The deadly northern seas are growing unsettled...None know this better than Aazuria Vellamo, who must conceal her physical abnormalities in order to masquerade as a normal human being. She is the proud Princess of Adlivun, fleeing from the threat of war in her underwater kingdom to regroup with her sisters and bodyguards in Alaska. This refuge holds unexpected surprises, for she meets a somber gentleman in a dark corner who offers her assistance. Captain Trevain Murphy is a successful king crab fisherman who has spent his life building his empire above the sea, and knows nothing of the greater empire beneath the surface. When an elegant dancer captures his attention, he becomes fascinated with her old-fashioned speech and unique mannerisms. Learning that her father has recently died, he cannot resist extending kindness and offering to be her benefactor.Neither the captain nor the princess can imagine that their lives will become forcibly entwined as a common enemy threatens both of their worlds...Praise for Drowning Mermaids: "Scrieva's ability to infuse a slight sense of irony into even the most somber passage was a sheer joy to read. The occasional use of sarcasm at the expense of the characters made the reader feel party to a private joke, and created a comfortable intimacy. For this reason, more than any other, I'll be picking up the sequel Fathoms of Forgiveness (Sacred Breath, #2)." - Sadie Forsythe, Author of The Weeping Empress"...A hot romance between two unlikely characters, a war raging unseen to human eyes, and the unexpected adventure of a man who thought the best part of his life was behind him, only to find out it has just begun...I don't know what I was more impressed with, the superb writing of the author, or her creative genius. Either way this novel gets my hearty recommendation for those who enjoy any type of fantasy." - J.T. Thomas, Goodreads reviewerMore reader comments: "I found this book to be engaging, intelligent and well crafted. The author Nadia Scrieva has a BA in Anthropology and English. It shows. Plot, pacing and editing are all well done. Interesting anthropological tidbits are sprinkled in." - Wren Doloro"Ms. Scrieva uses a Darwinian approach to the lore that is refreshing and scientific... I'm not saying this will be the new Harry Potter, but only because it is not meant for children's eyes." - Thomas M. Bernal