This is a strikingly unusual read because it’s narrated by a water nymph who suffers from chronic pain and fatigue. I haven’t encountered either nymphs or chronic illness in fiction before, so I’d recommend the book based on how different it is. We dive into the world of water nymphs and explore how it feels to adjust to living as a human, as the main character Lilje does. Her father arranges for her to stay at a spa, in the hope that this will heal her. While at the spa, a family mystery is revealed and at the same time as Lilje processing this and trying to recover her health, she has a romantic spark with her mother’s servant girl, who has no idea that Lilje is a water nymph. Although the book is a light fantasy novel and a slow-burn sapphic romance with a little historical fiction for context, it seems to me that the chronic illness is foremost, which gives realism to the story. In summary, this unique book is well worth a read.

Independently published in 2025.