Ink: A Mermaid Romance

The Falling in Deep Collection

by Melanie Karsak

A mermaid princess destined to wed a handsome king…

It sounds like a fairy tale, but the reality is far murkier.

Ink, Princess of the Florida Atlantic mers, is slated to wed the ancient enemy of her tribe, the King of the Gulfs. After years of war that led to countless mer deaths, as well as the genocide of aquatic shapeshifters and the freshwater mers of Florida, Ink’s marriage will bring lasting peace.

Or so it seems.

Mere hours before she’s supposed to leave the ocean for her customary year as a drywalker, Ink meets Hal, an alligator shifter who warns her that a storm is brewing. There is malicious intent behind Ink’s marriage—and worse, meeting Hal has also caused a storm to rage in Ink’s heart. Nevertheless, loyal to her tribe, Ink will put aside her feelings and journey to Miami to marry the decadent King Manx.

Ink soon learns that her only hope of surviving the crashing force swelling around her is to tap into a power deep inside—a forbidden power that might destroy them all.

* * *

From mermaids to sirens, Miami to Athens, dark paranormal romance to contemporary stories with steam, the fifteen award-winning and best-selling authors of the Falling in Deep Collection are bringing you mermaid tales like you've never seen before.

Every week beginning May 26th, 2015, we'll be releasing one unique, never-before-published novella! Each novella will feature our favorite creature of the deep: mermaids.

The Falling in Deep Collection (May – September Releases)
Scales by Pauline Creeden
Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak
Of Ocean and Ash by A. R. Draeger
Deep Breath by J. M. Miller
At the Heart of the Deep by Carrie Wells
The Mermaid’s Den by Ella Malone
The Water is Sweeter by Eli Constant
The Glass Mermaid by Poppy Lawless
An Officer & a Mermaid by Blaire Edens
How to be a Mermaid by Erin Hayes
Cold Water Bridegroom by B. Brumley
A Beyond the Sea Prequel by Emily Goodwin
Immersed by Katie Hayoz
Siren's Kiss by Margo Bond Collins
To Each His Own by Anna Albergucci

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Genres: Mermaids, Fantasy, Romance, Novella, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

124 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2015

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling historical fantasy author Melanie Karsak is the author of the Celtic Blood series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, Steampunk Fairy Tales, the Road to Valhalla Series, and other works of fantasy and fiction. The author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

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Reviews

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this beauty on my kindle and decided it was time for me to switch up what I usually read and take a chance on this book and I am so glad I did.

This book was so much more than I expected. For a novella this book packed an action packed storyline that will keep you hooked until you’re finished.

From the get go we get to see just how strong Ink is. She’s beautiful and confidant and knows what she wants. She’ll stand by her people no matter what and fights for what’s right.

The only thing I would have asked more of would be the chemistry between Hal and Ink, it could have been so incredible given more pages.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and certainly won’t be the last, it was a good, short read.

[Abigail Sweetser · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm glad I got this book for free. I don't often give books 1 star because I usually can find some redeeming quality in them, but this was just terrible.
It was short, which was both a blessing and a curse. I was happy to be done with it in a few hours, but I think the book would have actually been better had it been full-length. As I was reading, my kindle kept telling me I only had 10 minutes left in the book and we were literally still in the middle of the story with so many lose ends that seemed impossible. But then she did it... she tried to wrap up what could have been 50 pages of well written closure in about 10 pages. Perhaps she had a deadline and got sick of the story so she just phoned in the ending. Maybe she had a limited number of pages and panicked. I don't know what the deal was, but it sucked.
Melanie does a decent job in the descriptive narration, but the plot was so rushed and nonsensical I could barely stand it. An orphaned mermaid princess, Ink, meets a different type of merman and falls instantly in love with him for no real reason other than he "awakens her heart." But then she is quickly sold into an arranged marriage with some king from another mermaid "tribe," forced to transition to human form and marry this dude all within two days. Then there's this whole attempt to move the setting to the wild nightclubs of Miami and show that the human-mermaids are druggie alcoholic crazy people/mermaid hybrids, but it happened so quickly and was so superficial it just made me annoyed. The story had better "depth" (pun intended) when it was set in the ocean and might have been even a 3 star novel if it had stayed there, exploring the world of the mermaids in a way that actually made sense.
Ink was never really a fleshed out character and her friends and family were mere footnotes. Again, had the novel been longer Melanie might have been able to develop a better backstory and experience for all the characters that would have made you actually give a damn what happened to them.
She tried to bring in a sort of "who can you trust" thriller element as well towards the end, but it was again rushed and over so quickly if you missed a few pages you never would have know it happened at all. Then, of course, the mysterious stranger returns and saves her and she goes on become the much-loved queen of all mermaids and blah blah blah.
seriously she tried to be every stereotypical novel all at once and in 128 pages. What it ended up being was a jumble of crap. oh, and there were so many typos in the Kindle version I read that it was distracting.
Again, I'm glad this took up only about two hours of my life.

[Ronda Tutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Mermaid Tale Fix

I'm totally hooked, Wow, for a novella I was surprised at how it is packed with very clear and visionary details of the whole mermaid world and other shapeshifter species and how their survival skills have kept them alive. Inks tale is sad in that her parents were murdered and in how the upsur of power was gained from her deceitful uncle. But at the same time it was awesome to read how Ink took her own revenge and save her mermaid clan and other species on both land and sea.

I wanted more in the end - wanted it to continue so I could see everyone else get a HEA and see Ink and Hal create a new world with them both ruling together. But I'll settle with this perfect mermaid fix to hold me til the next or any future book is released.

I got this book during a blog hop when it was offered for free. So glad I downloaded it. I look forward to reading more works by Melanie.

5 Stars
Heat: 2 flames

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing how much can be crammed into a novella, but this could still very easily be turned into a novel. I was not ready for the story to end. Give me MOOOOORE!

Melanie Karsak is the queen of strong female leads! Ink is kicking ass and taking names! I'm not talking just physical strength (although she certainly has some unique abilities going on), but her ability to stand strong through her pain, to put her own needs behind those in her tribe... I wanna be a mermaid just like her when I grow up.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Ty Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ink is a very nice novella. Some great world-building going on here, as Melanie Karsak creates a world beneath the water that expands up onto the land. She peoples it with mermaids, mermen, merdolphins and a wide variety of other shape shifters. There is romance and fighting, kings and queens, prophecies and promises kept. The author has managed to include a lot of story into such a short novella, and all of it beautifully written. I look forward to diving back into her writing again in the future.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella! I couldn't put it down until I was finished. I wish it was longer so there was more to read!

[Red Tide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mermaids are cool

This is really different. I haven't seen much of or read anything that deals with mermaids in the present. This story is driven by the challenges of mermaids trying to exist in the seas and oceans of the present.

The callousness of fishermen trapping dolphins and mermen to get at tuna and the toxic sludge at the bottom of the Gulf contaminating sea life and poised to do that indefinitely, are the biggest threats that mer-society has to deal with as well as the resource war that it's causing.

Mer-society and other aquatic shape shifters make a good world building start to this series. It is just too good a premise to not be a series. Even her dark novels are a relaxing escape from the ordinary.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good novella, but I didn't like the insta-love and a few other things (though I can't really explain without spoiling the story). Ink was a strong character and I appreciated that she cared about her kingdom enough to do what was so cruelly asked of her by her uncle. I'd definitely consider reading Indigo's story, if/when it gets released, since I thought she was a fun character.

3.5 stars

[Kristen Kooistra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Ink is a mermaid princess in a world where mermaids natural gifts are forbidden due to attempted regicide by a mermaid years ago.

Karsak takes mermaids and expands on them in new ways. First, she has the mermaids who in the past connected with the "Mother Ocean" and could use siren song for more than just luring sailors to their death. I liked the siren song had more layers and had a deeper sensation to it. I wish that aspect had been explored more, especially since it's Ink's special gift.

She also has the mermaids broken down into clans. There's at least the Gulf mers, Atlantic mers, and the freshwater mers. And they're not the only sentient half-human sea-people. There are alligators, octopuses, snakes, etc. That can shift between completely animal and half-animal half-human.

The main conflict also isn't with humans, though Ink starts out hating humans, but with the inner politics between the mers and their fellow sentient water people.

Mers are also split into two categories, merdolphins and drywalkers. One can shapeshift into a dolphin and the other can become human.

There were some small details that weren't right(sky-scrappers, seaweed at the bottom of the ocean where it's freezing with no sunlight, a mother dolphin diving deeper to deliver her calf when the first thing a mother does upon delivery is push her baby to the surface), but nothing that diminished the story.

I thought most of the characters were very well-developed and easy to connect with or dislike. I thought the plot was good and had a few twists thrown in that surprised me.

I didn't see any good reason to have Ink and Hal hook up near the end. They met each other for a few minutes at the start of the story, had barely said a word to each other, didn't know more than name, rank, and serial number about the other person. I could believe a connection had someone happened. Like hey, there's something special about that person.

But there wasn't enough time together between the two for me to really believe they fell head over heels for each other and jumping in the sack was extremely unbelievable(or at least not what I thought was inline with Ink's character.)

The story wrapped up a little too quickly and there were some "not so clean" elements like the mers eating sushi off a drugged up, passed out naked human that made me not think very highly of them as a race and that is the sort of thing I try to avoid reading about. I docked a star for that stuff and then though there's a lot of good points about the story(as mentioned) there was something missing for me that I couldn't put my finger on and I took .5 a star for that.

[Gypsy Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ink herself is a strong heroine. A mermaid princess who typically doesn’t like having it dictated who she marries and being used as a political pawn (very stereotypical of a literary princess). The politics bored me and I found myself skimming a lot of this story. I’ve run into the idea of tribes of mermaids plenty of times in the mermaid books (though they’re usually called pods, not tribes). I did like the idea of an alligator shifter, haven’t run across any of those before. (Though I did have to snort a laugh when he got the standard Alpha male tall, dark, overly large and muscular, and brooding, obvious intended romantic match description. Gee…wonder who she’s going to end up with). Didn’t care much for the tribe living decadently in Miami (but then we’re not supposed to). Admittedly, I was wondering where the money came from to live like that. None of the characters other than the heroine really had any depth to them. You could easily tell if they were good or bad (though I did wonder a bit on the Gulf King since he did seem to have two sides to his personality where he might actually care for her). And as some of the other reviews said, it did feel rather out of character for Ink to suddenly have sex with the Nagual. They hadn’t said more than a couple of sentences to each other and she seemed rather chaste, for her to suddenly drag him into bed the way she did. Mermaid books seem to always fall into two groups: one group being where the author can write a mermaid book, fully capturing the mermaid life underwater, and the second group where the author has trouble capturing the life underwater and doesn’t quite know what to do with it, and has the mermaid live on land for the large duration of the book. This falls into the second group. Our mermaid actually spends very little time in the water, while the majority of the book is set on land in a series of nightclubs, bars, and apartment suites.

[Pauline Creeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got a chance to beta read this one and LOVED it! So colorful and awesome world building ~ a fun, suspense-filled read that will leave you wanting more! (Typical Karsak)

[Ramona Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ink, a Mermaid Romance is a captivating novella written by Melanie Karsak. I really enjoyed this story a lot and it was rather different from your average mermaid's tale! The author came up with a unique plot that unraveled beautifully right in front of your eyes. My only complaint, I think the story had such a great story here, she could have made a bigger story out of it and elaborated more on it. The pace of the book was on the faster side, which is understandable because of it being a shorter story. I find authors tend to do that because they want to pack so much story into a novella, and when doing that they tend to rush the readers just a tad.

Ink is a very likable character and really makes this story! Hal makes for a great counterpart and really adds beautifully to it. And this is where the author should have really elaborated, she calls it a Mermaid Romance, which clearly refers to these two, however their romance is barely mentioned and could have really used some more lime light in this book!

I really liked the story but think the author did herself a disservice by cutting it this short. There are big parts of the story that she could have and SHOULD have elaborated more on, like when she introduced this mystical creatures I have never even heard of, Ink's romance with Hal, Ink's bonding with Manx and many other parts. All in all it was still a fun read but as a reader there are just some things I wish for still.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made for an interesting take on the shifter experience - instead of wolves the main character is a mermaid and part of a family that includes merdolphins (mermaids/men that shift into dolphins instead of humans). We also encounter other aquatic shifters that are variants on crocodiles, snakes and more - a fabulous variant so rarely (if ever) considered. I loved reading the book and waiting to see what would pop up next, indulging in the rich descriptions and beautiful names. In fact, the only thing that let the story down a little for me (and it's really only personal opinion!) was the human elements of it - the negative experiences Ink has while being forced to undergo an unwanted time on land, a bonding with a man she clearly despises, and the horrendous events that occur during her time on land. And yet it's those that really lead to the end of Creon's evil kingdom, and allow the possibilities of what will come next for Ink and all her family and subjects - something I'd like to find out!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions

[Dominique · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast-paced novella that tangles with the politics both below and above the waters, and the consequences thereof.

Melanie Karsak has a way of introducing an interesting cast of characters that are both unique but nonetheless embody traits characteristic of their myth and/or creature. For example we've heard of the effects of the siren's song, but Karsak treats us to her spin on the siren and a story to go with the legend. Simultaneously, she provides us a clear, if fantastical, view of the environmental issues we face today. Yes, they are indeed a problem.

As a short story (originally part of an anthology, if I'm not mistaken), the speed with which things progressed and events unfolded were perhaps unavoidable. Nevertheless, I felt that there was a lot of space to further explore the different characters, the different settings, and the different scenarios. In that regard, I was very much left unsatisfied—but who knows? Maybe Karsak will treat us to a longer, more developed story of the underwater world she's introduced us to.

Overall, a good, quick read just before bed.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story in this one is fairly standard - Ink, an orphan mermaid princess is forced by her guardian uncle into a dynastic marriage with the prince of the tribe who supposedly murdered her parents. She does her duty, but her heart belongs to the alligator hybrid shifter currently in her uncle's dungeon. We have a dynastic struggle, with a power hungry villain, warring mer tribes and of course a mer heroine with special powers. Not much we haven't seen before.

However, the story is told well and I liked the different types of mermaid - Gulf, Atlantic, Freshwater, Naguals... there are plenty of hybrids here. I also liked that the hero wasn't described as impossibly handsome or charming, he's an alligator shifter, strong and scarred. The emotional romance side of things is a bit lacking, but that's largely due to the fact that this is a novella rather than a novel and there simply isn't room.

Over all quite enjoyed this. Mermaid fans who like tales of princesses and dynastic struggles will enjoy it no end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink: A Mermaid Romance (Falling in Deep Collection) by Melanie Karsak – This is part of a collection of ocean/mermaid stories by a writer that I love. It’s a bit darker adult fairy tale novella. I never want Melanie Karsak stories to end, but I think this would have been better with just a bit more story. Still fab! Happy Reading!

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous mermaid tale

I truly enjoyed reading this tale of mers and the wars between them. I also thoroughly enjoyed the change that can be seen in the main character as the story progresses.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

More, please! I have read 3 books by this author previously and they were all novella length but I loved them. And I loved this one too. My only complaint is that I wish there were more. Maybe a series? This is a great mermaid and all sorts of other mer creatures, novella.

[Mary Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink is a unique, well-written story about a mermaid’s quest to save her tribe. There’s something for everyone...romance, murder, deceit, loyalty, fantasy...Ink covers every base. I give this book 4.8/5🌟

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fast but very well done. I actually want a lot more of this world and creatures. So unique and different. Fast paced, explosive action, great descriptions and tension. Hal and Ink made a great couple and I want more of them and their peace.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, that happened.

[Michele Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. A different tale on mermaids - both freshwater and saltwater. A story of love and treachery and following your heart to right the wrongs of the past.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd be interested in a series about Ink. I felt like this one moved a bit too quickly, though in fairness, I didn't know it was a novella before I dove in. Heh, dove in. See what I did there?

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just kind of felt like a piece of the story was missing.

[Enid Cavallaro · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this book 1 star for the simple fact that there were words on the pages.

[TaniaRina Valdespino]

Included in the "Of Storms and Stardust" charity anthology for victims of Hurricane Helene.

[Maris McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, original, stand-alone fantasy short novella. I love mermaid stories

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this very much. Great story and characters and would gladly read another story in this unique fantasy world.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick romance story to enjoy. I haven't read mermaids in a while and it was fun to read/listen to this one.

Melanie once again hits the ground running in the first chapter. It's packed full with feelings of Ink on humans, her ruling Uncle, father and mother, and implying her thoughts on her dry walking starting tonight.

****FULL REVIEW****
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Even though other mer's who have done their drywalking say the humans are kind, Ink hates them for the death she's seen them bring to her world. She wishes she could let loose the banished siren song on the fisherman killing and harming her sea. But now, she must take her exiled year of drywalking, on human land. Hal a Nagual, a rare human-animal shifter, visits King Creon as he's breaking the accord that was put in place by Ink's deceased father. Creon is infuriated and sends Hal to the shallow waters. Ink knows the Shallow Waters will kill Hal, so she does what she believes her father would have wanted and she knows is right. In doing so she learns news of a new war coming to her people.

Kristin once again is an outstanding voice actress. The determined personality of Ink is solid in her voice. She does many male voice tones along with females in this vast world, again making it easy for us to listen and differentiate the characters. And I really like when Ink thinks something, Kristin makes it sound as though it's vibrating in her head, this way we know she's thinking it and not actually saying the words. Though the reaction would be strong if others heard what she thinks from time to time.

Melanie once again hits the ground running in the first chapter. It's packed full with feelings of Ink on humans, her ruling Uncle, father and mother, and implying her thoughts on her dry walking starting tonight. However, I think it might have been a bit to fast.

This is a short story and a tremendous amount of story and world packed into it. Melanie has done an amazing job of bringing a whole world to us. But at times I felt like the story was to short for the size of the world and characters created. I would have loved a few more moments with them in some parts of the story. And other moments there was so much happening at the same time, all the connections in one spot firing away. It might have been only a few words that connected outside things to this one event, but they were there.

Aaah, the characters... Ink is a strong woman. She does what she must for her people to survive. The waters of the world are poisoned by pollution and the mer-folk are affected by it. The mer-people are also at odds with others of their kind. To try and help her people and live in peace, she's agreed to marry a man she would rather hate. But! Before she is betrothed she meets a stunning man that she feels drawn to from the first moment their eyes meet. He's a Nagaul. Nagauls are other shifters that live on land. Hal's animal form is an alligator. Dangerous! Just the type of animal he is sends the shivers down my spine.

Hal has come to talk to the king of the Atlantic mers. He has a treaty with the previous king, Ink's father, but King Creon is not of the same standing as his brother was. Hal does get to warn Ink, in a quick moment, that a new war is coming. And in this moment Ink realizes she's drawn to him, as she's never been drawn to a man before, so she shares the deepest secret she has and has never shared with another. That she sings the siren song.

It seems there are those who have their own plans for Ink and how they are going to use her. But Ink has her own plans and placement of honor. She will do as she needs to for her people. Ink learns all the truths of her parents and the plans that some have for her.

Quick romance story to enjoy. I haven't read mermaids in a while and it was fun to read/listen to this one.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was annoyed by some of the generic qualities of characters. In particular Ink's suitor who had the charm of a repulsive rodent. The story was entertaining, but I hoped for more. It felt rushed, and ink seemed to develop her powers too quickly with no effort.
I did enjoy the variety of shifters and find myself wondering how ink's children would be. Which shifter parent would they inherit traits from?