The Mermaid's Wrath (The Laughter of the Sun, #1)

Winner of the 2025 Reedsy Discovery Editors' Choice Award
Silver Medal for Readers' Favorite 2026 Contest - General Fantasy Fiction

This is not the little mermaid you grew up with.

The Pacific Mers clan lives deep in the ocean within a magical bubble, protecting them from the ever-increasing plastic pollution.

Scyphozoa, aka Jelly, is a warrior mermaid and a rarity among her kind. She wears a black pearl at her throat, a family heirloom that holds an ancient secret. It wakes with an explosion and haunts her with dark premonitions, leading her to ally with the Surfecti, the estranged magical people on land.

There’s a woman in trouble, kidnapped for the power in her blood, and Jelly might be the one to save her.

Described as “The Hunger Games” meets “Moana,” The Mermaid’s Wrath is the first volume in The Laughter of the Sun series, a tale of romantasy, mythology, and a powerfully angry female warrior. This is not the little mermaid you grew up with.

Kirkus review: "A lighthearted novel that simultaneously features heavy environmental themes, multifaceted characters, and lots of charm. Holman weaves elements of humor, magic, romance, and environmental activism in a quirky, ocean-set romantasy."