This 3rd volume of the series was even better than the first two. Donnelly shows us more about each of Sera's mermaid companions, really delving beneath the surface of their motivations and limitations. While the previous novels have had themes of female empowerment, that comes through very strongly in this volume, without being off-putting.

Despite the challenge of keeping ongoing characters, situations, and fears fresh, Donnelly serves up ample mysteries to unravel and new perspectives to consider in moving the 6 merls toward the final battle. I'm excited to see how the final novel will resolve the merls' stories. I have both hope that they will, indeed, succeed where their ancestors failed & a sense of dread that they won't all make it to the end & live happily ever after.