Tempest Maguire is a young woman caught between two worlds. Raised on land by her father, she discovers she is half-mermaid and, on her seventeenth birthday, must make an impossible choice: remain human or embrace her aquatic heritage and join the royal merfolk family she never knew.
The novel uses its fantasy premise to explore classic coming-of-age themes, including the search for identity, the weight of responsibility, and the conflict between family loyalty and personal desire. Tempest's journey is a compelling allegory for navigating the transition into adulthood.
This fantasy novel serves as an origin story for the infamous sea witch from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.”
The narrative follows Evie, a girl ostracized for her fledgling magic, whose deep friendship with the mermaid Annemette sets her on a tragic path of love, betrayal, and transformation into a formidable power beneath the waves. Henning’s retelling focuses on themes of friendship, loss, and the nature of villainy.
It offers a fresh and complex exploration of how a person can be shaped by grief and desperation, providing a compassionate backstory to a well-known antagonist.
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all, having collected the hearts of seventeen princes. When she is cursed by her mother, the Sea Queen, and transformed into a human, she must deliver the heart of the legendary siren-hunting prince to reclaim her place—or remain human forever.
This novel is a dark and adventurous enemies-to-lovers retelling of “The Little Mermaid.” It explores themes of power, morality, and identity, as both protagonists must look beyond the legends and hatred that define them to forge an unexpected alliance.
The wajinru are the water-breathing descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard during the Middle Passage. To preserve their people from the trauma of their origins, one person—the Historian—is chosen to hold all of their collective memories.
Yetu, the current Historian, is overwhelmed by the burden and flees to the surface, where she begins to piece together a new future. Based on a song by the experimental hip-hop group clipping., this Hugo- and Nebula-nominated novella is a profound exploration of memory, trauma, and community.
It uses its unique aquatic mythology to examine the weight of history and the necessity of finding a way to live with it.
Lily Sanderson is a mermaid princess living undercover in the human world, determined to win the affections of her high school crush. When she accidentally bonds herself to her obnoxious neighbor, Quince, she must navigate the chaotic rules of mer-law, high school drama, and her own surprising feelings.
This novel is a lighthearted and charming take on the mermaid-out-of-water trope. It explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the discovery that true love is often found where you least expect it, blending humor with the pressures of belonging to two different worlds.
The first book in the Waterfire Saga introduces Serafina, a mermaid princess of Miromara. Her life is shattered when an ancient evil returns, forcing her to flee and unite with five other mermaids from different oceanic realms. Together, they must embark on a quest to find ancient talismans and save their world.
Combining high-fantasy adventure with mythology, the novel emphasizes themes of friendship, courage, and leadership. It builds an expansive underwater world and highlights the importance of unity and environmental stewardship in the face of darkness.
After a traumatic event, fourteen-year-old Luce transforms into a mermaid and is taken in by a group of other mermaids who lure sailors to their deaths with their hypnotic songs. Grappling with her past and her new predatory nature, Luce must decide whether to embrace vengeance or find a way to reclaim her humanity.
Lost Voices offers a dark and atmospheric look at mermaid mythology. The narrative examines the complexities of trauma, the corrupting nature of power, and the struggle to find redemption and maintain one's identity in the aftermath of tragedy.
The novel alternates between the modern-day story of Hester, who is investigating a curse that has killed the women in her family for generations, and the historical tale of Syrenka, a mermaid who fell in love with a human man in the 1870s. Hester uncovers a story of passion, murder, and a sacrifice that echoes through time.
Blending Gothic lore, romance, and supernatural mystery, Monstrous Beauty explores themes of forbidden love, sacrifice, and the haunting consequences of the past. The dual narrative expertly weaves together history and fantasy to tell a powerful story of heritage and redemption.
Emma is a human girl who can communicate with fish, a trait that draws the attention of Galen, a prince of the Syrena (merfolk). Galen believes Emma holds the key to saving his kingdom, and as they uncover the secrets of her heritage, they find themselves drawn to each other despite the laws forbidding their union.
This novel blends contemporary romance with a unique mythological framework. It focuses on themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges of bridging cultural divides, exploring the tension between duty and desire.
This fierce, feminist retelling of “The Little Mermaid” is set in a brutal patriarchal society beneath the waves. Gaia, a young mermaid whose voice is her only valued asset, yearns for the freedom of the human world, but soon discovers that the world above is just as oppressive for women as her own.
O’Neill uses the classic fairy tale as a lens to critique misogyny, objectification, and the silencing of women’s voices. The novel is a powerful and unflinching exploration of autonomy, self-discovery, and the high cost of fighting for one's freedom.
Calder White is a merman driven by a singular goal: revenge against the human who he believes murdered his mother. To achieve this, he and his brothers integrate themselves into a small Lake Superior town, but Calder’s mission is complicated when he develops feelings for the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Set against a tense and atmospheric backdrop, this novel explores themes of family loyalty, deception, and moral ambiguity. It masterfully portrays the conflict between monstrous instincts and human compassion, examining the blurred line between vengeance and redemption.
This reimagining of the classic fairy tale is told from the dual perspectives of Lenia, a mermaid who saves a prince and longs for an immortal soul, and Princess Margrethe, the human woman destined to marry him. Their lives intersect in a poignant story of sacrifice, duty, and desire.
Turgeon enriches the original narrative by giving voice and agency to both female protagonists. The novel explores the complex depths of the human heart and the transformative power of choices, offering a nuanced look at love, identity, and what it truly means to be human.
On her first swim lesson, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap makes a startling discovery: when she enters the water, she grows a mermaid’s tail. This revelation launches her on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past, find her long-lost merman father, and navigate the magical underwater world.
A beloved classic of children’s literature, this book explores themes of identity, family, and belonging with charm and warmth. It blends the magic of mermaid mythology with the relatable challenges of growing up, celebrating the courage it takes to embrace one's true self.
After a mysterious drowning and miraculous return to life, teenage lifeguard Tristan Hart discovers he is the descendant of a mermaid and is now a key player in a dangerous competition for the throne of a sunken city. Thrust into a world of ancient rivalries, he must navigate his new identity while trying to survive.
This novel blends contemporary life with rich mythology, focusing on themes of heritage, responsibility, and transformation. Tristan’s journey from clueless teen to reluctant hero is an action-packed exploration of destiny and the power of embracing one’s true nature.
Following their father’s disappearance at sea, siblings Sapphire and Conor are drawn to the enchanting and dangerous underwater world of Ingo, a realm inhabited by the Mer. While Conor feels the pull of the land, Sapphire finds herself increasingly bewitched by the ocean and a Mer boy named Faro.
Set on the Cornish coast, this atmospheric novel weaves together themes of family, loss, and the powerful, primal connection between humans and the sea. Dunmore skillfully blurs the line between reality and myth, creating a captivating story about heritage and the call of the wild.
When Jessie Sullivan returns to her childhood home on Egret Island, she finds her mother has committed a bizarre act of self-mutilation. While caring for her, Jessie is confronted with her own unfulfilled life and begins an affair with a monk, all while being drawn to the island's central legend of a mermaid who became a saint.
Though not a fantasy novel in structure, The Mermaid Chair uses mermaid mythology as a powerful symbolic core. It explores themes of midlife awakening, spirituality, and self-discovery, with the mermaid representing the wild, passionate, and divine feminine self that Jessie seeks to reclaim.
This novella chronicles the final voyage of the Atargatis, a vessel carrying a film crew for a mockumentary about mermaids. Sent into the Mariana Trench to "prove" the creatures are fake, the crew discovers that mermaids are very real, very intelligent, and very hostile.
A masterpiece of found-footage horror in prose form, this story is a chilling exploration of scientific hubris and the terror of the unknown. It masterfully builds suspense before descending into a terrifying fight for survival against a new, formidable apex predator.
Years after the Atargatis was lost, a new expedition is launched to find out what happened and prove the existence of the killer mermaids. Among the crew is Victoria Stewart, whose sister was on the original voyage.
She and a team of scientists soon find themselves trapped in the deep, hunted by creatures more intelligent and deadly than they ever imagined. This full-length sequel to Rolling in the Deep is a relentless and scientifically grounded horror-thriller.
It delves into themes of corporate greed, ecological mystery, and survival, creating a terrifyingly plausible vision of what might lurk in the darkest parts of our world.
Clara has a perfectly normal life, except for one thing: her sister Maren is growing scales and needs to reach the sea before she transforms completely into a mermaid. With the help of a young man with a magical traveling house, Clara embarks on a journey to save her sister, even if it means losing her forever.
This enchanting novel reads like a classic fairy tale, exploring themes of sisterly love, sacrifice, and letting go. It is a heartfelt story about the bonds of family and the courage required to help a loved one find their own path, even when it leads them away from you.
Amelia is a mermaid who, driven by curiosity, leaves the sea for a life on land. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when she is discovered by the legendary showman P.T. Barnum, who convinces her to become a star attraction in his American Museum. Trapped in a gilded cage, Amelia must fight for her autonomy.
Blending history with fantasy, this novel offers a thoughtful critique of spectacle and exploitation. It examines themes of freedom, otherness, and love, questioning the human obsession with the exotic and telling a poignant story about a woman trying to define her own identity.
In a world where magic is real, Tavia is a siren who must keep her identity a secret to avoid persecution. She and her best friend Effie navigate the trials of being Black teens in Portland, Oregon, while a murder trial involving another siren brings the prejudice against their kind to a boiling point.
This novel powerfully intertwines fantasy with sharp social commentary. It uses sirens and other magical creatures as a metaphor to explore themes of racism, identity, sisterhood, and the importance of finding and using one’s voice in the face of systemic injustice.
Academically stalled and reeling from a bad breakup, Lucy house-sits for her sister in Venice Beach. While attending a bizarre love addiction support group and navigating a series of disappointing Tinder dates, she meets a mysterious, handsome swimmer on the beach at night and begins an obsessive, surreal romance with a merman.
The Pisces is a sharp, darkly funny, and unflinching look at modern love, depression, and desire. It uses its magical realist premise to explore the fantasy of perfect love versus its messy reality, creating a bold and unforgettable story about human connection.
Forced to serve the Ocean for one hundred years as a siren, Kahlen has lured countless humans to their deaths with her deadly voice. She has resigned herself to a lonely existence until she meets Akinli, a kind human boy who sees her as more than just a beautiful, silent girl. Falling in love, however, is strictly forbidden.
This novel is a romantic and poignant exploration of sacrifice, duty, and forbidden love. It delves into themes of loneliness and the search for connection, highlighting the struggle between responsibility and the desire for a life of one's own choosing.
This feminist, LGBTQ+ retelling of “The Little Mermaid” is inspired by Norse mythology. Ersel, a mermaid who feels constrained by her patriarchal clan, saves a shield-maiden shipwrecked on an iceberg. To win her freedom and a chance at love, Ersel makes a dangerous bargain with the trickster god Loki.
The novel stands out for its unique mythological blend and its focus on themes of freedom, identity, and defying societal expectations. It offers a refreshing and empowering take on a classic tale, celebrating queer love and the strength it takes to forge one's own destiny.
In the underwater city of Atlantia, citizens are divided into those who live Above and those who live Below. Rio has always dreamed of the surface, but when her twin sister unexpectedly chooses to go Above, Rio is left trapped.
Determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's choice, she begins to unravel the deep secrets and lies that hold her city together. This novel blends dystopian elements with aquatic fantasy.
It explores compelling themes of sisterhood, sacrifice, and the conflict between individual freedom and societal control, set against the backdrop of a unique and imaginative underwater world.
In 1976, off the coast of a Caribbean island, a fisherman named David sings to himself and accidentally charms Aycayia, a mermaid from an ancient Indigenous legend, cursed centuries ago to live in the sea.
When she is violently captured by American tourists, David helps her escape, and their love story begins as she slowly transforms back into a woman. Winner of the Costa Book of the Year award, this novel is a lyrical and powerful fable.
It uses myth to explore themes of colonialism, belonging, and the healing power of love, weaving a story that is both timeless and deeply relevant to our modern world.
In 1887, Captain Twain of the steamboat Lorelei rescues an injured mermaid from the Hudson River and hides her in his cabin. This act entangles him in a web of dark secrets, local legends, and an obsessive romance that threatens to consume him and everyone around him.
Rendered in atmospheric charcoal drawings, this graphic novel is a masterful blend of historical fiction, folklore, and Gothic romance. It explores the depths of human desire, temptation, and the haunting power of myth, creating an unforgettable and immersive reading experience.
Simi is a Mami Wata, a mermaid tasked with collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys home. When she breaks the rules to save a living boy, she must journey to the Supreme Creator to atone for her transgression, a quest that takes her through a world of rich West African mythology.
This stunning debut offers a fresh and vital take on mermaid lore. It is an adventurous and romantic story that explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and history, introducing readers to a pantheon of gods and monsters from West African traditions.
In a manor by the sea, Annaleigh and her eleven sisters are rumored to be cursed after four of them die in tragic accidents. When her surviving sisters begin sneaking out at night to attend glittering balls, Annaleigh follows them through a magical portal and discovers a world of dazzling wonders and horrifying secrets.
A dark and gothic retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” this novel is steeped in coastal horror and unsettling aquatic imagery. While not strictly about mermaids, it features terrifying sirens and a pervasive, ominous connection to the sea, making it a perfect read for those who like their aquatic fantasy with a chilling twist.
Originally published as The Moon and the Sun, this Nebula Award-winning novel is set in the court of Louis XIV. The Sun King, seeking the key to immortality, has commissioned a naturalist to capture a sea monster.
When the creature brought back is not a monster but an intelligent and sentient sea woman, her bond with a lady-in-waiting challenges the very foundations of the court's science and faith. This is a brilliant work of historical fantasy that explores themes of science, humanity, and compassion.
The relationship between the human protagonist and the captive mermaid-like creature is a poignant and powerful critique of prejudice and the exploitation of the natural world.
Fifteen-year-old Morgan is keeping a lot of secrets, including the fact that she likes other girls. Her life gets even more complicated when she is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. Keltie is a selkie who can only stay on land if she’s with her first kiss—Morgan—leading to a sweet and secret summer romance.
This charming graphic novel is a heartfelt story about first love, coming out, and embracing your true self. It uses the selkie myth to explore the courage it takes to be vulnerable and share your secrets with the people you care about.
Crest is a mer-person on their month-long Journey to the human world, a rite of passage where they must help a human within one moon cycle or be exiled forever. They team up with a cute lifeguard named Sean, agreeing to help him win back his ex-boyfriend by competing in a pageant. But as they work together, they start to fall for each other.
This novel is a fun, joyful, and contemporary take on mermaid mythology with excellent LGBTQ+ representation. It explores themes of identity, community, and belonging, all wrapped in a delightful romantic comedy package.
Miri’s wife, Leah, has returned from a deep-sea research mission that went terribly wrong. But the woman who came back is not the same. As Leah’s body and mind continue to change in unsettling ways, Miri is left to grapple with her grief for the wife she has lost, even as this new version of her still lives in their home.
This is a haunting and beautifully written novel about love, loss, and the unknowable abyss. While it never uses the word “mermaid,” it is a profound work of aquatic horror that explores transformation and the monstrous feminine through a queer, literary lens.
This fantasy novel serves as an origin story for the infamous sea witch from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.”
The narrative follows Evie, a girl ostracized for her fledgling magic, whose deep friendship with the mermaid Annemette sets her on a tragic path of love, betrayal, and transformation into a formidable power beneath the waves. Henning’s retelling focuses on themes of friendship, loss, and the nature of villainy.
It offers a fresh and complex exploration of how a person can be shaped by grief and desperation, providing a compassionate backstory to a well-known antagonist.
Lily Sanderson is a mermaid princess living undercover in the human world, determined to win the affections of her high school crush. When she accidentally bonds herself to her obnoxious neighbor, Quince, she must navigate the chaotic rules of mer-law, high school drama, and her own surprising feelings.
This novel is a lighthearted and charming take on the mermaid-out-of-water trope. It explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the discovery that true love is often found where you least expect it, blending humor with the pressures of belonging to two different worlds.
The first book in the Waterfire Saga introduces Serafina, a mermaid princess of Miromara. Her life is shattered when an ancient evil returns, forcing her to flee and unite with five other mermaids from different oceanic realms. Together, they must embark on a quest to find ancient talismans and save their world.
Combining high-fantasy adventure with mythology, the novel emphasizes themes of friendship, courage, and leadership. It builds an expansive underwater world and highlights the importance of unity and environmental stewardship in the face of darkness.
After a traumatic event, fourteen-year-old Luce transforms into a mermaid and is taken in by a group of other mermaids who lure sailors to their deaths with their hypnotic songs. Grappling with her past and her new predatory nature, Luce must decide whether to embrace vengeance or find a way to reclaim her humanity.
Lost Voices offers a dark and atmospheric look at mermaid mythology. The narrative examines the complexities of trauma, the corrupting nature of power, and the struggle to find redemption and maintain one's identity in the aftermath of tragedy.
The novel alternates between the modern-day story of Hester, who is investigating a curse that has killed the women in her family for generations, and the historical tale of Syrenka, a mermaid who fell in love with a human man in the 1870s. Hester uncovers a story of passion, murder, and a sacrifice that echoes through time.
Blending Gothic lore, romance, and supernatural mystery, Monstrous Beauty explores themes of forbidden love, sacrifice, and the haunting consequences of the past. The dual narrative expertly weaves together history and fantasy to tell a powerful story of heritage and redemption.
Emma is a human girl who can communicate with fish, a trait that draws the attention of Galen, a prince of the Syrena (merfolk). Galen believes Emma holds the key to saving his kingdom, and as they uncover the secrets of her heritage, they find themselves drawn to each other despite the laws forbidding their union.
This novel blends contemporary romance with a unique mythological framework. It focuses on themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges of bridging cultural divides, exploring the tension between duty and desire.
Gemma is a determined swimmer whose life is upended when she encounters three mysterious and beautiful sisters who seem to harbor a dark, aquatic secret. Drawn into their world, Gemma finds herself changing in ways she can’t control, caught between her normal life and the dangerous allure of becoming a siren.
The first book in the Watersong series, Wake intertwines suspenseful fantasy with coming-of-age drama. It explores themes of identity, sisterhood, and the power of personal choice when faced with supernatural forces.
This fierce, feminist retelling of “The Little Mermaid” is set in a brutal patriarchal society beneath the waves. Gaia, a young mermaid whose voice is her only valued asset, yearns for the freedom of the human world, but soon discovers that the world above is just as oppressive for women as her own.
O’Neill uses the classic fairy tale as a lens to critique misogyny, objectification, and the silencing of women’s voices. The novel is a powerful and unflinching exploration of autonomy, self-discovery, and the high cost of fighting for one's freedom.
Calder White is a merman driven by a singular goal: revenge against the human who he believes murdered his mother. To achieve this, he and his brothers integrate themselves into a small Lake Superior town, but Calder’s mission is complicated when he develops feelings for the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Set against a tense and atmospheric backdrop, this novel explores themes of family loyalty, deception, and moral ambiguity. It masterfully portrays the conflict between monstrous instincts and human compassion, examining the blurred line between vengeance and redemption.
This reimagining of the classic fairy tale is told from the dual perspectives of Lenia, a mermaid who saves a prince and longs for an immortal soul, and Princess Margrethe, the human woman destined to marry him. Their lives intersect in a poignant story of sacrifice, duty, and desire.
Turgeon enriches the original narrative by giving voice and agency to both female protagonists. The novel explores the complex depths of the human heart and the transformative power of choices, offering a nuanced look at love, identity, and what it truly means to be human.
Sanna, a young mermaid with a blood-red tail, journeys to the terrestrial world to find the human mother who abandoned her. Her quest takes her to a bone-bleached island ruled by a land-locked sea-witch, where she must navigate courtly intrigue, family secrets, and forbidden desires.
This richly atmospheric novel is steeped in fairy-tale logic and lyrical prose. It delves into themes of belonging, otherness, and the transformative power of love, exploring the boundaries between worlds and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth of their origins.
On her first swim lesson, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap makes a startling discovery: when she enters the water, she grows a mermaid’s tail. This revelation launches her on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past, find her long-lost merman father, and navigate the magical underwater world.
A beloved classic of children’s literature, this book explores themes of identity, family, and belonging with charm and warmth. It blends the magic of mermaid mythology with the relatable challenges of growing up, celebrating the courage it takes to embrace one's true self.
After a mysterious drowning and miraculous return to life, teenage lifeguard Tristan Hart discovers he is the descendant of a mermaid and is now a key player in a dangerous competition for the throne of a sunken city. Thrust into a world of ancient rivalries, he must navigate his new identity while trying to survive.
This novel blends contemporary life with rich mythology, focusing on themes of heritage, responsibility, and transformation. Tristan’s journey from clueless teen to reluctant hero is an action-packed exploration of destiny and the power of embracing one’s true nature.
Following their father’s disappearance at sea, siblings Sapphire and Conor are drawn to the enchanting and dangerous underwater world of Ingo, a realm inhabited by the Mer. While Conor feels the pull of the land, Sapphire finds herself increasingly bewitched by the ocean and a Mer boy named Faro.
Set on the Cornish coast, this atmospheric novel weaves together themes of family, loss, and the powerful, primal connection between humans and the sea. Dunmore skillfully blurs the line between reality and myth, creating a captivating story about heritage and the call of the wild.
In a world where winged beings rule the sky and merfolk rule the sea, Esmerine, a mermaid, ventures onto land to find her sister. There, she reconnects with her childhood friend Alander, a winged boy, and their rekindled relationship challenges the strict boundaries that separate their peoples.
This imaginative fantasy romance explores themes of duty versus desire, cross-cultural understanding, and the courage required to defy societal expectations. The narrative is a story of exploration and self-discovery, highlighting the importance of bridging divides.
When Jessie Sullivan returns to her childhood home on Egret Island, she finds her mother has committed a bizarre act of self-mutilation. While caring for her, Jessie is confronted with her own unfulfilled life and begins an affair with a monk, all while being drawn to the island's central legend of a mermaid who became a saint.
Though not a fantasy novel in structure, The Mermaid Chair uses mermaid mythology as a powerful symbolic core. It explores themes of midlife awakening, spirituality, and self-discovery, with the mermaid representing the wild, passionate, and divine feminine self that Jessie seeks to reclaim.
Spending the summer on secluded Selkie Island, Miranda Merchant finds herself drawn into local legends about selkies—mythological seals who can shed their skins and become human on land. When she meets the enigmatic Leo, she begins to question her own beliefs and family secrets.
This novel skillfully blends magical realism with teenage self-discovery. The narrative explores the tension between logic and emotion, tradition and individual choice, using the selkie myth to frame a story about identity, family, and the possibility of magic in the modern world.
This novella chronicles the final voyage of the Atargatis, a vessel carrying a film crew for a mockumentary about mermaids. Sent into the Mariana Trench to "prove" the creatures are fake, the crew discovers that mermaids are very real, very intelligent, and very hostile.
A masterpiece of found-footage horror in prose form, this story is a chilling exploration of scientific hubris and the terror of the unknown. It masterfully builds suspense before descending into a terrifying fight for survival against a new, formidable apex predator.
Clara has a perfectly normal life, except for one thing: her sister Maren is growing scales and needs to reach the sea before she transforms completely into a mermaid. With the help of a young man with a magical traveling house, Clara embarks on a journey to save her sister, even if it means losing her forever.
This enchanting novel reads like a classic fairy tale, exploring themes of sisterly love, sacrifice, and letting go. It is a heartfelt story about the bonds of family and the courage required to help a loved one find their own path, even when it leads them away from you.
At the end of a long, hot summer, best friends Claire and Hailey discover a mermaid named Aquamarine in the murky water of a dilapidated beach club pool. The mermaid is sassy, loves junk food, and is desperately in love with a local lifeguard, and the girls must help her before she is forced to return to the sea.
This delicate and magical story explores themes of friendship, bravery, and the bittersweet nature of change. Hoffman captures the wonder of youthful bonds and the poignancy of learning to say goodbye.
Amelia is a mermaid who, driven by curiosity, leaves the sea for a life on land. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when she is discovered by the legendary showman P.T. Barnum, who convinces her to become a star attraction in his American Museum. Trapped in a gilded cage, Amelia must fight for her autonomy.
Blending history with fantasy, this novel offers a thoughtful critique of spectacle and exploitation. It examines themes of freedom, otherness, and love, questioning the human obsession with the exotic and telling a poignant story about a woman trying to define her own identity.
On their Caribbean honeymoon, a cynical newlywed couple, Deb and Chip, discover a colony of actual, living mermaids. Their discovery sets off a chaotic chain of events as they try to protect the creatures from being exploited by the resort's corporate owners and a sensationalist TV crew.
This novel is a sharp and hilarious satire that uses the mermaid myth to critique commercialism, environmental exploitation, and the absurdity of modern culture. Millet expertly blends magical realism with social commentary, creating a unique and thought-provoking story.
Living on a remote island in 18th-century Ireland, twelve-year-old Neen is haunted by her mother’s drowning and the whispers that she was taken by the merrow. When Neen finds her mother’s sealskin, she must confront her grief and the blurred line between the folklore of her people and the truth of her own family.
Steeped in Irish folklore, this atmospheric novel explores themes of grief, identity, and the power of storytelling. It examines how myths shape personal and collective truths, highlighting the ways we use stories to navigate loss and belonging.
In a modern, loose retelling of “The Little Mermaid,” this novel follows Celia, a girl who can see the pasts of others through touch, and Lo, an ocean girl who gave up her tail for a chance at a human life. The two form a powerful sisterly bond as they navigate the sacrifices required to bridge the worlds of sea and land.
This story focuses on themes of identity, sisterhood, and the meaning of humanity. It offers a unique take on the classic tale by emphasizing the friendship between its female characters and exploring the profound nature of sacrifice and belonging.
Academically stalled and reeling from a bad breakup, Lucy house-sits for her sister in Venice Beach. While attending a bizarre love addiction support group and navigating a series of disappointing Tinder dates, she meets a mysterious, handsome swimmer on the beach at night and begins an obsessive, surreal romance with a merman.
The Pisces is a sharp, darkly funny, and unflinching look at modern love, depression, and desire. It uses its magical realist premise to explore the fantasy of perfect love versus its messy reality, creating a bold and unforgettable story about human connection.
Years after the Atargatis was lost, a new expedition is launched to find out what happened and prove the existence of the killer mermaids. Among the crew is Victoria Stewart, whose sister was on the original voyage.
She and a team of scientists soon find themselves trapped in the deep, hunted by creatures more intelligent and deadly than they ever imagined. This full-length sequel to Rolling in the Deep is a relentless and scientifically grounded horror-thriller.
It delves into themes of corporate greed, ecological mystery, and survival, creating a terrifyingly plausible vision of what might lurk in the darkest parts of our world.
Forced to serve the Ocean for one hundred years as a siren, Kahlen has lured countless humans to their deaths with her deadly voice. She has resigned herself to a lonely existence until she meets Akinli, a kind human boy who sees her as more than just a beautiful, silent girl. Falling in love, however, is strictly forbidden.
This novel is a romantic and poignant exploration of sacrifice, duty, and forbidden love. It delves into themes of loneliness and the search for connection, highlighting the struggle between responsibility and the desire for a life of one's own choosing.
In a world where magic is real, Tavia is a siren who must keep her identity a secret to avoid persecution. She and her best friend Effie navigate the trials of being Black teens in Portland, Oregon, while a murder trial involving another siren brings the prejudice against their kind to a boiling point.
This novel powerfully intertwines fantasy with sharp social commentary. It uses sirens and other magical creatures as a metaphor to explore themes of racism, identity, sisterhood, and the importance of finding and using one’s voice in the face of systemic injustice.
This feminist, LGBTQ+ retelling of “The Little Mermaid” is inspired by Norse mythology. Ersel, a mermaid who feels constrained by her patriarchal clan, saves a shield-maiden shipwrecked on an iceberg. To win her freedom and a chance at love, Ersel makes a dangerous bargain with the trickster god Loki.
The novel stands out for its unique mythological blend and its focus on themes of freedom, identity, and defying societal expectations. It offers a refreshing and empowering take on a classic tale, celebrating queer love and the strength it takes to forge one's own destiny.
Lia is a mermaid of the ancient underwater kingdom of Atlantis, living among humans in a small coastal town. When she falls for a human boy, she is forced to confront the secrets of her community and the rules that forbid her from revealing her true identity, all while navigating the perils of high school.
The first book in the Mer Chronicles series, Emerge blends classic mermaid mythology with contemporary teen life. It explores themes of hidden truths, family legacy, and the tension between tradition and personal freedom.
Kathleen, a talented opera singer, suffers from a mysterious condition that causes her debilitating pain in her feet, threatening her career. She soon discovers her ailment is part of a generations-old curse connected to her ancestor, the original "Little Mermaid" from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.
This lyrical novel weaves magical realism with themes of art, sacrifice, and familial legacy. It is a poignant exploration of the transformative power of storytelling and the ways in which the past continues to shape the present.
In the underwater city of Atlantia, citizens are divided into those who live Above and those who live Below. Rio has always dreamed of the surface, but when her twin sister unexpectedly chooses to go Above, Rio is left trapped.
Determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's choice, she begins to unravel the deep secrets and lies that hold her city together. This novel blends dystopian elements with aquatic fantasy.
It explores compelling themes of sisterhood, sacrifice, and the conflict between individual freedom and societal control, set against the backdrop of a unique and imaginative underwater world.
This retelling of a folktale from the Sea Islands of South Carolina follows Sukey, a young girl mistreated by her new step-pa. One day she runs to the shore and meets a beautiful, kind-hearted mermaid named Mama Jo, who offers her friendship, magical gifts, and a path toward independence.
Rooted in African American folklore, this beautifully illustrated story explores themes of resilience, courage, and finding kindness in unexpected places. It celebrates the power of compassion and personal strength in overcoming adversity.
Every year, the warriors of Eriana Kwai are sent to massacre the mermaids who have hunted them for generations. Meela is one of this year's warriors, but her mission is complicated when she discovers that the mermaids are not the mindless monsters she was taught they were, and finds an unexpected connection with a mermaid princess.
This action-packed novel explores themes of prejudice, survival, and the destructive cycle of hatred. It delves into moral complexities by blurring the lines between enemy and ally, highlighting the power of empathy to challenge deeply ingrained traditions.
In 1976, off the coast of a Caribbean island, a fisherman named David sings to himself and accidentally charms Aycayia, a mermaid from an ancient Indigenous legend, cursed centuries ago to live in the sea.
When she is violently captured by American tourists, David helps her escape, and their love story begins as she slowly transforms back into a woman. Winner of the Costa Book of the Year award, this novel is a lyrical and powerful fable.
It uses myth to explore themes of colonialism, belonging, and the healing power of love, weaving a story that is both timeless and deeply relevant to our modern world.
On her thirteenth birthday, Jade discovers that she is starting to turn into a mermaid, a transformation that comes with an un-glamorous list of side effects, from stinky breath to scaly skin. This humorous and heartfelt novel follows Jade as she navigates the awkwardness of puberty and her newfound aquatic heritage.
This whimsical coming-of-age story emphasizes self-acceptance and embracing one’s unique differences. It uses the mermaid trope to explore the universal challenges of growing up, family bonding, and friendship with a light and funny touch.
After his wife, a mermaid, returns to the sea, a man raises their daughter Malin on his own. When he dies, Malin is left alone in a harsh world, and she embarks on an epic journey across oceans and continents to find the mother she has never known.
Blending historical realism with the raw power of folklore, this novel is an imaginative and deeply moving quest for identity. It explores themes of belonging, resilience, and the profound longing for family and connection in a world that is often unforgiving.
After her parents die in a boating accident, Yara Jones is shocked to discover that she is a mermaid and is now the responsibility of a handsome but infuriating guardian from the underwater world. Thrown into a realm of ancient feuds and mythological dangers, Yara must uncover the truth about her past to secure her future.
This novel focuses on themes of identity, loyalty, and self-discovery. It explores the challenges of embracing one’s true nature and the strength of personal bonds when facing extraordinary circumstances.
Fredrika "Fred" Bimm is a mermaid who has been living as a human for years, but her carefully constructed life is upended by a series of bizarre events, including an encounter with a dangerously attractive marine biologist. She must juggle her job, her eccentric mer-family, and the secrets of her heritage.
This book blends romantic comedy with paranormal fantasy for a fun and playful read. It highlights the struggle of belonging and self-acceptance through a humorous narrative filled with quirky characters and supernatural intrigue.
This classic manga series follows Yuta, a man who became immortal centuries ago after eating the flesh of a mermaid. Believing that another mermaid can make him human again, he travels across Japan, encountering others whose lives have been twisted by the dark promise of eternal life offered by the mermaid’s curse.
A masterpiece of fantasy horror, Mermaid Saga is a dark and episodic exploration of immortality, loneliness, and morality. It uses folklore to examine the monstrous side of humanity and the tragic consequences of defying the natural order.
Gwen is drawn to the stormy coast of Northern California, where she meets a mysterious boy named Jesse. She soon finds herself entangled in his secret: he is part of an ancient line of selkies, and a local legend says that their love is destined to end in tragedy.
Infused with the melancholy romance of selkie folklore, this novel explores themes of destiny, love, and the blurred boundary between myth and reality. It is a story about the complexities of trust and the choices one makes when faced with a seemingly inescapable fate.
Jade, a young mermaid, witnesses a political assassination that shatters the peace between the mer and selkie communities. To prevent a war, she must risk her own life to expose a conspiracy, forcing her to step into a role of advocacy and activism she never wanted.
Set in a vibrant underwater world, this novel explores themes of justice, prejudice, and social responsibility. Through Jade’s journey, it highlights the courage required to challenge systemic wrongdoing and the importance of speaking up against injustice.
In 1887, Captain Twain of the steamboat Lorelei rescues an injured mermaid from the Hudson River and hides her in his cabin. This act entangles him in a web of dark secrets, local legends, and an obsessive romance that threatens to consume him and everyone around him.
Rendered in atmospheric charcoal drawings, this graphic novel is a masterful blend of historical fiction, folklore, and Gothic romance. It explores the depths of human desire, temptation, and the haunting power of myth, creating an unforgettable and immersive reading experience.
When Alex returns to his hometown of Mermaid Cove, he doesn't expect to be drawn into a mystery involving his old crush, whose family is rumored to be descended from merfolk. Together, they must uncover a dangerous secret that protects the town's magical inhabitants. This novel blends small-town romance with a charming fantasy mystery.
It explores themes of acceptance, overcoming prejudice, and discovering one's true self, all set within a richly imaginative world where myth is real.
In a world where vampires rule the land and merfolk rule the sea, a tentative peace is threatened by an ancient prophecy. Waverly, a mermaid princess, finds herself in an unexpected and forbidden romance with a vampire prince, a relationship that could either unite their peoples or destroy them.
This novel is an imaginative paranormal romance that explores themes of prejudice and acceptance. It uses the classic forbidden love trope to examine how empathy and understanding can bridge even the most deep-seated divides.
An orphaned girl named Grace, who is considered "a bit much" by most people, is taken in by a reclusive witch. In her new home in a magical swamp, she befriends a baby kraken, a grumpy Gorgon, and a verbose, scholarly mermaid, finally finding a place where her wild heart can feel at home.
This charming novel is a loose retelling of Anne of Green Gables with a fantastical twist. It celebrates found family, the beauty of the natural world, and the power of embracing one's own unique, "wild" self.