It's hard being a bookish mermaid when there are no books under the sea. But as a girl, Esmerine spent her days on the shore with a scholarly winged boy named Alander, even though transforming her tail to legs caused her great pain. But many years have passed since Alan went off to school. Esmerine has now taken on a great honor--becoming a siren who watches over the waters.

Esmerine's sister Dosia was the only person who understood her interest in the surface world--and when Dosia goes missing, Esmerine will brave that world to find her. Did Dosia willingly give her heart a human man? Or was she kidnapped? The only person who could help Esmerine search for her sister is Alander...but the friendship of childhood may have become something more. Their worlds will never meet, but can their hearts find a way?

Set in a magical land modeled after Italy during the Grand Tour, inspired by swoony Regency romances and the Age of Enlightenment, this novel is suitable for younger and older readers.