A rather dreamy, slow book, this novella tells the story of an eccentric couple, Megan and Jonah, who live in a seaside town. Megan's an artist and Jonah runs an artsy souvenir shop. But a mystic couple arrive in town... Megan finds herself irresistibly drawn to a travelling jewelry-maker, and Jonah finds himself obsessed with a beautiful singer he sees in the local pub. Magic intertwines with reality as Megan and Jonah's relationship seems to be tearing apart, for these strangers are magical beings from the sea, and Jonah is drawn in like so many other of legend, by siren song. But today, the mermaids want for than sensual, cruel amusement - they want to draw attention to the ecological disaster being faced by the world's oceans.
I really love Patricia McKillip, but this novella gave me a bit of an 'unfinished' feel - there were a few loose ends, and the 'message' seemed awkwardly fitted in.

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