The Palace Beneath the Sea

by Lauren Wiesebron

The acclaimed author of House of Frost and Feathers returns with a sweeping, lyrical novel inspired by a mermaid folktale filled with exploration, love, adventure, and magic.

A GREAT LOVE. A MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM BENEATH THE WAVES. A DEVASTATING BETRAYAL.

A doomed love story created the city of Ys, it’s fitting that another one would end it . . .

Nolwenn is sure that her life’s purpose is to defend her beloved coastal city of Ys as a lighthouse keeper. But when a dangerous, unnatural tide threatens Ys, the queen instead tasks Nolwen with collecting enough rare seasilk to shield the city from the deadly monsters who lurk deep beneath the waves.

Determined to fulfill her task, Nolwenn recklessly puts her life in danger, only to be attacked by the very creatures she’s trying to defend her city against. She’s saved by Morvan, a member of the korrigez people, with the torso of a human and the tail of a fish. Against her will, Morvan drags her deeper into the ocean to the coral palace of Below-Ys. Although Nolwenn is terrified and homesick, Below-Ys is also strange and beautiful…as is Morvan. The more time Nolwenn spends below the surface, the less she is sure she wants to leave.

As danger draws ever nearer to her homeland and Ys remains precariously unprotected, Nolwenn must decide between her heart and her home.

Genres: Fantasy, Mermaids, Romance, Adult, Romantasy, Retellings, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

Lauren Wiesebron is a fantasy author, writing adventures for characters who do not yet know they need them. She grew up in France and is now an itinerant academic studying sea creatures. When not writing, you can find her acquiring yarn and naming houseplants. She has also been known to pick up cats even when they don’t want to be picked up. The House of Frost and Feathers is her debut novel.

To learn more, and to join her newsletter for sneak peeks—including a prequel short story to The House of Frost and Feathers—visit laurenwiesebron.com

Reviews

[Quilted.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a dreamy emotional fantasy with a bit of a tragic love story. It’s set around the legendary city of Ys, which already gives it that kind of magical vibe from the start.The story follows Nolwenn who’s always believed her purpose is to protect her city as a lighthouse keeper. She’s super loyal to Ys and takes that responsibility seriously. But when the city is threatened by dangerous tides and sea monsters, she’s given a new mission to gather this rare material called seasilk that could protect everyone.Of course, things don’t go as planned. While trying to complete her task, she ends up getting attacked and is saved by Morvan, who’s this mysterious sea being (a korrigez basically part human, part fish). Instead of just helping her and leaving, he takes her down to Below Ys, this hidden underwater coral palace. And honestly, that’s where the story really shifts.At first, Nolwenn is terrified and just wants to go home, but the underwater world is beautiful in this strange, otherworldly way. And Morvan yeah, she definitely starts to see him differently over time. Their relationship builds in a way that feels emotional and a little forbidden, especially since she’s supposed to be focused on saving her city.The whole story becomes about that tension her duty to Ys versus her growing feelings and connection to this underwater world. You can kind of feel from the beginning that it’s not going to end simply, especially with the whole “doomed love” theme hanging over everything.Overall, it’s romantic, a little sad. this will be a favorite for any fantasy lover.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley, and the author for this advanced copy. This was a very interesting story and the direction it went was not what I expected at all. The concept was very unique and I enjoyed some parts. It was ok, but not great. It dragged on a little for a book on the shorter side. I almost DNFed a few times but I was genuinely interested in how the Queen was going to handle Nolwenn’s disappearance and betrayal, so I kept reading. Also, I was genuinely interested in some spice between Morvan and Nolwenn since it was alluded to and discussed so much between them and in Nolwenn’s inner monologue. But alas, it was glazed over and no details were provided. Maybe I’m the only one here but I was genuinely curious. Overall, an interesting and unique idea and story.

[ChellesOfBooks]

dnf at 36%

I wanted to really love this. From the gorgeous cover and intriguing synopsis, I had hoped for something otherworldly and moving to read, and being classed as an adult read was promising. Sadly, The Palace Beneath the Sea did not up to these expectations. I struggled a lot with the pacing and the main protagonist's actions. It was painfully slow, and character development lacked. I often found myself confused by the age of Nolwenn, as she felt more like a YA main protagonist than an adult one. This was disappointing, but I tried to push through my concerns and attempt to get invested in this world further. Whilst I appreciated the underwater world Wiesebron constructed here, there wasn't a lot going on to keep me invested in Nolwenn's task or the folk around her to keep reading on. There was also a lot of signs where I feel like this book could have done with further editing before publication. It is such a shame, because there was something special here, but it just missed it's mark entirely with me from these issues.

[Dallas Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where do I even start. The beautiful cover? The heartwarming story? The fact that I could cry that it’s now over? 😭 Don’t sleep on this one, it’s truly a one of a kind for both mermaid and fantasy novels. 🧜🏼‍♀️🪸👑

Nolwenn is a lighthouse keeper, a protector of the city “Ys” (yeah not the greatest choice of names, but I guess it’s a real legend?) from sea monsters who appear when the moon is full. Everyone in this book has a really Celtic name, so you’ll get used to that, but don’t let it deter you in the beginning. There’s a bit of world building for the first few chapters, but it all will eventually make sense. Some GREAT plot twists and storyline in this one that have to be led up to.

Nolwenn gets saved by a Korrigeez (this book’s version of mermaids) where she is taken to their underworld palace (aptly named Ys-Below). The book is written in 1st person, so the interesting part (albeit frustrating early on) is that we know only as much as Nolwenn does…which is nothing because she doesn’t speak their language. It really ties you to the character as you navigate her story alongside her as she tries to communicate and figure everything out. I found myself glad that we didn’t get other perspectives because it made the mystery all that more intriguing as it unfolded. There were so many times I was on the edge of my seat hanging onto every word!

This isn’t necessarily a fast-paced book, it has its own pace, but it’s fantastically creative and I absolutely fell in love with the Korrigeez and this love story. It also has a bit of twist in that these “mermaids” don’t have genders in the same way we do, so it’s sort of a choose your own adventure for how you want to envision the MMC/MFC. I was a little disgruntled at first as it was hard for me to picture them (and the they/them is used for all the Korrigeez the entire book which not gonna lie can be confusing - I would have to reread sentences to make sure I understood who was being talked about), but I eventually just went with what my imagination gave me.

There’s angry queens and politics, mermaid legends, a little magic, a wondrous love story and of course, a yellow octopus named Lemon. 🍋🐙 Definitely check this one out in September for its’ release!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Katie Lavoie]

I was pulled in my the cover (beautiful) and premise (who doesn’t want mermaids, danger & turmoil, and lgbtqia+ representation?). But unfortunately, the book went downhill from there for me.

Most acutely, I struggled with the writing. Nolwenn feels more juvenile in her actions, which matches the writing itself, but seems at odds with her age and themes in the book (and being labeled as ‘adult’). The world building was inconsistent, dropping the reader in without enough context and requiring me to reread or make guesses a lot which ruined any sense of immersion. And the plot’s pacing was inconsistent, with large swaths of the book barely making progress only to have others move concerningly fast.

Thanks to Lauren Wiesebron, Harper Votager, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC through NetGalley

Title: The Palace Beneath the Sea

Written By Lauren Wiesebron

Star rating (out of 5): 4.5

Reading Format: ebook

Content review: Wow! I love a mermaid inspired story and I have never read a book like this. The plot alone was interesting but the world building was fascinating. I would be interested in a companion textbook type novel that gave more history about the Korrigez people.

The only thing keeping me from 5 stars was that there were times the communication systems took me out of the story. I understand that they are underwater so developing a way to communicate was necessary. However, there were times I started focusing on the change in style rather than the content. Still, this was such a creative reimagining of mermaid folktales it kept me turning the pages!

Description: This story follows Nolwenn, a lighthouse keeper in the city of Ys, who wants to defend her family and region from dangerous creatures living in the sea.

Finding and spinning rare seasilk is one way that Nolwenn can shield the city. The queen of Ys asks Nolwenn to help her find seasilk before a celestial event that could bring more creatures to their shores. Nolwenn tries to please her queen only to put herself in harms way and come face to face with one of the creatures.

She's rescued by Morvan, a member of the korrigez people, with the torso of a human and the tail of a fish. Quickly we are introduced to a whole other world beneath the sea.

[annie cusack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very excited for this novel, as I loved The House of Frost and Feathers by this author, AND I love mermaids. Maybe I went in with too many expectations?

Let me start by saying this was a very unique and creative story. I enjoyed how the author navigated the mechanics of having mermaid-like creatures as main characters. However, there were quite a few aspects I just didn’t connect with as a reader…

I almost DNF’ed multiple times simply for lack of engagement in the plot; the story just seemed to drag. The main character felt much more juvenile than is typical for an adult novel—the writing style felt completely different than this author’s previous novel. In addition, the romance was not very fleshed out (and kind of seemed random to begin with), nor was the character development prominent.

Unfortunately, this novel didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a free ARC of this book.

[Monica Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨ stars

This was an interesting and unique fantasy with a creative premise and plenty of potential. The story follows a protagonist navigating a fascinating world filled with complex relationships, magic, and self-discovery. The concept immediately caught my attention, and there were several elements that kept me invested in seeing where the story would go.

One of the things that sets this book apart is its LGBTQ+ representation. The main character is bisexual, and the romance involves an agender love interest with both male and female anatomy. Readers who enjoy inclusive fantasy romance may appreciate this aspect of the story.

While I found the premise compelling, the execution felt somewhat underdeveloped. I wanted more depth in the worldbuilding, characters, and overall story development. I also struggled with some of the names and wished there had been a pronunciation guide included. The fade-to-black romance style and the romance dynamic itself ultimately didn't resonate with me as much as I had hoped.

Overall, I can appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish, and I think many readers will enjoy the representation and unique concepts presented here. Unfortunately, the story never fully lived up to its potential for me, leaving it as a good read rather than a great one.

[Charisa Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgally for the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed reading this book not has so many elements I love. Fictional creatures, romance, good characters, and a compelling story. I liked the characters of Nolwenn, Morvan, and Kit. I was interested in how it was all going to come together. How Nolwenn and Morgan’s story paralleled the story of the queen and the lorises and wanted to we how they were going to make it work. Overall an enjoyable read.

[Alexandra Morales]

I didn't specifically request this arc so I no longer feel guilt about not finishing this.

House of Frost had more compelling characters and friendships that I fell in love with. While this feels oddly strange, falling in between trying too hard or not trying hard enough..

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Palace Beneath the Sea is a fantasy novel following a lighthouse keeper who gets swept under the water and encounters a world of mermaids beyond her imagination. Nolwenn is conscripted by her Queen to find rare seasilk to help them fight against teuthes, giant sea monsters, and save their city-state, Ys, from flooding. When she nearly drowns trying to collect seasilk, Nolwenn is saved by a korrigez and brought to their undersea world, body transformed and in unfamiliar territory.

This book does a good job of the fish-out-of-water (pun intended) premise. When Nolwenn is brought to Ys below, everything is unfamiliar, from the language to her own body. The transformation feels well done, with thought given to the ways that deep sea life would change human anatomy. I appreciated that the korrigez did not adhere to modern beauty standards, as most fantasy novels seem to make their love interests fulfill western masculinity or femininity. The author excelled in thinking through how a society of fish-people would look, speak, think, and function.

This book has a heavy romance component, with detailed descriptions of kissing and implications of explicit encounters off-page. The author explores gender identity by making the korrigez have two kinds of sexual anatomy, but does not go into detail about how that anatomy functions. Our main character identifies as female despite their genitalia, but the rest of the korrigez use they/them pronouns throughout the story. It was a creative way to understand gender expression outside of our typical binary or even away from the larger spectrum of gender identity.

There were a few details in the book that I felt frustrating. When Nolwenn enters Ys below, she regularly compares the korrigez to her serial romance series. She talks about how the author of the series gets certain details wrong, from the texture of the scales to the architecture of the city. Because the korrigez have not been seen for hundreds of years, the hope that a modern author would be able to achieve these details accurately feels naive at best, and the comparisons made the character feel insipid. I would have rather the character compare the korrigez to other modern depictions, such as art or fables, which feel like they might have been able to preserve more of the tradition of the korrigez.

Another frustrating detail was the author’s perception of time. The story starts with a prologue as Ys above floods, and then jumps into the past to reveal the story. That detail makes narrative sense. However, as the story progresses, the narrator slips into the present by revealing details that Nolwenn herself did not know in the timeline. Small lines like “I later learned that X” or “as I would do Y eventually” really break from the flow of time. If the story were being told with an omniscient narrator, this would make sense, but for most of the story, the main character experiences things in our story’s timeline. It’s why Nolwenn’s confusion around language and culture and anatomy works so well; she is experiencing novelty while explaining her experience to the audience. If the narrator was consistently omniscient, I wouldn’t have minded it as much, but it happened so infrequently that it didn’t feel intentional.

I also would have liked Nolwenn’s experience to follow the conventions of language development. The main character starts not knowing any language, and that was very well done. The author stays in that confusion for what felt like a significant amount of time, and I really appreciate that. However, the main character moves from understanding very little language to understanding and producing sentences. The shift from “no language” to “complete language” felt too abrupt, and I would have liked to spend more time with our character understanding a word here or there but not comprehending the entirety of the language.

A personal pet peeve I have is when authors rename things that don’t need to be renamed. I would have preferred if the korrigez were just called mermaids. I know it invokes Ariel, and I know it’s basic. However, when your audience already has so many barriers to understanding your fantasy novel, giving familiar terms makes the reading more accessible.

One final note: the characters discuss a specific positive event happening. Our main character imagines the event. She talks about other people about what will happen during the event. And, then, the event never happens. The story was set up so well to conclude with this event happening, and all of our characters are in the right place, but the author chose not to spend the time to give us the moment our characters have been talking about for a while. It felt like a letdown, especially given that the opportunity seemed like it was perfectly presented.

If you loved the movie, The Shape of Water, by Guillermo del Toro, or wanted a little more bite to your Disney mermaids, this book is for you. The fantasy elements are well thought out, the romance is solid and the story explores gender in unique ways. I do think that Nolwenn’s portrayal can feel immature at times, but the overall story trajectory is good.

Thank you to Harper Voyager, Lauren Wiesebron and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Rynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

Before I started The Palace Beneath the Sea by Lauren Wiesebron, I will admit I was a little hesitant due to this story revolving around mermaids. I have not read much fantasy that focused on mermaids before this, and throughout this reading journey I learned I am not really a fan of them in my fantasy. That is a personal issue of mine -- so do not let that discourage you!

I will say, The Palace Beneath the Sea is very readable and easy to understand, however it seems to be lacking a compelling nature to keep the reader's interest. Something that consistently bothered me while reading was the overall flatness of the side characters and how they seemed to only exist to further along the plot. There were only three overall who had some fleshing out, but not enough to make them feel realistic. Character motivations could not be gleaned from clues that Wiesebron dropped. Instead, they were mostly just told to the reader which takes the fun out of the experience.

The story begins when Nolwenn is called to visit the Queen and complete a very important mission. In the city of Ys, there lies a constant danger of teuthes --think Krakens--that threaten to destroy the walls and the city itself. For protection, the city is ringed by lighthouses with workers whose job it is to find teuthes quickly, and use the light of the moon to chase them away. Fortunately, there is another form of protection that can be used against them: seasilk. Seasilk is a rare commodity and difficult to find. People have died attempting to find just mere strands of it. Nolwenn, however, had the fortunate chance of finding not one but two giant heaps of it laying on the beach. With this luck, the Queen decided to confide in Nolwenn about the coming danger to the city and their outrageous plan that hinges on her bringing back tons of seasilk to be spun into a protective barrier.

Reading that, that honestly felt like such a far fetched idea to get the story moving... I could already tell I was not going to enjoy the journey much. Shortly after we learn that Nolwenn is jealous of her sister in law taking over the lighthouse duties. Wildly enough this jealousy is played more like a teenager pouting about not getting their way rather than a mature 23 year old learning to navigate their feelings. This feeling, combined with her quest led her to very stupidly, leave at midnight on a full moon with an indeterminate amount of teuthes in the water to grab an alleged bundle of seasilk after a quick argument with her brother. This action alone is reminiscent of the memes of "tiktok girlies" getting into an unknown vehicle in order to find the "romance" of their dreams.

Nolwenn drowns of course, but have no fear because the main part of the story is to begin! For, she was rescued and through magic transformed into a Korrigeez -- this world's version of a mermaid. I did enjoy how Wiesebron attempted to subvert tropes. Normally it is the mermaid who learns to live with the humans, not the other way around. The most interesting part of the book comes here, when Nolwenn learns how to communicate via finger flashes with the local colony, as well as the exploration of the colony itself. Personally, I felt there could be more serious worldbuilding put in after this, and that Nolwenn just was not curious enough about her new world. She rarely described the feelings of being underwater, let alone more than the most basic details.

At this time, the communication begin to stagnate and we were left to our own devices. After some time, Nolwenn did exclaim that the politics of the Korrigeez were too complicated for her to understand and I had to scoff at that. Overall, the plot is extremely simple and the mystery is not much of a mystery at all if you are familiar with any sort of book.

When I finally turned the last page in The Palace Beneath the Sea, it took me a little time to sort through my thoughts and ideas of this story. The big beats, and plot points are there, but there is nothing that keeps the reader going. It just felt extremely sterile and like Nolwenn herself was creating distance between her and the events of the story. Everything together could have been a blockbuster piece that blew up, but the execution is holding it back. The characters need some serious work, as well as the pacing. Regardless, I know there will be someone out there who will absolutely adore this book.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreamy mermaid fantasy



Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers, NetGalley, and the author, Lauren Wiesebron, for this advanced copy.

I’ve been known to pick up a book for its pretty cover, and The Palace Beneath the Sea is absolutely gorgeous! The vibrant colors immediately gave me a wave of nostalgia, reminding me of vintage posters for Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

This was such an interesting story and Wiesebron did a fantastic job of world-building here.

𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎
Nolwenn has heard stories of mermaids — better known here as korrigez — all her life. She never thought she’d meet one herself.

In order to keep her beloved coastal city of Ys safe from a dangerous tidal wave, Nolwenn is tasked by the queen to collect enough rare seasilk to defend the city from the deadly monsters lurking beneath the waves.

However, a reckless decision puts her life in danger. She’s saved by Morvan, who to her surprise is a korrigez. At first, Nolwenn is scared and homesick, but Below-Ys isn’t so different from her world above. And maybe Morvan isn’t as strange as she thought either.

As danger grows near, Nolwenn wrestles between her two worlds, unsure where she belongs. Does listening to her heart mean sacrificing her home, or can she save both?

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐻𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓈
With such an expansive world to build with both Ys above and Ys below, Wiesebron did a wonderful job of explaining everything without info-dumping. I never once felt overwhelmed, and while it took me a hot second to get familiar with everything, it was nice that we were discovering Below-Ys right alongside Nolwenn.

This book was so well-written, and oh my… the twists and turns! Wiesebron sure knows how to write a cliffhanger that has you continuously saying, “Just one more chapter!” I gasped, I laughed, I swooned.

The conflict was set up swimmingly. Not one piece of information was unnecessary, everything moved the story forward. Each character was unique enough not to forget who was who. Nolwenn, our lead. Her two brothers and their respective partners. Their parents. They didn’t just help the plot, they enriched it. Gave it color and depth.

Umm, the romance?! My, my. The tension was chef’s kiss! I was positively buzzing from all the electricity in the opening chapters… but that did not hold a candle to what was to come! Oh. My. Gosh. Nolwenn fighting her head and heart, torn between the world she knows and the one she learns to love. Morvan certainly made that second option awfully tempting. I was squealing at their chemistry! I loved that this book focused more on the emotional connections of romance, not just the lustful side of it.

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝓌𝓈
That it had to end. That I learned about this world and can’t live in it. 😭

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒
Perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed about being a mermaid.

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Palace Beneath the Sea is an intriguing sophomore novel with a beautiful cover I was very excited to read after seeing apromotional post for it on Instagram. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It is by no means a bad book and there are many great aspects to it but unfortunately they are overshadowed by a narration I really struggled with and some pacing issues, which led to me needing a long time to get through the book and afterwars to a lot of contemplation how to review it. However, I obviously found things to enjoy in it considering I am giving it 3 stars instead of something lower. Thus, I will start with my issues with the novel and then move onto the positives to show why it is still worth reading if you are intrigued by it thematically.

To begin, I really could not get myself to vibe with the narrator, Nolwenn, and I'm usually easy to win over so that is truly a shame. I cannot pinpoint one definitive problem, rather, the narration kind of felt all over the place. At times, I felt there was a bit too much info dumping going on but then other times, I wish some topics would've been explored more. But then again, overall, Nolwenn seems like a rather contradictory person, which could have added to her character if I was able to enjoy her narrative voice.

Additionally, as mentioned, I found the pacing a little odd. The Palace Beneath the Sea is not a fast-paced novel and I am happy the author gave theplot time to develop. Nonetheless, I do feel the plot thus felt slightly dragging at times yet the romance still developed very fast. To be honest, I primarily wish the Ys-Above would have been explored slightly more to balance out the timeline and develop Nolwenn's relationships with her family and other characters, too, besides Morvan.

In any case, there are aspects of the novel where Lauren Wieseborn does wonderfully. The worldbuilding was absolutely great and I love how stories and reality came together. On top of that, I found the idea of Korrigez fasciinating. The exploration of gender through them was brilliant, in my opinion. I'm always all for a queer-normative world and I love when gender and queer relationships are explored through fantasy elements. This is where the novel shines!

Overall, I am still feeling conflicted over this novel but I do want to say all of these opinions are just my own and a different reader may absolutely love it so I do not want to deinfluence anyone from picking it up!

Thank you, Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape & NetGalley, for providing me with the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

[Beth (covergirlbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you kindly to Harper Voyager for the digital ARC!

As a reader who grew up with the ability to turn into a mermaid the second I slipped into a swimming pool, this book fed my inner-child. You know, the one who read books about young mermaids and trapped selkies. But this novel also gave the adult—who has been enjoying books like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Blood over Bright Haven, and Project Hail Mary—some themes to chew on.

Nolwenn and her family are proud lighthouse keepers for the city of Ys. Being a keeper in their kingdom is less about guiding ships away from shore, and more about protecting the seawall from Teuthis, squid-like monsters with massive, toothy maws and long tentacles.

The tools of a keeper’s trade are sparing: alarms, mirrors that can be poised to reflect the moonlight, and if they’re lucky, a cord of seasilk, a mysterious golden sea wool that’s very hard to come by.

Seasilk is so valuable that when Nolwenn finds a meager basketful of the stuff, she catches the attention of the ruling Queen of Ys. The Queen charges Nolwenn to find a bigger load of seasilk for an ambitious project that might be a more sustainable solution to the Teuthis problem.

On a night primed for a Teuthis attack, Nolwenn makes a risky call to try to reach some extra seasilk. She’s quickly lost to the waves…and found by a korrigez, a deep-water-dwelling people who appear somewhat human, but have the tail and gills of a fish.

My favorite piece of this book was the undersea world that Lauren created: a people who communicate using bioluminescence, cultivate intelligent coral ecosystems, and consider octopi house pests 🐙

The fish-out-of-water feeling in this book is chef’s kiss. The pace at which we were introduced to the colorful Ys Below and learning about the culture alongside Nolwenn was unhurried. As a result, it really did feel like we’d left something precious behind when we were back on land.

At the 80% mark I was so in-the-story, I was physically stressed out! I knew we were owed a third-act fairytale climax,  when (everything?) would seem to fall apart, and the drama definitely showed up!

I may not have found myself as thoroughly invested in the romance plotline, but it was done tastefully (🌶️), and I liked that Morvan had a good amount of complexity to their character apart from physical attraction.

Can you imagine the special editions of this book with cuddly octopus and character art? 😍 My inner-mermaid girl will be ecstatic.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I am the korrigez who founded Ys, both above and below the waves... and now I am here to take back what's mine and lay waste to what never should have been built!" [loc. 4508]

Nolwenn and her family are lighthouse keepers, defending the city of Ys. They use lenses to focus the moon's rays, to kill teuthes -- great monsters from the deep -- that threaten the sea-defences. She's been lucky, finding seasilk (a rare and precious commodity that can protect against the black tide) and is summoned by the queen, who flirts with Nolwenn and tells her to fetch enough seasilk to provide shield-nets for the lighthouses as well as the city.

Nolwenn recklessly rows out one night and is attacked: but she's rescued by a merperson, a korrigez who she names Morvan after the chieftain in a popular serial. Morvan takes Nolwenn to Ys-below, a coral palace deep in the ocean: she learns a lot (some of it rather uncomfortable) and falls in love, but yearns for her family, for sunlight, for air.

The worldbuilding is a delight: I loved the reimagining of the Breton folk tale about a city drowned by the sea. The half-humanoid, half-fish korrigez (Breton for 'mermaid') are fascinating, as are the ecology and economy of Ys-below. Coral for communication! Wiesebron is a marine ecologist and admits in her afterword that 'the fantasy of suddenly sprouting fins is one that I enjoyed, albeit from the safe and dry distance of my pen and paper' [loc. 4923] And I loved the resonances with the in-universe fiction 'Leylou Among the Korrigez'.

But I do think this novel could have done with another edit. There are pacing issues: the first third of the book is really slow, and the last third feels rushed. There are typos and infelicities: 'discretely' instead of 'discreetly', 'it's' instead of 'its', someone knowing something and a few pages later not knowing it. And Nolwenn, though she's twenty-three, sometimes behaves like a much younger girl: she's prone to impetuous behaviour, and doesn't always know the rationale behind her own decisions.

Really interesting setting, slightly disappointing prose -- but there's a fascinating romance, and a suitably epic finale.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date was 21st May 2026.

[moonlitbookwitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren Wiesebron

3.5 stars rounded to 4

The Palace Beneath the Sea offers a fresh and imaginative take on mermaid folklore, blending beautiful underwater world-building, Celtic-inspired mythology, and a forbidden slow-burn romance.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was exploring the underwater city of Below-Ys. The author's interpretation of mermaid lore, particularly the creative concept of the korrigez, made the story feel magical and unique. The vivid descriptions brought the underwater world to life, and I enjoyed discovering its customs, mythology, and hidden beauty alongside Nolwenn.

The romance between Nolwenn and Morvan develops at a slow pace, allowing their relationship to grow naturally amid the growing tension between duty and desire. The central premise immediately hooked me, and I appreciated the blend of fantasy, romance, and mythology throughout the story.

That said, this book didn't completely live up to its potential for me. While the world-building was imaginative, I found myself wanting even more depth, particularly when it came to the characters and the history of the world. The political aspects of the story became confusing at times, and the pacing felt uneven. Some sections lingered longer than necessary, while the ending moved so quickly that it felt somewhat rushed.
I also felt the novel leaned more toward young adult fantasy than adult fantasy, despite being marketed for an adult audience.

Overall, The Palace Beneath the Sea is a unique fantasy with an engaging premise, compelling mythology, and a beautifully imagined underwater setting. While I would have liked more character development and a more balanced pace, I still enjoyed the magical atmosphere, the slow-burn romance, and the fresh take on mermaid lore. Readers who enjoy Celtic-inspired fantasy, underwater worlds, and forbidden romance will likely find plenty to love here.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars.

When I realized the author of House of Frost and Feathers had written a mermaid fantasy, I eagerly ran over to request the book. Unfortunately, this book seems a lot more YA than House of Frost and Feathers, with both the characters and the plot itself, and the pacing gets bogged down in the middle. However, even despite that, the worldbuilding of this series is top-tier with underwater coral cities and the intricacies of a mermaid society built around taking care of said city. I loved all the scenes of Ys below, even if the actual plot of Nolwenn getting back to Ys above falls to the wayside in favor of her learning korrigez society and the conflict between the lower court and upper court. Honestly, I would have liked for korrigez society and politics to have been way more convoluted and cutthroat, but Movran pretty easily deals with all challenges until the very end.

The romance between Nolwenn and Movran is fairly satisfying in that it develops organically, and their devotion to one another is unmatched. I also greatly enjoyed Nolwenn having a yellow pet octopus named Lemon that all the other korrigez treat kind of like a rat, and making friends with Kit.

Nolwenn for the most part is a pretty fun protagonist to follow--she moves the plot along in daring ways and is curious and fascinated by the korrigez and their coral city of Ys below as well, and the history with Ys above. Unfortunately, Nolwenn is also way too trusting when she shouldn't be--she reads basically like a teenager at times.

The pacing does speed up a ton at the end, to the fall of the city above mentioned in the prologue, but it all wraps up so fast that it's kind of head-spinning. All that being said though, I would highly recommend reading this book if you want an extremely detailed view of an underwater coral city and some nice mermaid LGBTQ romance. It is a pretty fitting read for Mermay!

[🌙~LunaBeeez~🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up 'The Palace Beneath the Sea' by Lauren Wiesebron because I've always been fascinated by mermaids, sirens, and sea mythology. Any story that explores the mysteries of the ocean immediately catches my attention, and this book absolutely did not disappoint.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the incredible world Lauren Wiesebron creates. From the very beginning, she paints such a vivid picture of the setting that I felt completely immersed in its beauty, history, and magic. The mythology woven throughout the story felt rich and captivating, making every new discovery even more exciting.

The main character, Nolwenn Tour-Gouel, is someone I found easy to connect with. She loves her city and her family deeply, but she's also trying to figure out where she belongs and what her purpose is. That struggle makes her journey feel authentic and relatable. When the queen entrusts her with an important task, Nolwenn approaches it with unwavering determination, setting her on an unforgettable adventure.

As the story unfolds, Nolwenn uncovers the truth behind the myths surrounding her beautiful town, challenges everything she thought she knew, and discovers that love can be found in the most unexpected places. I loved watching her grow more confident as she learned not only about the world around her but also about herself.

Overall, 'The Palace Beneath the Sea' is a beautifully written fantasy filled with enchanting mythology, heartfelt character growth, mystery, and romance. If you're someone who loves stories about mermaids, sirens, sea legends, and immersive fantasy worlds, I highly recommend giving this book a chance. It captured everything I hoped for in a sea-inspired fantasy and left me eager to explore more of Lauren Wiesebron's work.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a free eARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Palace Beneath the Sea by Lauren Wiesebron is not your typical mermaid fantasy. it follows the story of Nolwynn, a human living in the city of Ys, as she works as a lighthouse keeper to protect her city of Ys from tuethes. after happening upon some sea silk, the only thing that can repel them, she is asked by the queen to find more. in her earnest to gather more, she is tossed into the sea by the tides and turned into a korrigez, the mythical creatures at the center of the founding of Ys. while she adjusts to being a korrigez, she learns that was more to the founding of her city. when she is finally returned to Ys, she has to decide if she will choose where her heart lies or where her promises lie.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and the story. while the story was slow at some parts, it was still good. I really enjoyed the writing of the korrigez culture and how in depth the author wrote it. they had their own customs, their own language, and their own government. and it all revolved around the sea and the coral growing in it. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reinventive retellings. I can't tell exactly where the original mythology is from, but I'm guessing Brittany (channel coast of France) and it was interesting to sorta learn more about the mythology/folk tales of an area that not a lot of people know the stories of.

[Bambi Unbridled · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️ | An intriguing start that quickly lost me
I received an ARC of this book, and honestly, the first couple of chapters had me interested. The premise was intriguing, and I was curious to see where the story would go.

Unfortunately, once the story moved into the world of the Korrigez, it completely lost me.
The worldbuilding felt confusing rather than immersive, and I struggled to understand the terminology, mythology, and structure of the world. Even by the end, I never felt like I had a solid grasp on concepts such as the Korrigez and the Teuthes, which made it difficult to stay invested in the larger story.

I also found the writing and characterization to feel surprisingly juvenile. There were moments where the book seemed aimed at a younger audience than I was expecting, which made it difficult for me to connect with the story and characters.

The treatment of gender fluidity was another aspect that didn't work for me. Instead of feeling like a natural part of the world and characters, it often felt overly emphasized in a way that pulled my attention away from the story itself.

Looking back, this is probably a book I should have DNF'd. I kept pushing forward hoping things would eventually click, but they never really did.

It's possible this book will find its audience among readers who enjoy highly stylized fantasy worlds and don't mind being dropped into unfamiliar terminology with minimal explanation. Unfortunately, it just wasn't a good fit for me.

[Yanet Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Palace Beneath the Sea was a book I really wanted to love. The underwater setting, magical elements, and focus on identity created a story that felt different from many fantasy romances I've picked up recently. There were several moments that sparked my curiosity and kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

I especially appreciated the diverse representation woven into the story. It's always nice to see fantasy exploring characters and relationships outside of traditional norms, and I think many readers will connect with those aspects of the book.

For me, though, the story never fully clicked. I struggled to feel deeply connected to the characters, and I found myself wishing for a richer exploration of both the world and the relationships. There were a lot of interesting ideas present, but I wanted more time spent developing them so they could have a stronger impact.

The romance itself wasn't quite what I was looking for, which made it harder for me to become emotionally invested in the story. While I can appreciate the choices the author made, they simply didn't resonate with my personal reading preferences.

In the end, this was a solid read with an imaginative premise and some memorable concepts. Although it wasn't a standout favorite for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with inclusive representation and a unique take on romance.

[KazReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

What a beautifully created world, both above and especially below. The Palace Beneath the Sea takes the typical romanticisation of merpeople and brings it into a scientifically likely reality. The Korrigez are a unique and fascinating interpretation of the archetype.

You can tell a lot of thought and research has gone into the world building of both Ys-above and Ys-below, into the culture of both societies, their customs and traditions. It builds up a vivid picture that’s easy to get pulled into, creates an immersive experience.

All of the characters, main and side, are wonderfully woven to feel as real and relatable as if they were people we actually know. I loved being in Nolwenn’s head in the story, seeing how she thought about and dealt with the circumstances she had to navigate. I particularly enjoyed seeing how she adapted to Ys-below and how her friendship and relationship developed with Kit and Morvan, respectfully.

The plot, too, is well paced and thought out. The conflict, the twists/revelations, the resolution, all work well to form a really cohesive narrative. There are moments of action, but they weave between the more stable parts of the story—Nolwenn trying to figure her way in and about of situations in order to reach her goals. Regardless, I wasn’t once, at any point, bored at all.

Don’t go in expecting the typical mermaid fantasy, but go with an open mind and you will be rewarded.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Palace Beneath the Sea by Lauren Wiesebron
⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC!

Overall, this book fell a bit short for me. It wasn't bad, but I felt like some aspects needed more development while others could have been trimmed down.

One thing that stood out was the naming of the two palaces. I understand that one is literally located beneath Ys, but simply adding "Below" to distinguish it made the worldbuilding feel less immersive. I found myself wishing the two kingdoms had more distinct identities, especially since they're presented as separate societies.

Another disappointment was the romance. The book is marketed as a doomed love story and an epic romance, but I didn't really feel that emotional connection. Compared to other romantasy books I've read, the romance felt underdeveloped. The overall tone also leaned more YA than adult. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I do think the marketing sets readers up with different expectations.

That said, there were definitely things I enjoyed. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and was one of the main reasons I requested the book. I also appreciated the creativity of the premise. As a huge fan of mermaids, I loved the concept and the underwater setting—I just wanted the execution to dive a little deeper.

[Wild · Rating 2 out of 5]

The gorgeous cover and intriguing description captured my interest greatly, far more than the story actually did. The world building is fabulous and I appreciated the LGBTQIA representation throughout the book. Those are definitely the strong points in the writing overall.

The beginning held such promise, with Nolwenn's commitment to her family's safety and her desire to be of great assistance to the Queen. Once the narrative switches to Ys-below everything was a bit of a slog for me. The pacing was incredibly slow and there wasn't any dialogue other than Nolwenn's own thoughts. There was a long period of time where nothing was happening. No hooks to keep the reader involved or to move the story along. The entire story just stalls until the last 1/4 of the book where it becomes interesting again. Also, the singular focus on the FMC made everyone else feel superficial and not fully developed. It was pretty much a one person story in many ways.

Honestly the cover is the most enthralling part of the book for me. I'm sure many will love the novel it simply wasn't for me.

I received an e-arc via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and freely given

[Mahala Cecil · Rating 3 out of 5]

eARC Review:

Overall I really enjoyed this read. There were a lot of elements that worked really well together. However, I personally had a few hang-ups with this book. I felt like we had an unnecessary romantic sub-plot (which added nothing to the story) with the Queen. The beginning was extremely hard to get in to for me. The wordage was different/unique and took around 20-30% of the book to really feel a part of the story. Also, I will say that the last 40-50% of this book was incredibly predictable. There still were some elements that I didn't expect to make a comeback and that helped. The ending also felt so rushed and definitely could have had some more detail thrown in to enhance it. The middle of this book is what really made up for the faults in the rest of the story for me. The underwater world building was quite phenomenal. I also really enjoyed the fact that our FMC had to learn a new language in order to communicate. I definitely would still recommend this book to others and loved the spin on a classic mermaid to land situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Caroline R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this eARC.

This book was full of vibrant and lush worldbuilding. That is actually what kept in engaged in the beginning. I loved the Little Mermaid when I was kid, so I couldn't to get my hands on a mermaid book. However, these mermaids arn't your Little Mermaid mermaids. And honestly that was refreshing. Though it's fantasy it felt more real when the mermaids weren't as humanoid as they usually appear elsewhere. There was a lot of thought put into how someone/something would survive in the cold waters (i.e. blubber, thicker skin). Also knowing that gender wasn't a set construct for the Korrigez was an interesting concept to grasp for an entire population. Nolween (FMC) does struggle with that at first. Korrigez's have both sets of parts and only particular korrigez can have children. Nolween identified as a female and she was also bisexual. So we got to see her attraction to both the human queen and Morvan (korrigez) which made the plot interesting in how it would all play out for Nolween.

I found this to be an enjoyable, well thought out story.

[Drie Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4-Star Review – Palace Under the Sea by Lauren Wiesebron

Palace Under the Sea is a beautifully imaginative fantasy that swept me away with its enchanting underwater setting and compelling story. Lauren Wiesebron creates a vivid world filled with wonder, danger, and mystery, making it easy to become immersed in the journey from the very first page.

The characters are engaging and well-developed, and I enjoyed watching them navigate the challenges and secrets hidden beneath the waves. The blend of adventure, magic, and emotional depth kept me invested throughout the story. The underwater world-building was especially impressive, bringing the setting to life in a way that felt magical and unique.

While there were a few moments where I wanted the pacing to move a little faster, the strong storytelling and captivating atmosphere more than made up for it. Overall, Palace Under the Sea is a delightful fantasy adventure that will appeal to readers who love immersive worlds, intriguing characters, and a touch of magic.

[BritneyBookDragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me reverse Ariel from The Little Mermaid vibes. Instead of a Mermaid who wants to become a human, we have a human who gets transformed against her will to a Merperson/Korrigez to save their life. They fall in love and must choose between the 🏠 they have always known and the new 🏠 they have found.

Not my favorite book but not bad. I could 🌊sea🐚 the potential in this story but the writing style was just not capturing me. I felt like we got too much description in some areas and not enough in others. The pacing dragged in places and the ending seemed rushed. It didn't capture my emotions. I didnt feel anxiety during the action. I didnt feel any romantic tension. The details and descriptions about the sea and the city below were beautiful. I liked most of the characters, especially Kit and Bleizig! Lemon was an adorable side character even though he didn't really do much. I really like the form of communication the author used for the underwater city. Overall I think the story was creative but writing just wasn't for me.

[Alischa O'Harrow Rogillio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Palace Beneath the Sea was definitely different from my usual comfort zone, and I can appreciate how unique and imaginative it was. There were a few moments that caught my attention and made me curious about where things were headed, and I do think the author brought some interesting ideas to the table.
That being said... this one just wasn’t for me.
I came really close to DNFing it a few times because the pacing felt very off for me personally. Some parts dragged on too long, while other moments that probably should have hit harder emotionally just didn’t fully land for me. I kept waiting for that point where I’d become fully invested, but unfortunately it never quite happened.
I’m still glad I stepped outside my usual reading bubble and gave it a shot because I know this story will absolutely work for other readers. It just wasn’t the right fit for my personal reading style.