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Untold Legends
Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For
14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in
Mermaids Never Drown -
the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker - exploring mermaids like we've never seen them before!
A Vietnamese mermaid caught between two worlds. A siren who falls for Poseidon's son. A boy secretly pining for the merboy who saved him years ago. A storm that brings humans and mermaids together. Generations of family secrets and pain.
Find all these stories and more in this gripping new collection that will reel you in from the very first page! Welcome to an ocean of hurt, fear, confusion, rage, hope, humor, discovery, and love in its many forms.
Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Mermaids Never Drown features beloved authors like Darcie Little Badger, Kalynn Bayron, Preeti Chhibber, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Julie C. Dao, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Adriana Herrera, June Hur, Katherine Locke, Kerri Maniscalco, Julie Murphy, Gretchen Schreiber, and Julian Winters.
A Vietnamese mermaid caught between two worlds. A siren who falls for Poseidon's son. A boy secretly pining for the merboy who saved him years ago. A storm that brings humans and mermaids together. Generations of family secrets and pain.
Find all these stories and more in this gripping new collection that will reel you in from the very first page! Welcome to an ocean of hurt, fear, confusion, rage, hope, humor, discovery, and love in its many forms.
Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Mermaids Never Drown features beloved authors like Darcie Little Badger, Kalynn Bayron, Preeti Chhibber, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Julie C. Dao, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Adriana Herrera, June Hur, Katherine Locke, Kerri Maniscalco, Julie Murphy, Gretchen Schreiber, and Julian Winters.
Paperback
First published September 26, 2023
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7888 people want to read
About the author
Zoraida Córdova
38 books4,786 followersZoraida Córdova is the author of many fantasy novels for kids and teens, including the award-winning Brooklyn Brujas series, Incendiary, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate. Her short fiction has appeared in the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, Come on In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Finding Home, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. She is the co-editor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old. Her debut middle grade novel is The Way to Rio Luna. She is the co-host of the podcast Deadline City with Dhonielle Clayton. Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she’s planning a new adventure.
NOTE: Direct messages on this account may not be seen. Send her an email at zoraidabooks@gmail.com
NOTE: Direct messages on this account may not be seen. Send her an email at zoraidabooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
November 4, 2023
The majority of stories in this anthology were written with more enthusiasm than skill, and feel very YA and generic in both writing and characterisation, to say nothing of the plotting, and the editing was lacking. Given that most of them read like the authors might be either beginners or not very experienced yet, this deficiency is all the more grating. I can tell a few of the authors do have raw talent but do not have firmer editing and wiser guidance to help improve their writing. Having read a good number of well-edited anthologies, it never ceases to bother me whenever I see young and promising writers being let down by editors (or critique groups/betas) that weren't up to the challenge.
That said, I'm going to highlight the better stories out of the 14 stories in this collection, with the implicit understanding that the stories I am not naming weren't to my taste or not up to my standards for retellings.
WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE JUNE by Julian Winters
Mermaid Score: 1 out of 5
Story Score: 2 out of 5
Was this supposed to be about mermaids somehow? Because this read like a beachside M/M teen romance like any other, with the only "different" touch that the love interest is a merman that happened to rescue the prot from drowning as a boy. I didn't feel the chemistry, perhaps because there's so little time the two boys spend together and the build-up is dealt with a "they've been longing for each other for years off-page."
THE STORY OF A KNIFE by Gretchen Schreiber
Mermaid Score: 3
Story Score: 3
This story had so much potential, and with a less abrupt ending and more development, it'd have been amongst the best here. It's the story of a descendant of the Little Mermaid (the original one from Andersen) who wants to return to the sea because her life on land sucks, but her mother doesn't allow her to, so she must take the initiative herself.
Unfortunately, the plot here reads half-formed, and there's questions about how the original mermaid survived that aren't answered. I liked the girl in this story, and would encourage the author to expand this and republish it with improvements.
THE DARK CALLS by Preeti Chchibber
Mermaid Score: 5
Story Score: 2
A pure mermaids story with no human intruders at last! The only problem? For being a humans-less undersea world, it's startlingly human, from the names to the customs to the fashions. I was almost waiting to see the mermaid mother tell her mermaid daughters to eat their paneer (the story is Indian-flavoured, probably from the author's background) or something like that from how 100% human this is, for a mermaid world.
As for the story, it's again quite romance-y, a predictable forbidden relationship between a mermaid and a non-mermaid male sea creature dwelling in the "dark" parts of the deep ocean. Not much else than that, really.
THE NIGHTINGALE'S LAMENT by Kerri Maniscalco
Mermaid Score: 2
Story Score: 2
This story would get a lower rating if not for Maniscalco's ability level. It's a very tropey romance, complete with "heat pooling down there" laughable incursions into describing horny reactions. The only reason it's not lower is that there's good chemistry between Poseidon's whelp and the serial-murderess siren, and it's a pity it ends so terribly badly (as in writing, not as in climax). If it was up to me, I'd have included the hunt and the final killing instead of ending it before, but I suppose there was a word limit for this anthology. If so, that'd explain the overabundance of very abrupt endings that plague the anthology.
SEA WOLF IN PRINCE'S CLOTHING by Adriana Herrera
Mermaid Score: 1
Story Score: 2
Another story that has mermaids that are just humans with a fish's prosthesis. It plays on the overused "sacrifice maiden that must kill the king" trope and awfully written at that. To boot, it ends when the plot becomes interesting. The salvageable part? The world that's glimpsed in the background is interesting, at least to me, and with better worldbuilding this wouldn't feel so underwhelming and so like a tropical Caribbean theatre play for young teens.
THE FIRST AND LAST KISS by Julie Murphy
Mermaid Score: 2
Story Score: 3
If Ursula from Disney's film was twin to the Sea King and a lesbian, this would be her story. Enough said.
But is it a good story? It's original and interesting, yes. Whether it's good or not will depend on personal tastes. It was just fine for me, not the best but good enough given the low quality we're dealing with in this anthology.
THE MERROW by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
Mermaid Score: 5
Story Score: 4.5
Together with another story below, this was the best in the anthology. The mermaid feels like a true mermaid and the human is a human who doesn't want to be a sea creature. It had a bit of a "The Shape of Water" vibe about it that made me wonder if Zoraida had watched del Toro's film, because the premise is similar, sans the romance. And you know what's the best part? This doesn't end abruptly! It's perfect in length and in ending, leaving it open enough that the authors could pick it up again if they wanted, or leave it as a shortie. This one was my favourite!
JINJU'S PEARLS by June Hur
Mermaid Score: 4
Story Score: 3.5
The ending and the lack of resolution made this one lose stars, but it's still one of the best in this anthology, second best after Córdova & Parker's story for me. It has the "folkloric fantasy" type of vibe that I'm starting to like more and more (it's the closest to traditional fairy tales we get in Fantasy) yet it also feels so very real world. It's sad and lovely at the same time, and I'd very much want to read more of this author in future if this is how she writes!
Overall, I missed having more "pure mermaid" stories and am discontent with the amount of human and human-wannabe stories, but on the other hand I commend that there's some diversity in terms of ethnicity and sexuality. Small things, but meaningful. And in any case, two favourites from two new authors to follow isn't bad at all!
That said, I'm going to highlight the better stories out of the 14 stories in this collection, with the implicit understanding that the stories I am not naming weren't to my taste or not up to my standards for retellings.
WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE JUNE by Julian Winters
Mermaid Score: 1 out of 5
Story Score: 2 out of 5
Was this supposed to be about mermaids somehow? Because this read like a beachside M/M teen romance like any other, with the only "different" touch that the love interest is a merman that happened to rescue the prot from drowning as a boy. I didn't feel the chemistry, perhaps because there's so little time the two boys spend together and the build-up is dealt with a "they've been longing for each other for years off-page."
THE STORY OF A KNIFE by Gretchen Schreiber
Mermaid Score: 3
Story Score: 3
This story had so much potential, and with a less abrupt ending and more development, it'd have been amongst the best here. It's the story of a descendant of the Little Mermaid (the original one from Andersen) who wants to return to the sea because her life on land sucks, but her mother doesn't allow her to, so she must take the initiative herself.
Unfortunately, the plot here reads half-formed, and there's questions about how the original mermaid survived that aren't answered. I liked the girl in this story, and would encourage the author to expand this and republish it with improvements.
THE DARK CALLS by Preeti Chchibber
Mermaid Score: 5
Story Score: 2
A pure mermaids story with no human intruders at last! The only problem? For being a humans-less undersea world, it's startlingly human, from the names to the customs to the fashions. I was almost waiting to see the mermaid mother tell her mermaid daughters to eat their paneer (the story is Indian-flavoured, probably from the author's background) or something like that from how 100% human this is, for a mermaid world.
As for the story, it's again quite romance-y, a predictable forbidden relationship between a mermaid and a non-mermaid male sea creature dwelling in the "dark" parts of the deep ocean. Not much else than that, really.
THE NIGHTINGALE'S LAMENT by Kerri Maniscalco
Mermaid Score: 2
Story Score: 2
This story would get a lower rating if not for Maniscalco's ability level. It's a very tropey romance, complete with "heat pooling down there" laughable incursions into describing horny reactions. The only reason it's not lower is that there's good chemistry between Poseidon's whelp and the serial-murderess siren, and it's a pity it ends so terribly badly (as in writing, not as in climax). If it was up to me, I'd have included the hunt and the final killing instead of ending it before, but I suppose there was a word limit for this anthology. If so, that'd explain the overabundance of very abrupt endings that plague the anthology.
SEA WOLF IN PRINCE'S CLOTHING by Adriana Herrera
Mermaid Score: 1
Story Score: 2
Another story that has mermaids that are just humans with a fish's prosthesis. It plays on the overused "sacrifice maiden that must kill the king" trope and awfully written at that. To boot, it ends when the plot becomes interesting. The salvageable part? The world that's glimpsed in the background is interesting, at least to me, and with better worldbuilding this wouldn't feel so underwhelming and so like a tropical Caribbean theatre play for young teens.
THE FIRST AND LAST KISS by Julie Murphy
Mermaid Score: 2
Story Score: 3
If Ursula from Disney's film was twin to the Sea King and a lesbian, this would be her story. Enough said.
But is it a good story? It's original and interesting, yes. Whether it's good or not will depend on personal tastes. It was just fine for me, not the best but good enough given the low quality we're dealing with in this anthology.
THE MERROW by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
Mermaid Score: 5
Story Score: 4.5
Together with another story below, this was the best in the anthology. The mermaid feels like a true mermaid and the human is a human who doesn't want to be a sea creature. It had a bit of a "The Shape of Water" vibe about it that made me wonder if Zoraida had watched del Toro's film, because the premise is similar, sans the romance. And you know what's the best part? This doesn't end abruptly! It's perfect in length and in ending, leaving it open enough that the authors could pick it up again if they wanted, or leave it as a shortie. This one was my favourite!
JINJU'S PEARLS by June Hur
Mermaid Score: 4
Story Score: 3.5
The ending and the lack of resolution made this one lose stars, but it's still one of the best in this anthology, second best after Córdova & Parker's story for me. It has the "folkloric fantasy" type of vibe that I'm starting to like more and more (it's the closest to traditional fairy tales we get in Fantasy) yet it also feels so very real world. It's sad and lovely at the same time, and I'd very much want to read more of this author in future if this is how she writes!
Overall, I missed having more "pure mermaid" stories and am discontent with the amount of human and human-wannabe stories, but on the other hand I commend that there's some diversity in terms of ethnicity and sexuality. Small things, but meaningful. And in any case, two favourites from two new authors to follow isn't bad at all!
April 18, 2024
♡ Vampires Never Get Old ★★
♡ Faeries Never Lie (totally reading this mermaid anthology so i will be all prepped for the fae one muahah)
this anthology was such a wonderful surprise! i do have a little bit of a soft spot for all siren-like characters, some of these short stories are truly masterpieces, and i am so thankful i had the joy to read them all. i think the deepwater van-dal by darcie little badger was my favorite, so let me go read elatsoe right away, because wow! but down below are my individual thoughts and feelings about all the stories in this anthology collection, with the trigger and content warnings i wrote down while reading!
━━♡ Storm Song by Rebecca Coffindaffer ★★
this is about a siren who needs to sing for a ritual to call down the storms, but this is ultimately a story about finding your own voice and your own power. and how some songs can be filled with anger, and that's okay! i really liked what this was saying, and i loved the sapphic vibes too, but i just didn't love this story overall.
cw: violence, gun violence, blood, murder
━━♡ We'll Always Have June by Julian Winters ★★★
a ten year old is saved from drowning by a merperson, and he has thought about him ever since. and then they meet again, this time on the beach, and make a deal that the merperson will teach him how to swim, and he will help teach him how to sing. and i really did like this present story, but i kept feeling a little weird that they first met when our mc was only ten
cw: drowning
━━♡ The Story of a Knife by Gretchen Schreiber ★★★★★
this was so hauntingly, and so beautifully, written. the crafting of this story, and the atmosphere, actually took my breath away a little. but this is about a girl, wanting to break the legacy of all the women in her generation being stranded in a house, on a cliff, on an island, trying to cover the scars on their legs. the only time she was able to leave the island is when she had to go to the hospital for major surgeries on her legs. and then she talks to the boy from the sea, who leaves her wondering what her family really are and what the truth of each generation before her.
cw: brief mention of parental abandonment, talk of child illness (involving many scars after), withholding medical information
━━♡ The Dark Calls by Preeti Chhibber ★★
this is a story about a merfamily, living a normal day to day life, that is... until our mc starts to hear a strange voice, calling her name. and then she meets a strange boy, with an eel tail, at a canyon she is not supposed to go to. i loved seeing the family and their cave in this, but the actual story just didn't capture my attention for some reason, sadly.
cw: anxiety, talk of panic attacks, blood
━━♡ Return to the Sea by Kalyn Bayron ★★★★
i really enjoyed this one. a mermaid and a new girl at school form a friendship, and maybe something more, while trying to help a turtle. i loved the way this author did mermaids, i also really loved picturing our mc swimming to catalina island for work. but i just really loved what this story had to say, and the start of this sapphic relationship really made my heart so very happy to read. i really do need to read more from kalyn bayron.
cw: themes / discussion of racism + cultural appropriation, sick animal (turtle)
━━♡ The Deepwater Van-Dal by Darcie Little Badger ★★★★★
this was so so so good. this is a story about a girl who lost her father fifteen years ago while he was searching for the biggest of lost treasures. everyone thinks it was an accident on the water, but she finally learned the truth of what happened. and with the help of a vandal mermaid and the boat that was left behind, she figures out the truth - no matter how painful that truth is. this was a haunting, beautiful, masterpiece of a short story, discussing themes of what can make monsters and what can make people choose to use the word monster - both for themselves and others.
cw: anxiety, insinuation of mass children death, sick child in past (that does make a full recovery), abandonment, grief, colonization, talk of rising sea levels that created a vanishing island
━━♡ The Nightingale's Lament by Kerri Maniscalco ★★★★
kerri really had her character insinuate to the other that his penis might get bit by a fish and it actually made me laugh out loud. lord, help me. i actually did really like this, but it for sure has a sexual vibe throughout, so use caution if that's not for you. but basically we follow a siren, who has the nightingale curse to never have true love, and she spends her nights singing with her sisters and then picking predatory men to murder. and the one she happens to pick this night ends up being not only a monster hunter, but the oldest heir of poseidon himself. and a naked midnight swim dare later... well, that's the story.
cw: murder, death, missing mom (in past), sexual content
━━♡ Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing by Adriana Herrera ★★★★★
oh, i loved this very powerful story all about breaking cycles, getting revenge, and carving out the story you want. in this world, sirens receive invitations to be concubines at the palace and sea wolves are born only to be protective guards for the royal family. we follow a girl who receives her invitation, with full intentions to avenge her sister. and once she gets to the palace, with her sister's dagger, she finds a very unlikely ally and another power she didn't know she could harness. let me just go read everything by adriana herrera now.
cw: loss of sister in past, grief, brief talk of pregnancy + infertility, unwanted touching (pulling on lap), murder
━━♡ Nor'easter by Katherin Locke ★★★★
i really enjoyed this historical merfolk tale, that took real life events and blended it into something very beautiful. we follow two mcs, one being a trans merperson who loves their friends and is trying to find their place in their own world, and an immigrant from poland who is living in new jersey with their family, and both of their paths cross because of this storm.
cw: nor'easter storm / bad storm with extreme flooding, brief mention of loss of dad in past, anxiety, talk of abandonment in past, mention of xenophobia (negative light)
━━♡ The First and Last Kiss by Julie Murphy ★★★
this story has a cool premise that all merfolk are able to walk on land, and be among humans, 2 nights a month, for one whole year (from their 17th birthday to their 18th). we meet two twin merpeople, with very different outlooks on humans, and we follow the sister as she tries to discover what she wants for her own life. and a cute sapphic romance is brewing at the forefront of this story as well! i just didn't love the end of this one, sadly. but penny being galaxy brain and connecting disney little mermaid dots... 11/10, completely mind blown.
cw: insinuation of death during childbirth in past, loss of mother in past, abandonment / neglect, panic attack
━━♡ The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova & Natalie C. Parker ★★★★
oh my gosh, this is set in the same world as their short story in vampires never get old, which is so very cool, but i actually really didn't like that short story! but thankfully, i enjoyed this one much more (and now i am extra excited to see what this duo does in faeries never lie)! but story switches povs between a human girl whose mother works at a research aquarium, and a mermaid that has been recently captured and is being studied. they make a really lovely bond, and feel very connected to one another, and in turn want to help each other. this was really beautiful, and the mother choosing her daughter really made me emotional.
cw: menti0n of bullying in past (name calling), anxiety, blood, needle mention, captivity, forced medical exams and other situations
━━♡ Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall ★★★★
i mean, anything with a surprise manananggal is gonna get me... every single time. i know this story isn't going to be for everyone, because it's weird and doesn't focus on a mermaid, but a monster girl who is the daughter of one (and the repercussions of a curse because of her parents falling in love), but it just really worked for me. give me all the sapphic monster girls falling in love with each other, but also with themselves.
cw: talk of menstruation, blood, body horror, talk of parents working at an abortion clinic
━━♡ Jinju's Pearls by June Hur ★★★
oh, this one made me cry! this was a very heartfelt and heartbreaking story. i am scared to say too much, because i don't want to give anything away about this one, but this is a story about a girl who thinks the sea has taken everything from her, and she is very resentful because of that. this was just beautifully crafted and beautifully written and i can't wait to read more by this author.
cw: missing parents, loss of a parent in past, abandonment, themes of racism (obv in a negative light), blood
━━♡ Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao ★★★★
this final short story was a really powerful one about a asian-american, whose mother immigrated to the states from vietnam, and doesn't want to talk about life before she immigrated (or a magical secret that involves growing scales on their legs on their 15h birthday). i really liked this one for a lot of reasons, like the difference between generations of immigrants and how differently they will view the world and how differently the world will view them. but i also loved it because of the connection (and healing and power and love) to the water i feel because of my own family. i just really liked this twist on mermaids and it felt like a really perfect way to wrap up this anthology.
cw: racism, microaggressions, mention of fetishization, blood
━━♡ buddy read with Penny
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
♡ Faeries Never Lie (totally reading this mermaid anthology so i will be all prepped for the fae one muahah)
this anthology was such a wonderful surprise! i do have a little bit of a soft spot for all siren-like characters, some of these short stories are truly masterpieces, and i am so thankful i had the joy to read them all. i think the deepwater van-dal by darcie little badger was my favorite, so let me go read elatsoe right away, because wow! but down below are my individual thoughts and feelings about all the stories in this anthology collection, with the trigger and content warnings i wrote down while reading!
━━♡ Storm Song by Rebecca Coffindaffer ★★
this is about a siren who needs to sing for a ritual to call down the storms, but this is ultimately a story about finding your own voice and your own power. and how some songs can be filled with anger, and that's okay! i really liked what this was saying, and i loved the sapphic vibes too, but i just didn't love this story overall.
cw: violence, gun violence, blood, murder
━━♡ We'll Always Have June by Julian Winters ★★★
a ten year old is saved from drowning by a merperson, and he has thought about him ever since. and then they meet again, this time on the beach, and make a deal that the merperson will teach him how to swim, and he will help teach him how to sing. and i really did like this present story, but i kept feeling a little weird that they first met when our mc was only ten
cw: drowning
━━♡ The Story of a Knife by Gretchen Schreiber ★★★★★
this was so hauntingly, and so beautifully, written. the crafting of this story, and the atmosphere, actually took my breath away a little. but this is about a girl, wanting to break the legacy of all the women in her generation being stranded in a house, on a cliff, on an island, trying to cover the scars on their legs. the only time she was able to leave the island is when she had to go to the hospital for major surgeries on her legs. and then she talks to the boy from the sea, who leaves her wondering what her family really are and what the truth of each generation before her.
cw: brief mention of parental abandonment, talk of child illness (involving many scars after), withholding medical information
━━♡ The Dark Calls by Preeti Chhibber ★★
this is a story about a merfamily, living a normal day to day life, that is... until our mc starts to hear a strange voice, calling her name. and then she meets a strange boy, with an eel tail, at a canyon she is not supposed to go to. i loved seeing the family and their cave in this, but the actual story just didn't capture my attention for some reason, sadly.
cw: anxiety, talk of panic attacks, blood
━━♡ Return to the Sea by Kalyn Bayron ★★★★
i really enjoyed this one. a mermaid and a new girl at school form a friendship, and maybe something more, while trying to help a turtle. i loved the way this author did mermaids, i also really loved picturing our mc swimming to catalina island for work. but i just really loved what this story had to say, and the start of this sapphic relationship really made my heart so very happy to read. i really do need to read more from kalyn bayron.
cw: themes / discussion of racism + cultural appropriation, sick animal (turtle)
━━♡ The Deepwater Van-Dal by Darcie Little Badger ★★★★★
this was so so so good. this is a story about a girl who lost her father fifteen years ago while he was searching for the biggest of lost treasures. everyone thinks it was an accident on the water, but she finally learned the truth of what happened. and with the help of a vandal mermaid and the boat that was left behind, she figures out the truth - no matter how painful that truth is. this was a haunting, beautiful, masterpiece of a short story, discussing themes of what can make monsters and what can make people choose to use the word monster - both for themselves and others.
cw: anxiety, insinuation of mass children death, sick child in past (that does make a full recovery), abandonment, grief, colonization, talk of rising sea levels that created a vanishing island
━━♡ The Nightingale's Lament by Kerri Maniscalco ★★★★
kerri really had her character insinuate to the other that his penis might get bit by a fish and it actually made me laugh out loud. lord, help me. i actually did really like this, but it for sure has a sexual vibe throughout, so use caution if that's not for you. but basically we follow a siren, who has the nightingale curse to never have true love, and she spends her nights singing with her sisters and then picking predatory men to murder. and the one she happens to pick this night ends up being not only a monster hunter, but the oldest heir of poseidon himself. and a naked midnight swim dare later... well, that's the story.
cw: murder, death, missing mom (in past), sexual content
━━♡ Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing by Adriana Herrera ★★★★★
oh, i loved this very powerful story all about breaking cycles, getting revenge, and carving out the story you want. in this world, sirens receive invitations to be concubines at the palace and sea wolves are born only to be protective guards for the royal family. we follow a girl who receives her invitation, with full intentions to avenge her sister. and once she gets to the palace, with her sister's dagger, she finds a very unlikely ally and another power she didn't know she could harness. let me just go read everything by adriana herrera now.
cw: loss of sister in past, grief, brief talk of pregnancy + infertility, unwanted touching (pulling on lap), murder
━━♡ Nor'easter by Katherin Locke ★★★★
i really enjoyed this historical merfolk tale, that took real life events and blended it into something very beautiful. we follow two mcs, one being a trans merperson who loves their friends and is trying to find their place in their own world, and an immigrant from poland who is living in new jersey with their family, and both of their paths cross because of this storm.
cw: nor'easter storm / bad storm with extreme flooding, brief mention of loss of dad in past, anxiety, talk of abandonment in past, mention of xenophobia (negative light)
━━♡ The First and Last Kiss by Julie Murphy ★★★
this story has a cool premise that all merfolk are able to walk on land, and be among humans, 2 nights a month, for one whole year (from their 17th birthday to their 18th). we meet two twin merpeople, with very different outlooks on humans, and we follow the sister as she tries to discover what she wants for her own life. and a cute sapphic romance is brewing at the forefront of this story as well! i just didn't love the end of this one, sadly. but penny being galaxy brain and connecting disney little mermaid dots... 11/10, completely mind blown.
cw: insinuation of death during childbirth in past, loss of mother in past, abandonment / neglect, panic attack
━━♡ The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova & Natalie C. Parker ★★★★
oh my gosh, this is set in the same world as their short story in vampires never get old, which is so very cool, but i actually really didn't like that short story! but thankfully, i enjoyed this one much more (and now i am extra excited to see what this duo does in faeries never lie)! but story switches povs between a human girl whose mother works at a research aquarium, and a mermaid that has been recently captured and is being studied. they make a really lovely bond, and feel very connected to one another, and in turn want to help each other. this was really beautiful, and the mother choosing her daughter really made me emotional.
cw: menti0n of bullying in past (name calling), anxiety, blood, needle mention, captivity, forced medical exams and other situations
━━♡ Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall ★★★★
i mean, anything with a surprise manananggal is gonna get me... every single time. i know this story isn't going to be for everyone, because it's weird and doesn't focus on a mermaid, but a monster girl who is the daughter of one (and the repercussions of a curse because of her parents falling in love), but it just really worked for me. give me all the sapphic monster girls falling in love with each other, but also with themselves.
cw: talk of menstruation, blood, body horror, talk of parents working at an abortion clinic
━━♡ Jinju's Pearls by June Hur ★★★
oh, this one made me cry! this was a very heartfelt and heartbreaking story. i am scared to say too much, because i don't want to give anything away about this one, but this is a story about a girl who thinks the sea has taken everything from her, and she is very resentful because of that. this was just beautifully crafted and beautifully written and i can't wait to read more by this author.
cw: missing parents, loss of a parent in past, abandonment, themes of racism (obv in a negative light), blood
━━♡ Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao ★★★★
this final short story was a really powerful one about a asian-american, whose mother immigrated to the states from vietnam, and doesn't want to talk about life before she immigrated (or a magical secret that involves growing scales on their legs on their 15h birthday). i really liked this one for a lot of reasons, like the difference between generations of immigrants and how differently they will view the world and how differently the world will view them. but i also loved it because of the connection (and healing and power and love) to the water i feel because of my own family. i just really liked this twist on mermaids and it felt like a really perfect way to wrap up this anthology.
cw: racism, microaggressions, mention of fetishization, blood
━━♡ buddy read with Penny
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August 10, 2023
So proud of our authors! 🧜🏽♀️🧜🏽♀️🧜🏽♀️
July 28, 2023
4.5 Stars
Without a doubt the best anthology I've read this year. Why? Because every story here embraces a different facet of mermaid mythology and does it so, so well. Even the stories that weren't my favorite were at least decent, and they felt like they belonged, like they rounded out the collection. Stormy waters, beach transformations, and a touch of magic: everything I could have wanted. If you want a short story anthology full of atmosphere, this is the one I'd recommend.
My full review will be available September 29, 2023 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
Without a doubt the best anthology I've read this year. Why? Because every story here embraces a different facet of mermaid mythology and does it so, so well. Even the stories that weren't my favorite were at least decent, and they felt like they belonged, like they rounded out the collection. Stormy waters, beach transformations, and a touch of magic: everything I could have wanted. If you want a short story anthology full of atmosphere, this is the one I'd recommend.
My full review will be available September 29, 2023 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
September 3, 2025
Review to come! This was a fantastic read and I liked all the stories.
October 12, 2023
I don’t read a lot of anthologies so you are welcome to ignore this review if you feel yourself more of an expert.
I hated most of these. Out of the 14 stories Jinju’s Pearls is the only one I’d rate 4 stars. There was 3-4 others that I found mildly interesting and would have given 3 stars to. The rest I would rate 1 star.
Other than the few that were mildly successful I found the rest to read like teenage fanfiction. Stories suffered from poor writing, confusing stories, and boring plot development. In a short story I don’t need any romance, it’s too short to have any type of believable connection and several fell into that category.
My biggest disappointment is that few of these actually felt like a story about mermaids. You could place any typical outcast character in these stories and it would remain the same.
And I just want to leave with one of the dumbest line I’ve ever read in a book…
“I don’t get to take the tail off. Ever.” This is said as she’s, literally, standing on two feet inside a building looking like a normal human. 🙄
I hated most of these. Out of the 14 stories Jinju’s Pearls is the only one I’d rate 4 stars. There was 3-4 others that I found mildly interesting and would have given 3 stars to. The rest I would rate 1 star.
Other than the few that were mildly successful I found the rest to read like teenage fanfiction. Stories suffered from poor writing, confusing stories, and boring plot development. In a short story I don’t need any romance, it’s too short to have any type of believable connection and several fell into that category.
My biggest disappointment is that few of these actually felt like a story about mermaids. You could place any typical outcast character in these stories and it would remain the same.
And I just want to leave with one of the dumbest line I’ve ever read in a book…
“I don’t get to take the tail off. Ever.” This is said as she’s, literally, standing on two feet inside a building looking like a normal human. 🙄
September 25, 2023
I adored this anthology. I loved how each author had a different take on mer lore, weaving in different folklore, some of the stories existing in our world and looking at how society and technology would meld with a world with merpeople, some written like folktales, some the stuff of a five book epic fantasy series.
I had a great time with all of the stories, but some of the standouts for me were: Sea Wolf in Prince’s Clothing by Adriana Herrera, The Deep Water Vandal by Darcy Little Badger, Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao and The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker. Return to the Sea by Kalynn Bayron and Jinju’s Pearls by June Hur made me cry. Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall was amazing. I know I've listed most of the book at this point, but so many of them I wanted a full length book or series or movie out of.
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this e-arc!
I had a great time with all of the stories, but some of the standouts for me were: Sea Wolf in Prince’s Clothing by Adriana Herrera, The Deep Water Vandal by Darcy Little Badger, Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao and The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker. Return to the Sea by Kalynn Bayron and Jinju’s Pearls by June Hur made me cry. Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall was amazing. I know I've listed most of the book at this point, but so many of them I wanted a full length book or series or movie out of.
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this e-arc!
November 1, 2023
My ratings for all the stories average to 3.7. Anthologies are always hit or miss. Some of these stories I didn't care much about, but my favorites were "The Merrow" by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, which is about a girl who connects with the mergirl that her mother has put on display in an aquarium, and "Jinju's Pearls" by June Hur, which is set in Joseon-era Korea and follows a Haenyeo diver and the mermaid who follows her around. I liked the worldbuilding of both of these stories and would absolutely read more if the authors continued the stories.
The stories in this collection are diverse in ethnicity and sexuality and each author has their own version of mermaids. I do think the collection would've benefited from having fewer stories so the authors could have longer word counts, but overall I think it's an enjoyable anthology.
The stories in this collection are diverse in ethnicity and sexuality and each author has their own version of mermaids. I do think the collection would've benefited from having fewer stories so the authors could have longer word counts, but overall I think it's an enjoyable anthology.
October 3, 2023
For a collection of 14 stories all about mermaids they all felt very unique and had their own spin on the legend and told their own story in their own way.
I generally find with anthologies that they ebb and flow a bit (pun intended) but each story in this had my attention fully. Some are serious and melancholy and some are quirky and weird (looking at you Shark Week) but I absolutely loved this collection of stories, honestly not a bad one in the bunch
I would highly recommend any of these and I'm off to find out more about the authors that are new to me but Standouts were Deepwater Vandal and The Nightingales Lament (I would love more of this one)
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for the chance to read this early. Definitely a stellar follow up to the Vampires Never Get Old anthology!
I generally find with anthologies that they ebb and flow a bit (pun intended) but each story in this had my attention fully. Some are serious and melancholy and some are quirky and weird (looking at you Shark Week) but I absolutely loved this collection of stories, honestly not a bad one in the bunch
I would highly recommend any of these and I'm off to find out more about the authors that are new to me but Standouts were Deepwater Vandal and The Nightingales Lament (I would love more of this one)
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for the chance to read this early. Definitely a stellar follow up to the Vampires Never Get Old anthology!
February 18, 2024
I enjoyed reading this one, but none really stuck with me, you know?
Want to read
November 29, 2022MERMAID ANTHOLOGY LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOO
tsk-i-dnfed
April 4, 2024Dnf at 17%. Idk why i keep picking up anthologies. They. Are. Not. For. Me
December 30, 2025
Surprisingly great! There are some remarkably compelling narratives here that would bear expansion to novel form, and not so many clangers as I'd expected.
December 26, 2023
i was ecstatic to read this because i adore mermaids, yet nearly every story followed the same basic premise: human falls in love with mermaid or vice versa. while i really enjoyed some of them (most notably the ones by kerri maniscalco, julie murphy, zoraida cordova/natalie c. parker, and darcie little badger, whose story was refreshingly free of romance), the majority of the rest blended together.
as a self-proclaimed super fan of mermaids in fiction, i found this didn't offer me much in terms of "exploring mermaids like we've never seen them before!" i disliked the inclusion of romance in nearly every story because there's only so much you can pull off in approx. 20 pages. some authors were able to accomplish a strong romance-driven story, while i felt other authors simply stuck to the first story idea that came into their head: a mermaid and a human fall in love.
i think i might need to accept that anthologies just aren't for me. this is the third one i've picked up, and while it was my favourite out of the three, i just don't think a handful of strong stories is enough to warrant reading an entire collection full of authors whose work i don't connect with.
pre-review (may 6th, 2023)
i don't think i've ever added something to my tbr faster than when i saw this was about mermaids
as a self-proclaimed super fan of mermaids in fiction, i found this didn't offer me much in terms of "exploring mermaids like we've never seen them before!" i disliked the inclusion of romance in nearly every story because there's only so much you can pull off in approx. 20 pages. some authors were able to accomplish a strong romance-driven story, while i felt other authors simply stuck to the first story idea that came into their head: a mermaid and a human fall in love.
i think i might need to accept that anthologies just aren't for me. this is the third one i've picked up, and while it was my favourite out of the three, i just don't think a handful of strong stories is enough to warrant reading an entire collection full of authors whose work i don't connect with.
pre-review (may 6th, 2023)
i don't think i've ever added something to my tbr faster than when i saw this was about mermaids
July 15, 2024
I really enjoyed most of the mermaid tales in this fabulous anthology. Some of them need to be full-length novels ASAP!! If you're a big mermaid/ocean creature fan I highly recommend!
April 16, 2024
I can't believe this anthology is over! It feels like I was flying through this anthology and I'm a little salty I didn't pick this up sooner! This was an anticipated release of 2023 and I just didn't get the chance to read it then, but I'm so glad I'm reading it now. I think there's many readers who love mermaids or sirens in their stories or even when it comes to mythology they're reading. You definitely get a good mixture of both in this anthology. My favorite stories from this anthology have to be Storm Song, We'll Always Have June, Return To The Sea, and The Deepwater Vandal. All four of those stories just stood out in the best ways possible or pulled such strong emotions from me. If you're looking for a good springtime or summer read then consider picking this anthology up. There's some really amazing authors, many who I've personally read from before and even some of my own favorite authors like Darcie Little Badger. It's just an all around enjoyable time reading about all the different merfolk!
✨ Storm Song by Rebecca Coffindaffer 4.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, gun use, death, blood depictions, fire, off-page death
I really enjoyed this story. I really love the idea of sirens and storms being tied together, and this story executed it really well. I also loved how there's a subtle message of being your own person and don't try to be like everyone else. You're unique and only you can do things the way you would do them. I also really loved that the one side character is called Abalone and how I could just picture her so vividly due to having abalone shells in my own home.
✨ We'll Always Have June by Julian Winters 4.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Scene of drowning
This was so freaking cute! Okay, the beginning was a little startling, but the romance was so cute! I love how Kai and Cyrus both have something they want to work on and get better at, and they decide to do it together. The little hints that there are sun gods and gods of the ocean was very intriguing. The only reason this wasn't a full five stars is because I wanted more of this story. I think this could have been it's own novella especially when it was hinted that merfolk can be stripped of their magic. Ugh, I just wanted more and to stay in this story longer. But I love Kai and Cyrus and they just deserve all the happiness.
✨ The Story Of A Knife by Gretchen Schreiber ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Medical talk, scene of drowning
If you've seen The Little Mermaid II movie, the themes of this book will feel incredibly familiar and be of no surprise. Parents hiding the truth from the kid, kid seeking answers, etc... I think because this felt so familiar to me that I just felt bored the entire time. It was like, "Okay...been there, done that already" kind of vibes. I will say that I really enjoyed the ending. That was something that caught me off guard and it made me wish there was a follow-up to it.
✨ The Dark Calls by Preeti Chhibber 2.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Very brief mentions of a spider
I wanted to love this story because it starts off strong, but it just ended up falling short for me as the story went on. There's this ominous feeling built around this ravine and it feels like the entire story we're just tip-toeing around what makes this such a bad, forbidden place. We get no answers, by the way or why our main character feels such a strong pull to the dark ravine. Dhvant was the only character that's interesting to me and he even had his limitations. I think overall, I just wanted so much more and I think so much more could have been done with the story to make it more captivating or interesting than it was.
✨ Return To The Sea by Kalynn Bayron ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Cultural appropriation, death of an animal
This story got me so freaking emotional! Starting off with the discussions of cultural appropriation and then we have these two girls come together to help and elderly sea turtle. I'm not okay, this was so beautiful! I think this might be my favorite story of the whole anthology so far. There were even some funny moments thrown in. I just really loved this with my whole heart!
✨ The Deepwater Vandal by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a loved ones (in the past), grief, drowning (recounted)
This felt like a very emotional and personal short story for Darcie. I love Darcie's writing and the stories they tell, and this definitely falls into one of my favorites. I really wish this short story was longer because the storytelling is so beautiful, so powerful, but also like it could be expanded into a novella. Plus, the leviathan references, I'm a sucker for books and stories that have leviathans. All around, I really loved this story, the characters, and the amount of emotions that were poured into this story.
✨ The Nightingale's Lament by Kerri Maniscalco 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Talk of sexism, death, alcohol
I love Maniscalco's writing and the tales that she weaves. However, I wasn't the biggest fan of this story. Don't get me wrong, it was still enjoyable, but it felt like some parts of the story just gave away the twist or big reveal. It was a little disappointing, to be honest. I loved that there was a family dynamic involved in this story and I did enjoy the way the story ended, but I definitely wanted a little bit more from this.
✨ Sea Wolf In Prince's Clothing by Adriana Herrera ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions loss of a sibling, grief, talk of war, murder, death
Honestly, I don't know what to think of this story. On one hand I really love the revenge plot and the brewing of revolution. Yet on the other hand, this story feels like it's missing elements, important details, and it also felt like it was brewing into a romance. The romance part is fine, but it felt a little weird that it was brewing with the dead sibling's lover. I think if this were a full fantasy romance or even a fantasy novella, it would have been really great, but I definitely feel like the short story just isn't enough and it needs to be expanded upon, if it hasn't already.
✨ Nor'easter by Katherine Locke 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, brief mentions loss of a parent, natural disaster (Hurricane, The Great Nor'easter 1962), drowning
I was really torn of how I felt about this story. I loved that this short story was based off an natural disaster that actually happened and I loved the talk of the in-between of living the life in two different cultures. However, for a good chunk of this story I was kind of...bored. And usually I love multiple povs, but in this short story, it felt very unnecessary and it almost felt like it bogged the story down. There's also a scene where the mother lashes out in her anger and get really mean and aggressive with one of her young sons that gave me a really bad feeling. Overall, I feel torn on this one and definitely one I'm indecisive on how I feel about.
✨ The First And Last Kiss by Julie Murphy 2.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mention loss of a parent, very brief mentions difficult child birth, grief, Acrophobia (fear of heights), talk of Lepidopterophobia (fear of butterflies and moths), manipulation, toxic sibling relationship
Honestly, this story felt a little predictable for me and kind of boring. The toxic sibling relationship felt very predictable and the forbidden romance didn't really work for me. It was a cute romance, but due to so much being predictable especially with the twin brother, I didn't really enjoy it. I think the only thing I found interesting about this story was the The Wander, a yearlong tradition among Merfolk, but I think that was about it. I wish I could have loved this story more, but it sadly didn't work for me.
✨ The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova & Natalie C. Parker ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, death of an animal, loneliness, grief
I really loved this story and the ending was so bittersweet. I wish we had more of Josie and Sun, but I'll take what I can get with this short story. There were a lot of moments in this story that had me thinking about the documentary, Blackfish and there's also some really great conversations about the disconnect with parents and their kids at times when it comes to asking what their kid wants/feels. This was just really well written and we get duel povs. Definitely one of my favorites in this anthology!
✨ Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, grief
This is another story I feel very conflicted on. I loved the curse and I loved getting the chance to learn about the Manananggal and doing research on that. However, there was something about this story that just didn't click with me. Maybe it was due to the fact that this story doesn't feel like it truly belongs in this anthology. It feels somewhere in the grey area. The other possibility is that this story feels like rehashing high school days and as a reader, I don't like reading high school elements in my stories anymore. Overall, this wasn't a bad story, but it definitely wasn't for me.
✨ Jinju's Pearls by June Hur 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mentions poverty, loss of a parent, abandonment, scene of drowning, blood, gun use, death
I enjoyed this story, though I wish I loved it more! It's centered around Korean culture and Korean mythology. You know me, I love some good stories centered around mythology. However, I didn't like how predictable this story became. There were two key moments in this story that made it very clear to me how the rest of the story would play out. I'm not going to go into details because I do think they're spoilers for the story. What I will say is that I wish those moments wouldn't have made things so obvious of how the rest of the story was going to pan out.
✨ Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Racism, microaggressions
I really love this author's prose in her stories. I think that's the biggest thing I really enjoyed about this story. The other thing I really loved was the conversation of feeling like you have to choose between where you come from and where you don't. Feeling like you're walking the line of two different worlds and seeing that conversation being talked about it always something I appreciate in my stories. Something I want to point out, if you're familiar with the movie The Little Mermaid II and the television show H2O then you'll probably really enjoy this story. It has a very similar feeling to both of these medias. Overall, this was an enjoyable story and a great way to conclude this anthology. Again, the prose is beautiful and something that makes this story stand out.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
✨ Storm Song by Rebecca Coffindaffer 4.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, gun use, death, blood depictions, fire, off-page death
"You are that magnificent and terrible thing. You are beautiful and monstrous. Sharp as the barbs that bristle across your body. Dark as the clouds starting to knit together in the sky."
I really enjoyed this story. I really love the idea of sirens and storms being tied together, and this story executed it really well. I also loved how there's a subtle message of being your own person and don't try to be like everyone else. You're unique and only you can do things the way you would do them. I also really loved that the one side character is called Abalone and how I could just picture her so vividly due to having abalone shells in my own home.
✨ We'll Always Have June by Julian Winters 4.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Scene of drowning
This was so freaking cute! Okay, the beginning was a little startling, but the romance was so cute! I love how Kai and Cyrus both have something they want to work on and get better at, and they decide to do it together. The little hints that there are sun gods and gods of the ocean was very intriguing. The only reason this wasn't a full five stars is because I wanted more of this story. I think this could have been it's own novella especially when it was hinted that merfolk can be stripped of their magic. Ugh, I just wanted more and to stay in this story longer. But I love Kai and Cyrus and they just deserve all the happiness.
✨ The Story Of A Knife by Gretchen Schreiber ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Medical talk, scene of drowning
If you've seen The Little Mermaid II movie, the themes of this book will feel incredibly familiar and be of no surprise. Parents hiding the truth from the kid, kid seeking answers, etc... I think because this felt so familiar to me that I just felt bored the entire time. It was like, "Okay...been there, done that already" kind of vibes. I will say that I really enjoyed the ending. That was something that caught me off guard and it made me wish there was a follow-up to it.
✨ The Dark Calls by Preeti Chhibber 2.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Very brief mentions of a spider
I wanted to love this story because it starts off strong, but it just ended up falling short for me as the story went on. There's this ominous feeling built around this ravine and it feels like the entire story we're just tip-toeing around what makes this such a bad, forbidden place. We get no answers, by the way or why our main character feels such a strong pull to the dark ravine. Dhvant was the only character that's interesting to me and he even had his limitations. I think overall, I just wanted so much more and I think so much more could have been done with the story to make it more captivating or interesting than it was.
✨ Return To The Sea by Kalynn Bayron ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Cultural appropriation, death of an animal
This story got me so freaking emotional! Starting off with the discussions of cultural appropriation and then we have these two girls come together to help and elderly sea turtle. I'm not okay, this was so beautiful! I think this might be my favorite story of the whole anthology so far. There were even some funny moments thrown in. I just really loved this with my whole heart!
✨ The Deepwater Vandal by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a loved ones (in the past), grief, drowning (recounted)
This felt like a very emotional and personal short story for Darcie. I love Darcie's writing and the stories they tell, and this definitely falls into one of my favorites. I really wish this short story was longer because the storytelling is so beautiful, so powerful, but also like it could be expanded into a novella. Plus, the leviathan references, I'm a sucker for books and stories that have leviathans. All around, I really loved this story, the characters, and the amount of emotions that were poured into this story.
✨ The Nightingale's Lament by Kerri Maniscalco 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Talk of sexism, death, alcohol
"May the best sea monster win."
I love Maniscalco's writing and the tales that she weaves. However, I wasn't the biggest fan of this story. Don't get me wrong, it was still enjoyable, but it felt like some parts of the story just gave away the twist or big reveal. It was a little disappointing, to be honest. I loved that there was a family dynamic involved in this story and I did enjoy the way the story ended, but I definitely wanted a little bit more from this.
✨ Sea Wolf In Prince's Clothing by Adriana Herrera ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions loss of a sibling, grief, talk of war, murder, death
Honestly, I don't know what to think of this story. On one hand I really love the revenge plot and the brewing of revolution. Yet on the other hand, this story feels like it's missing elements, important details, and it also felt like it was brewing into a romance. The romance part is fine, but it felt a little weird that it was brewing with the dead sibling's lover. I think if this were a full fantasy romance or even a fantasy novella, it would have been really great, but I definitely feel like the short story just isn't enough and it needs to be expanded upon, if it hasn't already.
✨ Nor'easter by Katherine Locke 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, brief mentions loss of a parent, natural disaster (Hurricane, The Great Nor'easter 1962), drowning
I was really torn of how I felt about this story. I loved that this short story was based off an natural disaster that actually happened and I loved the talk of the in-between of living the life in two different cultures. However, for a good chunk of this story I was kind of...bored. And usually I love multiple povs, but in this short story, it felt very unnecessary and it almost felt like it bogged the story down. There's also a scene where the mother lashes out in her anger and get really mean and aggressive with one of her young sons that gave me a really bad feeling. Overall, I feel torn on this one and definitely one I'm indecisive on how I feel about.
✨ The First And Last Kiss by Julie Murphy 2.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mention loss of a parent, very brief mentions difficult child birth, grief, Acrophobia (fear of heights), talk of Lepidopterophobia (fear of butterflies and moths), manipulation, toxic sibling relationship
Honestly, this story felt a little predictable for me and kind of boring. The toxic sibling relationship felt very predictable and the forbidden romance didn't really work for me. It was a cute romance, but due to so much being predictable especially with the twin brother, I didn't really enjoy it. I think the only thing I found interesting about this story was the The Wander, a yearlong tradition among Merfolk, but I think that was about it. I wish I could have loved this story more, but it sadly didn't work for me.
✨ The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova & Natalie C. Parker ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, death of an animal, loneliness, grief
"I smile. Then I raise her hand to my lips and press a kiss to her knuckles. "We will find each other again, Josie." "I hope so," she whispers."
I really loved this story and the ending was so bittersweet. I wish we had more of Josie and Sun, but I'll take what I can get with this short story. There were a lot of moments in this story that had me thinking about the documentary, Blackfish and there's also some really great conversations about the disconnect with parents and their kids at times when it comes to asking what their kid wants/feels. This was just really well written and we get duel povs. Definitely one of my favorites in this anthology!
✨ Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, grief
"They are mt monthly nightmare, one that I have labored to keep a deadly secret."
This is another story I feel very conflicted on. I loved the curse and I loved getting the chance to learn about the Manananggal and doing research on that. However, there was something about this story that just didn't click with me. Maybe it was due to the fact that this story doesn't feel like it truly belongs in this anthology. It feels somewhere in the grey area. The other possibility is that this story feels like rehashing high school days and as a reader, I don't like reading high school elements in my stories anymore. Overall, this wasn't a bad story, but it definitely wasn't for me.
✨ Jinju's Pearls by June Hur 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mentions poverty, loss of a parent, abandonment, scene of drowning, blood, gun use, death
I enjoyed this story, though I wish I loved it more! It's centered around Korean culture and Korean mythology. You know me, I love some good stories centered around mythology. However, I didn't like how predictable this story became. There were two key moments in this story that made it very clear to me how the rest of the story would play out. I'm not going to go into details because I do think they're spoilers for the story. What I will say is that I wish those moments wouldn't have made things so obvious of how the rest of the story was going to pan out.
✨ Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Racism, microaggressions
I really love this author's prose in her stories. I think that's the biggest thing I really enjoyed about this story. The other thing I really loved was the conversation of feeling like you have to choose between where you come from and where you don't. Feeling like you're walking the line of two different worlds and seeing that conversation being talked about it always something I appreciate in my stories. Something I want to point out, if you're familiar with the movie The Little Mermaid II and the television show H2O then you'll probably really enjoy this story. It has a very similar feeling to both of these medias. Overall, this was an enjoyable story and a great way to conclude this anthology. Again, the prose is beautiful and something that makes this story stand out.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
August 9, 2024
Overall, I noticed that I enjoyed the longer stories with less or nor romance in them more, and if they took place in a fantasy world, even more so. Many of the 14 stories in here ended right when it started to get interesting, and none of the stories surprised or trully captivated me, since they were often character-driven and did not really have a lot of plot. I did like a few, mostly because of their writing style and unique ideas, but none of them got 4 stars or more. For mermaid stories in particular, I personally like an atmospheric, detailed writing style, and most of the stories in here focused more on dialogue and romance instead.
Average rating: 2.4/5 🌟
Individual ratings:
3/5 🌟 Storm Song by Rebecca Coffindaffer
- sign language
- written in second person
- finding your own voice
- music
- dark
2/5 🌟 We'll always have June by Julian Winters
- gay human & merprince romance
- learning from each other and overcoming fears/weaknesses (music, swimming)
- not enough plot
2.5/5 🌟 The Story of a Knife by Gretchen Schreiber
- Hans Christian Andersen and Gothic vibes
- feels like the first chapters of a book without a real ending
- dark
1.5/5 🌟 The Dark Calls by Preeti Chhibber
- Indian mermaid family
- eelboy
- sudden setting changes, hard to follow what's going on
- confusing plot
2/5 🌟 Return to the Sea by Kalynn Bayron
- humans & mermaids going to the same school
- sapphic romance
- a sad dying sea turtle
1.5/5 🌟 The Deepwater Vandal by Darcie Little Badger
- leviathan
- a lot of dialogue that tries to be funny
- a lot of telling instead of showing
- learning about the past of multiple characters instead of present events
2.5/5 🌟 The Nightingale's Lament by Kerri Maniscalco
- Sing Me to Sleep vibes
- siren & hunter romance
- open ending
3.5/5 🌟 Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing by Adriana Herrera
- my favourite story in this collection
- high fantasy
- vengeance plot
- siren court
- being offered as concubines to the princes
- getting out of dire situations with ease
3/5 🌟 Nor'easter by Katherine Locke
- survival throughout a storm that is based on real events
- dual pov (human & mermaid)
3/5 🌟 The First and Last Kiss by Julie Murphy
- sapphic romance
- feels like it could be Ursula's origin story (from The Little Mermaid)
3/5 🌟 The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
- dual pov
- imprisoned by scientists
- Shape of Water vibes
1.5/5 🌟 Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
- growing shark teeth during the period
- sapphic romance
- next to no mermaid vibes
2.5/5 🌟 Jinju's Pearls by June Hur
- immortality
- classic fairy tale vibes
- selfish main character
2/5 🌟 Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao
- a whole family hides their scales instead of embracing what they are
Average rating: 2.4/5 🌟
Individual ratings:
3/5 🌟 Storm Song by Rebecca Coffindaffer
- sign language
- written in second person
- finding your own voice
- music
- dark
2/5 🌟 We'll always have June by Julian Winters
- gay human & merprince romance
- learning from each other and overcoming fears/weaknesses (music, swimming)
- not enough plot
2.5/5 🌟 The Story of a Knife by Gretchen Schreiber
- Hans Christian Andersen and Gothic vibes
- feels like the first chapters of a book without a real ending
- dark
1.5/5 🌟 The Dark Calls by Preeti Chhibber
- Indian mermaid family
- eelboy
- sudden setting changes, hard to follow what's going on
- confusing plot
2/5 🌟 Return to the Sea by Kalynn Bayron
- humans & mermaids going to the same school
- sapphic romance
- a sad dying sea turtle
1.5/5 🌟 The Deepwater Vandal by Darcie Little Badger
- leviathan
- a lot of dialogue that tries to be funny
- a lot of telling instead of showing
- learning about the past of multiple characters instead of present events
2.5/5 🌟 The Nightingale's Lament by Kerri Maniscalco
- Sing Me to Sleep vibes
- siren & hunter romance
- open ending
3.5/5 🌟 Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing by Adriana Herrera
- my favourite story in this collection
- high fantasy
- vengeance plot
- siren court
- being offered as concubines to the princes
- getting out of dire situations with ease
3/5 🌟 Nor'easter by Katherine Locke
- survival throughout a storm that is based on real events
- dual pov (human & mermaid)
3/5 🌟 The First and Last Kiss by Julie Murphy
- sapphic romance
- feels like it could be Ursula's origin story (from The Little Mermaid)
3/5 🌟 The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
- dual pov
- imprisoned by scientists
- Shape of Water vibes
1.5/5 🌟 Shark Week by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
- growing shark teeth during the period
- sapphic romance
- next to no mermaid vibes
2.5/5 🌟 Jinju's Pearls by June Hur
- immortality
- classic fairy tale vibes
- selfish main character
2/5 🌟 Six Thousand Miles by Julie C. Dao
- a whole family hides their scales instead of embracing what they are
December 18, 2023
Mermaids Never Drown is a collection of short stories that got me hooked. Some stories are cute, some are sad, and others touch your soul. I am not saying the book is perfect, but it has managed to enchant me within its limitations. It is a perfect summer read if you are in Brazil.
December 6, 2024
Some stories were really hard to get into for my idea or to understand, while I need an entire novel dedicated to others (We'll always have June and the nightingale's lament, I'm talking to u. I want more)
December 6, 2025
i read the Nightingale’s Lament, and i wish it could be longer 😭
October 4, 2025
I don't think short stories are for me, I just couldn't get into one and then the other right after et cetera...
September 25, 2023
I’ve only recently got into reading anthologies so maybe take my opinion with a pinch of salt - get it?
Anyway… I think this really started off strong for me. My personal favourites actually being the first three stories funnily enough - Storm Song, We’ll Always Have June, and The Story of A Knife.
Even though my enjoyment started to sink as I got further into the depth of the book (sorry I had too!) I do think all the stories belong in this collection to appeal to a wide variety of readers and preferences. The authors have done a great job of proving a well rounded mix of representation and depictions of different variations of what it means to be a mermaid.
You can look forward to vivid descriptions of the sea, stormy atmospheres, charming romance, and stories of empowerment!
Mermaids are my favourite mythical creature and these authors did the mermaid girlies justice so thank you!
I think I’m right in that happy medium of I didn’t absolutely love it, but definitely didn’t hate it either. I’d normally for a 2.5 star rating in this situation but as these stories will provide some comforting representation for multiple communities then I’m happy to round it up to a 3-star.
And of course, thank you to NetGalley + Titan Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Anyway… I think this really started off strong for me. My personal favourites actually being the first three stories funnily enough - Storm Song, We’ll Always Have June, and The Story of A Knife.
Even though my enjoyment started to sink as I got further into the depth of the book (sorry I had too!) I do think all the stories belong in this collection to appeal to a wide variety of readers and preferences. The authors have done a great job of proving a well rounded mix of representation and depictions of different variations of what it means to be a mermaid.
You can look forward to vivid descriptions of the sea, stormy atmospheres, charming romance, and stories of empowerment!
Mermaids are my favourite mythical creature and these authors did the mermaid girlies justice so thank you!
I think I’m right in that happy medium of I didn’t absolutely love it, but definitely didn’t hate it either. I’d normally for a 2.5 star rating in this situation but as these stories will provide some comforting representation for multiple communities then I’m happy to round it up to a 3-star.
And of course, thank you to NetGalley + Titan Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
September 12, 2023
Listen I liked Vampires Never Get Old, but I think Mermaids Never Drown is on another level 😭👏
This was brilliantly executed—all the stories captured the essence of a mermaid's beauty, power, and danger as a myth, while also bringing a new twist or significance from the authors' various perspectives. We see queer identity, romance, environmental issues, racism, self-discovery, and so much more.
Overall, these stories just worked so good together and this anthology is one for the books. I can't wait to see a third installment from this series!
Exact rating: 4.75/5
Full review on my blog soon!
(Received an e-arc from the publisher as part of the upcoming tour with Turn the Pages Tour. This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023.
This was brilliantly executed—all the stories captured the essence of a mermaid's beauty, power, and danger as a myth, while also bringing a new twist or significance from the authors' various perspectives. We see queer identity, romance, environmental issues, racism, self-discovery, and so much more.
Overall, these stories just worked so good together and this anthology is one for the books. I can't wait to see a third installment from this series!
Exact rating: 4.75/5
Full review on my blog soon!
(Received an e-arc from the publisher as part of the upcoming tour with Turn the Pages Tour. This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2023.
September 11, 2024
The only short story I really enjoyed was Julie Murphy’s.
November 16, 2023
As with any short story anthology, some of these spoke to me more than others. Overall, though, this is a really interesting and solid collection of short stories that are cohesive together, yet each approach their shared topic (i.e.: mermaids) from a unique angle, which makes it easy for each to be memorable in its own right.
July 9, 2024
*3.9 Stars*
Summary: I really enjoyed this anthology and a good chunk of the stories! Maybe this and Relit are a positive sign of anthologies to come, I'm notorious for not being a fan. I enjoyed about 8 of the stories (4-5 stars) with a mixed bag for the rest, more about each below!
Storm Song:
3 stars
Too short and lacking in much of a plot to get me to care. It did have a neat concept (a siren's coming of age song in which she causes a storm and drowns sailors), but I never really found myself caring about her or her succeeding :/
We'll Always Have June:
5 stars
This one was super soft and sweet! It was a crush/romance, and while I felt the kiss at the end was a bit rushed (the characters only met two or three times), it didn't break the story for me.
The Story of a Knife:
2 stars
I never really bought the worldbuilding or the personal connections between the MC and her mom or the MC and the merboy. It just felt dry, a bit rushed, but the lore could’ve been interesting (what happens to Ariel's great great great etc granddaughter when she was born with a tail that was surgically removed and everyone lies to her about it). Just bland, though.
The Dark Calls:
3 stars
I loved the worldbuilding in this one and that it focused on just undersea life rather than involving humans into the mix, but I felt like the story was just getting started and didn’t answer much of the questions it created. It proposes "what's down there" but never answers it. Let me have more!
Return to the Sea:
4.5 stars
This one had SUCH a unique world and system, definitely a breath of fresh air. Mermaids are out and about and integrated into society, they're shifters who can go back and forth. I also liked that they didn’t try and rush a romance between the MC and the aquarium girl, just hinted at the potential. I want to live in this world more :)
The Deepwater Vandal:
2 stars
I don’t know. This one was all over the place and clearly was trying to tell a novel’s worth of a story in 10 pages. Too much, not enough explanation, worldbuilding was flimsy, and the dialogue did not match at all. It felt very modern, as did some of the terminology used, but then other terminology and worldbuilding indicated it was less modern so… I don't know.
The Nightingale's Lament:
5 stars
First five star, it had great, unique lore regarding sirens and Poseidon's heir, both killers with (seemingly) good hearts. BUT - it would’ve been better without the smut-adjacent stuff (I mean, it’s Kerri Maniscalco, I was expecting it). But I need to know the ending! Why did this focus more on lust than a battle between Poseidon’s heir and a siren!! And I’m rooting for the siren!! I need him to know that SHES the good guy in this situation, please write the rest Kerri! Just keep it PG-13 lmao.
Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing:
5 stars
I think this one is my favorite, if not one of them! This felt like a full length novel in only 20 pages, and yet I want to read more about the revolution! Rebel prince, mermaid seeking revenge, give me more! Also, YES to the Latino representation.
Nor'easter:
4.5 stars
This one was based on a true story and used mermaids to help tell the story. They help a family affected by the storm. It was really interesting!
The First and Last Kiss:
4.5 stars
An Ursula/Triton inspired prequel where Ursula is the MC and Triton is antagonized (but we love an unreliable narrator)! Well written and great concept.
The Merrow:
3 stars
It was alright. Never cared much for the characters, they tried shoehorning in a romance, and there wasn’t enough interesting lore to keep me, well, interested. Well written though. By this point I was getting tired of the stories trying to shove in romances.
Shark Week:
3.5 stars
I learned what a manananggal is, how horrifying lol. This one was so weird and gross but definitely unique. Great, unique narrative voice.
Jinju's Pearls:
4 stars
Really interesting worldbuilding here, I would’ve loved a full novel of this. I called the plot twist but I need to know what happened - did the mermaid die or not??
Six Thousand Miles:
5 stars
I think this was one of my favorites. It was so beautifully realized and perfectly blended the mermaid worldbuilding with themes of immigration and racism. I'm so happy for the MC and her family, and that the "love interest" got told off, as he should have been!
Overall, I enjoyed this collection and loved being able to read mermaid stories inspired by other cultures. Give me more!! Filipino, Vietnamese, Latino, more!!
Summary: I really enjoyed this anthology and a good chunk of the stories! Maybe this and Relit are a positive sign of anthologies to come, I'm notorious for not being a fan. I enjoyed about 8 of the stories (4-5 stars) with a mixed bag for the rest, more about each below!
Storm Song:
3 stars
Too short and lacking in much of a plot to get me to care. It did have a neat concept (a siren's coming of age song in which she causes a storm and drowns sailors), but I never really found myself caring about her or her succeeding :/
We'll Always Have June:
5 stars
This one was super soft and sweet! It was a crush/romance, and while I felt the kiss at the end was a bit rushed (the characters only met two or three times), it didn't break the story for me.
The Story of a Knife:
2 stars
I never really bought the worldbuilding or the personal connections between the MC and her mom or the MC and the merboy. It just felt dry, a bit rushed, but the lore could’ve been interesting (what happens to Ariel's great great great etc granddaughter when she was born with a tail that was surgically removed and everyone lies to her about it). Just bland, though.
The Dark Calls:
3 stars
I loved the worldbuilding in this one and that it focused on just undersea life rather than involving humans into the mix, but I felt like the story was just getting started and didn’t answer much of the questions it created. It proposes "what's down there" but never answers it. Let me have more!
Return to the Sea:
4.5 stars
This one had SUCH a unique world and system, definitely a breath of fresh air. Mermaids are out and about and integrated into society, they're shifters who can go back and forth. I also liked that they didn’t try and rush a romance between the MC and the aquarium girl, just hinted at the potential. I want to live in this world more :)
The Deepwater Vandal:
2 stars
I don’t know. This one was all over the place and clearly was trying to tell a novel’s worth of a story in 10 pages. Too much, not enough explanation, worldbuilding was flimsy, and the dialogue did not match at all. It felt very modern, as did some of the terminology used, but then other terminology and worldbuilding indicated it was less modern so… I don't know.
The Nightingale's Lament:
5 stars
First five star, it had great, unique lore regarding sirens and Poseidon's heir, both killers with (seemingly) good hearts. BUT - it would’ve been better without the smut-adjacent stuff (I mean, it’s Kerri Maniscalco, I was expecting it). But I need to know the ending! Why did this focus more on lust than a battle between Poseidon’s heir and a siren!! And I’m rooting for the siren!! I need him to know that SHES the good guy in this situation, please write the rest Kerri! Just keep it PG-13 lmao.
Sea Wolf in Prince's Clothing:
5 stars
I think this one is my favorite, if not one of them! This felt like a full length novel in only 20 pages, and yet I want to read more about the revolution! Rebel prince, mermaid seeking revenge, give me more! Also, YES to the Latino representation.
Nor'easter:
4.5 stars
This one was based on a true story and used mermaids to help tell the story. They help a family affected by the storm. It was really interesting!
The First and Last Kiss:
4.5 stars
An Ursula/Triton inspired prequel where Ursula is the MC and Triton is antagonized (but we love an unreliable narrator)! Well written and great concept.
The Merrow:
3 stars
It was alright. Never cared much for the characters, they tried shoehorning in a romance, and there wasn’t enough interesting lore to keep me, well, interested. Well written though. By this point I was getting tired of the stories trying to shove in romances.
Shark Week:
3.5 stars
I learned what a manananggal is, how horrifying lol. This one was so weird and gross but definitely unique. Great, unique narrative voice.
Jinju's Pearls:
4 stars
Really interesting worldbuilding here, I would’ve loved a full novel of this. I called the plot twist but I need to know what happened - did the mermaid die or not??
Six Thousand Miles:
5 stars
I think this was one of my favorites. It was so beautifully realized and perfectly blended the mermaid worldbuilding with themes of immigration and racism. I'm so happy for the MC and her family, and that the "love interest" got told off, as he should have been!
Overall, I enjoyed this collection and loved being able to read mermaid stories inspired by other cultures. Give me more!! Filipino, Vietnamese, Latino, more!!
September 17, 2024
All anthologies of short stories are inherently a bit uneven, because the stories are written by different people with different tones, and some of them will naturally appeal to each reader more than others. That was definitely the case with this book, but overall, I enjoyed these stories of mermaids and sirens and other creatures from the sea. Here are some notes on my favorites:
Return to the Sea by Kalynn Bayron:
I loved the world building in this one (mermaids can walk on land but transform in the water, speak to sea life, control the currents) and also the metaphor of their culture being a way of life and not a costume for humans to put on and take off at will. I’m glad they were able to see the turtle off at the end of its life, returning him home. This is one I’d love to see more of.
The Deep Water Vandal by Darcie Little Badger: The sea-born are created when they lose the thing most important to them - for the vandal is was her chance to be buried with her people; for Cassia’s dad, she thought it was her, but it ended up being the treasure he had long searched for. The sea-born are changed when the sea takes them, and their properties are different, but Cassia is able to show Vandal that her life is not without hope, that the story of her people and how the climate crisis destroyed their home would not be forgotten.
Nightengale’s Lament by Kerri Maniscalo:
Siren vs Poseidon’s son! This one made me so sad, I was really hoping it would take an enemies to lovers turn, even once Skye knew who Hunter was. Surely he’d understand why she killed if he gave her a chance to explain? 😭
The First and Last Kiss by Julie Murphy:
A tale of love and choosing the life you want, and then having that life and live ripped from your hands. Of course you’d vow revenge, and turn villain. This is Ursula’s origin story, and I’m on her side.
The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C Parker:
This one feels the most real to how humans would treat a mermaid if we found one - like a dumb animal, something to be studied and used for our purposes and then discarded. It’s unfair that no one truly saw Sun until Josie, but their connection was palpable, and their trust was natural. I’m glad Josie’s mom heard what she said, and opened herself up to seeing Sun as a person.
Return to the Sea by Kalynn Bayron:
I loved the world building in this one (mermaids can walk on land but transform in the water, speak to sea life, control the currents) and also the metaphor of their culture being a way of life and not a costume for humans to put on and take off at will. I’m glad they were able to see the turtle off at the end of its life, returning him home. This is one I’d love to see more of.
The Deep Water Vandal by Darcie Little Badger: The sea-born are created when they lose the thing most important to them - for the vandal is was her chance to be buried with her people; for Cassia’s dad, she thought it was her, but it ended up being the treasure he had long searched for. The sea-born are changed when the sea takes them, and their properties are different, but Cassia is able to show Vandal that her life is not without hope, that the story of her people and how the climate crisis destroyed their home would not be forgotten.
Nightengale’s Lament by Kerri Maniscalo:
Siren vs Poseidon’s son! This one made me so sad, I was really hoping it would take an enemies to lovers turn, even once Skye knew who Hunter was. Surely he’d understand why she killed if he gave her a chance to explain? 😭
The First and Last Kiss by Julie Murphy:
A tale of love and choosing the life you want, and then having that life and live ripped from your hands. Of course you’d vow revenge, and turn villain. This is Ursula’s origin story, and I’m on her side.
The Merrow by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C Parker:
This one feels the most real to how humans would treat a mermaid if we found one - like a dumb animal, something to be studied and used for our purposes and then discarded. It’s unfair that no one truly saw Sun until Josie, but their connection was palpable, and their trust was natural. I’m glad Josie’s mom heard what she said, and opened herself up to seeing Sun as a person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2024
i. storm song (rebecca coffindaffer) - king (florence + the machine) 3/5
ii. we’ll always have june (julian winters) - once upon a dream (lana del rey) 5/5
iii. the story of a knife (gretchen schreiber) - the fruits (paris paloma) 3/5
iv. the dark calls (preeti chhibber) - abbey (mitski) 1/5
v. return to the sea (kalynn bayron) - ocean eyes (billie eilish) 2/5
vi. the deepwater vandal (darcie little badger) - the prophecy (taylor swift) 2/5
vii. the nightingale’s lament (kerri maniscalco) - hunter (paris paloma) 4/5
viii. sea wolf in prince’s clothing (adriana herrera) - killer (phoebe bridgers) 4/5
ix. nor’easter (katherine locke) - thunder (lana del rey) 3/5
x. the first and last kiss (julie murphy) - lover, you should’ve come over (jeff buckley) 2/5
xi. the merrow (zoraida cordova + natalie c. parker) - cardigan (taylor swift) 4/5
xii. shark week (maggie tokuda-hall) - lovers rock (tv girl) 5/5
xiii. jinju’s pearls (june hur) - family line (ethel cain) 4.5/5
xiv. six thousand miles (julie c. dao) - sweater weather (the neighbourhood) 5/5
ii. we’ll always have june (julian winters) - once upon a dream (lana del rey) 5/5
iii. the story of a knife (gretchen schreiber) - the fruits (paris paloma) 3/5
iv. the dark calls (preeti chhibber) - abbey (mitski) 1/5
v. return to the sea (kalynn bayron) - ocean eyes (billie eilish) 2/5
vi. the deepwater vandal (darcie little badger) - the prophecy (taylor swift) 2/5
vii. the nightingale’s lament (kerri maniscalco) - hunter (paris paloma) 4/5
viii. sea wolf in prince’s clothing (adriana herrera) - killer (phoebe bridgers) 4/5
ix. nor’easter (katherine locke) - thunder (lana del rey) 3/5
x. the first and last kiss (julie murphy) - lover, you should’ve come over (jeff buckley) 2/5
xi. the merrow (zoraida cordova + natalie c. parker) - cardigan (taylor swift) 4/5
xii. shark week (maggie tokuda-hall) - lovers rock (tv girl) 5/5
xiii. jinju’s pearls (june hur) - family line (ethel cain) 4.5/5
xiv. six thousand miles (julie c. dao) - sweater weather (the neighbourhood) 5/5
June 14, 2024
I'm almost embarrassed by how much I enjoyed this by the end. YA is generally not my flavor, but some of these stories were undeniably charming and my weakness for mermaids continually prevails. I enjoyed the different snippets of mermaids and seafolk in different cultures and overall it was a decent collection. There are some that struggle but finding a perfect collection would be asking too much. However, the ones that were good were new authors that I look forward to diving into.
They also mostly seemed to lean towards the idea that mermaids eat people or have the capability of doing so. No story was truly violent, but the inclusion of that detail is what I love.
I think I need a few more mermaids in my life.
They also mostly seemed to lean towards the idea that mermaids eat people or have the capability of doing so. No story was truly violent, but the inclusion of that detail is what I love.
I think I need a few more mermaids in my life.
March 2, 2025
3.5
Like any edited short story collection, there are some hits, misses, and okays. Unsurprisingly, my favorite story was by Darcie Little Badger; she was the author who attracted me to the collection.
Nothing really swept me away here (yes pun). Although it's in the nature of a short story to be short, many of these seemed to end right when the story was beginning. There's a difference between ending a story at a new launching point and ending a story during rising action. A lot of these felt like the latter.
Mermaid lovers will find some cool, sometimes creepy, sometimes semi-cloying underwater stories; the best among them do some great critical social theory work too.
[Audiobook was a mix of great narrators and some less great narrators]
Like any edited short story collection, there are some hits, misses, and okays. Unsurprisingly, my favorite story was by Darcie Little Badger; she was the author who attracted me to the collection.
Nothing really swept me away here (yes pun). Although it's in the nature of a short story to be short, many of these seemed to end right when the story was beginning. There's a difference between ending a story at a new launching point and ending a story during rising action. A lot of these felt like the latter.
Mermaid lovers will find some cool, sometimes creepy, sometimes semi-cloying underwater stories; the best among them do some great critical social theory work too.
[Audiobook was a mix of great narrators and some less great narrators]
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