Janavi

by MJ James

Janavi is a merperson and the ambassador between her people and the land walkers of Ember—a role she inherited upon claiming her true gender. When she takes custody of a human for Ember's council, she expects to have some fun at his expense.

But an enemy pod tries to seize her family's home, and they are forced to fight for survival at all costs. Janavi is caught between the needs of her pod and navigating the politics of the land walkers.

Now Ember, the land itself, has started to awaken, and the human may be more important to Ember's future than anyone could have imagined. Yet, victory will cost her pod more than they are prepared to lose.

In Ember's river, survival is not just about strength. It is about knowing who you are and being willing to fight for it.

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2026

About the author

MJ James is a science-fiction and fantasy author for queer and neurodiverse readers. As an own-voice author for autistic, ADHD, non-binary, trans-masc, aromantic, and asexual representation, MJ writes for readers who want to see themselves on the page. MJ discovered a love of books at a young age, finding them a source of comfort and the one thing in the world that made sense. Diagnosed as autistic at 24, MJ embraced their journey of self-discovery, earning a BA in Psychology and an MS in Developmental Psychology. They are also a proud parent of three incredible children. Their work features autistic and trans characters who navigate extraordinary conflicts, from protecting their child from their own magical powers to conquering virtual worlds in the fight against injustice. With themes of found family, aromantic and asexual representation, and a focus on belonging, MJ hopes their stories can provide companionship for their readers along with a sense of validation, understanding, and being seen.

Reviews

[Marcia Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Janavi" definitely. It’s an imaginative fantasy that takes readers into an underwater world of magic, conflict, and complex relationships. What stood out was how the author presents the merpeople as a community with its own traditions, responsibilities, and struggles. There is much more to their world than I expected.

Janavi is an interesting main character because she is strong, independent, and fiercely protective of her people, but she isn't always easy to like. Her impatience, pride, and sometimes harsh treatment of others make her feel more complicated and believable. I appreciated how her role as an ambassador often conflicts with her instincts as a warrior. Her experiences also show the challenge of finding acceptance and identity in a society that places so much importance on traditional roles.

One of the more entertaining parts of the story was Janavi's relationship with Charles, the human she takes prisoner. Their interactions add humor to an otherwise serious adventure, especially because Janavi finds human behavior so strange and frustrating. I liked how their relationship gradually changes as they are forced to rely on each other. Charles also provides an interesting contrast to Janavi, letting readers see the underwater world from a different perspective.

The world-building is another strength of the book. The descriptions of the river, underwater homes, magical creatures, and the connection between the merpeople and the land create a setting that feels distinctive. I was especially interested in the idea that Ember itself is aware and can influence events. The involvement of the hippocampus, Blue, the nymphs, and the other magical beings adds variety and makes the world feel larger than Janavi's immediate community.

The conflict involving the rival merpeople brings tension and danger to the plot. As the threat against Janavi's pod grows, the story explores loyalty, sacrifice, leadership, and the lengths people will go to protect their home. The battles are intense, and the consequences feel serious because the characters experience real loss. I thought the aftermath of the fighting was particularly effective, as it shows that victory does not necessarily mean everything returns to normal.

Although I enjoyed the creativity and action, there were moments when I found the story a little hard to follow. The number of characters, the different roles within the pod, and the rules surrounding the magic sometimes required extra attention. I also felt that some conversations and explanations could have been shortened to maintain the pace. A little more background information woven naturally into the story might help readers unfamiliar with the earlier books in the series.

Overall, Janavi is an engaging fantasy with an unusual setting and a standout main character—strong, flawed, and determined. Underwater magic, perilous battles, and surprising relationships keep it lively, and the ending leaves Janavi facing new responsibilities. Some parts demand careful reading, but the imaginative world and the emotional stakes make it worthwhile for fans of fantasy with magical communities and characters balancing instinct with duty.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenavi, the sixth book in the Ember Town series, is a trans merperson and the ambassador for her people to the rest of the supernatural community in Ember. When Jenavi takes custody of a human who attacked a member of Ember’s community, another mer pod shows up to try and take over her pods territory. In addition, the magic that lives within the ley lines of Ember seems to be waking up. While Jenavi deals with the human that she dislikes, she also comes to realize through the magic that he might be more important than anyone realizes. This book covers a lot of interesting topics as Jenavi learns to trust her instincts with magic while also gaining a deeper understanding of humans and the other supernatural beings of Ember and that they will all need to work together in order to ensure the safety of Ember.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[L.R. Braden · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Janavi was an engaging story focused on a wonderfully unique representation of merpeople. The culture James described was both brutal and beautiful, creating a multifaceted experience. I loved the way Janavi, the narrative character, interacted with the sole human character in the story. Her perspective of human frailty and the oddities of human behavior (and anatomy) were highly amusing. I also loved Janavi’s interaction with her family and the weight of duty and assigned roles in her society.

This was my first trip into the world of Ember, but the story was cohesive and enjoyable despite my lack of previous knowledge. I’m intrigued enough to want to go back and read the earlier books that led to this point.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zondra Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before the review, just want to give thanks to the author, MJ James for having an eARC of Javani on BookSirens. And because of that, this is my review.

It was cool to finally have a perspective from a merfolk within Ember Town. The MC is also a trans person as well which is really nice to see.
Since this is the 6th book in the series I can't really get into much details this far in. But if you want a series that features a different MC each book, all the characters are from the supernatural world (vampires, werewolves merfolk, etc), and each MC is part of the LGBTQIA+, you might enjoy these

[Pippin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this book especially once the battle got going the action was well written and easy to follow. Up until then though some of the prose and pacing was awkward. It also felt like the book ended without a real conclusion almost like an episode of a serial TV show. I did enjoy the incorporation of multiple mythical creatures and how magic worked. In conclusion a decent short read but I would make sure to read multiple books in the series to get the full story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books. It did say that it was recommended but not required, but I feel it should be more required. I did like Javani and felt that they were a very strong character who would stand up for what was right. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I look forward to reading more from this series, hopefully some of the first books.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, intense and exciting read! I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Janavi is an ambassador merperson helping to bridge connection in Ember. I love that she claimed her true gender.

When an enemy pod is coming to attack her family and home, they have to come together to fight. The land itself even enters the fight.

Mystical and intriguing, well paced quick read!