Fantastic Underwater World-building: Chronicles of the Undersea Realm

Chronicles of the Undersea Realm by L. E. Richmond

I’m not a big fan of mermaid/human relationships because, inevitably, they will have to choose either the land or sea so I was very excited to come across a mermaid/mermaid romance instead! I absolutely devoured the first book! The setting is just so well done and I loved all the characters! I need a pet dolphin and a dugong herd! I did kinda wish the plot had stuck more with the premise/blurb. We moved away from the niece with legs pretty quickly to go on the treasure hunting adventure but the book was still great.

I eagerly snatched the second book the moment it dropped and was pleased to see the same level of fantastic writing and worldbuilding. God as a merman was an interesting addition and the faith aspect was appreciated (faith and mermaids? Yay!) All in all, this duology has some of the best mermaid worldbuilding I’ve ever read.

If You Like

• Mermaids

• Unrequited love (though not forever)

• Friends to more

• Treasure Hunting Quests

• Fantastic world-building

Possibly Concerning Content

• Swearing: None
  

• Romance: I think there is one kiss in the first book and a handful in the second.
  

• Violence: People die. There are creatures under the sea that are dangerous. In the second book, someone gets eaten.
  

• Magic: There is a sorceress who uses magic to curse the main character and her family and later tries to curse the group. She is evil and though you come to learn what drove her to her magic, it is never portrayed as a good thing.

Blurb

"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." - From Amazon.

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