Atana and the Jade Mermaid

Atana #2

by Vivian Zhou

A mermaid, a firebird, and a witch fight to save the magic of their world before it ceases to exist in this epic conclusion to the Atana fantasy duology—perfect for fans of Tidesong and Wingbearer!

Atana may be one step closer to discovering her past, but it didn’t come without a cost. Though the mermaid and her companions—Ren, the last known firebird, and Cosmos, her witch guard-turned-friend—narrowly escaped the Witch Queen, time is running short. They may have foiled the Queen’s plans to use Ren to revive their world’s broken magic cycle, but Ren is still growing weaker by the minute…

Atana and Cosmos are determined to help their friend recover, but Ren’s priorities are elsewhere. After discovering that the firebirds of old are responsible for destroying the flow of magic for all beings, she is determined to right her people’s wrongs.

When Atana resolves to join this quest, her past—lurking deep below the seas—threatens to destroy not only their friendship but also their very chance at restoring the balance of magic itself. After a lifetime of dreaming of finding a home below the water, is Atana willing to leave behind everything she’s fought for on land?  

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Magic, LGBT, Comics, Young Adult

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Vivian Zhou is a Chinese-Canadian cartoonist and illustrator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She loves writing stories filled with magic, and often blends fantasy with real world commentary and personal narratives. She graduated from the Bachelor of Animation program at Sheridan College, and subsequently pivoted to graphic novels to continue pursuing her love for blending art and narrative.

She is best known for being the creator of the graphic novels “Atana and the Firebird” and “Atana and the Jade Mermaid”. When she isn’t working on graphic novels, she can often be found making short comics for zines and comic anthologies.

Reviews

[Rosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A middle-grade/teen graphic novel about a mermaid and a firebird trying to fix a magical problem from the past. Excellent plot, magic, worldbuilding, and characters. A wonderful conclusion to the Atana duology. Not to be read as a standalone.

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Plot Preview:

I won't give any plot details as this is a direct sequel to the first book and I don’t want to go into spoilers. So all you can know for now is that Atana and Ren, along with their companions, try to sort out all issues raised in the first book. Their journey isn't easy, but their friendship and their determination are as strong as ever.

This second book of the Atana duology continues immediately from the ending of the first Atana book: “Atana and the Firebird”. As such, it is not to be read as a standalone.

Book One had impressed me with its magical beings and the plot, but the number of dangling threads and the intricacy of the multiple backstories had left me reluctant to hit the 5-star mark. It was clear that the sequel would need to fill in all the gaps in the plot without making it seem cluttered or convenient. Thankfully, this book does a great job of bringing all the subplots to a neat finish.

Though we know the end goal of this story – to sort out all the unresolved arcs from Book One, especially the part connected to Atana’s backstory – there are still a few surprises awaiting us herein, along with many humorous moments. There are also quite a few memorable quotes connected to self-acceptance and self-confidence. On the whole, this book doesn’t feel as complicated as Book One because it doesn’t introduce many new tangles; it mainly attempts to sort out the knots from the earlier muddle.

Atana, Ren, Cosmos, Celosia, and Suah all return in this story in key roles. There are some new characters as well, connected to Atana and Ren. We don’t get to know these new entrants intimately as the primary focus of the story is on the pending arcs of Book One. However, we learn just enough about them to get a hang of their behaviour. Kudos to the author for providing depth to a character even within a limited page space.

The cast is quite female-dominant, with every single on-page character being female. One of the characters uses the they/them pronouns, and there are a couple of Sapphic relationships hinted at. However, just as in the first book, these are barely elaborated upon.

I wish the title hadn’t mentioned “Jade Mermaid.” In the first book, Atana meets the firebird in the first chapter itself, so there’s no spoiler. However, we don’t get to know even about the existence of the jade mermaid until much, much later in the story, so the surprise is kinda spoilt by the title.
The worldbuilding is much clearer this time as we get to see the entire magic system instead of just bits and pieces of it in passing. Each of the three worlds has a distinct look in terms of both features and characters.

The illustrations are just as beautiful as in the first book. They feel like an ode to Studio Ghibli (without any stupid AI intervention, of course.) I just wish I could figure out why the Witch Queen’s eyes are always hidden.

All in all, this is a worthy conclusion to the duology, and as it satisfied all the doubts and questions I had after reading the first book, I enjoyed it even better.

Definitely recommended, but only to those who have read the first book. Both the stories are lovely, so this set will be a nice addition to your graphic-novel/fantasy-loving teen’s TBR.

4.5 stars.


My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAlley for providing the DRC of “Atana and the Jade Mermaid” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Meggie Ramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only problem with this is that there aren't ten more books; I LOVED this series! The character designs and colors are so immersive and intricate. There are witches, mermaids AND firebirds, but none of their lore feels trite or overdone. These kids are on a magic quest and they act like kids in a magic quest. There is so so much to love in this series and I'm so glad I got it in hardcover. Good for readers who are fans of Kay O’Neill's work. 

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Atana and the Jade Mermaid" completes the Atana Duology in this stunning 2nd novel! I loved how Atana, Ren, and Cosmo's friendship continued to grow as they journeyed to save the magic source of the world.

The art style is perfect for a younger audience, bright and simple, and would be great for elementary and middle school readers. The plot was enjoyable and featured the friendship of 3 young girls who learn to fight for each other and the world they want. This series even includes a few very minor LGBTQ relationships, which are briefly alluded to near the end of the novel.

I thought it was the perfect conclusion to the story and would highly recommend this graphic novel duology!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Sea Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did justice to the fabulous ensemble of characters; all the pending arcs from the previous book were brought together and the plot was beautifully tied up. The art, as always, was a treat to my eyes. I'd read this series whenever I'm looking for the comfort of a magical journey with the best trio: an adorable mermaid, a courageous witch, and a selfless firebird. 🩵

[Tori DeFazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize Atlana and the Jade Mermaid was the second in a graphic novel duology. That being said, it does a great job giving you the background information you need to not be lost or confused if you did miss book 1 (and I loved it so much I absolutely will be reading book 1 now!). This graphic novel, for ages 8+, is a coming of age story that follows 3 best friends- Atlana (mermaid), Cosmos (witch), and Ren (firebird). In particular, Atlana is trying to figure out what SHE wants, not just do what’s expected of her as a mermaid! I absolutely loved this graphic novel- the art style was stunning and the story was so heartwarming and is centered around this message: “You are yourself. Isn’t that a wonderful thing?”. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Atana and the Jade Mermaid.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute end to the duology! I loved atana, ren, and cosmos friendship and their adventures to restore magic. Very cute, would recommend.

Sapphic

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to revisit Atana’s magical world of mermaids, witches and firebirds. In this new adventure, Atana helps Ren reunite with her magic source while also attempting to find her own home. I thought this story got off to a bit of a slow start, but once big things start happening, I felt whisked away into the fantasy. This is a book of heroines and strong women and a bit of sapphic love. It’s also about finding yourself, sharing good in the world and redefining home and found family. The art is lovely with soft pastel coloring- simply beautiful and very easy to read. Another hit is on the books for Vivian Zhou and I felt lucky to snag a digital ARC of this graphic novel for review from NetGalley.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was such a wonderful ending to this beautiful story! I love Atana and her friends, their journey wraps up in such a heartwarming way.

Just like with the first one, the world building is incredible. Everything is connected and interdependent: the firebirds need the witches, who need the mermaids, and vice versa. (I’m still in love with the concept of firebirds btw).

The art continues to be simple but so, so pretty. The use of color, the expressive drawings, it all comes together to create such a cozy, magical atmosphere. And I really appreciated the mostly femme and queer cast of characters. It felt inclusive in a quiet, effortless way that made the story feel even more special.

A beautiful conclusion to a gentle and thoughtful series. 💛

[Hannah Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel much more than the first. The world building has improved and expanded. The magic and its origins are explained more thoroughly. I enjoyed the mermaid empire and the introduction of the mermaid side characters. The art style is simplistic yet still beautiful. The story itself reminds me of something that could be a Ghibli movie. A solid conclusion to an enchanting graphic novel duology!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for this free eARC. All opinions are my own.

Atana faces her prophecy. Ren calls the firebirds to Earth to restore their magic source. Cosmos forgives their sister. Will magic be restored to the way it is meant to be? #Edelweiss+

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this instalment finished off the story very well, building out the rest of the world and tying up loose ends from book one. this was more fantasy and friendship, with the implication of romance for some of the characters.

As a whole, the Atana duology has strong world building; beautiful and pastel art, which really sold me on the story; and creative and fantastic world building that teaches a few very good lessons - don't take on the world's problems on your own, selfishness divides, friends are worth the effort, and don't make assumptions about others and their choices without the full story.

TW: kidnapping, violence, injury detail

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atana and the Jade Mermaid is a satisfying conclusion to this middle grade fantasy graphic novel duology. I enjoyed spending more time with the characters, and the story was engrossing. The ending was very satisfying. I definitely recommend checking these two books out, they are a delight!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review submitted to School Library Journal for publication in the upcoming SMS Fiction article.

[Emily Kolach · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute! good ending to the first one

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the artwork in this book.

[Tuni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid duology! Not the most complex story, but cozy and with a good message. I really enjoyed the character design and art. The underwater empire was especially cool. I wouldn’t be mad at a third book set later during their adventures exploring.

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atana is back to finish her adventure and fulfill her prophecy. This is a great sequel that continues right where Atana and the Firebird left off. Her friends, Ren and Cosomos bring such joy to the story with their real feelings and struggles. I love how this duology wrapped up and am sad to be leaving this world behind. Any reader who enjoyed the first book will love Atana and the Jade Mermaid. Thanks to HarperAlley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hold fast the truth inside your heart, and know that everything will lead you to where you need to be."

Good graphic novels excel in both artwork and storytelling; this is one of those books. Atana and the Jade Mermaid is an outstanding graphic novel with crisp drawing, complex and original plot, engaging character development, and beautifully crafted dialogues. While Atana and the Firebird lays a solid background and leaves some questions unanswered, Atana and the Jade Mermaid leads us to its climax and perfect ending.

Setting in a magical world, the Atana duology are nonetheless about the complexity of life and how we learn and grow, find our courage, speak truth to power, discover where we belong, and seek collaboration and sharing power to build a robust and diverse world. Atana and the Jade Mermaid is a beautiful book to impress and inspire young book lovers; it can also speak to readers of all ages in our regrettably divided and conflicted world of today.

I am so happy to see that the main characters in Atana1 all come back, including the beloved hermit witch Suah, and the mysterious All-Seeing Witch Queen. It is a true delight for me to see the little anxious Atana transforming into a courageous, confident and thoughtful youth who fulfilled her ‘prophecy’ foretold by a firebird ages ago.

Atana 2 also introduces some interesting new characters. I adore the rebellious but caring Princess Mermaid Ayu .who bravely challenged the authority - her mother the Empress of the merfolk “You traded her freedom for your selfish gains, but you were wrong.” “Without you, our people would not be confined to the darkness of the sea! They would be free to travel, to live life, as they please, to feel the sun on their faces.”

I also like the free-spirited Mermaid-Yao. I fall in love with the part where in great peril Atana together with Yao broke the barrier and restored the magical cycle.The scenes unfold like gently flowing dreams, and the dialogue between Atana and Yao is beautiful and touching.

Highly recommend. If you love exploring a beautifully drawn magical world filled with lovely characters, unexpected twists, a touch of humor, and insightful conversations, Atana and the Jade Mermaid will not disappoint.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for advanced copy*

What a joy it was reading Atana's story in this. I loved how her magic worked. This is perfect for middle grade audiences and for fans of the comic series 5 Worlds or the animated series Steven Universe.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect end of the duology. The art was stunning I loved how everything just glowed. The story was great.

5 stars

[tillie hellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was quite sweet!! wrapped everything up very well from the last book and introduced some fun new characters. i rlly like the art style and the fantasy chinese aspects, along with the unique worldbuilding and cute friendships and themes! excited to see what this author does next!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atana, a mermaid banished from the Merfolk Empire, is still searching for information about her past. She and her friends—Ren, the last known Firebird, and Cosmos, a former Witch Guard—are recovering from their recent confrontation with the misguided Witch Queen. Ren is bedridden, but knows she must find a way to right her flock's wrongs and restore balance to their world's magical cycle… but time is running out. Meanwhile, Cosmos is trying to figure out her relationship with her recently-returned sister, Celosia, who abandoned her several years ago. But when a pair of mermaids kidnap her partway through the friends' quest to fix the magic cycle, both Atana and her friends must choose what to prioritize... and what to sacrifice.

Zhou's pastel digital illustrations are drawn in a rounded, cartoony style reminiscent of the work of N.D. Stevenson, Bryan Konietzko, and Studio Ghibli. In a pleasant break from European-inspired fantasy, Zhou's world is clearly Asian-coded, with the style of the merfolk kingdom resembling ancient China, and the clothing worn by the Firebirds similar to traditional Korean garb.

Atana and the Jade Mermaid does not stand well on its own; it’s part of what appears to be a tightly-woven duology. Due to this, there is no recap of the events of the previous book, nor much of an introduction to the characters and their relationships with one another. Not standing on its own isn’t inherently a weakness for a book in a series—but it does narrow the book’s audience. As someone who read this book without having read the first title, I suspect it would have hit me differently if I was already familiar with the characters and their world.

Having said this, the book’s messages of self-acceptance, friendship, and shared responsibility for the world we inhabit are both well-written and timely.

[Diversity note: The main cast—both protagonists and antagonists—is entirely composed of women, with the possible exception of one character who uses they/them pronouns. Characters have a variety of skin tones, body types, and gender presentations. Both the merfolk and firebird cultures are Asian-coded. A couple of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sapphic relationships are hinted at or mentioned in the book.]

Recommended for purchase for ages 8-11 in libraries where the first volume is popular.


Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southeast Ohio Young Adult Media Group.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atana the mermaid, Ren the firebird, and Cosmos the witch are back to continue their adventure across the wide sea and possibly save the world’s dying magic. The firebirds’ absence has caused an imbalance in the magic system, and the only way to restore it is for Ren to call the flock back. Atana promises to stay by Ren’s side until the mission is complete, but the mystery of her own past has her always asking: why was she banished from the mermaid kingdom? And Cosmos struggles with the sudden return of their lost sister and what it means to be a true witch. As their destinies collide, the three friends’ are determined to stick together and restore their sea’s magic to its former beauty before it's too late.

Atana and the Jade Mermaid is the sequel to Atana and the Firebird, and its otherworldly magic, charming characters, peaceful atmosphere, and serene artwork make it a perfect addition to the cozy fantasy graphic novel series. The plot ties up the story’s loose ends nicely: The first book depicted the mystery of the firebirds and the witch queen, so the sequel focuses on the mermaid kingdom and the world’s magic system. Atana, Ren, and Cosmos are in a race to save magic; all three have a role to play, and their wholesome friendship blossoms as they explore themes of loyalty, responsibility, honesty, and being there for each other. Curious Atana takes a strong leadership position, gentle Ren stays headstrong in her quest, and brave Cosmos vows to protect both. The artwork is beautiful with serene colors and simple linework, with minimal shading to bring out the bright colors and not distract from character expression and movement. Overall, a fantastic sequel that wraps up the magical adventure perfectly. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute! I appear to have liked this one more than the first book, though it's been a while since I read the first installment. I think a duology is a good length for this, and I liked seeing some of the character arcs pay off in this volume.

As the title suggests, this one focuses more on the deep sea and the merfolk. There's a very middle grade logic to this which relies on a simplification of greed and altruism in people's behavior, but if you can roll with that, there's some nuance to the literal balance of power in this world. There's a focus on harmony and working together, which should come as no surprises given that the core of this story are three young people from the three main factions of this world all becoming friends.

As a fantastical middle grade graphic novel, this worked for me. It's easy to tell that the creator worked in animation---with some action scenes, I find that order of events can be confusingly communicated, but this was well laid-out. The different aesthetics of each kingdom are pretty cool, too. This is a very sapphic-forward world, and the various relationships are sweet. Fast-paced, dreamy, and heavy on the power of friendship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[pineapple tofu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As Atana, a mermaid, tries to learn about her mysterious past, her friends Ren (a firebird) and Cosmos (a witch guard) are just as stuck trying to help Ren and the magic of Earth. As the friends try to right a wrong and balance the magic for everyone, Atana is captured by mermaid guards and taken to the mermaid Empress. As prophecies are foretold and secrets are unbound, it's up to Atana and her companions to save their world before magic is ripped away forever.
It’s the second adventure for Atana, in this gorgeous graphic novel that explores both land and sea. The artwork is beautiful and the colors mesmerizing, as the story is told through Atana’s eyes. I enjoyed the sisterhood, friendships, and family dynamics this series presents, as mysteries unfold. Maybe, someday, there will be another sequel?

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

So lighthearted and cute, I requested this as an Arc based on the title, cover, and description but somehow I missed the fact that this was part two of a story. Oopsies, I read about 20 pages before it became clear that 1) I liked the story but that 2) I really did need to go read the first. And so, I did. It took like 40 min it’s a quick super easy read which I did in fact enjoy.

This continuation was better than the first since we know the world building and characters a bit more. As with the first this really comes across as a cute read that’s suited for all ages like a Disney movie. I hope in the future we get more stories with Atana and her gang, but if not this was a charming duology.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for allowing me to read this for review!

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atana and the Jade Mermaid is the second book is this fantastic graphic novel duology. If you haven’t read the first, go back and start there. This book jumps back into the action as our three main characters set out to save the magic of their world. We get to learn more about how the magic system of the world works while the plot continues to move along at a good clip.

The art remains beautiful, and new characters have fun designs that give readers more insight into the world’s different cultures. It’s a great way to expand the world with clothing designs and color schemes. If you liked the first one, this one is just as good!

[AnaLuz Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This conclusion to the duology starts right where the previous book, Atana and The Firebird, ended.
I really enjoyed the firts GN. This was wonderfully written and illustrated, just as beautiful as the first.

The story is easier to follow as we are now familiar with the magic system and the world.
It focuses on friendship, finding out where you truly belong and who you want to be with.
Atana and Cosmo working to help their friend, the firebird Ren get back her magic.

I received a digital advance copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Actual rating: 4.5

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely conclusion to this duology! The volume gets a bit deeper into the different societies and more into the past of the world. It has a thrilling and magical conclusion to Atana's journey and gives a lovely epilogue to the other characters. I'd dare to say that the story in this volume is written even better than the first volume, and adds some depth to the story. The art style is also simple but gorgeous, as always.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Daryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow-up to the first book! This expanded on the world/characters in a cool way. The art was awesome as always, especially in the climax of the story with the lack of paneling/unique color palette for a key scene. This felt like a natural elevation of the first book and a great conclusion to a lot of the first story’s arcs. I did wish the Witch Queen and the former leader of the Firebird’s story got more time/the firebirds in general had more of an overall spotlight in the series but hey. Still a great second book that sticks the landing.