This mermaid books you can read all year round book guide contains affiliate links.
Read on to discover some amazing mermaid books featuring underwater worlds, dark romance and enchanting characters…
Stories featuring mermaids are some of the most complex and multi-layered books ever published. What often lies beneath the lyrical prose and beautiful imagery are bleak stories featuring horror, tragedy and psychological terror. This versatility means there is a mermaid book to suit every kind of reader, which we will explore in this post.
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Publisher: Hot Key Press
Publication date: March 6, 2018
Book summary: The lethal siren Lira is transformed by the Sea Queen into a human after she kills one of her own kind. To break the curse she must present to her mother the Siren Killer’s heart before the winter solstice.
What to expect: A deliciously dark YA retelling of The Little Mermaid. The book explores multiple topics including identity, power, transformation, betrayal, found family and good vs. evil.
You can buy To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo HERE.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Publisher: Titan Books UK
Publication date: August 4, 2020
Book summary: Following Princess Amora and pirate Bastia’s journey after a failed demonstration forces them to flee across the sea. Amora is tasked with both mastering the magic of her kingdom and saving it from destruction.
What to expect: Another YA mermaid fantasy with political elements. Tropes include enemies-to-lovers, found family, forced proximity and slow-burn romance.
You can buy All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace HERE.
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication date: May 5, 2020
Book summary: Flora, a pirate disguised as a man named Florian, forms a strong connection with the beautiful Evelyn aboard The Dove, a ship used to kidnap wealthy passengers. Whilst they plan their escape, Florian and Evelyn begin to fall in love. Meanwhile, an ethereal mermaid crucial to the story’s conclusion lurks beneath the water.
What to expect: A queer, action-packed adventure aimed at young adults. Whilst the book is predominantly centred around pirates, mermaids are used as a plot device to symbolise greed, colonialism and exploitation.
You can buy The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall HERE.
The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication date: March 1, 2015
Book summary: When Clara discovers her sister Maren is transforming into a mermaid, they set off alongside their friend O’Neil on a treacherous journey to the ocean. The three of them then must work together to escape an evil travelling show.
What to expect: If you’re looking for mermaid books that are cosy, vivid and whimsical – give The Mermaid’s Sister a read! This magical realism book includes themes such as sacrifice, sisterhood and self-acceptance.
You can buy The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble HERE.
Breakwater by Shannon Mayer
Publisher: Hijinks Ink Publishing
Publication date: June 23, 2015
Book summary: In the deadly underwater world of the “Deep”, Larkspur, a guard who possesses elemental powers must protect her sister Belladonna from dark forces and put an end to the civil war.
What to expect: A story filled with action and plot twists guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat!
You can buy Breakwater by Shannon Myer HERE.
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
Publisher: W.F. Howes
Publication date: April 8, 2021
Book summary: The book follows protagonist Miren O’Malley and her escape from both an arranged marriage and her home of Hob’s Hallow. Miren’s subsequent journey involves sea creatures, a search for her missing parents, and the uncovering of dark secrets..
What to expect: A gothic fantasy featuring suspense, merciless female characters, short dark tales, and mythical beings.
You can buy All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter HERE.
A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Publication date: May 25, 2023
Book summary: After enduring a decade-long abusive and loveless marriage, the siren Princess Maren is captured during a sea voyage by the notorious Captain Ramsay “Bones” Battista and his band of pirates. As events unfold, Maren and Ramsay bond over a shared need for revenge against the sea witch Edonia.
What to expect: A Ship of Bones and Teeth is a gothic, dual-POV fantasy novel, perfect if you’re looking for a retelling of The Little Mermaid that isn’t YA. Themes include vengeance, power, and toxic relationships.
You can buy A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle HERE.
Kiss of the Selkie by Tessonja Odette
Publisher: Zaffre
Publication date: July 31, 2025
Book summary: On land, selkie princess Maisie hides from a heartless sea queen, stealing shiny objects to survive. When she breaks the law by rescuing a human from drowning, her punishment is to hunt down and kiss the man she saved. But with Maisie’s kiss holding the power to kill, her mission isn’t romantic at all, in fact – it is deadly.
What to expect: As far as mermaid books go – Tessonja’s work brings together multiple tropes and themes that make for powerful storytelling. Key tropes include enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance.
You can buy Kiss of the Selkie by Tessonja Odette HERE.
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
Publisher: Peepal Tree Press
Publication date: April 2, 2020
Book summary: Set in the 70’s on a fictional Caribbean island called Black Conch, a love story plays out between an isolated fishermen and an ancient cursed mermaid named Aycayia.
What to expect: A literary and contemporary novel with themes of love, female jealousy, racism and colonialism.
You can buy The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey HERE.
The Pisces by Melissa Broder
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: March 21, 2019
Book summary: Lucy’s life is in crisis. She’s 38 years old, still stuck on a 9 year long PhD dissertation and has called quits on her long-term relationship. Amongst the chaos, Lucy travels to Venice beach, joining a love addiction therapy group and has a string of casual hook-ups before finally falling in love with a… merman.
What to expect: If you like weird yet interesting books filled with existential angst, this one’s for you! The Pisces is a piece of women’s fiction about anxiety, obsession and female desire.
