The Journey to Find the Mermaid

Summary

On a dark, wintry day, a young girl receives a mysterious letter from her ailing grandmother, pleading with her to visit. For the girl, the decision is simple—she has always loved the cozy beach cottage where her grandmother lives, far more than the city apartment she shares with her mother. The island where the cottage sits is steeped in magic and folklore, with stories as old and rich as the moss hanging from the trees.

Now, with her grandmother’s vision failing, there’s something important she wants to show her granddaughter—a mythical place whispered about by the locals. They call it the Harbor of Sirens, a hidden sanctuary where mermaids are said to gather each year to sing their haunting Winter Song. To the girl’s mother, it’s just a silly old tale, but the grandmother is certain of its existence.

With the help of an eccentric lighthouse keeper, the trio gathers supplies and embarks on their search. Along the way, the girl learns the full tale of the Harbor of Sirens and the legend of a fierce mermaid warrior—a princess who is said to have once walked upon the very islands they’re exploring.

Their journey is anything but easy. The old maps they follow are difficult to read, and the forest paths are perilous. Adding to the challenge is a strange storm that seems to twist and turn in step with their progress, as though something—or someone—is working to keep the harbor concealed.

But when the storm clears on the longest night of the year, the girl and her grandmother uncover a truth far more extraordinary than any storybook. As her grandmother always says: “Not all tales are make-believe, my dear. Some hold the memories of entire lifetimes.