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Mermaid's Song
Through the ages, the balance between good and evil is maintained by the Seadragons. But only two dragons remain, and unless the people of the underwater caverns can find a true Merramaid to act as a Between, evil will prevail in the watery realm.
396 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 23, 2009
This is one of my favorite books of all time, and I find it a real tragedy that it's so little-known. The first and only book by Alida Van Gores, it's the story of an underwater civilization filled with racial inequality and ecological uncertainty, and manages to be fascinating, rather than preachy. I highly recommend it...if you can find a copy.
October 5, 2014
Gorgeous, completely gorgeous! Truly the best mermaid book I've ever had the pleasure to read.
I've always been a fan of mermaids and I spent hours upon hours drawing and coloring them as a kid. I borrowed every mermaid book I could get from the library (love the illustrated ones!) and when the mermaid/sea creatures theme became a thing in YA, I excitedly tried them. Sadly, I didn't enjoy them very much.
THIS book however, is the mermaid book I've always wanted to read. The mermaid aspect is not a sub-plot. There are no humans (or involving turning into one) and it doesn't read like 'people with fins somehow living underwater'.
The story takes place in the rich and beautiful underwater world created by Alida. The society, customs, environment, EVERYTHING is well crafted. The summary gives you the gist of the story but it did not prepare me for the emotions.
Reading this book was a wonderful experience. By some miracle my uni library had a copy of it after I saw (and lusted after) this mentioned on Anya @ Starships and Dragonwing's haul. A book like this is timeless and should not be lost. I wish the publishers would reissue another edition.
I've always been a fan of mermaids and I spent hours upon hours drawing and coloring them as a kid. I borrowed every mermaid book I could get from the library (love the illustrated ones!) and when the mermaid/sea creatures theme became a thing in YA, I excitedly tried them. Sadly, I didn't enjoy them very much.
THIS book however, is the mermaid book I've always wanted to read. The mermaid aspect is not a sub-plot. There are no humans (or involving turning into one) and it doesn't read like 'people with fins somehow living underwater'.
The story takes place in the rich and beautiful underwater world created by Alida. The society, customs, environment, EVERYTHING is well crafted. The summary gives you the gist of the story but it did not prepare me for the emotions.
Reading this book was a wonderful experience. By some miracle my uni library had a copy of it after I saw (and lusted after) this mentioned on Anya @ Starships and Dragonwing's haul. A book like this is timeless and should not be lost. I wish the publishers would reissue another edition.
October 30, 2017
What an incredible worldbuilding this book exhibits, with a complex underwater civilisation for a setting and all characters belonging to several societies and species. This is by no means a The Little Mermaid retelling; not even remotely. There are no humans in this fully-developed world, and no longing on the part of any character to meet or become one of them for love either. Instead, it's the quick-paced story of a young Merra (one of the mermaid-like races inhabiting this world) known as Elan on a quest to save and become the caretaker, here called a Between, for the last specimens of the dying Seadragons, on whom the Balance depends.
The Balance is sort of like the Force from Star Wars, and if the Seadragons die out, the equilibrium between the good and bad sides will be broken and everyone will be in trouble. Only Betweens that are Merra can forestall the impending doom, and Elan has to fight tooth and nail for a chance at the position, with seemingly insurmountable odds against her. The way she struggles to achieve this goal is the backbone of the plotline, and is so well done, with plenty twists and suspense that kept me fully immersed till the end. It's bittersweet in tone overall, and at times heart-wrenching, but a beautiful story as well.
The Balance is sort of like the Force from Star Wars, and if the Seadragons die out, the equilibrium between the good and bad sides will be broken and everyone will be in trouble. Only Betweens that are Merra can forestall the impending doom, and Elan has to fight tooth and nail for a chance at the position, with seemingly insurmountable odds against her. The way she struggles to achieve this goal is the backbone of the plotline, and is so well done, with plenty twists and suspense that kept me fully immersed till the end. It's bittersweet in tone overall, and at times heart-wrenching, but a beautiful story as well.
June 13, 2015
O_o This will have to be a DNF for me.
No matter how interesting I found the world.I will have to draw the line at themermaid merra female protagonist having sex with a dolphin. In explicit detail.
No matter how interesting I found the world.I will have to draw the line at the
August 20, 2010
This out-of-print book is wonderful, and if you can find it I recommend snagging it. This is the only book by this author, who passed away in 1998.
From the back cover:
Through the ages the Balance between good and evil had been maintained, guarded by the legendary Seadragons. Every fifty years the people of the underwater Caverns held a Choosing to find a new Between to serve the dragons. While legend says only the Merramaids were once selected for this most vital of tasks, long ago the Merra were betrayed by their distant kin, the Ghrismogs. Now, few Merra remain in the world. As a result, evil has spread throughout the watery realm.
It is time for the final Choosing, for only two Seadragons still live. Unless the Merramaid Elan as the last true Between can prevail, the Balance will be destroyed -- and darkness will triumph for all eternity...
---
This story follows a young Merra named Elan, as she discovers that the truth about her people is much different than how the Mogs tell it. She gains several friends throughout the story; one is a giant Squid, another an old blind Merra named Tia, and the dolphin Nemu, along with several others. Together they help Elan face the dangers of becoming the Between for the seadragons, a position jealously held by the Mogs.
There are also points of views told by Menol, a Merra-Mog mix who is also an Elder of the Caverns. He struggles with what is commonly said about the Merra (vain and weak) vs what he sees when he briefly meets Elan training for the Choosing.
The main villain of this story is Groff, a cruel, manipulative Mog Elder with a hatred toward Merras. Groff wants only more power, and with his equally vile niece Kili as Between, he can easily become High Elder.
The point of view is primarily with Elan, though there are several points where the story switches to Menol, Kili, Groff, and a few other minor characters.
This is a good story, and the underwater world is richly depicted and a nice change from the typical fantasy scenery. The book is broken into a few different sections, starting with Elan's beginnings, the Choosing, and what happens after, with enough twists to keep you turning pages. The ending is a little abrupt, but the main story is strong enough that it is easily forgiven.
From the back cover:
Through the ages the Balance between good and evil had been maintained, guarded by the legendary Seadragons. Every fifty years the people of the underwater Caverns held a Choosing to find a new Between to serve the dragons. While legend says only the Merramaids were once selected for this most vital of tasks, long ago the Merra were betrayed by their distant kin, the Ghrismogs. Now, few Merra remain in the world. As a result, evil has spread throughout the watery realm.
It is time for the final Choosing, for only two Seadragons still live. Unless the Merramaid Elan as the last true Between can prevail, the Balance will be destroyed -- and darkness will triumph for all eternity...
---
This story follows a young Merra named Elan, as she discovers that the truth about her people is much different than how the Mogs tell it. She gains several friends throughout the story; one is a giant Squid, another an old blind Merra named Tia, and the dolphin Nemu, along with several others. Together they help Elan face the dangers of becoming the Between for the seadragons, a position jealously held by the Mogs.
There are also points of views told by Menol, a Merra-Mog mix who is also an Elder of the Caverns. He struggles with what is commonly said about the Merra (vain and weak) vs what he sees when he briefly meets Elan training for the Choosing.
The main villain of this story is Groff, a cruel, manipulative Mog Elder with a hatred toward Merras. Groff wants only more power, and with his equally vile niece Kili as Between, he can easily become High Elder.
The point of view is primarily with Elan, though there are several points where the story switches to Menol, Kili, Groff, and a few other minor characters.
This is a good story, and the underwater world is richly depicted and a nice change from the typical fantasy scenery. The book is broken into a few different sections, starting with Elan's beginnings, the Choosing, and what happens after, with enough twists to keep you turning pages. The ending is a little abrupt, but the main story is strong enough that it is easily forgiven.
December 16, 2013
My mom's cousin wrote this book and I thought it was pretty good but it got really long at the end. I usually don't like fantasy because it is really weird but I liked this book. The author makes you feel like you are right there. You can really picture the scenes.
December 20, 2012
I wish someone would make an ebook version of this wonderful novel so that more readers can find and enjoy it. Let me just say that this book would make a great animated movie for a more mature audience. I bought this book as a young adult, (just turned nineteen or so), at a local library book sale for twenty-five cents. And it was worth so much more! This is my favourite mermaid-based book. Everything about it is awesome. From the intricate underwater world-building Alida Van Gores spins around the reader to the cute, loyal and protective dolphins to the telepathic sea-creatures and Merfolk. I really liked how there are two separate sets of merfolk in this novel; the Mirra who are the traditional beautiful female/male creatures with the upper bodies of humans and the lower half of tails. They have dolphin-like tails and the reproductive organs of most mammals. The Mirra are gentle, artistic, have beautiful voices and in ancient times could speak telepathically with each other and the life in the ocean. Then there are the Mog. The Mog are more fish-like and, instead of being colorful like the Mirra are mostly found in muted shades of olive green, brown or tan. The Mirra are the oppressed minority in this book with the greedy, troll-like Mog having taken over and basically ruined everything that was ever good about living under the ocean. In the center of the story is a young girl Mirra who goes on a pretty enthralling adventure. There are even songs/poems included in the story which I always find to be a treat.
July 15, 2025
Since childhood, underwater worlds and merpeople have sparked my imagination. But when it came to fiction, I often gave up hope of finding anything truly satisfying. Most mermaid stories I came across were either rehashed versions of Andersen’s The Little Mermaid or overly cheesy tales aimed at very young readers: a human becomes a mermaid, or vice versa, followed by a predictable love story. Where was the world-building? Where was the depth?
Determined to find something better, I dove into mermaid fantasy novels on goodreads and other platforms. Eventually, I struck gold: a hidden gem from the 1980s, now sadly out of print. Van Gores delivers a fully realised underwater adventure that—finally!—features no humans, only people of the sea.
I was enthralled by the world she created. Two mer-races, locked in a cold conflict for generations, are forced to unite against a greater threat. Their cultures, histories, and politics are thoughtfully developed, lending real weight to the narrative. Yes, the author draws on familiar mermaid tropes—such as their hypnotic songs and their bond with marine animals—but she weaves them into a vibrant, mysterious, and often dark ocean setting.
I especially appreciated the unconventional elements of mog/merra society, including their unique sexual norms. The plot itself was gripping, filled with unexpected turns, memorable characters, and immersive descriptions of underwater landscapes that made me want to grab a scuba tank and dive in.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, I couldn’t quite give it a five-star rating. The pacing faltered toward the end, dragging just enough to dull some of my excitement (and introducing new characters very close to the end). Still, for anyone who loves fantasy and is craving a fresh, immersive take on merfolk, this book is absolutely worth tracking down.
Determined to find something better, I dove into mermaid fantasy novels on goodreads and other platforms. Eventually, I struck gold: a hidden gem from the 1980s, now sadly out of print. Van Gores delivers a fully realised underwater adventure that—finally!—features no humans, only people of the sea.
I was enthralled by the world she created. Two mer-races, locked in a cold conflict for generations, are forced to unite against a greater threat. Their cultures, histories, and politics are thoughtfully developed, lending real weight to the narrative. Yes, the author draws on familiar mermaid tropes—such as their hypnotic songs and their bond with marine animals—but she weaves them into a vibrant, mysterious, and often dark ocean setting.
I especially appreciated the unconventional elements of mog/merra society, including their unique sexual norms. The plot itself was gripping, filled with unexpected turns, memorable characters, and immersive descriptions of underwater landscapes that made me want to grab a scuba tank and dive in.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, I couldn’t quite give it a five-star rating. The pacing faltered toward the end, dragging just enough to dull some of my excitement (and introducing new characters very close to the end). Still, for anyone who loves fantasy and is craving a fresh, immersive take on merfolk, this book is absolutely worth tracking down.
June 29, 2021
Mermaid's Song is one of those books I never thought I'd get a chance to read. It's relatively unknown, was published back in 1989 (interestingly enough, the same year a certain popular mermaid first surfaced 👀), and it was the only book ever written by Ms. Van Gores. But through a stroke of luck, however, I found a copy in one of my favorite used bookstores and immediately leaped at the chance to read it. Note: Copies usually go for $500+, so the fact I found one for ninety-five cents was a steal! I'm going to be doing a pretty spoiler-ish review here, mainly because it's so difficult to find a copy I want anyone interested in this book to be able to learn more about it, and if you're still interested, go explore your local used bookstore and hopefully stumble upon a copy. :)
The book tells the story of a young mermaid (or, in this case, Merramaid) named Elan. In the underwater world of Mermaid's Song, there are two main sea-dwelling races, albeit others are implied: the two races are the Merramaids and the Ghrismogs. Merramaids resemble your typical mermaid: a long fluked tail and delicate human-esque features. Ghrismogs, in contrast, have two tails and are typically more monstrous in appearance. (Though not always so, due to the Merra, as Merramaids are known for short, being mostly wiped out, interbreeding occurs between the two races, and that's where you get "Merramogs.")
Merra are essentially made out to be second-class citizens, acting as the servants of the "Mogs" (short for Ghrismogs) and forbidden to even look Mogs in the eye. They also are rumored to be able to use their song to communicate with other sea creatures, but they are forbidden to do so. That brings us back to Elan, a Merramaid who shows great skill at this ability. Elan also stumbles upon an ancestral hideaway for the Merra that she, along with a select trusted few, protects and caretakes.
Now, around this same time, the undersea world is preparing for a mystical event known as the Choosing, which occurs every fifty years and is when a member of their race is chosen by the legendary Seadragons to serve as their Between, which basically means they sing songs to the Dragons to help them breed.
The Seadragons are ancient, powerful, and responsible for keeping the Balance of good and evil in their watery realm. The book itself does a better job of explaining it than I could, but basically the Dragons keep the oceans beautiful and harmonious. But lately, a great darkness is encroaching. The Dragons aren't laying eggs. And the eggs aren't hatching. It's rumored that it's because a Mog cannot be a true Between for the Seadragons; only a Merra is capable of the kind of magic that keeps the Seadragons--and the rest of the ocean--together. As you can probably guess with the lead protagonist in a fantasy world, Elan might just be the Merra they need.
All that sounds like a lot, right? And get this, that's only the first half of the book. I won't go into spoilerific detail, but halfway through sh*t goes down and Elan must muster up her strength and courage to lead an army, her friends and romantic interest, into saving the Seadragons and restoring peace to the undersea realm.
It's a whirlwind of a book, with many characters and plot points that by the time you've finished, it feels like you just plowed through a whole epic fantasy series, but that's just all in this one volume.
My favorite thing is how this entire fantasy world takes place under the sea. There's one, maybe two, scenes that take place above the water, but no human characters ever make an appearance. There are a few nods here and there that imply it takes place in the depths of our modern world's oceans, however.
I loved all the characters, albeit there were a few added in super last minute that made me question why we didn't get to hear about them sooner. But everyone played their parts and you can't help falling in love with them, except of course the villains, who you'll love to hate.
Every mermaid needs her sea creature companions, right? And Elan has them, in the form of a scary-looking but actual softie giant Squid who may have been my favorite character, a baby sea turtle companion named Tooki, and a trusty dolphin called Nemu (although the word "Nemu" is used to describe all dolphins, who are portrayed as psychic, mystical, quasi-ancestors of the Merra--it's a lot to explain. The world-building is so complex I could do a whole other review on it alone.) There are also several other Merra who accompany Elan on her journey, which was a nice inclusion: a girl who starts off without knowing much about her past meets others like her from all across the sea. The villains too are sort of familiar: wealth-hoarding megalomaniacs who oppress those who are different with less influence than them?
All in all, this book was one of a kind, and it's so sad that it's not more well known. If I knew how to get a book republished, even it takes crying from the rooftops, I'd do it. The book leaves you feeling changed, and hopeful, and satisfied (although things look pretty bleak there for a while). I can safely say I see now why people who have read it say it's their favorite book. It's definitely got a place on my keeper shelf.
The book tells the story of a young mermaid (or, in this case, Merramaid) named Elan. In the underwater world of Mermaid's Song, there are two main sea-dwelling races, albeit others are implied: the two races are the Merramaids and the Ghrismogs. Merramaids resemble your typical mermaid: a long fluked tail and delicate human-esque features. Ghrismogs, in contrast, have two tails and are typically more monstrous in appearance. (Though not always so, due to the Merra, as Merramaids are known for short, being mostly wiped out, interbreeding occurs between the two races, and that's where you get "Merramogs.")
Merra are essentially made out to be second-class citizens, acting as the servants of the "Mogs" (short for Ghrismogs) and forbidden to even look Mogs in the eye. They also are rumored to be able to use their song to communicate with other sea creatures, but they are forbidden to do so. That brings us back to Elan, a Merramaid who shows great skill at this ability. Elan also stumbles upon an ancestral hideaway for the Merra that she, along with a select trusted few, protects and caretakes.
Now, around this same time, the undersea world is preparing for a mystical event known as the Choosing, which occurs every fifty years and is when a member of their race is chosen by the legendary Seadragons to serve as their Between, which basically means they sing songs to the Dragons to help them breed.
The Seadragons are ancient, powerful, and responsible for keeping the Balance of good and evil in their watery realm. The book itself does a better job of explaining it than I could, but basically the Dragons keep the oceans beautiful and harmonious. But lately, a great darkness is encroaching. The Dragons aren't laying eggs. And the eggs aren't hatching. It's rumored that it's because a Mog cannot be a true Between for the Seadragons; only a Merra is capable of the kind of magic that keeps the Seadragons--and the rest of the ocean--together. As you can probably guess with the lead protagonist in a fantasy world, Elan might just be the Merra they need.
All that sounds like a lot, right? And get this, that's only the first half of the book. I won't go into spoilerific detail, but halfway through sh*t goes down and Elan must muster up her strength and courage to lead an army, her friends and romantic interest, into saving the Seadragons and restoring peace to the undersea realm.
It's a whirlwind of a book, with many characters and plot points that by the time you've finished, it feels like you just plowed through a whole epic fantasy series, but that's just all in this one volume.
My favorite thing is how this entire fantasy world takes place under the sea. There's one, maybe two, scenes that take place above the water, but no human characters ever make an appearance. There are a few nods here and there that imply it takes place in the depths of our modern world's oceans, however.
I loved all the characters, albeit there were a few added in super last minute that made me question why we didn't get to hear about them sooner. But everyone played their parts and you can't help falling in love with them, except of course the villains, who you'll love to hate.
Every mermaid needs her sea creature companions, right? And Elan has them, in the form of a scary-looking but actual softie giant Squid who may have been my favorite character, a baby sea turtle companion named Tooki, and a trusty dolphin called Nemu (although the word "Nemu" is used to describe all dolphins, who are portrayed as psychic, mystical, quasi-ancestors of the Merra--it's a lot to explain. The world-building is so complex I could do a whole other review on it alone.) There are also several other Merra who accompany Elan on her journey, which was a nice inclusion: a girl who starts off without knowing much about her past meets others like her from all across the sea. The villains too are sort of familiar: wealth-hoarding megalomaniacs who oppress those who are different with less influence than them?
All in all, this book was one of a kind, and it's so sad that it's not more well known. If I knew how to get a book republished, even it takes crying from the rooftops, I'd do it. The book leaves you feeling changed, and hopeful, and satisfied (although things look pretty bleak there for a while). I can safely say I see now why people who have read it say it's their favorite book. It's definitely got a place on my keeper shelf.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2022
Mermaids, written to perfection. The book is hard to put down once started. Would recommend to anyone.
July 24, 2020
The most impressive mermaid book I've read to date. Immersive, fantastic language, and a fully fleshed out, underwater world. I wish there was more use of dialogue, and all the character jumping toward the end became a little tiresome. But overall I would highly recommend for anyone who wants a classic fantasy, not set in pseudo-Medieval England.
January 5, 2018
A beautiful book.
October 14, 2018
Too bad this book is out of print. This is a really well-done mermaid story with good characters and interesting world-building.
Most novels about mermaids are Young Adult romantic stories which gloss over the underwater life in favour of your familiar run-of-the-mill story involving relationships with land-dwellers. But no, this book is focused entirely on the underwater society and their struggles, which can get pretty dark sometimes.
The narrative moves along very quickly. Some sequences that I expected to be the culmination of the book, in reality occurred in the middle and there was still a lot of adventures left to happen, so I found myself constantly engrossed in the story.
I need to find more books like this for myself:)
Most novels about mermaids are Young Adult romantic stories which gloss over the underwater life in favour of your familiar run-of-the-mill story involving relationships with land-dwellers. But no, this book is focused entirely on the underwater society and their struggles, which can get pretty dark sometimes.
The narrative moves along very quickly. Some sequences that I expected to be the culmination of the book, in reality occurred in the middle and there was still a lot of adventures left to happen, so I found myself constantly engrossed in the story.
I need to find more books like this for myself:)
February 13, 2017
I really loved this book when I read it at age 14. I'd be curious to read it again & see what middle-aged me thinks of it.
I didn't know it was out of print! I've owned two copies, but currently have none. Would not have discarded it in a move if I had known it would be so difficult to get ahold of.
I didn't know it was out of print! I've owned two copies, but currently have none. Would not have discarded it in a move if I had known it would be so difficult to get ahold of.
August 23, 2020
I would love to find a copy of this book. I had a copy years ago, when I was in high school. I loved it!!
I'm currently reading a book called 'Into the Drowning Deep'. and It made me nostalgic for it. Definitely different sorts of "mermaids/sirens" in each book, but they both have a unique take on the traditional idea.
I'm currently reading a book called 'Into the Drowning Deep'. and It made me nostalgic for it. Definitely different sorts of "mermaids/sirens" in each book, but they both have a unique take on the traditional idea.
July 7, 2018
I.... was not expecting this book. I picked it up on a whim at a used book store. The first few pages were an odd mix of ridiculous and compelling. I am glad i kept reading and immersed myself, because this is now a staple on my shelves
August 2, 2018
Amazing. An instant favorite. It breaks my heart it's no longer published and anyone selling it wants like $200+. Luckily I was able to read it on Openlibrary. Everyone who loves mermaids needs to read this.
December 21, 2018
This is one of my all time favorite books. I have read it 4 times since finding it one summer in high school. It still holds up from the first read and I know this will not be my last reading of it.
October 15, 2023
It was very well written, and I only wish we could've seen more of the underwater world that Alida Van Gores had shown us in follow-ups to this well written work. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes mermaid stories.
December 1, 2017
The best mermaid book of all time.
January 14, 2019
Favorite mermaid fantasy novel of all time. Too bad it’s no longer in print.
August 18, 2019
Beautifully written, thoroughly enchanting! Excellent, excellent book!
June 21, 2021
I fail to fathom why humans rave about this book? Probably because they’re “humans” ;) Many reviews claim there is such magnificent world building. World building? HA! Where was there world building? I didn’t experience any. This book is depressing from center to circumference. The story takes place during an age void of any divinity or majesty. It’s fraught with loathsome humanoid fish creatures possessing absolutely zero culture; disgusting low IQ water orcs constantly degrading life with their insidious character. Based on so many stellar reviews, I was hoping for a magnificent merfolk world detailed to the hilt, glistening with pearls and mammoth scaled oceanic crystals etc. In other words, a feast for the aquatic senses! You will find no such majestic beauty here. I am glad beyond compare I didn’t spend $120+ on this drivel! A good lesson was taught: read first online if possible prior to purchasing anything claimed by “others” to be amazing. This book may be read for free on archive dot org; see for yourself. I attached text screenshots of the dolphin-mermaid sex scene which is beyond repulsive. Again reviews claim this bestiality didn’t occur; oh it did. The screenshots of the explicit text are on my Amazon review. Perhaps they are still there.
I feel the same about this book as I did reading
The Last Unicorn by Peter Schmendrick Beagle. His book was nails on a chalkboard despite all the people who just loved it so!
I suppose I’ll have to author my own mer-inspired bookcraft one day because as of late I have never experienced such. The Sea Goddess by P.C. Cast is the only book I’ve read which comes close to mirroring the beauty of mer-inspired notions. I am one who revels in dreamy, metaphorical details making you feel as though you are there experiencing the enchantment: sounds, colours, temperature, breezes and all! I detest degeneracy and don’t need to read about a decrepit, lost world since we already live in one.
Lastly, I have found antiquarian books to share the most exquisite prose and divinity. I haven’t read many modern works holding a candle to those who wrote over one hundred years ago. You might try
The Story of a Dewdrop by J. R. Macduff and
What the Wood Whispers to Itself by
Gustav Heinrich Gans Putlitz. I also adore
Edith Ogden Harrison’s books. Although some are written for children, her imagery is sheer enchantment!
I feel the same about this book as I did reading
The Last Unicorn by Peter Schmendrick Beagle. His book was nails on a chalkboard despite all the people who just loved it so!
I suppose I’ll have to author my own mer-inspired bookcraft one day because as of late I have never experienced such. The Sea Goddess by P.C. Cast is the only book I’ve read which comes close to mirroring the beauty of mer-inspired notions. I am one who revels in dreamy, metaphorical details making you feel as though you are there experiencing the enchantment: sounds, colours, temperature, breezes and all! I detest degeneracy and don’t need to read about a decrepit, lost world since we already live in one.
Lastly, I have found antiquarian books to share the most exquisite prose and divinity. I haven’t read many modern works holding a candle to those who wrote over one hundred years ago. You might try
The Story of a Dewdrop by J. R. Macduff and
What the Wood Whispers to Itself by
Gustav Heinrich Gans Putlitz. I also adore
Edith Ogden Harrison’s books. Although some are written for children, her imagery is sheer enchantment!
April 1, 2017
I accidentaly stumbled across this book while searching through endless pages of books, here on Amazon. I am so glad that I did. I've always been fascinated by mermaids and have been building my own collection of mermaid books. This is the best mermaid novel that I've read. I'm sure that this will become one of my all time favorite books.
While most mermaid stories are set in our human world, this tale takes place entirely in the realm of the mer, which makes it particularly interesting. The story is centered on one mermaid's struggles to uncover the truth of her lost heritage and to claim her rightful place in the sea. It is a beautiful and well written story. I highly recommend it as a must read for mermaid enthusiasts.
While most mermaid stories are set in our human world, this tale takes place entirely in the realm of the mer, which makes it particularly interesting. The story is centered on one mermaid's struggles to uncover the truth of her lost heritage and to claim her rightful place in the sea. It is a beautiful and well written story. I highly recommend it as a must read for mermaid enthusiasts.
July 13, 2017
I found very little fault with this book.. So refreshing to have a mermaid tale that didn't surround the cliche mermaid loves sailor and becomes human plotline.
I loathe spoilers, so I won't say much about the story.. there is love, there is lust, battle, despair, and death.. all so beautifully written. Truly, this book was a pleasure to read if you can find a copy. (openlibrary.com if you are in the US)
And just for the record, as I read several reviews that stated this.. there is NO sex between the merramaid and the nemu (dolphin). There is a scene describing lust, but calm your fears, it goes no further.
Though, if it had, weird as it would be to read, she is half fish, so the attraction makes sense.
I loathe spoilers, so I won't say much about the story.. there is love, there is lust, battle, despair, and death.. all so beautifully written. Truly, this book was a pleasure to read if you can find a copy. (openlibrary.com if you are in the US)
And just for the record, as I read several reviews that stated this.. there is NO sex between the merramaid and the nemu (dolphin). There is a scene describing lust, but calm your fears, it goes no further.
Though, if it had, weird as it would be to read, she is half fish, so the attraction makes sense.
April 20, 2015
Tracking down a copy of this book without paying $100+ was a bit of a long shot. But local library system came through with an ILL request all the way from Boston. It is such a shame this book is not more widely available, because it is such a lesson in creating a brilliant yet tight fantasy narrative, with vivid worldbuilding and significant character development without the need to spill over into Sequel-land. The only thing that bothered me (rarely) was the quickly shifting POV sometimes in the middle of a sentence. But other than that, it's an epic fantasy done just right in a kind of realm rarely explored, much less, significantly and memorably. Also, Seadragons!!
August 8, 2015
My aunt wrote this book, and though I never got to know her for very long I find a lot of her personality in her artwork and writing. This book was the only one published, and it is a shame that this book stays unknown. I read this many years ago, and maybe I should not have read this book in class for required reading in middle school because I was not expecting the... detail that went into the explicit points of the book. The main characters were likeable and the world created in this book was very well painted into your mind. She was a talented artist and writer and reading this book let me get to know her just a little bit better.
July 1, 2021
The best twist on a mermaids story I have ever read. Elan as the true between must face much adversity and peril so the balance isn't destroyed. The love she has for the Seadragons, Menol, Squid and the other Merra was beautiful and moving as it all unfolded. She was a strong and resourceful woman with great inner beauty. The interweaving of the love between her and Menol through the story was very touching. I re-read this story all the time and over the years nothing has replaced its being number one on my shelf. I truly wish this book was made into an e-book because my hard copy is very worn from all the times I have read it. I highly highly recommend this book.
August 27, 2016
A wonderful book with lush world building and good character development. An interesting sociopolitical plot examines racism and ecological themes. It is easy to see this book as a seminal influence on Seanan McGuire's October Daye series.
Interested readers can borrow this book from the Open Library in a DRM'd PDF readable on the Adobe Digital Editions application. There is a waitlist but this book is definitely worth the wait, especially for SMcG fans.
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL18746...
Interested readers can borrow this book from the Open Library in a DRM'd PDF readable on the Adobe Digital Editions application. There is a waitlist but this book is definitely worth the wait, especially for SMcG fans.
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL18746...
August 8, 2016
So this was a very interesting book. Racism in Mer-society. The book definitely dumps you in, and it is a very different world. Us land bound 'split-tails' are referenced but not seen and there are multiple varieties of merfolk - Merra and Grishmogs but there are also mixed Merramogs and then they'll refer to the women as MogMaids among other things. It gets quite confusing but at some point you just go with it.
I really enjoyed it, worth getting from Open Library if you can check it out.
I really enjoyed it, worth getting from Open Library if you can check it out.
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