I adore how 'The Wicked Deep' blends folklore with that gothic, small-town dread. For similar vibes, 'The Weight of Feathers' by Anna-Marie McLemore isn’t strictly about mermaids, but its magical realism and star-crossed lovers feel adjacent. The water symbolism is lush, and the family rivalries are just as toxic as the curses in Shea’s book. If you want literal dark mermaids, 'Into the Drowning Deep' by Mira Grant is technically adult horror, but it’s so gripping that older YA readers might devour it. Killer mermaids in the Marianas Trench? Yes, please.
Another gem is 'The River Has Teeth' by Erica Waters—more swamp witches than mermaids, but the environmental horror and eerie magic give off the same 'nature fights back' energy. And don’t overlook 'The Gracekeepers' by Kirsty Logan; it’s a quieter, poetic take on sea-bound isolation and performance. The melancholy lingers like saltwater on skin. If you’re after betrayal and brine, these books are tidal waves waiting to pull you under.
Dark mermaid YA books? Oh, I’ve fallen down that rabbit hole before! 'The Wicked Deep' has such a haunting vibe, and if you’re craving more eerie, aquatic tales, 'House of Salt and Sorrows' by Erin A. Craig might hit the spot. It’s more of a dark fairy tale retelling with sea spirits and murder mysteries, but the atmosphere is just as chilling. Then there’s 'To Kill a Kingdom' by Alexandra Christo—less lyrical, more brutal, with a siren princess who collects hearts. It’s got that enemies-to-lovers tension but doesn’t shy away from bloodshed.
For something slower and more atmospheric, 'The Surface Breaks' by Louise O’Neill reimagines 'The Little Mermaid' with feminist horror undertones. The protagonist’s transformation is painful, both physically and emotionally, and the ending sticks with you. If you’re open to manga, 'Mermaid Saga' by Rumiko Takahashi is vintage horror—short stories about cursed mermaids and immortality gone wrong. It’s older but holds up with its creepy art and tragic twists. Honestly, dark mermaids are a niche that deserves more love—hope these scratch that itch!
Dark mermaid stories are my guilty pleasure! Beyond 'The Wicked Deep,' try 'The Mermaid’s Sister' by Carrie Anne Noble—it’s bittersweet with a folklore feel, though less outright horror. For a twist, 'All the Murmuring Bones' by A.G. Slatter mixes mermaids with gothic family secrets. The prose is gorgeous, and the underwater scenes are haunting. If you’re into anthologies, 'A Thousand Ships' has a mermaid retelling among its myths, and the tone is deliciously grim. Also, 'The Deep' by Rivers Solomon reimagines mermaids as descendants of enslaved pregnant women thrown overboard—it’s heavy but breathtaking. The way these books weave darkness with water is just chef’s kiss.
2026-05-06 15:29:02
11
View All Answers
Scan code to download App
Related Books
Her Three Wicked Mates
Author Julian
10
5.3K
For seven years, Elara has been on the run. Moving every few months, hiding her powerful witch blood, and shielding her younger brother, Orion, has become her miserable existence. The only thing she knows for sure is that her luck is fading. When an anonymous, blood-written note forces her into the fastest escape of her life, she is suddenly abandoned by the one person she swore to protect. Alone and vulnerable, she falls straight into the clutches of the most dangerous, wicked males in the supernatural world.
Kaelen, Lysander, and Xavier are the ruthless lords of the Penumbra Syndicate, a Fae, a wolf shifter, and a vampire. They are cursed by an enchantress to find their one true love before a magical hourglass drains the last of its red liquid, condemning them to eternal torment. They are convinced the beautiful witch they’ve captured is the very woman who hexed them.
Chained in their opulent mansion, Elara fights for her life even as she’s overwhelmed by a searing, impossible attraction to her three captors. As the clock ticks down, the men must decide: is Elara the wicked enemy who ruined their lives, or the fated soulmate who can finally save them all?
Steamy Fairytales Collection: An 18+ Dark Fairytales Series
Joy Apens
10
100.8K
A retelling of several of the most famous fairy tales with a kinky, dirty twist. Each story is about 30,000 words so sit back, grab some holy water and relax! It's time to sink in 10 deliciously dark and twisted fairytales! Highly erotic and brimming with dark desires, don't say I didn't warn ya!
18+ Dark Fairytale Series
Rumpled (Retelling of Rumplestiltskin)
Sinderella (Retelling of Cinderella)
Allissa in Wankerland (Retelling of Alice In Wonderland)
Friends With Sexy Benefits (Retelling of Hansel and Gretel)
Snow White and the Seven Hunks (Retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
Red (Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood)
Tangled (Retelling of Rapunzel)
Bella and the Beast (Beauty and The Beast)
Maid For Pleasure (The Ugly Duckling)
Goldilocks and the 3 Were-bears (Goldilocks)
Sinners & Saints: A Collection Of Dark Romance Stories
Mary Samantha
10
478
This author once failed as a heroine… and returned as something entirely different.
Not as a savior.
But as the villain.
And she didn’t come back empty-handed.
She brought secrets.
She brought sins.
She brought a story that was never meant to be read.
Sinners & Saints is not just a collection of dark romance stories—
It is a confession.
A warning.
And a door best left unopened.
Within these pages lie twisted love stories where desire and destruction walk hand in hand, and every choice comes with a cost.
So the question is simple:
Will you turn away…
or step inside anyway?
Charlie is a member of Black Diamonds, they hunt for these inhuman beings called mermaid. When the ship is attack one night, Charlie is pulled into a whole new world under the sea.
The sirens knew how to do only one thing. Kill. Usually, it was just those who travelled their seas, until the greedy ruler of Greake, captured their queen. The sirens ventured into the lands at midnight in search of their Queen, bringing chaos along with them.
So many lives were lost from the midnight invasion, as such the humans had a powerful witch, Adora, summon the Pombero to keep the sirens off their lands.
King Edwardo got greedy again. With his sword in hand, dripping the blood of their victims, and Adora by his side, he haunted the sirens who were retreating into their seas. The few who survived the slaughter were enslaved by the king and exploited for riches until they died a miserable death. Edwardo didn't stop there. His quest for wealth and power clouded his sense of reasoning.
Sick of the bloodshed, Adora performed a dark ritual that brought a temporary calm to both sides.
Adora didn't give much thought to the consequences, until she pushed the hideous child out of her womb.
Years later, the throne of the Golden seas remained empty, as none of the sirens were powerful enough to contain the darkness that enveloped the throne. Given that half of their powers were locked away in the other half of their hearts given away by the sea to human mates, whom they were bound to love for the rest of their lives for the sake of peace.
Princess Almira was not looking forward to finding love. All she needed was the other half of her heart to take over her mother's throne. Since the mates were immune to their manipulative melodies, Almira decided to go in search of him herself with only one plan.
Drive a dagger through his heart and retrieve her property.
She's always been alone. Without a name. With out light. Without any idea that this is not what life should be. Until the day she hears her in her mind. A strong, sweet voice that tells her this is not what life is. This is not living, just drowning slowly in darkness, but she can help.
What happens when a girl with no name and no memories of a life before the dark, escapes and discovers there is so much more then she thought in this world? What will she do when the life she built, after emerging from the darkness, comes crashing down around her? Can she stand and fight for the light she’s now apart of, or will she find her self Drowning in Her Darkness forever.
Dark fantasy mermaid books? Oh, I've got a treasure trove for you! Let me start with 'The Mermaid’s Daughter' by Ann Claycomb—it’s a haunting reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, but with a gothic twist. The mermaids here aren’t singing sailors to their doom; they’re trapped in a cycle of cursed lineage, and the prose feels like drowning in melancholy. The way Claycomb blends opera, tragedy, and body horror is just chef’s kiss.
Then there’s 'Into the Drowning Deep' by Mira Grant. It’s less fairy tale and more sci-fi horror, but the mermaids? Pure nightmare fuel. Think deep-sea predators with eerie intelligence and a hunger for human flesh. The claustrophobic pressure of the ocean depths adds such a visceral layer to the dread. If you like your fantasy with a side of existential terror, this one’s a must-read.
The allure of mermaids in YA literature is irresistible, and I've devoured so many over the years! One standout is 'The Siren' by Kiera Cass, which blends romance and mythology with a hauntingly beautiful underwater world. The protagonist’s struggle between duty and desire feels achingly real, and Cass’s lyrical prose makes every page shimmer like sunlight on waves.
Another gem is 'Deep Blue' by Jennifer Donnelly, the first in the 'Waterfire Saga.' It’s packed with political intrigue, sisterhood, and epic underwater battles. The world-building is lush—think Atlantis meets 'Game of Thrones,' but with mermaids. Donnelly doesn’t shy away from darker themes, which adds depth to the glittering scales and coral palaces. If you crave something darker, 'To Kill a Kingdom' by Alexandra Christo offers a twisted Little Mermaid retelling where the 'princess' is a killer siren. The enemies-to-lovers arc is deliciously tense, and the oceanic lore feels fresh despite its roots in familiar tales.