The Merblood Saga Book 1
Middle-Grade Fantasy
Date Published: April 30, 2024
When the Tide Turns, the Merblood Rises…
In the quaint, windswept town of Madderly Bay, twelve-year-old Selena
Flowers’ dream of a peaceful life shatters as an eerie voice echoes in her
mind, a reminder of the nightmarish encounter that awaits her beneath the
waves: “Just relax. You can breathe easily. I’ve got total
control over you.”
Selena, newly arrived from the bustling streets of London, finds herself in
a gothic mansion teetering on the edge of a coastal cliff, her mother
Fiona’s strange inheritance. But their new beginning turns into a chilling
adventure when an undead mermaid, Faustina, crashes through Selena’s window,
heralding a descent into a dark, hidden world.
The once thriving zombie merkingdom beneath Madderly Bay, now a forgotten
abyss, is Faustina’s haunting domain. Cursed to eternal youth, this zombie
mermaid queen is driven by a lonely, venomous desire to expand her ghostly
army. When Fiona begins to show signs of a ghastly transformation, Selena
knows the curse has found its newest victim.
Faustina’s power stems from a mysterious ruby necklace, an artifact of
untold magic and menace. Its dark magic can turn the tide of fate, offering
salvation or doom. As Selena grapples with bullies at her new school and the
complexities of a small town riddled with secrets, the necklace becomes her
only hope to save her mother from a watery, undead fate.
With the help of her new friend Chloe, Selena embarks on a perilous quest
to uncover the necklace’s hidden past and its current whereabouts. The
journey takes her deeper into Faustina’s world—a world of betrayal,
ancient curses, and underwater lairs.
As the clock ticks and Fiona’s transformation accelerates, Selena must
confront her deepest fears. Plunging into the murky depths, she faces off
against Faustina in a heart-stopping struggle for the necklace. In this
underwater chess game, every move could be her last. Will Selena retrieve
the necklace and reverse the curse, or will she become another lost soul in
Faustina’s mermaid kingdom?
As Selena’s story unfolds, she discovers that the true power lies not in a
ruby’s glow, but in the strength of her own heart. In a final, breathtaking
climax, Selena must decide the fate of the necklace, balancing the weight of
its power against the safety of those she loves.
“Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby” is a tale of magic, courage,
and the unbreakable bonds of family. It is a story that reminds us that even
in our darkest hours, there is always a glimmer of hope.
…For in the Depths of Despair, a Hero Rises.
About the Author
Ella English is a British author and illustrator who swapped afternoon tea
for lattes to go when she moved from London to Baltimore, USA 23 years ago.
She writes children’s books, including the beloved Kitty in the City chapter
book series about a singing cat in Manhattan, as well as the Merblood Saga
which deals with magic and mermaids in Madderly Bay.
The inspiration for the Merblood Saga can be traced back to Ella’s
childhood holidays on the Kent Coast in the UK. With massive waves crashing
against the seawall and the occasional freak wave pulling unsuspecting
beachgoers into the water, young Ella’s imagination ran wild. She began to
wonder if a hidden community of mystical mermaids could be living beneath
the surface, their lives intertwined with the ebb and flow of the
tides.
Years later, those childhood musings have transformed into a middle grade
series that will enchant readers. The Merblood Saga brings the magic of
Ella’s coastal daydreams to life, inviting readers to dive into a world
where mermaids are real and adventure lurks beneath the waves.
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