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The Palace Beneath the Sea
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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.
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.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Lauren Wiesebron
3 books91 followersLauren 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 27, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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
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
May 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
June 2, 2026
the palace beneath the sea | 3.5 Stars ⭐️
the premise of this book is new and intriguing!
this book was REALLY heavy with world building info-dumps and sooo much narration and description. i really enjoyed the telling over showing, the imagery, and the realistic portrayal of what it might be like to live at the bottom of the ocean. however, the politics of ys-below and the minor details became very confusing (i still don't understand how birth and siblings and broods work) and the long winded explanations given by the characters really slowed the pacing down for me. the pacing increased a LOT in the last ~100 pages which i didn't hate, but it was hard to keep track of. i also wished we learned morvan and the other's true names rather than the ones nolwenn gave them.
overall, it exceeded expectations as it really held true to what it was supposed to be. i wouldn't call it my favorite for minor reasons.
thank you netgalley and harper collins for the e-ARC!
the premise of this book is new and intriguing!
this book was REALLY heavy with world building info-dumps and sooo much narration and description. i really enjoyed the telling over showing, the imagery, and the realistic portrayal of what it might be like to live at the bottom of the ocean. however, the politics of ys-below and the minor details became very confusing (i still don't understand how birth and siblings and broods work) and the long winded explanations given by the characters really slowed the pacing down for me. the pacing increased a LOT in the last ~100 pages which i didn't hate, but it was hard to keep track of. i also wished we learned morvan and the other's true names rather than the ones nolwenn gave them.
overall, it exceeded expectations as it really held true to what it was supposed to be. i wouldn't call it my favorite for minor reasons.
thank you netgalley and harper collins for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This isn’t a genre I normally gravitate toward, but I’m really glad I gave this book a chance.
The world-building was immersive, and the pacing kept me engaged early on. I was immediately drawn to Nolween and loved getting to know her character. Her dedication to being a light keeper, along with her fierce commitment to protecting both her family and the Y’s, made her easy to root for.
Unfortunately, the story did lose some momentum for me around the midpoint. Then, so much happened near the end that I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied and wanting more before everything wrapped up. That being said, if there’s a part two, I’d definitely be interested in continuing the series to see what happens next. Overall, I’m glad I stepped outside my usual reading preferences and gave this one a chance.
Thank you to Harper Collins, and the author for the E-Arc!
The world-building was immersive, and the pacing kept me engaged early on. I was immediately drawn to Nolween and loved getting to know her character. Her dedication to being a light keeper, along with her fierce commitment to protecting both her family and the Y’s, made her easy to root for.
Unfortunately, the story did lose some momentum for me around the midpoint. Then, so much happened near the end that I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied and wanting more before everything wrapped up. That being said, if there’s a part two, I’d definitely be interested in continuing the series to see what happens next. Overall, I’m glad I stepped outside my usual reading preferences and gave this one a chance.
Thank you to Harper Collins, and the author for the E-Arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From the very beginning, I was pulled right into this world. The ocean setting feels so vivid, and there’s this mix of beauty and danger that makes it hard to look away. The writing flows really well and made it easy to picture everything as I was reading.
The author created such an interesting main character. You can really feel how much she’s torn between what she’s supposed to do and what she’s starting to feel, and that tension makes you want to keep reading to see what she chooses.
If you like fantasy with ocean vibes, a bit of mystery, and a slow-building romance, this is definitely one to check out.
Thank you to Lauren Wiesebron for the opportunity to read this early copy.
The author created such an interesting main character. You can really feel how much she’s torn between what she’s supposed to do and what she’s starting to feel, and that tension makes you want to keep reading to see what she chooses.
If you like fantasy with ocean vibes, a bit of mystery, and a slow-building romance, this is definitely one to check out.
Thank you to Lauren Wiesebron for the opportunity to read this early copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so thankful to get an advanced copy. Wiesebron spins such mystical and fantastical worlds in her writing. This was such a change from her other novel that I was obsessed with.
Truthfully this probably would have also been 5 stars but i had to deduct one due to the amount of times things were written out and explained over and over again. There comes a point where you should trust your reader to understand what you are writing.
The characters were fun, the family was dynamic and the story itself was perfect. I’m hoping there might be another draft and maybe when I reread it will be the 5 stars I think it could be.
Truthfully this probably would have also been 5 stars but i had to deduct one due to the amount of times things were written out and explained over and over again. There comes a point where you should trust your reader to understand what you are writing.
The characters were fun, the family was dynamic and the story itself was perfect. I’m hoping there might be another draft and maybe when I reread it will be the 5 stars I think it could be.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Tiktok: readingwithcarolann
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The cover and title immediately sparked my interest and made me want to pick this book up. However, I’ll admit that I struggled through the first half of the novel. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, and I found it challenging to fully envision the world the author created.
The pacing is very slow for much of the story, and it wasn’t until the final 25–30% that things truly picked up and had me fully invested.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the unique portrayal of the mermaids. They were far from the traditional depiction we usually expect and instead felt much darker, more sinister, and genuinely unsettling.
The story follows Nolwenn, a lighthouse keeper sworn to protect the city of Ys above. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself thrust into an entirely new world — Ys below. As she begins forming connections and uncovering the history between the worlds above and below, she is forced to make an impossible choice: remain in this new life beneath the sea or return to the world she once knew.
Overall, I think this book will appeal most to readers who enjoy slow burn fantasy with rich atmosphere and gradual worldbuilding. While this wasn’t necessarily a standout read for me, it also wasn’t a bad one. I ultimately rated it 3 stars.
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The cover and title immediately sparked my interest and made me want to pick this book up. However, I’ll admit that I struggled through the first half of the novel. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, and I found it challenging to fully envision the world the author created.
The pacing is very slow for much of the story, and it wasn’t until the final 25–30% that things truly picked up and had me fully invested.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the unique portrayal of the mermaids. They were far from the traditional depiction we usually expect and instead felt much darker, more sinister, and genuinely unsettling.
The story follows Nolwenn, a lighthouse keeper sworn to protect the city of Ys above. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself thrust into an entirely new world — Ys below. As she begins forming connections and uncovering the history between the worlds above and below, she is forced to make an impossible choice: remain in this new life beneath the sea or return to the world she once knew.
Overall, I think this book will appeal most to readers who enjoy slow burn fantasy with rich atmosphere and gradual worldbuilding. While this wasn’t necessarily a standout read for me, it also wasn’t a bad one. I ultimately rated it 3 stars.
May 18, 2026
The premise and unique approach to this story is so compelling! I love the idea behind the sea creatures being a “they/them” I thought that was a really authentic detail since in nature that’s a pretty common thing. I also liked the form of communication for the characters under water, it also felt very natural and “on brand” for a deep sea creature. I really enjoyed the push and pull of the FMC and how she very obviously missed her home and family but still felt comfortable under the water and found a new reason to fight for.
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026I unfortunately need to DNF at 42%… in theory this is everything anyone should love! Especially for MerMay! But something isn’t clicking with my brain and this book. I am sadly finding myself bored. I don’t mind lyrical/flowery writing but something just didn’t work. I kept wanting things to move quicker. And just frankly more. I do think this is gonna be 5 stars easily for some readers I just sadly wasn’t one of them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is not ready for publication. Some sentences were half a page long. The single POV made the story feel one-note and uninteresting. It was impossible to care about what was happening and to whom. Some reviews mention the lush atmosphere, and I wish they could point to a page number because I missed that entirely. noticed this book has several Goodreads profiles, which is suspicious and makes the true rating nefarious.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE PALACE BENEATH THE SEA BY LAUREN WIESEBRON.
Release date set for the 21st of May 2026.
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Firstly the Cover is absolutely Stunning and it made me want to read this book.
Sometimes I just need to read something a little bit different and this book gave me that.
I'll be seeing what this author writes next for sure ☺
Release date set for the 21st of May 2026.
4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Firstly the Cover is absolutely Stunning and it made me want to read this book.
Sometimes I just need to read something a little bit different and this book gave me that.
I'll be seeing what this author writes next for sure ☺
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a lyrical fantasy inspired by merfolk mythology. I liked the mix of adventure, emotion, and atmosphere. It is a thoughtful and immersive story that stays with you after reading.
I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this book.
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