Jennifer Donnelly's (A Northern Light) Waterfire Saga begins with a bang in the 41st century, as Serafina's royal household prepares for a rite of initiation: Serafina must prove she is a descendent of Merrow, and next in line for the throne.
The author creates an underwater wonderland filled with jewels and beautiful gowns as everyone prepares to attend this once-in-a-generation ceremony. "A mermaid's magic is in her voice," and Serafina will sing to prove her rightful place in the line stretching back to Merrow, the first to rule the Miromara. But hints of impending trouble cast a pall over the celebration. First, Serafina dreams of the mythic Iele, the river witches, and their attempt to contain a monster that's about to break out of its prison. Then there's Serafina's mother, current ruler of Miromara, who speaks of threats to their kingdom, and Uncle Vallerio's belief that Admiral Kolfinn and the Ondalina are behind the raids in nearby territories. And lastly, Serafina's betrothed, Mahdi, whom she thought truly loved her, has been spotted carousing with other mermaids.
Scarcely has 16-year-old Serafina proven herself as the true heir and before she has time to worry about whether her marriage will be loveless, assassins break into the palace, kill her father and pierce her mother in the chest with an arrow. Serafina and her best friend, Neela, a princess from a neighboring kingdom, escape, only to end up prisoners of Captain Traho, allegedly aligned with Kolfinn and the Ondalina. During their captivity, Serafina discovers that Neela has had the same dream, and realizes that there may be more truth than legend to the Iele. Three praedatori--mermen called "outlaws" by their families--rescue the two princesses; if outlaws can be heroes, they must question everything they've been taught.
Donnelly charts the two friends' growing belief in the dream as prophecy. They meet all kinds of colorful characters on their way to finding the other four "daughters" described in the river witches' chant: the creepy keeper of the world behind the mirror, a freshwater mermaid whom they call "a crazy lady with too many catfish," and others who make treasures of the things discarded by terragoggs (humans). The princesses soon discover that the terragoggs are far more complicated than they've been told. They are not solely enemies: some are out to save the seas. Donnelly leaves this story on a cliffhanger, but she introduces six captivating "daughters" who will lure readers back for the next installment in a planned four-book series. --Jennifer M. Brown
Shelf Talker: The author of A Northern Light explores the vibrant, at times turbulent life of the mermaids and mermen in the deep blue sea.