The Little Mermaid - Audio Book Review

Audio Book Review

Rating: 3.6

The Little Mermaid

By

Hans Christian Andersen,

Dina Gregory

Narrated by

Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Release date

23-03-23

Language

English

Format

Unabridged Audiobook

Length

43 mins

Audio Sample - Listen Now

Audio Book Review Technical Scores

What?	Details	Score	My thoughts
Vocal Quality & Tone	• Clarity and pleasantness • Consistent tone throughout • Voice suits genre/characters	4	Beautifully produced by a superbe team
Characterisation & Performance	• Distinct voices • Genuine emotion • Avoids exaggeration or stereotype	4	Lovely, but I am not sure who this is aimed at. Not the young audience of 3-12 year olds. This is a very adult retelling. The music and song is mesmerising, and the sea sound effects draw you under the waves.
Pacing, Rhythm & Flow	• Natural pacing • Smooth phrasing • Effective pauses	4	Lots of music, draws you into the underwater world
Technical Production Quality	• Clean audio • Stable volume • Professional editing	5	Excellent
Engagement & Listener Experience	• Holds attention • Enhances story • Re-listen appeal	3	This does not know what it is. It is not a retelling of the Grimm original. It is not a children's tale. But yes difficult to stop listening.

Audio Book Review

This Little Mermaid is a gorgeous, hypnotic production—lush soundscapes, mesmerising vocals, and sea-spray sound effects that practically drag you under the waves. Leigh-Anne Pinnock’s narration is rich and compelling, and the Spatial Audio polish is top-tier. But let’s be honest: no one seems entirely sure who this adaptation is for. It’s far too adult in tone for 3–12 year olds, yet not really a faithful Andersen retelling either. The music is enchanting, the pacing smooth, and it’s strangely hard to stop listening. Still, somewhere between fairy tale and art-house mood piece, it has an identity crisis. (Even the mermaid seems confused.) Audio Book Review Nov 2025