Mermaid Revenge Romantasy
My first favorite movie was an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's The Steadfast Tin Soldier, as it was produced by Rabbit Ears in 1991. I had it on Videocassette, and by the time I was 6, I'd almost balded the spools from how much I had obsessed over it, from its captivating color pencil art, to its achingly tragic tale. Although it doesn't have mermaids (this isn't a bait and switch, I swear,) I think the way that Anderson's mythology fills people is undeniable. Thirty years later, I still consider this fairy story to be a foundational text of my being, and while I don't know many who can say the same, I do know a fair number of folk who can trace back their own mythos to a differend Anderson adaptation.
In 1989, Disney released their treatment of The Little Mermaid to monumental success. The film's box office reception completely renewed the animation studio's faith in feature-length productions, and it's messaging resonated with generations of girls, with its imperfect protagonist who rebelled against oppressive moral conventions. While not as dark as Anderson's original, this version's place in the cultural zeitgeist has allowed its fans to trace the story back to its roots as they've matured as people, and also as authors, and it is what we're featuring today: the power and persistence of this story as it has lived and grown in the minds of the authors of today.
Specifically Jordan Stephanie Grey and L. D. Lewis, both of whom have titles in our new releases section this month. In case you missed them, here they are
THE WICKED SEA by Jordan Stephanie Grey
Mermaid Zephyra of the Syl dreams of freedom. On the run from a dangerous captor and years of abuse, she’s shed her tail, grown legs, and hidden herself on land in the merrow-loathing kingdom of Mortia, left to steal and barter on the dirty streets. But her freedom is short-lived when she’s caught and sentenced to death by the brutal warlock, Arion Stone.
Arion is as beautiful as he is cold and deadly, only interested in punishing the merrow he views as evil. He has grown as strong as any warlock might, but at great personal cost ... which can only be remedied by the heart of the God of Death, lost to a fabled kingdom beneath the ocean’s treacherous depths.
So Arion offers Zephyra a deal she can’t refuse; help him find the mystical heart, and he’ll spare her life. With no other options, Zephyra agrees, entangling their souls and forbidden desires in a magical bargain until death do they part. But Zephyra's past is catching up to her, and the enemy she fled seeks vengeance. If Zephyra and Arion can't learn to fight together—and trust each other—there are worse things awaiting them than just death. Of course, in the wicked sea, everyone has secrets, and no one should be trusted.
YEAR OF THE MER by L. D. Lewis
The fairy tale mermaid Arielle might have gotten her happily-ever-after, but her granddaughter Yemi is having a much harder time. Her father, the king of Ixia, was assassinated years ago, her mother is slowly dying of a poisoned wound, and she faces whispers and slights from her own people. Yemi has been raised as the shield of the kingdom and is soon to inherit the throne, but she cannot shake her fury at how Ixia has treated her family after all they’ve sacrificed. Only her patient mother and steadfast personal bodyguard (and fiancée), Nova, help Yemi rein in that fury...most of the time.
When the kingdom’s discontented rumblings reach a fever pitch, a coup erupts and Yemi’s throne is usurped, stripping her of her family and forcing her into exile. Now, only one being has the power to help her: Ursla.
Like her grandmother before her, Yemi is tempted by a deal with the sea-witch. With powerful and ancient magic behind her, Yemi could avenge her family, take back her throne, and protect the love of her life. But she should know more than anyone that there is always a price. As much as Yemi wants vengeance, Ursla has been waiting a very, very long time for her own—and it may take more fortune than Yemi possesses to keep her from losing everything all over again.
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Ben Doane has been a member of the Pandemonium Team since 2019, and has been playing wargames, rpgs, and tcgs since 2004 and earlier. When not blogging, Ben runs the wargames and mailing departments, and also puts together the store's newsletters. Her current favorite book is Baltimore, Omnibus One by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, and Ben Stenbeck.