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Deep in the ocean, a peculiar creature named Penure is raised by a pod of dolphins. Penure is believed to be the last of his kind: the N’harmae. With the tail of a dolphin and the torso and head of a human, the N’harmae were the caretakers of the ocean and its creatures, compassionately taking care of other creatures before they were pushed to the brink of extinction by a mysterious predator known as the Vi’red. The Vi’Red arrived on a falling meteor that landed in the ocean and swallows its prey whole in order to clone itself, preferring the taste of N’harmae over all the other creatures in the ocean. Young Penure is sent from his adoptive dolphin pod across the ocean to learn more about himself and his people.
Meanwhile, on a nearby island, young K’noko lives with her mother Marni, diving for pearls and other treasures to trade with travelling sailors. K’noko loves the ocean but feels out of place among the other villagers. When Marni leaves the village in order to find the medicine that she needs to restore her strength, K’noko feels lost without her. One day, K’noko’s world gets turned on its head when she meets Penure and learns of the mythical creatures in and around the oceans. While she wants to help Penure on his journey and save the ocean, her concern for Marni is too strong; so she leaves on the trading ship to find her. In the process, she learns more about her own heritage and why she feels so drawn to the open water, Penure, and his friends.
Set among familiar aquatic animals and in a world similar enough to our own, the story along with its fantastic elements should strongly appeal to anyone who likes marine life. The cooperation exhibited between the heroic humans, the mythical N’harmae and dryads, and the animals that live in the ocean provides a powerful message about mankind and nature working together harmoniously. After an appropriate amount of worldbuilding, the story’s action really finds a comfortable rhythm, with chapters occasionally alternating which character becomes the main focus. Between the N’harmae, the human crew of the ship Lady, the twin dryad brothers, and the noble creatures of the deep, many perspectives are represented, and the common goals of the protagonists keep that approach from becoming muddled.
Primarily, this story belongs in the fantasy genre because of its inclusion of mythical beings and an alien menace, but it also features strong romance, action, and dramatic components. The human scenarios ground the reader in something familiar, with a ship full of sailors and old-fashioned trade routes, while the tale of the N’harmae introduces the audience to new and exciting possibilities and adventures. Of particular interest are the villainous Vi’red, whose mindless consumption and alien makeup provide a haunting, tense catalyst for both the backstory and the current conflict. The author uses some imaginative twists on existing ideas to breathe fresh life into them, crafting new locations and languages to make her story unique. You don’t have to be fascinated by the ocean to get pulled into this story of identity and survival, but an appreciation for that setting elevates this book to a whole other level.