The Twice-Drowned Prince

The prince had no memory of the first time he drowned. The salt numbed his mind. But the second time, it stung. Every breath brought a thousand barbs, slicing his flesh to ribbons without spilling a drop of blood. His lungs screamed as never before—voiceless.

What makes a man choose to drown? A great many things, the prince was sure. But for him, it was two eyes more vivid than the sky. Her eyes, her hair, her tail of vibrant blue.

After surviving a shipwreck, he seeks out his rescuer. A witch grants him a tail, but her spell comes with a curse. He must learn the sign language of the Mer and win the heart of his rescuer—or turn to sea foam. As secrets resurface, infatuation could lead to destruction, and resurging trauma could drown both the prince and his teacher.

Both YA and advanced young readers can enjoy this subversive retelling of The Little Mermaid. This fantasy world will appeal to fans of Meagan Spooner, Kiera Cass, Dhonielle Clayton, and Gail Carson Levine.