If you’re looking for a readathon that feels summer-y consider doing bookishhaunt’s MerMay. This readathon tracks any ocean-themed book you read during the month of May. While you can also choose to donate like bookishhaunt and I will be doing, it isn’t required.
MerMay TBR
I wanted to share my TBR for the month. This is subject to change as I may not be able to hit eight books in a month, but we’ll try here.
1) Ocean Setting-Lies We Sing to the Sea
A Greek-inspired story in the vein of Circe and the Song of Achilles this sapphic fantasy deals with the idea of women being sacrificed to Posiden
Each spring, Ithaca condemns twelve maidens to the noose. This is the price vengeful Poseidon demands for the lives of Queen Penelope’s twelve maids, hanged and cast into the ocean centuries ago.
But when that fate comes for Leto, death is not what she thought it would be. Instead, she wakes on a mysterious island and meets a girl with green eyes and the power to command the sea. A girl named Melantho, who says one more death can stop a thousand.
The prince of Ithaca must die—or the tides of fate will drown them all.
Amazon: Lies We Sing To the Sea
2) Water on the Cover
I’ve been excited to read this one. The Last Mapmaker tells the story of Sai, as assistant to Mangkon’s most celebrated mapmaker, twelve-year-old Sai plays the part of a well-bred young lady with a glittering future. In reality, her father is a conman—and in a kingdom where the status of one’s ancestors dictates their social position, the truth could ruin her.
Sai seizes the chance to join an expedition to chart the southern ocean, but she isn’t the only one aboard with secrets. When Sai learns that the ship might be heading for the fabled Sunderlands—a land of dragons, dangers, and riches beyond imagining—she must weigh the cost of her dreams. Vivid, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, this tale of identity and integrity is as beautiful and intricate as the maps of old.
Amazon: The Last Mapmaker
3) Water Words in the Title
Olivia is on the road trip of her dreams, with her trusty camera and her big sister Ruth by her side. Three years ago, before their family moved from California to Tennessee, Olivia and Ruth buried a time capsule on their favorite beach. Now, they’re taking an RV back across the country to uncover the memories they left behind.
But her sister’s depression is getting worse and Oliva is trying to create a plan to help her sister see how life used to be. But things may not be able to go back to the way they were even with all Oliva’s attempts, and what if loving her sister is all she can do?
Amazon: Breathing Underwater
4) Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess Book 1: Captain Raven and the All-Girl Pirate Crew
Set in the Princeless universe, Fresh off her adventures in the pages of Princeless, Raven is ready to set out on her quest for revenge against her brothers. They’ve stolen everything that should be hers and now she’s going to get it back. But first, she needs a crew. Share the laughs, action, and adventure as Raven assembles the fearless crew of awesome ladies who will help her get her revenge.
Amazon: Princeless: Raven The Pirate Princess Book 1
6) Mythical Water Creatures
A Song Below Water is a lovely allegorical fantasy that explores themes of racism, sexism, and the power and the limiting of people’s voices. This dose of magical realism makes for an engaging tale I can’t wait to take another look at.
Amazon: A Song Below Water
7) Shipwrecks
As each new decade begins, the sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol themself as the most worthy to compete in the Sunbearer Trials.
The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all – they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body forming the new Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.
Teo however isn’t worried about the Trials as people above his class are usually selected. But for the first time in a long time he and his friend are selected and Teo must get he and his friends through the trials alive.
Amazon: The Sunbearer Trials
I’m still looking for a book on Mermaids and a non-fiction on Ocean Conservation, so if you have any suggestions please post them in the comments. For Mermaids, I’m thinking about The Surface Breaks, since I’ve been ogling that cover since it came out.
Anyway I know this is a little late but I wanted to let you know what I was planning for May, here is the Mermay Storygraph if you want to join in!
Plaid Reader Reviews 