylvan setting and watery undulations surpise us at every turn: fl! ood, stream, fountain, ocean, lake. Ethereal, humanesque forms melt and dissolve into liquid elements. Does an evil demon stalk Undine and her cavalier? Is this presence trying to protect her or reclaim her from the solid world.? To which world would she rather belong--or does she even have a choice at all?

Like Hans Christian Andersen's LITTTLE MERMAID (forget the Disney version), Undine endures great suffering in exchange for the gift of a human soul. Alas, like the prince in the HCA original, Lord Huldbrand proves faithless to his bride, thus endangering their future together and both their lives. The plot flows along swiftly and inevitably to its disastrous conclusion; no one in the lovers' triangle triumphs in the end. The water sprites merely mock the futility of human endeavor. This is a fast read which will entice lovers of Fantasy into the spell of seeking ever more about UNDINE, a heroine as evanescent as a rainbow in the mist..

I checked this book out for a young reader in my life - she tried it (about 30 pages), said "ugh," and handed it to me. We're both fans of mermaids and fairy tales and selkies and so on... so I gave it a shot. (I'm 28).

This book was in the young adult section at the library... and the whole time I was reading it I felt like Mary Pope Osbourne was dying to write a mermaid bodice ripper, but didn't want to upset her magic treehouse fans. The book had the elements of a fairy tale with the feel of a harlequin romance thrown in. (She only alludes to sex, but it feels forced or restrained - just not right).

I didn't give a poop what happened to the lord and his lady by the end... it was boring and silly, and I am astonished it has received so many good reviews here on amazon. I'd love to read the original story it's based on (and plan to). I have a feeling there might have been a lot more to work with that Osborne didn't bother to bring to the page.

Go read Hans Christian Anderson or a book on sea-lore instead.

The horrible paperback cover says enough in itself. The hardback (which I read, was much spookier looking).

It's a spooky story that captures the essence of a German Fairy Tale. The book is based on a mystery that surrounds a beautiful maiden named Undine. It's told from the perspective of the main hero, Lord Huldbrand.Over-all, the story is fast-pased. I was rather sad that it wasn't any longer. If you love sea stories and fairy tale-based fantisy, this is the book for you! Great read for young and old adults!

Isn't it great when a book really grabs you and knocks you off your feet? I was so sorry to come to the end. A hauntingly beautiful fairy tale for older readers. The love of Lord Huldbrand (spelling!) for Undine is powerful to begin with and it is fascinating to watch this love turn to suspicion to fear and even to loathing. The mysterious, mystical elements of the book are particularly well written. It's spooky without being scary. I am a Storyteller who loves folklore, mythology, and fairy tales. I am now searching Amazon.com for similar books. (Anyone out there have any suggestions?) This is just a very powerful work that is extremely well written. I'm not doing as good a job as I'd hoped in praising it (these reviews are tough to write, which makes me appreciate a well-written book even more!) so buy a copy for yourself and enjoy, I know you will.