It’s that time of year… Mermay!!! And that means celebrating art (whether that be digital art, handpainted/drawn art, or the written word) featuring sirens, mermaids, and mermen.
Did you know that sirens first appeared in writing around 750 BC in Homer’s Odyssey, and were winged creatures that sang sailors to their deaths? Although the Odyssey only contains a few lines about sirens, the imagery took hold and has been with us since. Somewhere around the 14th century, sirens became synonymous with mermaids.
There are myths about mermaids and other fish-folk in many cultures throughout the world, from the Syrian myth of Atargatis to the eastern European rusalki, from Irish merrows to the African Mami Wata. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was common for sea captains to report sightings of mermaids. Christopher Columbus reported seeing mermaids off the coast of Africa (although it’s now hypothesized they may have been manatees).
With the wealth of mythology and history surrounding sirens and merfolk, it’s hard not to get excited about Mermay.
For inspiration (and let’s admit it, it became an obsession😉) I’ve read and put together this rec list with over twenty mermaid books featuring sirens, mermaids, and mermen. These books will take you on a journey from the Alaskan Coast to the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, and to fantasy realms in between. There are dark and foreboding tales, light and cheery yarns, and those with a bit (or a lot) of spice. You’ll find a variety of romantic pairings including LGBTQ+ and polyamorous trios, and I have included a mix of trad pub and indie authors.
I’ve divided the list into three groups: Young Adult, Adult (1 – 3 chilis), and Spicy Adult (4 & 5 chilis). All the books on this list are 4-, 4.5-, and 5-mango reads. I’ve marked the ones I awarded 5 mangoes. You can find my rating and spice scale here.
This is by no means an exhaustive list (I already have a lengthy TBR list for next year’s Mermay😁), but I have personally read all of these and loved them. I hope you find something you love too.
Affiliate Disclaimer: I participate in the Amazon Affiliate program. As such, if you purchase a book through one of my links below, I’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (but I’ll be ever so grateful for your support).
YA Novels Featuring Mermaids and Merfolk
Out of the Blue by Jason June
🌶️🌶️
[YA Contemporary / Urban Fantasy, RomCom, LGBTQ+ (M/Nbi), Sex Positive YA, Dual POV, First Person, Present Tense, set in Los Angeles]
This is a fantastic romcom featuring a disgruntled genderfluid Mer (Crest) who’s forced to spend a month on land. During this time, they must help a human in order to earn their Journey Mark and gain their Mer magic. As luck would have it, Crest washes up near Sean, an aspiring film director who’s just been unceremoniously dumped by his long-term boyfriend. The two quickly bond and hatch a plan to fake date in order to make Sean’s ex jealous. But can they do so without catching feelings? (Read my extended review).
tw: Infidelity
Lost Voices Series by Sarah Porter
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️
[YA Fantasy, Mythology, Coming of Age, Multi POV, Third person, Past Tense, set in Alaska (Books 1&2) and San Francisco (Book 3)]
This is a gorgeous series, and I can’t recommend it enough. The writing is beautiful and filled with incredible detail — you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the Alaskan coast. The story follows a fourteen-year-old abused girl named Luce (Lucette) who, instead of dying, becomes a mermaid. All the mermaids were once abused girls, and they now live in the sea frolicking among the waves, eating mussels, and luring humans to their deaths with the power of their voice. At first, Luce feels like she finally fits in. But as time goes by and truths are revealed, she is torn between wanting to belong and the desire to be true to herself. She believes there must be another way, and that her singing doesn’t have to mean death. (Read my full review).
tw: Lost Voices — brief attempted rape, mentions of abuse. Waking Storms and The Twice Lost — mild blood and gore typical of battle.
Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
🌶️.5
[YA Paranormal Romance, First Person, Present Tense, set in coastal Oregon]
Lexi isn’t like other girls. She doesn’t sleep at night, she swims. And if she doesn’t spend the entire night swimming, she’ll spend the following day in unbearable pain.
Unbeknown to her, upon her sixteenth birthday, an old familial curse is activated. This turns her into a Siren—and results in the death of her first love. Consumed by grief and guilt, she isolates herself from her popular friend group, accepting their cruel taunts as punishment for what only she knows she’s done. But when the handsome Cole starts paying her special attention and refuses to accept her ice queen façade, she briefly thinks there might be a chance to live a normal life again. But she hardens her resolve—she won’t repeat the mistakes of her past. If she wants Cole to live, then she must push him away.
—
This story is kinda Mean Girls with a supernatural twist. I enjoyed the curse aspect of it (I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where someone becomes a mermaid or siren because of a curse), and I especially liked that this book didn’t do what I thought it was going to (at least not completely). I love the unexpected, and the last quarter of the book was especially thrilling.
Adult Mermaid Books
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️
[Horror/Science Fiction/Thriller, LGBTQ+ (FF romantic subplot), Third Person Omniscient, Past Tense, set in Monterey, California; and the Mariana Trench]
Killer mermaids! This is not a drill—killer mermaids! (And not of the she’s vicious, but I’d still bang her variety. These are creatures from your worst nightmares… lying in wait to tear you limb from limb and chew your face off.) Thrilling, terrifying, and full of suspense.
A cruise ship, filled with scientists and crew from a film agency, travels to the Mariana Trench to prove once and for all whether mermaids exist—and find out what happened to the SS Atargatis, a ship that made the same voyage seven years prior, found adrift with no survivors.
Filled with a diverse cast (POC, women in STEM, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, the hearing impaired), fascinating scientific discoveries (enough to intrigue but not overwhelm), and a foreboding sense of something awful is going to happen but we don’t know how, when, or what, this is a fantastic read that I highly recommend. (But full disclosure, I’m never going into the ocean again. If you’re planning a cruise in the near future, you may want to read this after).
Rolling in the Deep is a prequel novella about the perilous journey of the doomed Atargatis. Although it is a prequel, I recommend reading it after (some events near the end may prove spoiler-y). (Read my extended review here).
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
All the Murmuring Bones by AG Slatter
🌶️🌶️
[Historical Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, First Person, Present Tense, set in a fantasy world inspired by 19th Century Ireland]
“One for the house, one for the Church, and one for the sea…”
Years ago, the O’Malley family struck a deal with the Mer: wealth, prosperity, and safe passage for their ships, in exchange for the third child from every generation. But they’ve been unable to keep up with their side of the bargain and have fallen into decline. With Miren as the last remaining O’Malley child, the Mer seek freedom from their contract. But Miren’s conniving grandmother has grand plans for restoring the O’Malley name, and Miren is her bargaining chip.
Filled with dark fairytales, fantasy and horror creatures (ghosts, corpsewights, kelpies, mermaids, and shifters), two derelict mansions, a crew of both lovely and villainous characters, and one morally grey protagonist, this story is both gripping and compelling. (Read my extended review).
Rising by Holly Kelly
🌶️
[Paranormal Romance, Multi POV (but mostly Dual POV), Third limited, Past tense, set in Hawaii and the Mediterranean Ocean]
Xanthus, a fierce Dagonian warrior (with the body of a human and the tail of a fish, but not a merman—the Dagonians slaughtered the mermaids and sirens two thousand years ago), has built his existence upon a foundation of honour protecting his kind from human discovery. Any threat must be eliminated. But what happens when he encounters the unthinkable—a half-Dagonian woman living among the humans? By his code, he must kill her. But she’s beautiful and wheelchair-bound… and he finds her inexplicably irresistible. Her very existence forces him to rethink everything he’s ever stood for.
Sara has spent her entire life feeling less than. She’s shrunk away from human connection, eschewing relationships, afraid of how others might react when they see her body, specifically from the waist down. Instead of legs, her lower body is fused into what resembles a mermaid tail. Except, half-human, half-fish creatures don’t exist. When she meets Xanthus, she’d forced to confront every belief she’s held true.
—
This is such a heartwarming and beautiful story, and Sara’s journey is truly uplifting. The world Holly Kelly has built is intriguing, blending mythology—complete with vengeful gods—with modernity. I love the idea of this great big world out there with humans oblivious to its existence. This is part 1 of a series and I highly recommend picking it up. The first book is free. (I immediately bought the second book, but I haven’t had a chance to read the rest of the series yet. I plan to write a series review when I have.)
tw: date rape drug and brief attempted rape (not by the mmc)
The Secret of Mermaid Cove by Megan Derr
🌶️
[Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, LGBTQ+ (F/F romance), Short story-length, single POV, third person limited, past tense]
When Sophia is caught in a compromising position with another woman, she’s shunned by her family and society. So, when Lord Everett Dobson, the city’s most eligible bachelor proposes, Sophia doesn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. She accepts and journeys with him to visit his home at Mermaid Cove, a place filled with mystery, intrigue, and familial curses. But she soon finds out that when things seem too good to be true, they usually are.
—
This is a fun and quick read if you’re looking for an amuse-bouche or a palate cleanser between books. I devoured this in one sitting. I loved the fairytale-like setting, the fae link with the mermaids, and how they couldn’t speak but used sign language instead. It was refreshing to see that the entire town learned to sign so they could communicate. I love elderly characters who are mischievous and full of zest, so Aunt Milli is a personal fave. The F/F romance was lovely.
tw: period-typical homophobia
Sirens of Los Angeles by Caedis Knight
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️
[Urban Fantasy, LGBTQ+ (bisexual mc, M/M/F romantic subplot), Novella-length, single POV, first person, present tense, set in Los Angeles]
Saskia de la Cruz, a low-level witch whose only talent is being able to tell when someone is lying, flies to Malibu to join her powerful witch sister for spring break. But while Saskia wants to do all the spring break things—get sand between her toes, lick surfers, and drink tequila at bonfires—Mikayla is being a stubborn stick in the mud. She’s being shifty, annoyingly overprotective—and she’s lying. When beautiful Instagram influencers and fashion models wash ashore, drained of their youth and beauty, Saskia knows better than to get involved in witch politics. But when siren-obsessed Mikayla goes missing, Saskia just knows she’s gone after the perpetrator herself and is likely in danger. She’ll do anything to find her, including paying a visit to the Siren Queen. What could go possibly wrong?
—
I could not put this book down!!! This banger of a series starter is fast-paced, full of banter, illustrating the beautiful and complex nature of sisterhood, and intricacies of witch hierarchies. I adored Saskia. Her snark and tenacity put a huge smile on my face, and I can’t wait to read more of this series. Highly, highly recommend.
Spicy Reads Featuring Mermen
The Lure of the Mer Duet by Laney Kaye
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[Paranormal Romance, Novella-length, dual POV, third person limited, past tense, set in Australia]
[M/F, M/F/M — human and mermen]
In these saucy novellas, mermaids have tails, mermen do not. They communicate telepathically. And if they have sex with a human, they lose their immortality—unless they team up for a ménage… Brothers Trent and Erik tempt fate when they each meet up with a human woman they can’t resist.
Hook — when Jayde is roughed up and left for dead by an illegal fishing crew, she’s saved by Trent and taken to his underwater lair. Their mutual attraction is off-the-charts, and via telepathy, he’s privy to her every filthy thought…
Line — Starting over in a new town, Krissy is determined to remain free of romantic attachments. Her beach fling with sexy lifeguard Erik was only supposed to be a one-off. Except, he starts showing up when least expected, testing Krissy’s resolve. When he introduces her to his equally gorgeous cousin, well, she can’t help but open up and explore her kinkier side, one she had to keep hidden from her judgemental ex. (Read by extended review).
The Silver Isles Series by CW Gray
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[Paranormal Romance, Dual POV, Third person limited, Past tense]
[M/M — Human/Merman (Book 1), Merman/Merman (Book 2 and 2.5), Omegaverse with Mpreg, Royalty]
This delightful series (one book to come, but no cliffy) follows the royal Mer of the Silver Isles and is utterly binge-worthy. Immerse yourself in a world of merfolk with a variety of tails (from angelfish to clownfish to shark-tails and squid-tails) complete with familial curses and complex sibling dynamics, juicy secrets, found family, and pets galore. These stories are loaded with heartwarming fluffy moments and saucy hijinks. The best way to describe them is sugar and spice. If you’re looking for something that’s not too angsty, but still has plot and stakes, garnished with sweet chili heat, these books are perfect. (Read my extended review).
Wrecked by Nyla K
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[Paranormal Romance/Monster Romance, Historical-ish (set in the 1700s but they talk modern), Novella-length, Multi POV, First person, Present tense]
[M/M/M — Human/Triton/Kraken]
Wicked Things is a collection of four monster romance novellas. “Wrecked” is the third story, inspired by The Little Mermaid and Moby Dick.
When buccaneer Andros Van Alden’s ship is smashed during a storm, he thinks he’s dead. He’s sure he’s only imagined the powerful arms and flash of a teal tail that carried him ashore. But when he comes to, he finds he’s not as alone on the remote island as he once thought.
Cane, the reluctant Triton Prince, has a longing for connection to the human world and a collection of trinkets to prove it. When he rescues a human, he’s determined to make him his. And if things weren’t complicated enough, a former foe reappears…
—
This one is a deliciously sinful read (as are all the novellas in this collection, but mind the trigger warnings). I really enjoyed Andros’ emotional journey, the push-pull between his desire for Cane vs his determination that he’s completely 100% straight. Both Cane and Andros have been thrust into roles predetermined by their birthright, but their growing attraction, and the complications with the resident Kraken, just might set them free.
tw: period-typical homophobia, dubious consent, Stockholm Syndrome, breath play, tentacles
Siren Cove Series by Claire Cullen
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
[Paranormal Romance, Shifter Romance, Dual POV, Third Person Limited, Past Tense]
[M/M — Wolf Shifter / Siren Shifter, Omegaverse with Mpreg]
This highly addictive series (and I mean that, like Pringles, once you start you won’t be able to stop—I certainly couldn’t) features M/M romances between werewolves and siren shifters. They’re supposed to be enemies, responsible for decimating one another’s populations, but when a pack of stray wolves arrives at Siren Cove, they may have more in common than they thought. These connected stories bring the heat and the sweet. The books follow each of the three siren brothers and prominent members of the wolf pack. I highly, highly recommend. You can read my detailed review—complete with all the gushing—here.
Final Thoughts:
One thing I especially loved about the variety of mermaid/merman books is the worldbuilding and limitations of each character, from the mer who are confined to the water to those who can shift on land, from those who can breathe underwater to those who must come up for air. I find it really interesting how those choices impact the story. And of course, I really love the diverse locations for all the books—it feels like going on vacation.
All right… that’s all I’ve got for you this year. Did any of them strike your fancy? Let me know in the comments below.
~~If you like spicy books with tentacles, check out my SPICY TENTACLE REC LIST~~
Leave a Reply