If you think you've seen every possible version of The Little Mermaid, L.D. Lewis is here to prove you wrong. Year of the Mer is a completely new story that asks a fascinating question: what happens to the generations that come after a fairy tale's "happily ever after"?
The book, which just hit the shelves on April 7th, follows Yemi, the granddaughter of Arielle (the mermaid from the original tale), who is struggling with a very difficult inheritance. Her father, the king of Ixia, was assassinated years ago, her mother is slowly dying from a poisoned wound, and Yemi faces constant discrimination because of her Mer heritage.
When a coup forces her into exile and strips away everything she's fought to protect, Yemi must turn to the one person who might help her reclaim her throne: none other than Ursla, the sea witch. And quite like her grandmother before her, Yemi will have to decide what she's willing to sacrifice for power.
A world in constant conflict
This is the first installment in the Year of the Mer duology, and Lewis has created a compelling foundation that will leave readers eager throughout Yemi's story.
It leans more toward epic fantasy than dark fantasy, as the book explores the political consequences of Arielle's choice decades later. The continuous wars since Arielle's marriage have pushed technological advancement forward rapidly, so the kingdom now has modern inventions alongside magic. This blend of modern and fantasy elements makes the kingdom of Ixia feel both familiar and entirely new.
The worldbuilding is detailed and unique too, with real depth that makes the story feel more substantial. Lewis carefully shows how Ixia is a country not at ease with itself, where the royal family isn't quite human and not everyone supports the monarchy.
Lore and character development hand-in-hand
Yemi is the protagonist and heart of this story. She's intelligent and capable, trained as both warrior and future queen, but she's also dealing with serious trauma from years of conflict
Her anger is understandable given what she's been through, though it sometimes makes her frustrating to follow. But it is this realistic portrayal of a flawed protagonist that makes her character arc feel genuine and well-developed.
Nova, Yemi's bodyguard and fiancé, provides balance to Yemi's intensity. Their relationship feels mature and authentic, and the tension between love and self-preservation is portrayed beautifully and realistically. Lewis explicitly warns that this is not romantasy, and it would be wrong getting into the book expecting the romance to be central to the story (it is important, indeed, but the romance is not a plot device at all).
Now, Ursula. Ursla is given so much more depth in this story than in any traditional version of The Little Mermaid. Expect to get significant insight into her character and motivations. I was absolutely hooked from the very prologue and I believe she is easily the most interesting character in the story.
The novel explores generational identity, trauma, revenge and anger in different thoughtful ways. It asks how we can break harmful cycles and what kind of leaders we choose to become. The book examines whether ambition and revenge can ever lead to a positive path forward, or if they only perpetuate more pain.
Lewis describes it as "a sapphic tragedy that examines generational trauma and identity in a shifting world," and that's exactly what it delivers.
However, it's worth noting that the pacing can feel uneven, with relatively little happening in the first third of the book. The story starts with significant character and worldbuilding before the action picks up, though the payoff was totally worth it once the story gained momentum. Year of the Mer ends on an eerie cliffhanger that will have you craving the next installment as soon as you're done with it.
The verdict
Year of the Mer is a sophisticated fantasy novel that respects its readers' intelligence. It succeeds in creating a fairy tale continuation that feels fresh while still including the elements readers would expect from a Little Mermaid-inspired story.
The constant interplay between power, fear, love and identity maintains some really engaging tension throughout. I would rate the Year of the Mer a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Year of the Mer is available now from Saga Press, wherever books are sold.