The Merblood Saga, Book 2
YA Fantasy
Date Published: 02-25-2025
Publisher: Spider Web Press
Something strange is going down in the sleepy seaside village of Madderly Bay. Best friends Selena and Chloe are stuck in the most boring summer ever—until food starts coming to life and running wild in the streets.
But that’s just the beginning. Earthquakes start shaking the village, and creepy claw marks show up, hinting at something dark stirring beneath the waves. Only Selena and Chloe know the real story about the zombie mermaids they faced before—and now they’re worried the threat they thought was gone might be back.
As the tremors get worse and the water turns a scary green, the girls have to figure out what’s awakening in the depths before it’s too late. With their friend Zelda and her magical squid, Glowella, by their side, they’ll risk everything to save both the human and magical worlds from a danger that could destroy them all.
In this thrilling adventure, Selena and her friends have to face their fears and dig up some serious secrets between the human and magical worlds. With their village and the ocean in danger, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Can they figure out what’s messing with the sea before it’s too late? Or will they realize that saving their town—and both worlds—might be way harder than they thought?
The icy water hit Selena like a slap, her breath catching as they dove deeper. Goosebumps raced up her arms, even with Aunt Ada’s magic buzzing through her veins like liquid adrenaline. The murky green depths pressed in on all sides, the weight of it twisting her stomach into knots.
"This darkness is totally freaking me out," Selena muttered through chattering teeth. Her eyes strained against the gloom. " I can't see anything down here."
"For real," Chloe's voice wavered next to her. "The ocean straight up deleted all the light."
They rocketed forward, the current whipping past their faces. Schools of fish darted by in silver streaks. Slimy seaweed brushed against their ankles. The water pressure squeezed Selena's chest tighter with each kick deeper.
Zelda's face flashed through her mind - that infectious laugh, those locs floating like a crown around her head. Selena's gut clenched thinking about her lost down here somewhere in this creepy underwater wasteland.
"This is so freaky," Selena muttered. "I can't believe Zelda's down here somewhere."
"We've gotta find her," Selena said, her voice shaky. "She's counting on us, you know?"
Chloe grabbed Selena's hand. It was freezing but reassuring. "We've totally got this. No doubt."
"Keep your eyes open, okay?" Chloe said, squinting through the murky water.
"No way we're giving up," Selena whispered. "Not when Zelda needs us."
The ocean floor dropped away beneath them into pure black. A massive cave gaped ahead, jagged rocks lining the entrance like fangs. Before they could bail, an invisible force yanked them forward - their bodies moving against their will.
"Chlo!" Panic ripped through Selena's voice. "I can’t control my movements - something's dragging me!"
"Me neither!" Terror cracked through Chloe's words. "Like being pulled by a ghost!"
Selena met Chloe’s eyes. "Faustina," they gasped together.
The force hauled them closer to the cave's maw. Selena thrashed against it, muscles burning, but the grip only tightened. Terror clawed up Selena's spine. Her lungs squeezed tight as pitch blackness pressed in from all sides like thick ink.
The current swept them deeper into whatever waited in the cave's depths. Dead ahead, something moved in the dark. Something big. Selena's heart slammed against her ribs as her mind spun with all the undersea monsters from her worst nightmares. Whatever dragged them here wasn't finished with them yet.
About the Author
Ella English grew up in the heart of London, where the hustle and bustle of city life met summer adventures at her grandma’s house on the Kent coast. Exploring tide pools and collecting seashells, she developed a love for the ocean and a knack for creating imaginative worlds that she now brings to life through her writing.
Now living in Baltimore, Maryland, Ella is the author of The Merblood Saga, a dark fantasy YA series that plunges readers into a haunting underwater realm filled with cursed mermaids, ancient magic, and buried secrets. The first book, Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby, has been a hit with young readers, drawing them into its mysterious and dangerous world.
Ella also writes and illustrates Kitty in the City, a whimsical series about a singing cat named Katy who takes New York City by storm. The latest installment, Katy in Central Park, will be released in June 2025.
When she’s not weaving dark magic or drawing cats, Ella is kept busy by her two mischievous felines who make sure she stays entertained and grounded. Follow her adventures (and plenty of cat cameos) on Instagram @EllaEnglishAuthor or visit www.ellaenglish.com for more.
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