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The Vazula Chronicles #1
A Kingdom Submerged
A determined mermaid, the powerless son of a magic-wielding line…two worlds never meant to collide
In spite of being a nameless orphan, Merletta is determined to win the prestigious rank of record holder. And she has no intention of letting a little thing like universal disdain stop her.
Lord Heath knows nothing of mermaids, but coming from the noble House of Dragonfriend, he’s no stranger to magic. Except, in spite of having a dragon for a best friend, Heath is the only magic-less member of his family. Not that he covets the power around him. All he wants is to defuse the growing tension between the power-wielders and their royal cousins.
These two worlds couldn’t be further removed…until Heath’s search for solutions takes him to the forgotten island of Vazula. Now the kingdoms of both land and sea are set on a new current, one which will carry both Heath and Merletta beyond the limit of everything they thought they knew. Because with someone underwater trying to do much worse than push Merletta from the program, and someone on land targeting Heath’s family, the insurmountable barriers keeping Heath and Merletta apart might just be the least of their problems.
A Kingdom Submerged is the first book in The Vazula Chronicles, a YA fantasy series of four installments, which should be read in order. In addition to irritatingly inscrutable dragons, the series features a clean slow burn romance between a mermaid and a reluctantly magical human. If you enjoy adventure, fantasy, mystery, and hard-won happily ever afters, discover the world of The Vazula Chronicles today!
In spite of being a nameless orphan, Merletta is determined to win the prestigious rank of record holder. And she has no intention of letting a little thing like universal disdain stop her.
Lord Heath knows nothing of mermaids, but coming from the noble House of Dragonfriend, he’s no stranger to magic. Except, in spite of having a dragon for a best friend, Heath is the only magic-less member of his family. Not that he covets the power around him. All he wants is to defuse the growing tension between the power-wielders and their royal cousins.
These two worlds couldn’t be further removed…until Heath’s search for solutions takes him to the forgotten island of Vazula. Now the kingdoms of both land and sea are set on a new current, one which will carry both Heath and Merletta beyond the limit of everything they thought they knew. Because with someone underwater trying to do much worse than push Merletta from the program, and someone on land targeting Heath’s family, the insurmountable barriers keeping Heath and Merletta apart might just be the least of their problems.
A Kingdom Submerged is the first book in The Vazula Chronicles, a YA fantasy series of four installments, which should be read in order. In addition to irritatingly inscrutable dragons, the series features a clean slow burn romance between a mermaid and a reluctantly magical human. If you enjoy adventure, fantasy, mystery, and hard-won happily ever afters, discover the world of The Vazula Chronicles today!
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
242 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Grace White
44 books354 followersDeborah Grace White was more or less born reading. She grew up on a wide range of books, from classic literature to light-hearted romps. Her love of fantasy was inevitable from the time her father read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy to her and her siblings when she was four years old.
The love of reading has traveled with her unchanged across multiple continents, and carried her from her own childhood all the way to having children of her own.
But if reading is like looking through a window into a magical and beautiful world, beginning to write her own stories was like discovering she could open that window and climb right out into fantasyland.
Now she gets to live that childhood dream amidst the fun and chaos of life with her husband and their four kids.
Visit Deborah at her website: http://deborahgracewhite.com
Or follow her on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DeborahGrace...
Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deborahgrac...
The love of reading has traveled with her unchanged across multiple continents, and carried her from her own childhood all the way to having children of her own.
But if reading is like looking through a window into a magical and beautiful world, beginning to write her own stories was like discovering she could open that window and climb right out into fantasyland.
Now she gets to live that childhood dream amidst the fun and chaos of life with her husband and their four kids.
Visit Deborah at her website: http://deborahgracewhite.com
Or follow her on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DeborahGrace...
Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deborahgrac...
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June 21, 2024****DNFed at 7%****
I was honestly bored and not sucked in, not to mention there were already a few things that were bugging me right from the get go. I just don’t think this author’s for me but I think she’d work great for others.
‼️Content (up to 7%)‼️
Violence: shark tries to catch a mermaid
Other: mermaids and dragons; magic
I was honestly bored and not sucked in, not to mention there were already a few things that were bugging me right from the get go. I just don’t think this author’s for me but I think she’d work great for others.
‼️Content (up to 7%)‼️
Violence: shark tries to catch a mermaid
Other: mermaids and dragons; magic
March 26, 2024
Review coming soon!
July 15, 2022
fun story: re- imagined story of mermaids, humans, and dragons
I thought this would be the Little Mermaid, but it turned out to be much more. Yes, there are mermaids and humans with a slow-burn romance, but the author does so much more creating a different world and conflict with mystery and adventure. Be fore-warned that it is a 4 book series, and all are written. You may have some late-night reading like I did.
I thought this would be the Little Mermaid, but it turned out to be much more. Yes, there are mermaids and humans with a slow-burn romance, but the author does so much more creating a different world and conflict with mystery and adventure. Be fore-warned that it is a 4 book series, and all are written. You may have some late-night reading like I did.
January 18, 2025
Left Me Eager For More
I was pleasantly surprised to find a YA fantasy romance of such high quality on Kindle Unlimited. The story was engaging from the beginning, with polished prose and excellent pacing; the scenery was developed well enough to furnish my imagination without detracting from the rhythm of the narrative; the proofreading was professional-quality; and the characterization, especially of the two protagonists, was consistent, dynamic, and compelling. Very well-written!
As a reader, I felt deeply invested in both Heath and Merletta's stories. Each of their cultures, personalities, backgrounds, and challenges are so distinct from the other, and yet they share a common passion for exploration and seeking knowledge and truth and the greater good. This, along with their shared sense of resolve in being themselves, makes them suited to each other.
In a genre largely populated by alpha males, tsunderes, and charming rogues, I especially appreciated Heath's personality type: a gentle, thoughtful soul who is introverted but not antisocial, kind but not weak, sensitive yet humorous, wise beyond his years but still makes youthful mistakes, abhors conflict but is not immune to outbursts of defensiveness or resentment, enjoys study and contemplation but also archery and outdoor exploration, able to see both sides of a conflict with empathy and eager to promote harmony, quick to recognize ego or other failings within himself and strive against them. If I were a man, that's the kind I'd like to be.
The author does a good job of illustrating the complex issues, as well as the potential rot, at the heart of both societies, in a way that feels integral to the fantasy world while still being relatable to the reader. I'm interested to read the rest of the series to learn how much of the ostensible histories of each country are true, how they may be interwoven, and how the dragons factor in.
I will definitely finish this series and seek out other books by Deborah Grace White!
I was pleasantly surprised to find a YA fantasy romance of such high quality on Kindle Unlimited. The story was engaging from the beginning, with polished prose and excellent pacing; the scenery was developed well enough to furnish my imagination without detracting from the rhythm of the narrative; the proofreading was professional-quality; and the characterization, especially of the two protagonists, was consistent, dynamic, and compelling. Very well-written!
As a reader, I felt deeply invested in both Heath and Merletta's stories. Each of their cultures, personalities, backgrounds, and challenges are so distinct from the other, and yet they share a common passion for exploration and seeking knowledge and truth and the greater good. This, along with their shared sense of resolve in being themselves, makes them suited to each other.
In a genre largely populated by alpha males, tsunderes, and charming rogues, I especially appreciated Heath's personality type: a gentle, thoughtful soul who is introverted but not antisocial, kind but not weak, sensitive yet humorous, wise beyond his years but still makes youthful mistakes, abhors conflict but is not immune to outbursts of defensiveness or resentment, enjoys study and contemplation but also archery and outdoor exploration, able to see both sides of a conflict with empathy and eager to promote harmony, quick to recognize ego or other failings within himself and strive against them. If I were a man, that's the kind I'd like to be.
The author does a good job of illustrating the complex issues, as well as the potential rot, at the heart of both societies, in a way that feels integral to the fantasy world while still being relatable to the reader. I'm interested to read the rest of the series to learn how much of the ostensible histories of each country are true, how they may be interwoven, and how the dragons factor in.
I will definitely finish this series and seek out other books by Deborah Grace White!
March 19, 2024
I randomly found this book as an audio and I am always interested in mermaids. This is an actual mermaid fantasy taking place under water and that was so nice to read. Tho it also a has a second pov of a human who is friends with a dragon, so not purely mermaid but that is fine.
For me this did really feel like a set up novel with mostly world building, introducing characters and not too much happening yet, so I am curious to see how it will continue!
For me this did really feel like a set up novel with mostly world building, introducing characters and not too much happening yet, so I am curious to see how it will continue!
October 16, 2022
It's no secret that I love mermaids. So when I found out about a great deal on the first book in a four-book series by Deborah Grace White that features a mermaid, I decided to dive right in. The last book I read from her was a mediocre retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." I decided to give her another chance for the sake of mermaids, and I'm so glad I did! The Vazula Chronicles is such a well-written and compelling series that as soon as I finished A Kingdom Submerged, I immediately got started on A Kingdom Discovered! While this series is not based on "The Little Mermaid," it does contain a torrid romance between a mermaid and a human that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A Kingdom Submerged tells the story of Merletta, an underprivileged mermaid who gets accepted into an elite school and is mocked for getting ahead based on her background as opposed to her own merit. Yet, it's pretty clear that the school would have preferred not to have someone from her background, and only her phenomenal intellect and skills allow her to remain there. At first, I thought this concept seemed a little too human for an underwater world. After all, there are many fantasy books about dark academia and racism. Yet, the more I read, the more impressed I was by the little details that set this mermaid society apart from a human one. Merletta wishes to attend the school to become a record holder, which is someone who keeps track of the recorded data about the Triple Kingdoms where the merfolk reside. Because they are underwater, paper and ink would disintegrate pretty quickly, so they have their own system of carving words onto writing leaves and copying them again over time as the ocean slowly eats away at them. There are also strict rules about going to the surface that Merletta defies on multiple occasions and learns all the things that her superiors wish to hide from her and the other inhabitants of the Triple Kingdoms.
The book alternates between the perspective of Merletta with Heath, a human noble who discovers a long-lost island kingdom called Vazula thanks to his dragon friend, Rekavidur. If the mermaid lore isn't enough for readers to get their fantasy fix, this fully fleshed-out enchanted world has plenty of dragon mythology as well. Heath's story begins when he befriends Reka and the two bond over their curiosity about ancient kingdoms. Reka agrees to fly Heath to the location where they believe Vazula is located. They just happen to arrive there on the same day that Merletta goes exploring beyond her kingdom's magical barrier. Heath is just as shocked by the existence of mermaids as Merletta is by humans. This initiates a series of secret rendevous between the unlikely pair on this ancient island lost to time that only the two of them know about. What a tantalizing way to begin an illicit romance! Unfortunately, Heath gets tied up in some politics about governing magic users in the human kingdom at the very same time that Merletta discovers her life is in danger. When they are finally reunited again, it is under the worst possible circumstances.
I love how this book takes common mermaid and dragon lore and does something entirely different with it. It makes sense that a diverse mermaid society would have its own form of racism and prejudice even though that's not something we like to think about when we read these stories for escapism. Merletta's very real fear of "drying out" on land was a nice touch that added additional stakes to the story. I also liked that she had some allies at the school and that she was considered a hero back home for attaining such an auspicious opportunity even though most of the staff and students were against her. Heath's situation about governing magic users is a fairly common one in fantasy lore, but the close bond he shares with the dragon is more unusual, which makes it all the more frustrating when it becomes clear that Reka is keeping secrets from him. This only increases the desire for Merletta and Heath to find a way to be together because they are the only ones who can truly trust each other.
I highly recommend A Kingdom Submerged and the rest of The Vazula Chronicles to all fans of mermaids and romance. The characters and world-building are superb. It is a fantastic original story with hints of nostalgia for similar fairy tales and books. I especially enjoyed how well the romance was done. Sparks fly between Merletta and Heath from the moment they lay eyes on each other, and we spend the rest of the series desperate for them to find a way for their impossible love story to work. All four books in this series are out now, and I am currently halfway through the second one.
A Kingdom Submerged tells the story of Merletta, an underprivileged mermaid who gets accepted into an elite school and is mocked for getting ahead based on her background as opposed to her own merit. Yet, it's pretty clear that the school would have preferred not to have someone from her background, and only her phenomenal intellect and skills allow her to remain there. At first, I thought this concept seemed a little too human for an underwater world. After all, there are many fantasy books about dark academia and racism. Yet, the more I read, the more impressed I was by the little details that set this mermaid society apart from a human one. Merletta wishes to attend the school to become a record holder, which is someone who keeps track of the recorded data about the Triple Kingdoms where the merfolk reside. Because they are underwater, paper and ink would disintegrate pretty quickly, so they have their own system of carving words onto writing leaves and copying them again over time as the ocean slowly eats away at them. There are also strict rules about going to the surface that Merletta defies on multiple occasions and learns all the things that her superiors wish to hide from her and the other inhabitants of the Triple Kingdoms.
The book alternates between the perspective of Merletta with Heath, a human noble who discovers a long-lost island kingdom called Vazula thanks to his dragon friend, Rekavidur. If the mermaid lore isn't enough for readers to get their fantasy fix, this fully fleshed-out enchanted world has plenty of dragon mythology as well. Heath's story begins when he befriends Reka and the two bond over their curiosity about ancient kingdoms. Reka agrees to fly Heath to the location where they believe Vazula is located. They just happen to arrive there on the same day that Merletta goes exploring beyond her kingdom's magical barrier. Heath is just as shocked by the existence of mermaids as Merletta is by humans. This initiates a series of secret rendevous between the unlikely pair on this ancient island lost to time that only the two of them know about. What a tantalizing way to begin an illicit romance! Unfortunately, Heath gets tied up in some politics about governing magic users in the human kingdom at the very same time that Merletta discovers her life is in danger. When they are finally reunited again, it is under the worst possible circumstances.
I love how this book takes common mermaid and dragon lore and does something entirely different with it. It makes sense that a diverse mermaid society would have its own form of racism and prejudice even though that's not something we like to think about when we read these stories for escapism. Merletta's very real fear of "drying out" on land was a nice touch that added additional stakes to the story. I also liked that she had some allies at the school and that she was considered a hero back home for attaining such an auspicious opportunity even though most of the staff and students were against her. Heath's situation about governing magic users is a fairly common one in fantasy lore, but the close bond he shares with the dragon is more unusual, which makes it all the more frustrating when it becomes clear that Reka is keeping secrets from him. This only increases the desire for Merletta and Heath to find a way to be together because they are the only ones who can truly trust each other.
I highly recommend A Kingdom Submerged and the rest of The Vazula Chronicles to all fans of mermaids and romance. The characters and world-building are superb. It is a fantastic original story with hints of nostalgia for similar fairy tales and books. I especially enjoyed how well the romance was done. Sparks fly between Merletta and Heath from the moment they lay eyes on each other, and we spend the rest of the series desperate for them to find a way for their impossible love story to work. All four books in this series are out now, and I am currently halfway through the second one.
September 12, 2025
I enjoyed this SO much!
I don't think I've read a book from the perspective of a mermaid before, and I might have written some things differently, but it was still so fun!
I loved returning to the world of The Kingdom Tales, (I think I might be reading the books in this world in opposite order, but oh well!) and I love the new characters, too!
I also really like the narrator who does the audiobooks, she's amazing.
I anticipated the huge plot twist, but that made it even better! I don't remember exactly when, but at some point in the book I was breathless. I loved this!
I don't think I've read a book from the perspective of a mermaid before, and I might have written some things differently, but it was still so fun!
I loved returning to the world of The Kingdom Tales, (I think I might be reading the books in this world in opposite order, but oh well!) and I love the new characters, too!
I also really like the narrator who does the audiobooks, she's amazing.
I anticipated the huge plot twist, but that made it even better! I don't remember exactly when, but at some point in the book I was breathless. I loved this!
June 21, 2022
I'm so excited about this series!
I've heard about this series for a while. Author Deborah Grace White mentioned in a newsletter at the end of her Kyona Chronicles series that she was working on a mermaid series. Then, she did a detour to The Kingdom Tales series, set in a new kingdom. I'm not sorry she did that but am very glad that The Vazula Chronicles is now getting its debut.
Merletta is an orphaned mermaid who overcame many obstacles to achieve her dream of training for work as a record holder. Surprised to experience prejudice because of her upbringing in the poorest of the Triple Kingdoms, she was not only oppressed by her fellow trainees but was also discounted by the instructors and found her life in danger more than once.
Those with magic and those without, conflicted and fearful over those differences, caused division in the kingdom on land. Heath is the grandson of Jocelyn, from The Legacy of the Curse. Heath is caught in the middle as a royal without magical powers in a family of those with powers. He is insightful and peaceable, unlike his brother Percival, who speaks rashly and causes all manner of trouble.
I loved that Rekavaur had such a major role in the story as a friend of Heath. At least as much as a dragon is capable of being considered so. He continued to delight as he took everything he heard quite literally…
Having read other books about mermaids, I've still never felt so completely submerged in an underwater kingdom. Idioms related to breathing were adjusted to make sense in this world. I easily pictured Merletta swimming around the city, not forgetting it was underwater as I read.
This fantasy adventure promises to entertain young adult and adult readers alike. It does end with a cliffhanger, but not to worry, the next books are being released in quick succession.
Originally Reviewed on Among The Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
I've heard about this series for a while. Author Deborah Grace White mentioned in a newsletter at the end of her Kyona Chronicles series that she was working on a mermaid series. Then, she did a detour to The Kingdom Tales series, set in a new kingdom. I'm not sorry she did that but am very glad that The Vazula Chronicles is now getting its debut.
Merletta is an orphaned mermaid who overcame many obstacles to achieve her dream of training for work as a record holder. Surprised to experience prejudice because of her upbringing in the poorest of the Triple Kingdoms, she was not only oppressed by her fellow trainees but was also discounted by the instructors and found her life in danger more than once.
Those with magic and those without, conflicted and fearful over those differences, caused division in the kingdom on land. Heath is the grandson of Jocelyn, from The Legacy of the Curse. Heath is caught in the middle as a royal without magical powers in a family of those with powers. He is insightful and peaceable, unlike his brother Percival, who speaks rashly and causes all manner of trouble.
I loved that Rekavaur had such a major role in the story as a friend of Heath. At least as much as a dragon is capable of being considered so. He continued to delight as he took everything he heard quite literally…
Having read other books about mermaids, I've still never felt so completely submerged in an underwater kingdom. Idioms related to breathing were adjusted to make sense in this world. I easily pictured Merletta swimming around the city, not forgetting it was underwater as I read.
This fantasy adventure promises to entertain young adult and adult readers alike. It does end with a cliffhanger, but not to worry, the next books are being released in quick succession.
Originally Reviewed on Among The Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
July 4, 2024
A new world to discover!
This book is a gripping start to a Little Mermaid retelling! I loved getting to jump back into the world of Valoria and now getting to explore the Triple Kingdoms below the sea and work towards the mystery of the Vazula island. And after that cliffhanger, I need to know more!!
This book is a gripping start to a Little Mermaid retelling! I loved getting to jump back into the world of Valoria and now getting to explore the Triple Kingdoms below the sea and work towards the mystery of the Vazula island. And after that cliffhanger, I need to know more!!
September 18, 2023
While I had high hopes for this book, this was a copy-and-paste YA novel, with mermaids.
I think that I need to stop trying to make mermaids happen for myself because I keep coming back disappointed.
I think that I need to stop trying to make mermaids happen for myself because I keep coming back disappointed.
July 18, 2025
Under the sea, Merletta has turned sixteen and is determined to pursue her dream of becoming a Record Keeper for the Triple Kingdom. She won’t have it easy, as she was raised in a charity home as an orphan, and all her skills come from applying herself, lots of self-discipline, and a fair number of clandestine trips to the surface. The difficult entrance exam was only the fintip of the animosity, though, and if she hopes to have a chance of making it past even the first year, she will have to apply herself more than she ever has. The more information is kept from her, the more earnestly she digs, even swimming further out from the protective barrier than ever before.
On the surface, Heath is the only magic-less member of his family, or so it seems. After all, sharp eyesight isn’t all that magical. But with the general populace getting nervous about the off-branch of the royal family having power that the King and his family don’t, he finds himself constantly pulled towards the conflict. So he seeks the far-flung near-mythical island of Vazula, where once, long ago, people with and without power may have lived in harmony, to see what answers it may hold.
Vazula just might hold more answers for Heath and Merletta than either of them ever expected.
Setting oneself no expectations for the quality of an interesting-sounding book blurb alone means that you can never be disappointed. In this case, though, it meant that I was superbly pleased, so that I even (gasp!) bought an ebook copy as I was in the middle of it when my KU subscription ended. I just wanted to read more and more of both Heath’s and Merletta’s stories, and see where everything was going. And realize at the end that I now have another new series to start reading…
On the surface, Heath is the only magic-less member of his family, or so it seems. After all, sharp eyesight isn’t all that magical. But with the general populace getting nervous about the off-branch of the royal family having power that the King and his family don’t, he finds himself constantly pulled towards the conflict. So he seeks the far-flung near-mythical island of Vazula, where once, long ago, people with and without power may have lived in harmony, to see what answers it may hold.
Vazula just might hold more answers for Heath and Merletta than either of them ever expected.
Setting oneself no expectations for the quality of an interesting-sounding book blurb alone means that you can never be disappointed. In this case, though, it meant that I was superbly pleased, so that I even (gasp!) bought an ebook copy as I was in the middle of it when my KU subscription ended. I just wanted to read more and more of both Heath’s and Merletta’s stories, and see where everything was going. And realize at the end that I now have another new series to start reading…
March 22, 2024
I'm glad I gave this series another shot. It took a while to grow on me, but I did like it after a while.
July 26, 2023
#HighFantasy #ComingofAge #YA #Academy #Mermaids #RandomDragons #WhatCouldGoWrong?
These were on my TBR list for SO LONG. And now that they are all on audio, I finally took the plunge and binged the whole series. No regrets!
Summary: You know the story: a fish girl meets a human boy on a secret/private island. Fish girl and human boy fall in love—except fish girl has to go to a four-year mermaid academy to uncover all the secrets kept from her in their dystopian underwater society, and human boy has to deal with feuding members of his magical and non-magical family.
And then the human boy’s dragon friend decides he doesn’t like the fish girl for mysterious reason, and everyone starts stabbing each other for the dramatic conclusion!
That whole classic thing!
Pros: So I don’t know if everyone knows (because they cleverly changed their last names with that silly human convention called “love” and “marriage” and “happiness”), but Melanie Cellier and Deborah Grace White are sisters. I read a whole series by White (and basically ALL the books by Cellier) without knowing that. They write the same kind of stuff, but I wouldn’t say their styles are that close (or any closer than anyone else writing in the same genre/heat level), until now.
And I’m putting it down as a "pro" because I have really enjoyed Cellier’s different academy series and I was happy to get a mermaid one in a similar vein from White.
The cool thing about Mermaid School is that it really isn’t focused on any magic per se (or at least, no more magic than the fact that mermaids exist doing mermaid things) and our leading fish girl doesn’t have any special powers other than an impressive memory and the tendency to question her elders/go against the status quo. She just shows up at the school because she wants to be there (not because she has some special power or prophetic destiny) and works really hard to stay there (along with asking a whole lot of questions).
And even though I have NOTHING against the “special power/prophetic destiny” approach to most academy reads from Harry Potter on down, I found the change in dynamic refreshing.
The other change is that her human love interest is already an adult (eighteen to her sixteen), so it’s “no more teachers, no more books” for him and he has a completely separate storyline on land with his complicated family of magical and non-magical royals.
All the main characters (including the random dragon-friend that is required for any White book) are brought together by their love of exploring and the human boy uses his visits to the secret mermaid island more as an escape.
But that also means that their romance is very much slow burn/secondary (and they don’t even meet until closer to the halfway mark). Instead, the plot centers on trying to uncover various secrets and keep a bunch of different people from fighting each other—building on a theme of “coming together” that is perfect for a “forbidden” mermaid/human-style romance.
I ended up predicting the magical “twist” at the end within the first chapter of the book, but I still found it very satisfying. 🙂
Awesome!
Cons: Speaking of the ending . . . you know that thing where you are happily chugging along with a certain MC, and then—completely randomly—you go back in time and have to replay some of the same events again with the OTHER MC, usually to create a false sense of suspense while you frantically try to figure out what the heck is going on—even though it already happened?
Yeah. That happens a couple different times in this series. And I don’t like it.
Mermaids? Absolutely.
Random dragons? Yes, please.
But random breaks in the writing time-space-continuum? I say unto you NAY!
(Unless you happen to be in possession of a rather dapper bowtie, a blue box, and have seated yourself comfortably in the scif-fi section. Then breaking the rules of time and space is completely a-okay—even encouraged).
Conclusion: If you enjoyed Cellier’s magical academy books (or you just like clean romantic magical academy books in general) and think you would enjoy a slow-burn mermaid romance, this series is great. Lots of cool magic to play with, secrets to explore, and a sprinkle of romance building in the background.
Once I got started, I had no reason to stop (and all the audiobooks happily preloaded on my devise to keep me going).
These were on my TBR list for SO LONG. And now that they are all on audio, I finally took the plunge and binged the whole series. No regrets!
Summary: You know the story: a fish girl meets a human boy on a secret/private island. Fish girl and human boy fall in love—except fish girl has to go to a four-year mermaid academy to uncover all the secrets kept from her in their dystopian underwater society, and human boy has to deal with feuding members of his magical and non-magical family.
And then the human boy’s dragon friend decides he doesn’t like the fish girl for mysterious reason, and everyone starts stabbing each other for the dramatic conclusion!
That whole classic thing!
Pros: So I don’t know if everyone knows (because they cleverly changed their last names with that silly human convention called “love” and “marriage” and “happiness”), but Melanie Cellier and Deborah Grace White are sisters. I read a whole series by White (and basically ALL the books by Cellier) without knowing that. They write the same kind of stuff, but I wouldn’t say their styles are that close (or any closer than anyone else writing in the same genre/heat level), until now.
And I’m putting it down as a "pro" because I have really enjoyed Cellier’s different academy series and I was happy to get a mermaid one in a similar vein from White.
The cool thing about Mermaid School is that it really isn’t focused on any magic per se (or at least, no more magic than the fact that mermaids exist doing mermaid things) and our leading fish girl doesn’t have any special powers other than an impressive memory and the tendency to question her elders/go against the status quo. She just shows up at the school because she wants to be there (not because she has some special power or prophetic destiny) and works really hard to stay there (along with asking a whole lot of questions).
And even though I have NOTHING against the “special power/prophetic destiny” approach to most academy reads from Harry Potter on down, I found the change in dynamic refreshing.
The other change is that her human love interest is already an adult (eighteen to her sixteen), so it’s “no more teachers, no more books” for him and he has a completely separate storyline on land with his complicated family of magical and non-magical royals.
All the main characters (including the random dragon-friend that is required for any White book) are brought together by their love of exploring and the human boy uses his visits to the secret mermaid island more as an escape.
But that also means that their romance is very much slow burn/secondary (and they don’t even meet until closer to the halfway mark). Instead, the plot centers on trying to uncover various secrets and keep a bunch of different people from fighting each other—building on a theme of “coming together” that is perfect for a “forbidden” mermaid/human-style romance.
I ended up predicting the magical “twist” at the end within the first chapter of the book, but I still found it very satisfying. 🙂
Awesome!
Cons: Speaking of the ending . . . you know that thing where you are happily chugging along with a certain MC, and then—completely randomly—you go back in time and have to replay some of the same events again with the OTHER MC, usually to create a false sense of suspense while you frantically try to figure out what the heck is going on—even though it already happened?
Yeah. That happens a couple different times in this series. And I don’t like it.
Mermaids? Absolutely.
Random dragons? Yes, please.
But random breaks in the writing time-space-continuum? I say unto you NAY!
(Unless you happen to be in possession of a rather dapper bowtie, a blue box, and have seated yourself comfortably in the scif-fi section. Then breaking the rules of time and space is completely a-okay—even encouraged).
Conclusion: If you enjoyed Cellier’s magical academy books (or you just like clean romantic magical academy books in general) and think you would enjoy a slow-burn mermaid romance, this series is great. Lots of cool magic to play with, secrets to explore, and a sprinkle of romance building in the background.
Once I got started, I had no reason to stop (and all the audiobooks happily preloaded on my devise to keep me going).
June 4, 2023
I liked the politics. I liked the map. I honestly liked both conflicts. Both the mermaids and the humans conflict. I just wanted more page time with our two main characters together. Ha I love mermaids though and I love dragons. The dragons were honestly my favorite part and they needed more page time too. Haha mermaids are cool though. This book was good!
SPOILERS and book notes:
Heck yes! I love that immediately our heroine is attacked by a shark! And sharks have greater cognitive ability in this world apparently. Ooo a mermaid orphan cool. Now heath! A man that is friends with a dragon named Reka! Sweeeet. The dragons in this book can talk and are humanoid. ““Why is it that my problems always seem to get smaller the closer I get to the ocean, Reka?” These dragons can choose to be immortal if they want. But they give up being able to have children. The only magical ability heath has manifested so far is superior eyesight. But that makes him the best archer in the land. Ooo the dragon with wings swims in the ocean too!! They are unaware of the mermaid kingdom!! Bahahah classic dragon attitude: “his tone communicating the faint surprise it always held when his human friend showed any sign of intelligence.” Reka has the ability of farsight too. Oh my do these dragons have any weakness?? But heath doesn’t ride the dragon. He just carrys him in his claws. Duke of blexley can discern truth telling. Percival has super strength. A record keeping mermaid. Very unique and interesting. I feel like I’m reading two completely different stories. When and how are they going to combine??? A mermaid school with physical combat and learning the history and how to read as the main subjects?? Super intriguing. He shot the target blindfolded. He has the dragon sight. Interesting the mermaids think it’s just the dragons who rule the land and the sky. They don’t know about humans! And the humans don’t know about merpeople! Can they help each other??? Finally a meet cute!!! 40% in the book…. I was dying haha She didn’t even know a human creature existed! And he didn’t know mermaid either!! All the magic people have are from dragons. It’s dragon magic. Well the last three chapters finally brought some action haha. But no kiss!?! And no more moments between them??? That ending was heart breaking. I wish the dragon wasn’t just used for heaths transportation ya know?
SPOILERS and book notes:
Heck yes! I love that immediately our heroine is attacked by a shark! And sharks have greater cognitive ability in this world apparently. Ooo a mermaid orphan cool. Now heath! A man that is friends with a dragon named Reka! Sweeeet. The dragons in this book can talk and are humanoid. ““Why is it that my problems always seem to get smaller the closer I get to the ocean, Reka?” These dragons can choose to be immortal if they want. But they give up being able to have children. The only magical ability heath has manifested so far is superior eyesight. But that makes him the best archer in the land. Ooo the dragon with wings swims in the ocean too!! They are unaware of the mermaid kingdom!! Bahahah classic dragon attitude: “his tone communicating the faint surprise it always held when his human friend showed any sign of intelligence.” Reka has the ability of farsight too. Oh my do these dragons have any weakness?? But heath doesn’t ride the dragon. He just carrys him in his claws. Duke of blexley can discern truth telling. Percival has super strength. A record keeping mermaid. Very unique and interesting. I feel like I’m reading two completely different stories. When and how are they going to combine??? A mermaid school with physical combat and learning the history and how to read as the main subjects?? Super intriguing. He shot the target blindfolded. He has the dragon sight. Interesting the mermaids think it’s just the dragons who rule the land and the sky. They don’t know about humans! And the humans don’t know about merpeople! Can they help each other??? Finally a meet cute!!! 40% in the book…. I was dying haha She didn’t even know a human creature existed! And he didn’t know mermaid either!! All the magic people have are from dragons. It’s dragon magic. Well the last three chapters finally brought some action haha. But no kiss!?! And no more moments between them??? That ending was heart breaking. I wish the dragon wasn’t just used for heaths transportation ya know?
May 16, 2023
I requested & received this Audiobook for free from the Publisher. My opinions are my own.
Real Rating 3.5* (rounded up since I plan to continue the series)
THE BAD - I read too many of these types of books, and therefore found the main story lines to be a bit predictable & tropeish. The female MC is a plucky orphan taking on the establishment while being bullied by students & teachers alike. The male MC lives in a society that is paranoid about people with powers and is facing prejudice and possible restrictions. I would really like to read more YA books where there was no bullying at all (I know it is a serious issue that is rampant in our society, but a chance to escape that occasionally would be nice). It also takes too long to really get started and focuses least on the things I like most.
THE GOOD - All the MCs were likeable, and there are some good side characters. I am very curious to find out what the history of the various kingdoms is. I like the communications issues that come up despite them all speaking the same base language.
THE BEST - My favorite parts were when Heath & Merletta were together. I liked their developing relationship, and felt that they had a good balance of things in common and strengths that could compliment the other's weaknesses.
THE NARRATION - I like her voice. I'm not sure what the accent is, or whether it is her own or not; she didn't use different ones for the different sets of people though. There were a few oddly pronounced words, but I don't know if they are mispronunciations or just a different English than my own. The other thing that slightly threw me off, and is an entirely personal thing, is that she used a deeper voice for the MC Heath than for his older (& much stronger) brother. I initially kept confusing them when they were speaking, since in my own mind Pearce should have had the deeper voice. The speed was a bit slow, I sped it up slightly above my usual 1.25.
Real Rating 3.5* (rounded up since I plan to continue the series)
THE BAD - I read too many of these types of books, and therefore found the main story lines to be a bit predictable & tropeish. The female MC is a plucky orphan taking on the establishment while being bullied by students & teachers alike. The male MC lives in a society that is paranoid about people with powers and is facing prejudice and possible restrictions. I would really like to read more YA books where there was no bullying at all (I know it is a serious issue that is rampant in our society, but a chance to escape that occasionally would be nice). It also takes too long to really get started and focuses least on the things I like most.
THE GOOD - All the MCs were likeable, and there are some good side characters. I am very curious to find out what the history of the various kingdoms is. I like the communications issues that come up despite them all speaking the same base language.
THE BEST - My favorite parts were when Heath & Merletta were together. I liked their developing relationship, and felt that they had a good balance of things in common and strengths that could compliment the other's weaknesses.
THE NARRATION - I like her voice. I'm not sure what the accent is, or whether it is her own or not; she didn't use different ones for the different sets of people though. There were a few oddly pronounced words, but I don't know if they are mispronunciations or just a different English than my own. The other thing that slightly threw me off, and is an entirely personal thing, is that she used a deeper voice for the MC Heath than for his older (& much stronger) brother. I initially kept confusing them when they were speaking, since in my own mind Pearce should have had the deeper voice. The speed was a bit slow, I sped it up slightly above my usual 1.25.
July 3, 2022
4.5 stars for first book in series
White is one of my insta-click authors so I pre-ordered the whole series even though I’m not a fan of academy books with their “mean girls” and Snape-like instructors. The book started out slow for me as the author spent a lot of time world- building and setting up the the two protagonists’ meeting - which I understand was necessary. I was just impatient to get the two of them on-page together.
The second half moved much faster and I expect the rest of the books will too now that things are in play. I still wish there was more on-page togetherness with Merletta and Heath, but again I understand the reasons why they are not right now. Hopefully we get more of that in future books. This does end on a cliffhanger so be warned. Thankfully book 2 comes out shortly, but as this is a four-book series I’m expecting more cliffhangers until the end of book 4.
I’m definitely sticking with this series. The two MCs are engaging and I care about them both already. Heath’s family’s issues are interesting and it was fun to see Jocelyn from the Kyona Chronicles. I’m disappointed Kinkaid has no page time and was only referenced - and not even by name- as he is one of my favorite characters in any of her books. It was great to see Reka again and even get a cameo of Eldrekki. So why leave Kinkaid out?
White is one of my insta-click authors so I pre-ordered the whole series even though I’m not a fan of academy books with their “mean girls” and Snape-like instructors. The book started out slow for me as the author spent a lot of time world- building and setting up the the two protagonists’ meeting - which I understand was necessary. I was just impatient to get the two of them on-page together.
The second half moved much faster and I expect the rest of the books will too now that things are in play. I still wish there was more on-page togetherness with Merletta and Heath, but again I understand the reasons why they are not right now. Hopefully we get more of that in future books. This does end on a cliffhanger so be warned. Thankfully book 2 comes out shortly, but as this is a four-book series I’m expecting more cliffhangers until the end of book 4.
I’m definitely sticking with this series. The two MCs are engaging and I care about them both already. Heath’s family’s issues are interesting and it was fun to see Jocelyn from the Kyona Chronicles. I’m disappointed Kinkaid has no page time and was only referenced - and not even by name- as he is one of my favorite characters in any of her books. It was great to see Reka again and even get a cameo of Eldrekki. So why leave Kinkaid out?
July 7, 2022
Unlike other works from DGW, it is worth nothing that this is NOT A STANDALONE NOVEL! While the ending has some resolution and isn't exactly a cliff-hanger, it does not complete the story arc. But I don't mind because there is a rapid-release schedule, which is great because I don't have to wait too long to find out what happens next! This also explains the slower pacing of the beginning of the novel. Lots of ground work is being laid, and going back and forth each chapter between leads felt tedious in the beginning since you were engaged in that particular character's story, only for it to abruptly switch POVs. Once the stories began to have more overlap/the characters met, the pacing increased considerably.
This delightful fantasy tale weaves political dynamics of kingdoms on land and in the sea with characters in procession of unbreakable spirits, my favorite dragon family, and world building that found it's foundations in the Kyona chronicles series. While reading the Kyona Chronicles is by no means a pre-requisite for this series, it is helpful background for characters and kingdom dynamics.
DGW has quickly become a "one-click" author for me because of her imaginative tales, loveable dragons, and relatable characters. I highly recommend this story!
This delightful fantasy tale weaves political dynamics of kingdoms on land and in the sea with characters in procession of unbreakable spirits, my favorite dragon family, and world building that found it's foundations in the Kyona chronicles series. While reading the Kyona Chronicles is by no means a pre-requisite for this series, it is helpful background for characters and kingdom dynamics.
DGW has quickly become a "one-click" author for me because of her imaginative tales, loveable dragons, and relatable characters. I highly recommend this story!
September 7, 2022
This book does a brilliant job of introducing several kingdoms and layers of politics as the story goes along in a way the develops a complex and fascinating world without the reader feeling overwhelmed by lengthy descriptions at the beginning. The heroine, Merletta is spunky, bold, adventurous, good, and one who doesn't take things at face value. She stays true to herself and is willing to take on just about any obstacle. She also loves to learn and explore and fight for opportunities for others which makes her really fun to watch. Deborah Grace White is really thoughtful about what life underwater would be like and how that would affect the way things are done. It is fun to follow both Merletta as well as the hero, Heath. Heath provides an interesting contrast to Merletta as he is more reserved and unsure about his place in the world, but he also shares her sense of justice and willingness to seek out and fight for what is right. They are both sacrificial and love learning and have a tendency to end up in sticky situations. A Kingdom Submerged is a great opening to the Vazula Chronicles. It is a good read for readers who enjoy stories told from both of the main characters' perspectives, complex (but easy to understand) worlds, adventure, mystery, and slow-burn romance.
June 28, 2024
Not gonna lie, the beginning was slow and this book was written like a set up for the rest of the series, but that being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m soo intrigued by everything and am itching to find out what’s going on! 😆 The characters are relatable and likable, and you can’t help but root for them. There’s just the barest hint of romance, but I liked seeing Merletta and Heath get to know each other first. Their meeting was so funny as the mermaid was so fascinated by the human and the human by the mermaid. 😂
Something I absolutely loved was the world building! Most of the mermaid book’s I’ve read were Little Mermaid retellings, so they don’t spend much time in the underwater world. This one however spent so much time there and it was so cool and fun seeing all the unique aspects she gave to the underwater kingdom! 😍 All the world building in general was well done and the fantasy elements great! I mean I want a dragon friend now.
All in all I’m really excited to start the second book and see where this story takes me! 😆
Something I absolutely loved was the world building! Most of the mermaid book’s I’ve read were Little Mermaid retellings, so they don’t spend much time in the underwater world. This one however spent so much time there and it was so cool and fun seeing all the unique aspects she gave to the underwater kingdom! 😍 All the world building in general was well done and the fantasy elements great! I mean I want a dragon friend now.
All in all I’m really excited to start the second book and see where this story takes me! 😆
April 24, 2025
Ahhhhhhh...the fricking end !! This is why I need autoconclusive novels. The angst is killing me.
Honestly, a hidden gem, it is lighthearted, entertaining, very complex for a retelling, and a narration that is both compelling and great at creating a unique setting.
I want to keep exploring the center, I want to know AMIL for God Damm sake. And I want Ilyana GONE, I hope a shark eats her or something; and all the instructors of we are at it.
I don't want to. I need to know what the hell took on Rakavita, cause what do you mean it's best to leave her to die !!, WHAT DO YOU MEAN. Oh, and I also don't forget you friking ghosting Heith for an entire month.
Finally, Heith, my man. Love you, buy why is it that on book 2 you start with a stupid ass arrow competition ehh?. Like you are supposed to be thinking that Merleta is dead. I want to see you weeping b* !, full on sobbing, NOT going around silly goofy with your friends and brother, this isn't supposed to be a men's go out, but a fucking funeral !!!!.
Honestly, a hidden gem, it is lighthearted, entertaining, very complex for a retelling, and a narration that is both compelling and great at creating a unique setting.
I want to keep exploring the center, I want to know AMIL for God Damm sake. And I want Ilyana GONE, I hope a shark eats her or something; and all the instructors of we are at it.
I don't want to. I need to know what the hell took on Rakavita, cause what do you mean it's best to leave her to die !!, WHAT DO YOU MEAN. Oh, and I also don't forget you friking ghosting Heith for an entire month.
Finally, Heith, my man. Love you, buy why is it that on book 2 you start with a stupid ass arrow competition ehh?. Like you are supposed to be thinking that Merleta is dead. I want to see you weeping b* !, full on sobbing, NOT going around silly goofy with your friends and brother, this isn't supposed to be a men's go out, but a fucking funeral !!!!.
June 3, 2025
Is it woke?
Not at all.
Is it good?
Despite falling into traditional new author traps such as pacing issues, White's thrilling storyline, unique characters, and phenomenal world building make this series astounding. It far surpasses typical YA stories. It is just as enjoyable for teens as adults.
Is it appropriate for your children?
There is no swearing, and despite boasting a sweet romance, the 'Vazula' series only (mildly) sexual content are chaste kisses and a few references to the hero's shock at the mermaid's 'shells' and the difference in winter human attire to summer mermaid attire.
There is some violence. The heroine trains as a guard and has a few real fights. This is appropriate for the adventure genre and no more detailed than the next tale.
The tension is possibly the most mature thing in this series. It increases as the series progresses, and there is at least one assassin attempt in each novel, though these are usually off page or non violent. The last book culminates in a battle. 10-12+.
Not at all.
Is it good?
Despite falling into traditional new author traps such as pacing issues, White's thrilling storyline, unique characters, and phenomenal world building make this series astounding. It far surpasses typical YA stories. It is just as enjoyable for teens as adults.
Is it appropriate for your children?
There is no swearing, and despite boasting a sweet romance, the 'Vazula' series only (mildly) sexual content are chaste kisses and a few references to the hero's shock at the mermaid's 'shells' and the difference in winter human attire to summer mermaid attire.
There is some violence. The heroine trains as a guard and has a few real fights. This is appropriate for the adventure genre and no more detailed than the next tale.
The tension is possibly the most mature thing in this series. It increases as the series progresses, and there is at least one assassin attempt in each novel, though these are usually off page or non violent. The last book culminates in a battle. 10-12+.
June 17, 2022
So I was super excited for this to come out since I loved the Kyona series and the Kingdom chronicles, so I snatched it up the morning it came out.
And I can certainly say I loved it!
It was really tense and exciting, and it was really interesting to discover more about the relations between her two different series. The wordbuilding really stood out to me, it was amazing.
I liked the characters, though they weren't my favourite this time, and it was nice to see some familiar faces.
And we finally get to meet a younger Reka!!! Exciting. Though I am puzzled and slightly annoyed with his change towards the end. I wonder what caused it.
(And is this kind of a retelling of the little mermaid? Because I think it is.)
Anyway, exciting book and I look forward to reading more.
One note: unlike her previous series, this really doesn't work well as a standalone since it ends on a cliffhanger.
And I can certainly say I loved it!
It was really tense and exciting, and it was really interesting to discover more about the relations between her two different series. The wordbuilding really stood out to me, it was amazing.
I liked the characters, though they weren't my favourite this time, and it was nice to see some familiar faces.
And we finally get to meet a younger Reka!!! Exciting. Though I am puzzled and slightly annoyed with his change towards the end. I wonder what caused it.
(And is this kind of a retelling of the little mermaid? Because I think it is.)
Anyway, exciting book and I look forward to reading more.
One note: unlike her previous series, this really doesn't work well as a standalone since it ends on a cliffhanger.
April 29, 2025
Heath, younger son of a duke of Valoria, enjoys a rare friendship with a “young” dragon, Rekavidur, who loves to go exploring with his human. Heath pushes his friend to fly him farther east, where no ships dared to venture. “Yes, generations of Valorians had deemed the East Seas impassable. But they had never tried traveling by dragon.”
This is a tale of accepting those who are different, those who are gifted with magic—human, dragon, or mermaid. It is a tale of governments that work to deceive their populations, of the under-dog who works to reveal the lies to bring the people out of bondage.
Deborah develops likeable characters whose interactions sometimes make me shudder, sometimes smile, and occasionally applaud. Though I struggled as much as the characters to see them through this first book of the series, I liked them enough to follow them onward.
If you love books of those from the lowest strata of society proving their worth, you’ll like this one!
This is a tale of accepting those who are different, those who are gifted with magic—human, dragon, or mermaid. It is a tale of governments that work to deceive their populations, of the under-dog who works to reveal the lies to bring the people out of bondage.
Deborah develops likeable characters whose interactions sometimes make me shudder, sometimes smile, and occasionally applaud. Though I struggled as much as the characters to see them through this first book of the series, I liked them enough to follow them onward.
If you love books of those from the lowest strata of society proving their worth, you’ll like this one!
February 22, 2023
I found this series by chance and honestly I hadn’t learned my lesson in regards to judging a book by its cover. I expected that it was going to be another shallow iteration (pun-not-intended) of The Little Mermaid, but we got something quite fascinating instead. The Centre gave me some vibes of the Ministry of Records in 1984, and the issues that the main protagonist were facing were surprisingly complex. Additionally, the friendship between Marletta and Heath was developed in a slow and more realistic manner than I expected, and a lot more focus was placed on their own individual journeys and struggles rather than prioritising or rushing a romance. I actually enjoyed this story quite a lot, and it was thanks to well thought-out world-building that was clear to follow and understand. It made it a lot more immersive and enjoyable.
May 12, 2024
A Little Mermaid Retelling in 4 Parts
The Vazula Chronicles is a creative retelling of the Little Mermaid. Merletta lives in one world under the water, and Lord Heath lives in quite a different world on land. A chance meeting leads to friendship and an exchange of information about their different worlds. Forces are at work in both nations to divide the people. The world building is excellent, and the foundation is laid for a great story about sneaky evil forces creeping in to disrupt their worlds. There are lies, betrayals, and mysteries. A young Rekavidur is in this story, but something isn’t quite right with him towards the end. Also, Merletta learns some amazing truths at the end of this story. So there are definitely some issues which need resolving.
The Vazula Chronicles is a creative retelling of the Little Mermaid. Merletta lives in one world under the water, and Lord Heath lives in quite a different world on land. A chance meeting leads to friendship and an exchange of information about their different worlds. Forces are at work in both nations to divide the people. The world building is excellent, and the foundation is laid for a great story about sneaky evil forces creeping in to disrupt their worlds. There are lies, betrayals, and mysteries. A young Rekavidur is in this story, but something isn’t quite right with him towards the end. Also, Merletta learns some amazing truths at the end of this story. So there are definitely some issues which need resolving.
October 30, 2024
This book was on my holds shelf for MONTHS after I accidentally let the loan time of 14 days lapse. This was a really fun and interesting retelling of The Little Mermaid. I hate reading variations of fairytales that just narrate the story almost exactly like the original…this book was definitely not that.
It was fun to read about her life—training to be a scribe, the mystery surrounding her abandonment, the complexities of her man friends magical world, the addition of dragons and other interesting aspects of Azula.
This book was captivating and I’m excited to continue the series (over the course of the next year obviously, because they’re all on hold for mooooonths)
It was fun to read about her life—training to be a scribe, the mystery surrounding her abandonment, the complexities of her man friends magical world, the addition of dragons and other interesting aspects of Azula.
This book was captivating and I’m excited to continue the series (over the course of the next year obviously, because they’re all on hold for mooooonths)
January 18, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ I can see middle grade and younger YA readers really enjoying this story. An orphan with a mysterious past fighting for her place in society, while also discovering what they’ve always been taught isn’t true, meets a human. This man comes from a usual and magical family, though he seems to lack a magical ability, but is close friends with a self-aware dragon. What he’s been taught isn’t entirely true either.
There isn’t romance in this book. It’s more like an establishment of friendship, but I expect it to be more in the sequels.
No swearing, no sex, no other issues. Some bullying that turns to violence.
There isn’t romance in this book. It’s more like an establishment of friendship, but I expect it to be more in the sequels.
No swearing, no sex, no other issues. Some bullying that turns to violence.
July 5, 2022
a great glimpse behind
I read this book and shortly thereafter read some of the Kingdom Chronicles again. With that perspective, I think the author does an excellent job in linking her series without placing an obligation upon the reader to read all of them in order. The characters in this book seem a bit self-absorbed, but even that matches with the overall development arc this installment begins. I’m so absorbed by the characters that I’m almost afraid to read the next book, and that’s a sign to me that the author has created a truly engaging world.
I read this book and shortly thereafter read some of the Kingdom Chronicles again. With that perspective, I think the author does an excellent job in linking her series without placing an obligation upon the reader to read all of them in order. The characters in this book seem a bit self-absorbed, but even that matches with the overall development arc this installment begins. I’m so absorbed by the characters that I’m almost afraid to read the next book, and that’s a sign to me that the author has created a truly engaging world.
April 11, 2024
Ahhhhh! Why couldn't I have been warned this ended in a cliffhanger!?
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. It's about a human and a mermaid, and neither of them believes the other's world exists until a chance meeting on a deserted island.
The mermaid world is very well thought out and explained. It's different from any undersea world I've read so far but also very realistic.
The human world was also very well done with its royal families and power-weilder vs. normal people problems.
I would've liked more romance, but I'm holding out hope that it progresses in the next books.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. It's about a human and a mermaid, and neither of them believes the other's world exists until a chance meeting on a deserted island.
The mermaid world is very well thought out and explained. It's different from any undersea world I've read so far but also very realistic.
The human world was also very well done with its royal families and power-weilder vs. normal people problems.
I would've liked more romance, but I'm holding out hope that it progresses in the next books.
July 8, 2022
I’m so excited for another series added to this world! This book takes place several generations after the Kyona Chronicles but it’s fun to make all the connections with past characters and see the reappearance of some of my favorites! This book has fascinating world building! I love this take on the mermaid world! And I’m very excited to get to know Rekavidur a little more. His dad, Eldrekki has been my favorite character in all of this author’s books so far.
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