The Laughter of the Sun series by Andie Holman
Where magic meets climate change
It starts in the ocean with a mermaid fed up with plastic pollution.
The world-building in the stories is peppered with current science, giving a realistic backdrop for our magical crew.
But it’s not at all doom and gloom!
The stories are hopeful, funny, and have romantic subplots for character development, because if you can blow things up with the power of your scream, you’re bound to have some decent flaws.
In Book Two, we move into the world of pollinators, giving us an inside view of the hive and the challenges bees face.
Book Three, currently a work-in-progress, explores the Arctic and the creatures who live in the wild ice.
Book One: The Mermaid’s Wrath
The ocean is dying. A mermaid vows to save it.
The Mers are barely surviving in a magical marine bubble, isolated from the rest of the world. Jelly, warrior mermaid and champion of sea life, battles against the choking, accelerating pollution, living beneath the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
When Jelly's mind opens to terrifying premonitions, she must leave the ocean, collaborating with estranged magical beings on land. She’s seen one of theirs in a vision, a woman abducted for the power in her veins, and Jelly is the key to this woman's freedom.
The black pearl at Jelly’s throat holds a secret. When it wakes, it sends Jelly on a tumultuous journey, changing her life forever.
Book Two: The Sorrow of Bees
Tell the bees, for they understand heartache.
Dark magic comes at a cost, one that Jelly, warrior mermaid, must pay. After a brutal ritual gives her Fae powers, a vital piece of herself is missing. She must abandon everything and everyone to find it.
If she fails her mission, her lover’s brother will never again see the sun, trapped in a horrifying dimension called the Hellhole. If she fails, her lover Mako may not forgive her. If she fails, she will never forgive herself.
She’s sent to a queendom so foreign she can barely breathe, transformed into a body she can’t possibly understand. Grappling with the enormity of her task, she struggles to appreciate the sorrows of the pollinators.
But she must if she wants to succeed.
Early reviews for The Mermaid’s Wrath.
“Torn between saving the ocean and the humans above the surface, warrior mermaid Jelly must make the impossible choice. The Mermaid’s Wrath is a debut romantasy I couldn’t read fast enough. The descriptive narration is immersive with intricate world-building. The characters are relatable and leap from the page and into your heart. This is not the little mermaid you grew up on but a fierce warrior mermaid with a righteous temper. The Mermaid’s Wrath brings topics such as environmental pollution to light that will make you think about what happens long after you finish reading. If you’re looking for an original romantasy featuring a warrior mermaid, pick up The Mermaid’s Wrath. 5 stars.” - N. N. Light’s Book Heaven
“This debut book had so many layers of intrigue and mystery. Different mythical creatures fighting together for the greater good of land and sea. I really enjoyed the story because it had so much action and suspense.” - Schicky5 on Amazon
“This book is an absolute masterpiece! I adored the author’s writing style and it kept me on edge every chapter. It was sexy without being smutty. The book also had a lot of fun facts which I really enjoyed. If you like a good fantasy book, an action packed story, a book with a message and an overall magical experience: This book is for you!” - Loleans on Goodreads