What New Mermaid Books Were Released In The Last Year?

2026-07-23 05:25:54
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4 Answers

Vincent
Vincent
Honest Reviewer HR Specialist
there were a few interesting titles that popped up. 'A Song to Drown Rivers' by Ann Liang came out just a few months ago. It's a reimagining of the legend of Xishi, but with a river spirit/mermaid-esque protagonist bent on vengeance. The prose is gorgeous, and it leans more into historical fantasy with that mythological twist rather than a typical ocean setting.

Another one that got some buzz in indie circles is 'The Merrow''s Daughter' by E. B. Wheeler. It’s a dual-timeline story set in Cornwall, weaving together a contemporary mystery and a historical tragedy involving selkies and merfolk. The atmosphere is really its strong point—very melancholic and coastal.

I also saw 'Deep Water' by Jamie Foley on some lists, which is a YA sci-fi take where the 'mermaids' are actually a bio-engineered species in a submerged city. Felt more like a thriller with unique worldbuilding. Honestly, finding truly new mermaid stories feels harder these days; a lot tend to blend into fantasy romance, but these stood out for trying different angles.
2026-07-24 13:17:31
1
Eva
Eva
Responder Consultant
Wait, did anyone else pick up 'The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport' by Samit Basu? Not a mermaid book per se, but there's a major aquatic alien character with a similar archetype—bio-mechanical, deeply connected to a planet's ocean, fulfills that 'mythical being in a sci-fi setting' niche. It made me think about how the concept gets stretched. For a straight recommendation, 'The Sea Knows My Name' by Laura Brooke Robson released in paperback recently; it's a pirate fantasy with a protagonist who has a magical, sea-based lineage that feels adjacent. The release schedules got weird last year, so some 2022 hardcovers are hitting trade paperback now and popping up as 'new' again in stores.
2026-07-25 04:01:24
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Theo
Theo
Active Reader Editor
Most of the new stuff seems to be in the romantasy lane. 'To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods' by Molly X. Chang has some aquatic spirit elements, though it's not strictly mermaids. For a purer take, 'A Heart of Salt & Silver' by Elise Kova from late last year fits—it's about a siren queen and a human hunter, very enemies-to-lovers. The cover is stunning. My hold at the library for the audiobook is still weeks long, which says something about its popularity. I'm skeptical if it brings anything new to the table, but the early reviews on StoryGraph are overwhelmingly positive for its pacing.
2026-07-27 23:41:40
4
Jillian
Jillian
Story Interpreter Doctor
Yeah, 'A Song to Drown Rivers' is the main one I remember. Liang's previous book was solid, so I grabbed this on release day. The mythological angle is refreshing compared to the usual Atlantic folklore retellings. It’s more spirit than fishtail, but it absolutely scratches that same itch for water-based myth and tragedy.
2026-07-29 09:09:15
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