Mermaid Moon
A tale of identity, sacrifice, and magical adventures
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Walker Books Ltd
Published:7th Apr '22
Should be back in stock very soon
In Mermaid Moon, Sanna, a mermaid with a forgotten past, embarks on a quest to find her landish mother, facing challenges and discovering her identity.
In Mermaid Moon, an award-winning author weaves a captivating narrative centered around Sanna, a unique mermaid caught between two worlds. Born under a spell cast by a sea-witch, Sanna's existence is marked by the mystery of her origins. Her mother, a land-dweller, has been forgotten by Sanna's people, leaving Sanna feeling like an outsider in her own community. As she turns sixteen, her desire to discover her true identity grows stronger, prompting her to take matters into her own hands. She apprentices with the witch to master the arts of magic, setting her on a transformative journey.
Sanna's quest leads her to the enigmatic Thirty-Seven Dark Islands, where she seeks clues about her mother. Armed with a new pair of legs, she ventures ashore, only to encounter a world filled with danger and intrigue. The islands are home to a desperate people and a baroness who will stop at nothing to achieve immortality. Through lush descriptions and keen wit, the author immerses readers in Sanna's challenges and the sacrifices she must make to uncover her past and forge her future.
Mermaid Moon is more than just a tale of adventure; it is a poignant exploration of belonging, fear, and hope. The story resonates with themes of identity and the eternal bond between blood relatives, inviting readers to reflect on their own dreams and desires as Sanna navigates her path toward self-discovery.
Juxtaposed against the patriarchal culture wherein Thyrla has amassed and maintained power (one in which rape and infanticide are common), Cokal (The Kingdom of Little Wounds) creates a well-developed matriarchal mermaid mythology in which women couple, bonded by love and respect, and men are largely unnecessary. Through several voices and richly detailed prose, these markedly different worlds overlap and diverge to impart a nuanced exploration of power, family, faith, and love. * Publishers Weekly *
Thyrla, however, is a villain on par with Maleficent, cool, calculating, and so invested in power that she’s willingly sacrificed nearly her entire family—including children she specifically bore to kill—to keep her hold on the island and her youth. It’s the revelation of her love for her son that makes her the most complicated, if not sympathetic, character here, a far more interesting foil to pure-hearted Sanna...a haunting tale of love, betrayal, and family, on land and in sea. * Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books *
Lyrical, complex, and occasionally dark, with rich rewards for patient readers. Suggest this to thoughtful readers looking for strong females, unexpected twists, and a relatively happy ending. A good fit for fans of Margo Lanagan’s The Brides of Rollrock Island. * School Library Journal *
Mermaid Moon is an action-packed tale of parental abandonment, familial longing, treachery and dark magic with an appealingly determined heroine. * BookPage *
Mermaid Moon is a beautifully told, immersive novel that layers fairy-tale elements with more modern themes, allowing for a different experience with every reread. * Shelf Awareness for Readers *
ISBN: 9781406398892
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 29mm
Weight: 341g
496 pages