Year of the Mer

More than a mere retelling, this darkly enchanting sequel to “The Little Mermaid” from Lewis (The Dead Withheld) conjures an expansive underwater world while keeping much of the original tale intact. Years before the start of the book, Arielle left the sea to be with her prince, giving up her tail for legs and abandoning her kingdom of Mer for the kingdom of Men. Now, her granddaughter, Yemaya Blackgate, aka Yemi, must deal with the consequences of Arielle’s actions as she prepares to take the throne of Ixia. Her fearsome mother is dying of a curse that’s slowly turning her to stone and her kingdom is in crisis, spurred by the grumblings of those who would prefer not to have Arielle’s bloodline on the throne. When an uprising leaves Yemi exiled, her determination to take back the throne leads her to Ursla. Yemi’s drive for bloody vengeance is strong, and she’s tempted into a deal with the sea witch just as her grandmother was before her. But Ursla has her own motivations for helping Yemi and the throne Yemi so strongly desires to retake won’t come without a price. Lewis’s worldbuilding impresses, seamlessly blending magic and mythology with burgeoning technology. Fans of grim fairy tales will be excited to see where Lewis takes things next. (Apr.)