The Siren, the Song, and the Spy

“No one escapes the Sea’s reckoning in this searing sequel. . . . Powerful and emotionally gratifying.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

By sinking a fleet of Imperial Warships, the Pirate Supreme and the resistance have struck a massive blow against the Emperor. Now allies from across the empire are readying themselves to bring about the end of the conquerors’ rule and the rebirth of the Sea. But trust and truth are hard to come by in this complex world of mermaids, spies, warriors, and aristocrats. Who will Genevieve—washed up half-dead on the Wariuta island shore—turn out to be? Is warrior Koa’s kindness toward her admirable, or is his sister Kaia’s suspicion wiser? Back in the capital, will pirate-spy Alfie betray the Imperials who have shown him affection, especially when a duplicitous senator reveals xe would like nothing better?

Meanwhile, the Sea is losing more and more of herself as her daughters are brutally hunted, and the Empire continues to expand and profit. A web of schemes, shifting loyalties, and blossoming identities converge in Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s remarkable companion to The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, as unlikely allies work to forge a new and better world.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall has an MFA in creative writing from the University of San Francisco and a strong cake-decorating game. She is the author of the young adult novel The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, an indie bestseller and recipient of the Northern California Book Award in Children’s Literature, as well as the picture book Also an Octopus, illustrated by Benji Davies, which won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Maggie Tokuda-Hall lives in Oakland, California, with her children, husband, and dog.