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Salt Water and Song
“If your mer loves you, your legs will fuse and sprout scales and fins. Your neck will split with gills.
If he doesn’t love you, you will dissolve into foam atop the ocean and disappear forever from the hearts and minds of all who truly did.”
Denmark, 1837. The circus comes to town with its trumpeting elephants and dazzling trapeze girls. Tucked away in the back, the freak tent showcases its own shocking displays, from a bearded lady to a dwarf . . . to real, live mermaids.
But the mermaids keep dying, and it is the Ringmaster’s daughter Arløgh who must bury the dead and fish for the next.
Only this time, her hook snares a merman. And his presence in the circus is about to change everything.
If he doesn’t love you, you will dissolve into foam atop the ocean and disappear forever from the hearts and minds of all who truly did.”
Denmark, 1837. The circus comes to town with its trumpeting elephants and dazzling trapeze girls. Tucked away in the back, the freak tent showcases its own shocking displays, from a bearded lady to a dwarf . . . to real, live mermaids.
But the mermaids keep dying, and it is the Ringmaster’s daughter Arløgh who must bury the dead and fish for the next.
Only this time, her hook snares a merman. And his presence in the circus is about to change everything.
- GenresFantasy
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2024
3 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 21, 2025
A monster romance without , I liked that, a lot. I almost wished this book had been longer.
December 30, 2024
Wow such gorgeous storytelling! This is a tale of love versus lust, of how greed can deep into our wants and twist us into different people. This was totally not what I expected - it was dark and lyrical and this is one fairytale where there isn’t a happily ever after. I would’ve loved even more of this story but it was pretty much perfect. I highly recommend this for a quick read, available on KU!
March 22, 2025
Salt Water and Song is a beautifully written novella reminiscent of the Grimm's fairy tales where the characters do not necessarily all get a happy ever after.
Novellas are difficult to write in that they have to convey a whole story, get you emotionally invested in the characters and end it all by the last page - and Dawn pulls it off beautifully in this rendition of the little mermaid.
Our mermaid in this version is in fact, a merman, and his "love interest" is the Ringmaster's daughter Arlogh. There are elements of dark magic, the power of love/lust, with characters that are believable and multifacted.
Whereas the ending took me by surprise, it was one of those books that leaves you thinking, and mourning what could have been and I couldn't say that, if I wasn't as invested in the characters as I was by the last page. Definately worth a quick read!
Novellas are difficult to write in that they have to convey a whole story, get you emotionally invested in the characters and end it all by the last page - and Dawn pulls it off beautifully in this rendition of the little mermaid.
Our mermaid in this version is in fact, a merman, and his "love interest" is the Ringmaster's daughter Arlogh. There are elements of dark magic, the power of love/lust, with characters that are believable and multifacted.
Whereas the ending took me by surprise, it was one of those books that leaves you thinking, and mourning what could have been and I couldn't say that, if I wasn't as invested in the characters as I was by the last page. Definately worth a quick read!
March 17, 2025
For a short story, this book actually had a storyline and was enjoyable to read as a pallet cleanser
March 15, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this gender swapped Little Mermaid retelling, but darker! I thought the MCs felt realistic and had dreams/hopes of things getting better and actually took charge on trying to get there. It has quite a heartbreaking ending because not all fairytales have happy endings.
Great for a quick read on KU!
Great for a quick read on KU!
June 30, 2025
I... Want... More!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and my only complaint was that I wanted the next 400 pages or so.
The author has a gift for description that just draws me into the characters. And I particularly loved the explanation of how iron affects myrfolk due to them being Fae.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and my only complaint was that I wanted the next 400 pages or so.
The author has a gift for description that just draws me into the characters. And I particularly loved the explanation of how iron affects myrfolk due to them being Fae.
December 30, 2024
This story was absolutely enthralling! A tale of love vs lust. What one will do for the other. And what one will do to save themself. It was a quick read, but left me crying, screaming, and wanting more.
June 30, 2025
My only complaint was that it wasn’t longer. The tension was so good.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews