Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Mermaid of Black Conch cover art

The Mermaid of Black Conch

By: Monique Roffey
Narrated by: Ben Onwukue, Vivienne Acheampong
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £13.99

Buy Now for £13.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Tunnel of Mirrors cover art
New Suns cover art
The Mythic Dream cover art
All the Murmuring Bones cover art
The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 1 cover art
Never the Wind cover art
Wolfe Island cover art
The Past Is Never cover art
Summer of the Red Wolf cover art
On Blueberry Hill cover art
A Tall History of Sugar cover art
The Lesson cover art
Devil's Fjord cover art
She Would Be King cover art

Summary

Escape to the ocean with the entrancing, unforgettable winner of the Costa Book of the Year.

Features original music created for the audiobook.

Near the island of Black Conch, a fisherman sings to himself while waiting for a catch. But David attracts a sea-dweller that he never expected - Aycayia, an innocent young woman cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid.

When American tourists capture Aycayia, David rescues her and vows to win her trust. Slowly, painfully, she transforms into a woman again. Yet as their love grows, they discover that the world around them is changing - and they cannot escape the curse forever....

©2019 Monique Roffey (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"A bittersweet love story." (BBC News)

"A fiercely modern mermaid story." (The Times)

"Wondrous.... A striking achievement." (Sunday Times)

What listeners say about The Mermaid of Black Conch

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    649
  • 4 Stars
    226
  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    724
  • 4 Stars
    110
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    557
  • 4 Stars
    211
  • 3 Stars
    78
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    14

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An unusual but engaging love story

This is not a straightforward love story but it certainly is something different, a fresh look at what it means to love someone despite almost impossible circumstances. The story also examines greed, prejudice, the role of myths and legends in society and the corrosive effect of slavery, still felt today in the Caribbean islands.

The storytelling is very deft, drawing the reader into an interesting world which the rational mind should really reject. But somehow the author pulls off a novel of real substance, an engaging read and one which makes you think about your own ability (or lack of it) to take a leap of faith for things which others would ridicule. Great narration helped to make this a fascinating listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • K
  • 20-02-21

Wonderful story telling

A wonderful mythical story which takes you swimming into the sea with a mermaid, back into her history and forward into the lives of a tight knit community; facing complex life and love and hurt as one tiny time bubble, crashing and then receding like a wave.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Loved this story - so different to the books I normally read, I so enjoyed it. The narration is superb, I’m so pleased I listened rather than reading as it brought it to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing!

at first I wasn't sure, but soon i was hooked. (pun intended)
worth its costa book award.
amazing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic narration!

I loved this book, the narrators were absolutely wonderful and really made the story come alive. The story was interesting with fully formed characters that I wanted to know more about. Really enjoyed it ☺️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

mesmerising story with unfamiliar voices

Loved the Caribbean atmosphere and tone of voice. Never heard English spoken like that before, which was intriguing and strengthened the sense of being taken into another world. The performance of the two readers was exceptional.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story but too long in my opinion

story good but constant themes throughout made it get a bit boring. I found the strong accent of the narrator difficult to understand at times and I don't think this narrator brought much benefit to the listening experience

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

OK

Interesting story, but I'm not keen on the idea that women are the main source of danger or problems to other women. I think this is just traditional sexist view.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mermaid tail

A magical story of love, loss and mythical times.

The descriptive transformation was fascinating. The life of a mermaid was tangible and beguiling and David’s love for her was delightful as it was utterly impossible.

The narration is exemplary, transporting me to the warm sun and sea of the Caribean black conch,

Highly recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I believe in Mermaids now

Wonderful, lyrical, mythical and absolutely compelling. The description of the mermaid is truly mesmerising. Loved every word of it. Thank you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful