A tail could tell a tale.

Locklyn Adair has never fit in. The legs she inherited as a result of her great-great-grandmother’s curse make it impossible for her to belong under the sea. When her niece is also born without a tail, Locklyn is determined to save her from similar rejection by sending her to the only place in the Undersea Realm where legs are acceptable—the Lost Island of Atlantis.

Darin Aalto would do anything to protect his family, even spearheading an impossible quest to find treasure that has been lost for over a hundred years. But when his best friend, Locklyn, joins his crew, his ability to keep her safe—and his shot at winning her heart—comes perilously close to being swept away.

A family curse, lost treasure, unrequited love, and a race against time intertwine as Locklyn and Darin seek to save their family, their kingdom, and eventually the entire Undersea Realm without losing each other.

What if that “happily ever after” wasn’t so happy? L. E. Richmond’s The Mermaid’s Tale dives straight into the action to explore a world after Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. Locklyn is a mermaid without a tail but with legs because of her great-great grandmother’s curse. Now, when her niece is also born without a tail, Locklyn gets a chance to break that curse and help her family. L. E. Richmond swims through the murky waters of racism, family legacy, and political intrigue in this exciting undersea adventure to start the Chronicles of the Undersea Realms series.

Best for: Female fans age 15 and older, lovers of adventure with mermaids.

Discern: Racism in a fantasy setting, brief violence during fights between factions or fantasy animals, mildly implied love triangle, cliffhanger ending.