10 Books Featuring Aquatic Mythical Beings
There is something eternally alluring about the sea—a place both tranquil and terrifying, concealing creatures from the deepest corners of our imagination. From sirens who sing sailors to their doom, to shape-shifting selkies and underwater empires shimmering in abyssal blue, aquatic mythical beings hold a special power: they are as unfathomable as the oceans that birth them.
These are not just tales of water and wonder. They are stories that tug at the soul, that whisper of ancient pacts and the call of something more—something wilder. If you’re ready to be lured by the depths, here are 10 spellbinding books where ocean-dwelling beings reign supreme.
1. The Deep by Rivers Solomon (with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes)
🌊 Born from the trauma of enslaved Africans thrown overboard, a race of mer-people now thrives in the deep.
Yetu is the historian of her people, burdened with remembering pain so that the rest may live in peace. But when she seeks escape, the truth beneath the waves begins to unravel. Inspired by the music of clipping., this novella is haunting, poetic, and unforgettable.
🐚 Why it mesmerizes: A powerful blend of Afrofuturism, myth, and memory, steeped in sorrow and resilience.
2. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
🧜♀️ She’s a siren with a heart collection. He’s a prince who hunts monsters.
Princess Lira is ruthless—a siren with seventeen hearts to her name. When she angers the Sea Queen, she’s cursed into human form and must deliver the heart of a prince to return. But Prince Elian isn’t so easily fooled. Enemies become reluctant allies in a dark twist on The Little Mermaid.
⚓ Why it mesmerizes: Sharp wit, deadly romance, and a world where the ocean hungers for blood.
3. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
🐙 A voyage to the Mariana Trench. A horror that waits in the dark.
Set aboard a deep-sea expedition, this chilling novel sends scientists to uncover the truth behind a lost crew—and discovers sirens far more terrifying than any legend. These aren’t Disney mermaids; they’re predators. And they’re hungry.
🩸 Why it mesmerizes: Tense, terrifying, and scientifically grounded, this is deep-sea horror at its finest.
4. The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
🎣 In a Caribbean fishing village, a mermaid is caught—and nothing is ever the same again.
Aychin, an ancient mermaid cursed by jealous women centuries ago, is reeled in during a fishing competition. What follows is a lyrical tale of love, colonization, and transformation as a man tries to help her reclaim her place in the world—or escape it entirely.
💔 Why it mesmerizes: Dreamy, sensual, and deeply human—a myth reimagined through postcolonial eyes.
5. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
🚰 Not mythical in the traditional sense, but water holds mythic power in this gritty, near-future dystopia.
In a world where water is more valuable than gold, those who control it wield godlike power. While it doesn’t feature sea-creatures, water itself becomes a character—a mythic force both worshiped and feared.
🔥 Why it mesmerizes: A brutal, prescient tale where water replaces magic and the world drowns in thirst.
6. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
💀 A mermaid’s curse. A ghost’s story. A girl trying to survive both.
In this eerie dual-timeline novel, a modern teen investigates a series of deaths—and uncovers her link to a mermaid from the 1800s. Love, betrayal, and a curse passed through bloodlines make this a haunting blend of romance and the supernatural.
🕯️ Why it mesmerizes: Atmospheric and chilling, with a gothic thread that runs deep beneath the waves.
7. The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
⚰️ A blood-soaked mermaid. A plague doctor. A forest of feral children.
This novella is a fever dream—a retelling of The Little Mermaid if she had teeth, trauma, and a thirst for vengeance. Accompanied by a mysterious companion, the mermaid leaves ruin in her wake. It’s violent, poetic, and strangely tender.
🌫️ Why it mesmerizes: Gory, grotesque, and gorgeously written—a dark fairytale that lingers.
8. The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill
🌊 A feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid—where freedom comes at a cost.
Gaia longs to escape her controlling father and life beneath the sea. But when she saves a human boy and makes a deal for legs, she finds the world above is just as cruel. This is a fierce, feminist reimagining that refuses to look away from sacrifice.
🧜♀️ Why it mesmerizes: Bold, beautiful, and burning with righteous fury beneath the waves.
9. Song for the Unraveling of the World by Brian Evenson
🌌 Among its eerie stories: one about a sea creature you can’t quite define, but can never forget.
This collection features tales that flirt with reality’s edges. One story in particular, steeped in aquatic unease, feels like a myth whispered in a dream. Evenson’s monsters are always metaphors, and they’ll haunt you long after the tide pulls away.
🖤 Why it mesmerizes: Creeping dread and strange beauty in equal measure.
10. The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
🧊 A Norse-myth infused twist on The Little Mermaid—with sea witches, shapeshifters, and sapphic romance.
When Ersel defies her mermaid clan and saves a shieldmaiden, she’s cast out and turns to Loki for help. But the trickster god’s help always comes at a price. This is a story of rebellion, identity, and love in a world ruled by cold justice and colder seas.
🌬️ Why it mesmerizes: Mythic, queer, and beautifully defiant—a love story carved into ice and legend.
Final Word:
Beneath the waves, the rules of the world bend. Love becomes legend. Creatures take form from dreams and nightmares alike. These books remind us that the sea is never still—and neither are the stories it inspires.
So dive in. But beware what follows you back to shore. 🐚🧜♀️⚓
