9 Dark Little Mermaid Retellings
Have you ever craved a mermaid romance and didn’t know how to find them? Don’t worry, my little angels! I’ve got you covered. I've compiled a list of 9 stories that I think fit the dark romance bill!
As your resident pisces here at Library of Angels, I’m always invested in a good siren read! What better way to kick off the third article of week 1 than with an awesome selection of books for my water lovers? All of these stories are dark retellings of The Little Mermaid.
A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle
Let’s start with one of my all-time favorite reads! I love this story so much. Maren and Captain Battista seriously have a special place in my heart. This story brought me out of the craziest book slump that I have ever been in - EVER. It honestly altered my brain chemistry and somehow brought me back to myself.
Blurb:
Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.
When she was just 16-years old, she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.
An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay "Bones" Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate--not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive. Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it's being held in the captain's wicked hands.
But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who--and what--Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.
Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate's dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.
When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.
This is a standalone and has an HEA (happily ever after). If you liked this story, a spinoff has just been released and is called Ocean of Sin and Starlight by Karina Halle.
2. The Bone Thief's Tale by Heleen Davies
This story is a mix between a retelling of both The Little Mermaid and Hades x Persephone. This is the first book in a completed trilogy that follows the same couple. The ending of the third book leaves you with an HEA!
Blurb:
Bound to steal her queen magical bones, thief Lynne knows only one mistake equals death. And yet, she dreams of living in the forbidden world upon the surface, hating every minute in the Underworld. When she secretly falls for a human, she loses a bone in his realm and has no choice but to strike a deal with the only one who could help—an evil witch. To save her life, she must earn the man’s love and bring back the bone in 99 days.
Rio Renero is a notorious gang leader in Chicago and his life has been set to one purpose—to get back at his enemies. With a mysterious, beautiful girl showing up on his doorstep, he sees the solution to his machinations. She offers him a chance at a deadly heist that could destroy all his enemies. In return, he must help her steal a book. What a cinch.
As Lynne and Rio dig deep into a dark net of politics, magic, and passion, they need to learn to trust each other. Not so easy, considering they’re not quite sure whether to kiss or kill each other.
3. Siren by Measha Stone
Measha Stone is a beloved dark romance author who previously released a well known novel - Dolly. Dolly has even made it into the hands of dark romance book boxes that sell special edition covers of dark romance books. If Siren is anywhere as good as Dolly, then this should be a fantastic read!
Blurb:
My father demands I give up my dreams to follow the path he’s set for me, but I want more.
And I won’t settle.
In exchange for a small favor, my aunt helps get me started on a new path. My path. But I should have known life isn’t that easy. One of my father’s most trusted men catches up with me, and he’s brought a friend.
I’m off limits, the boss’ daughter, but that doesn’t stop Bastian or Garrick. They’re both overbearing, overprotective, and mouthwatering.
They don’t approve of my aunt. Positive she’s going to betray me, they won’t let me out of their sight. And when I do manage to sneak away, they take turns showing me exactly what price I’ll pay when I cross the line.
But I have to see this through. No matter the cost.
4. The Storm Beneath The Waves by Amber Nicole and Chelsii Klein
Why choose especially with two very lovable MMCs? Sign me right up. This story follows Skye, Caspian, and Elliot! It is book one in a continuing series.
Blurb:
Caspian~
Being a prince to the Siren Kingdom forces me to have a duty to the water, my parents, and to the impending war at our doorsteps.
But I can’t focus on what I was born to do, when it’s not the water I want to be a part of… but the land.
When I spot her, my whole world shifts focus and it’s no longer a far off dream to go to shore, but a demand I can’t help but follow.
Humans and Sirens cannot be mates, so why am I drawn to her like she’s the water in my lungs I need to survive?
Skye~
Lost and afraid, I'm fighting to keep my head above the water as everyone tries to drown me.
Everything has changed.
Friends become enemies as others become lovers.
I need to escape from this town full of judgement and pity.
I want to explore the ocean and all that it has to offer.
Well, that’s my plan, anyway. Until my heart gets involved.
After losing my soulmate to the sea, I never expected to fall in love again.
Until a mysterious stranger arrives, making me question everything.
Arousing some deep seated feelings and emotions I thought were long buried.
But some pretty faces hold the biggest secrets and lies of all.
A storm is brewing under the waves and this time it won't pull me down.
5. Siren by R.J. Lewis and A.R. Rose
This is a standalone dark fantasy with an HEA.
Blurb:
Captain James Erickson was once a prince but is now cursed and bound to the sea. With a reputation for being fearsome and ruthless, he has weathered many storms.
But nothing could have prepared him for the storm that took his entire crew—a storm conjured by a siren, a creature believed to be extinct.
Consumed by revenge, Captain Erickson is determined to find the siren who destroyed his crew. But when he captures her, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.
As they journey together across the treacherous ocean facing countless dangers, their forbidden love may be the greatest danger of all.
Will Captain Erickson let go of his desire for revenge and give into his connection with his sworn enemy? Or will the curse live on?
6. Aria by H.P. Mallory
This story is the third in a series and the author does recommend reading the series in order. The first two books follow the stories of Snow White and Goldilocks. Both of them are dark fairytale retellings as well.
Blurb:
My name is Aria, otherwise known as the Little Mermaid.
After finding a human adrift after a vicious battle with a Kraken, I breach my banishment to save the brave pirate, Captain Hook.
Though I know I have no business involving myself in human affairs, I can’t help my attraction to the roguishly handsome pirate—his silver tongue, his body riddled with muscle, and his mouth which I swear is made for sin.
My life is quickly uprooted when my aunt announces that in order for me to reclaim the throne from my cruel father, King Triton, I require allies.
And, in this case, allies equal marriage to a man I’ve never even met, Prince Andric.
Meanwhile, my heart and body belong to the legendary Captain Hook, a man who teaches me the very meaning of desire.
The seas continue to rage, with new and violent monsters creeping from the deep to attack at every turn.
Accompanied by my devoted friend and bodyguard, the incredibly handsome merman, Bastion, I must face the man who brought me to ruin and threatens to destroy everyone I love.
Can I make it out of the battlefield with my life and loves intact?
Or will my heart be just another casualty of war?
7. From the Depths by Bonnie Snow
This story is 64 pages (according to amazon) so, I would liken this closer to a novella. If you are looking for a quick read, then definitely check this one out!
Blurb:
Life is so much better on the other side of the fence, or above the surface in Carys’ mind.
She dreams of life on land, meeting a man who excites her and who she can be passionate about.
When her father surprises her with an engagement to a merman she doesn’t love, she escapes to a life she thinks will be better with thanks to a bitter sea witch.
But she must secure herself real love or risk everything.
Only…her dream isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
8. Belong to Me by Hayley Briana
I’m not going to lie…the cover is really cool. I’m a sucker for a good looking cover and the tentacle gives me spooky vibes and I just want to jump right in. I hear this one is spicy so I’ll need you all to read it and let me know!
Blurb:
I'm sure that you've heard that story of a mermaid who made a deal with a sea witch in exchange for human legs. That story had a happy ending, but what if the ending wasn't so happy? What if the storytellers got the details wrong? What would happen if the mermaid didn't find her prince charming? Only a villain and a war she was powerless to stop.
9. Of Song and Scepter by Liesl West - RELEASE DATE: July 2nd, 2024
This book has not been released yet as of June 29th, 2024. HOWEVER, it does come out in 3 short days. If you are looking for a morally gray female main character, forbidden love, and he falls first then you are definitely in the right place.
Blurb:
She's a killer in disguise. He's determined to make her his queen.
As a deep sea death-dealer, Enna Valomir's life is simple: kill the siren, deliver the body, collect the reward. There's just one problem. Enna owes a mermaid her life, and in the cutthroat waters of the Abyss, that's a lifelong blood oath of service.
When the mermaid orders her to kill the Abyssal Princess, Enna is pulled into an impersonation scheme with no choice but to infiltrate a gaudy surface court and help the mermaid win the heart—and throne—of its unwitting future king.
But Prince Soren isn't interested in courting the so-called Abyssal Princess, or any power-hungry princess, for that matter. He's finally met his match in her fierce and mysterious handmaid, and he'll be damned if he can't have Enna for his queen instead.
Breaking a blood oath means death, but Enna falls for Soren anyway. Now she must watch him descend into a ruin of her own making, or warn him of the ruse—and die.
I hope you all like lists like this! If you have any other lists you would like to see, please let me know in the comments below.
*All blurbs pulled from the book’s listing on Amazon.