The Sins of a Mermaid is a poignant and surprisingly heartfelt novel set in the sleepy coastal town of Amorosa. What begins as a quiet tale of small-town rhythms and forgotten places slowly transforms into a deeply moving story about belief, loneliness, and the unexpected intersections of science and myth. At its core is Munir, a socially awkward marine archaeologist, who arrives in town claiming he’s researching the appearance of a mermaid. His presence upends the town’s fragile quiet. But it’s the parallel story of Summer, a young woman fighting a brutal battle with leukemia, that gives this novel its emotional backbone. Through their strange but tender friendship, the book weaves a story about loss, hope, and the raw hunger for meaning.

There’s something about the way Piroso writes that makes the book feel both otherworldly and grounded. His sentences often land like quiet waves, slow and soft, but every so often one crashes over you and pulls you under. I was especially taken with the atmosphere of Amorosa and how vividly it was rendered. It felt real. But what really hooked me was the character work. Munir is awkward and stubborn, but his pain, especially his deteriorating vision, is portrayed with such honesty that I couldn’t help but feel for him. And Summer… her sections resonated with me. Piroso captures her despair without wallowing in it. He lets her be angry, cold, funny, smart, bitter, hopeful, everything at once. That made her feel real.

The story moves slowly. It lingers. There were parts where the prose felt indulgent. But even in those slower bits, the heart of the story never disappeared. It’s also a bit wild in tone. Part small-town character study, part magical realism, part medical drama. Somehow, it all holds together, and when I reached the final pages, I realized I’d been holding my breath. The ending doesn’t offer tidy resolutions. It offers a quiet and aching beauty.

I’d recommend The Sins of a Mermaid to readers who love intimate, character-driven stories with a touch of mystery and myth. If you’re someone who enjoys books that make you sit in your feelings and think about the lines between belief and reason, life and death, love and surrender, this one will stay with you.

Pages: 243 | ASIN : B0F75HQ388