The Last Mermaid (Mass Market Paperback)

by Shana Abe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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.

From the Inside Flap
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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553584979
• ISBN-13: 978-0553584974
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #500,577 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 Romances in 1 Magical Mermaid Tale, December 14, 2004

By	Dakota "daxydakota" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

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.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Mermaid, July 2, 2004

By	Kathy (United States) - See all my reviews

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!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to Enchantment, January 5, 2005

By	Azurestrangelove "Life in the So-Called Space... (Upstate NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Finally a romantic novel that centers on one of the most mythic, mysterious, and sensual charactors in the fantasy genre: Mermaids, Sirens of the sea.

Being a natural lover of fantasy and an even bigger fan of mermaid tales in general, I had to have this book as soon as I came across it. And the anticipation and high expectations I had for it were,for the most part, met and exceeded.

The book starts off with the legend of an island more beautiful than words could possibly describe; an island that has remained undisturbed and unclaimed by mankind because it's currents and reef are so strong and deadly that no ship has been able to even go near it without meeting certain death. And this is much the case for a fisherman named Kell who finds himself shipwrecked and drowning in these waters. As fate would have it, Kell comes face to face with the Siren of the sea herself, who falls instantly in love with him. She offers to spare his life upon the agreement that he marry her and give her his eternal heart and, more importantly, his soul, which she kept in a scrolled silver locket around her neck. Mesmerized by the beautiful siren with sapphire blue eyes and her enchanted Isle, Kell accepts the proposal and claims the mermaid and the island as his own, thus naming it Kell. Together they lived a very happy existence on Kell. They built a castle and had many children. But as time went by Kell grew restless with homesickness and one night he ripped the locket containing his soul from the safety of his wifes neck and opened it. Upon doing so his soul fled free to the stars and Kell died instantly. Heartbroken, the mermaid eventually went mad with sadness and put a curse on the island that anyone who dared to come or go would be cursed with death. And so, it became believed that the curse was the reason for the sailors' deaths at sea and mermaids were feared and Kell was avoided at all costs. And so the story begins...


Many, many years later...

Prince Aedan is about to become King of a Scottish chain of Isles including Kelmere, his home. But upon his arrival home from a victorious journey, he and his men are ambushed by one of Kelmere's enemies; the Picts, and left for dead. All except Aedan, who is still alive--but barely. Amidst a terrible storm brewing, he is taken aboard a small boat and brought to the one place that no one would ever go looking for him--beneath the dark depths of the ocean on the shores of Kell. He he found by the Siren, Ione, the last of her kind, whose only task in life is to greet the drowning sailors in the ocean who haved come too close to Kell and sing to them to calm their fears as they drown. But when Ione finds Aedans drowning body beneath the waves, she too falls in love with him and takes him to her castle to nurse him back to health. As much as Aedan begins to find himself falling for Ione and the allure of her island, he knows that there is a war going on back at Kelmere and must try to return, curse or not. At first Ione tries to keep him there with her but knows that she cannot do so forever and lets him return. She even helps guide his makeshift boat safely across the deadly waters to ensure his safety. However when Aedan returns to his palace to find betrayal and imprisonment, it seems that the curse hasn't escaped him yet. Will Aeadan live and one day be reunited with his beloved Ione?

Book 2: 18th century London...


Ronan, The sensously blond and deep blue eyed Earl of Kell is plagued by dreams of a beautiful woman that he doesn't even know, until he sees her one night at a ball. It seems that Leila has been looking for him too, but for an entirely different reason. Leila is a young Spanishwoman who has a unique psychic gift and a very traumatic and disturbing childhood. She was brought up to be a very skillful assasin and routinely kills people for money. And Ronan just happens to be her next future victim, until she lays eyes on the beautiful male Siren who silently threatens to turn her life upside down if she gives into her growing feelings for him and spares his life. In her indecision, Ronan eventually learns of her intentions and in a fit of rage, brings her to Kell. But despite his anger, Ronan finds that he force himself to bring any harm or punishment to the woman who stole his heart and lied to him and eventually convinces her to become his bodyguard, for triple what she had been originally been paid and the threat of her never leaving Kell again. But a contract is a contract, and no matter who does it, the job must still get done. And now both Ronan and Leila's lives are in danger.

Book 3: Modern day LA....


Ruriko Kell recently lost her parents in a car accident and not only inherits a tower of debt, but also a mysteriously beutiful silver locket and a Scottish Island. Having never set foot in
the ocean because of lifelong dreams of drowning, and of course, the debt, Ruri decides to sell the island. And then one day a gorgeous stranger appears at her door and offers to pay her 12 Million for it. But upon seeing the beautifully blue eyes Ruri, Iain realizes that selling the island might be the biggest mistake that Ruri will ever make so he gives her the stipulation that in order for the sale to be complete, she must wear the necklace and come with him st Scotland to see Her island in person. Wary but equally attracted to Iain, Ruri accepts, and embarks on a journey of eternal love and self discovery.


The stories are all beautifully written and very tastefully romantic. The sexual scenes are romantic, NOT pornographic, which is what usually turns me off of the entire romance genre entirely. All (4) stories are all intricately intertwined and it's nice to see the progression from each one. My only minor gripe over the novel is that the final story did not show the charactor development of the first two. Nor did it answer a lot of the questions that I had through the progression of time, such as when did the castle of Kell become a ruin and what happened to all the treasure hidden in the secret grotto, and how exactly during did Iain discover his true identity during his childhood in an orphanage? I suppose these are pickier details but they nag at me enough to warrant this novel the 4 star rating. But they're not enough for me to not want to read this book again numerous times. It is profound, hauntingly sad, and very beautiful. It's rare to stumble upon a tale as satisfying and magical as this one. I hope it is eventually released in Hardcover so that I can cherish it in the years to come.