The Seas Between Us is an urban fantasy romance by indie author Jana Sun. Merrow has been saddled with a terrible burdensome task: if she fails to complete it, the lives of her tribe will cease to exist as she knows them, and so, to keep them safe, she must lure a human to the sea. Owen, a struggling artist with the gentlest of souls, feels as free with a paintbrush in hand as he does by the sea, as though it calls to him, but he is as isolated as an island in the vast ocean and finds himself placed in Merrow’s crosshairs. But perhaps a terrible fate wasn’t what allowed their paths to cross; perhaps fate just meant for them to find each other, a soul that spoke so completely to their own. A love so strong it felt like destiny had played a part… if only time wasn’t slipping away and the weight of many lives wasn’t an iron cuff a second away from pulling them under ever-darkening waves and drowning any hope that had wished to bubble to the surface.
Sweet Merrow pulled at my heartstrings so quickly, such a horrific task handed to her as though it would be easy, as though what she had been asked would come easily to her. Merrow couldn’t kill a thing; it was clear she would rather risk her own life for others, take it if needed if it meant she didn’t have to take another’s, and yet the ritual was to happen, and she couldn’t hide from it, even if she wished too. Merrow became a literal fish out of water, but she adapted quickly to the human world as though she were made to be there. It was clear as day that Merrow carried sadness and loneliness, as though she was just as lost in the sea as she was on land. I was angered for her, for how she was forced into this with zero preparation for what was to come. I was glad she had sisters on land who helped, but I was even gladder when she found Owen; it was heartbreaking, but when on page with each other, it was the easiest melding of hearts I’ve ever read; it was as though they had already met, but it was also very giddy and new. Merrow learning about the human world, learning about her human body, and learning more about Owen was touching and humorous. I loved that Jana Sun didn’t write Merrow as this perfectly crafted siren from the sea, but she was as flawed as any human, but in the cutest ways, she was utterly adorable and charming, and it had nothing to do with her being a mermaid and everything to do with who she was: strong, beautiful, caring, loving, lonely, and full of longing for more, for a love so grand it could be written into love songs. I was endeared to her so naturally; I loved that she didn’t want to do what was set to her and that she would rather fight to keep Owen alive and safe or to set him free. She couldn’t bear the thought of lying to him, and boy did her turmoil break my heart.
Owen is alone and painfully aware of it. His days consist of work and home, and the reprieve from loneliness comes from the all-consuming passion for his art. The ocean has called to him, infiltrating his dreams and making its way naturally to his canvas. Like he was intrinsically connected to Merrow long before she met him, long before she knew his name, and long before he knew hers, but he knew her face, and knowing this small piece of her kept him anchored in life. When it comes to connecting to people, Owen struggles, so he doesn’t allow himself to try too hard, but I was happy that Anne Marie scooped him into a friendship and allowed that to grow at his own pace while still nudging him and his art into full view, where it deserves to be seen. One of the things that broke my heart most about Owen was when, in his infinity to love, he would gladly tear out his own heart for someone he loved if it would make it easier for them; he was so selflessly giving in his love and yet for such a long time believed he wasn’t capable of it, and I wanted to cry for him. This man full of so much light and tenderness has been starved of affection being dotted on him, and I loved Merrow even more for her wanting to give him what he needed, what he deserved and longed for. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the beginning of this novel, how one character was experiencing the best day of their life and the other their worst, and this only added to the bittersweet feeling of these characters’ first meeting; it made me ache for them both so much. Being around Merrow made Owen feel calmer, more at ease, like he could breathe, while also adding joy to his life, making him feel more confident. I felt like Owen had loved Merrow before he even knew her, and that’s what made coming to terms with his fate so much easier. Even while the idea of what was to come was haunting him, he would still lay down and take it for her, which made it even sadder. Owen has this wonderful way of viewing the world as though it’s a canvas and the colours of the world are his paints; this viewing of the world through his eyes made The Seas Between Us such an enjoyable read because you were walking the gallery with him, but it also helped to see how he felt disjointed from it rather than immersed in the painting of the world he lived in. In all honesty, Owen is a character I won’t be able to forget for a while, and neither is Merrow; two beautiful people finding each other in less than beautiful circumstances.
I fell instantly in love with The Seas Between Us from the very first page, and my love just grew as I progressed through the story. Jana Sun effortlessly draws you into the scene and the mind of these wonderful characters, painting the picture with words just as exquisitely as Owen paints on canvas. I felt every emotion, I saw every scene with vividness, and my heart felt like it was breaking in the sweetest possible way for Merrow and Owen, who share such emotional similarities—a true longing for more. Watching them fall in love was so beautifully painful, and I’m not ashamed to admit I was crying. However, the climax of this book makes all the pain worth it. The Seas Between Us is a love story full of such warmth, pain, magic, and the sweetest kiss of heat, so it comes as no surprise that it has made its way into my reread pile and, of course, the rating of Five out of Five Stars.
I’d recommend this to everyone who loves romance but particularly to anyone who has felt pulled by the sea, those who love the tales of sailors falling into the sea after a siren’s call, and those who love a love story no matter how heartbreaking of a journey it is, and those who love when characters are willing to risk anything for love and are willing to fight for it tooth and nail or die trying just to keep it. The Seas Between Us is a wonderful journey, full of the beauty of art, family, whether blood or found, friendship, passion, honesty, and love—so much love. Owen is the sweetest, softest MMC I’ve ever read, and Merrow is full of spirit and kindest, willing to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it meant damning herself in the process. This read will have you swooning and crying, but Jana Sun magically weaves a new tale of love between merfolk and humans. I was so honoured to have ARC read this, and I can’t wait until my gorgeous paper copy arrives. Get ready to fall in love with mermaids, love, and art; enjoy some fin action; but more importantly, fall in love with the author and the bewitching way she writes; I certainly have.
As this is an ARC, please note the quotes I have chosen may not be in the final addition and/or found on the pages I have listed.
Favourite Quotes
“Wasn’t that the part we should celebrate in song? A love so grand it knew no better than to chase a mermaid to the sea?”
– page 20
““Sometimes even blessings can be curses,” I replied. And sometimes, life was simply unfair.”
– page 37
“But as I felt him getting swept away by the tides, I felt myself going with him.”
– page 107
“It was like I came alive then, my life was muted and now I finally saw the world in color.”
– page 114
“Like the tides crashing against the shore, we were destined to meet, maybe even to fall in love.”
– page 176
Finer Details:
Title: The Seas Between Us
Author: Jana Sun
Pages: 293
Publisher: Jana Sun
Publication: 2024
Language: English
Rating: 5/5