Castle Swimmer Vol 1 by Wendy Martin

Y’all, I did not expect to tear up at this sweet and surprisingly substantial look at star-crossed mermen fated by prophecy to lose one another.

Kappa is born to be the Beacon. Almost immediately after he hatches from his egg, the God of the Surface informs him that his task is to swim around the ocean, fulfilling prophecies for its various peoples. Unsure what that actually means, Kappa finds himself drawn irresistibly from castle to castle, as a catalyst for blessings. Perhaps if his very first mission had gone better, he’d enjoy the task more. As it is, he feels little better than a thing, a cog cared for only for his utility and not for anything that actually makes him a person with needs and desires and dreams.

Siren is a prince of the Shark people. Years ago, they were cursed by a minigod to a tragic end, one they can be saved from if their unscarred prince kills the Beacon. Siren has thus been kept in a protective bubble his entire life, raised by his mother the Queen and her closest advisor, even as his father, the previous Prince, has disappeared on a quixotic quest to end the curse without resorting to murder. As tenderhearted and moral as his father, Siren does not relish the prospect of killing the Beacon, even before Kappa swims close enough to Shark territory to be captured and held in the castle dungeon, awaiting the lethal point of Siren’s spear.

Kappa and Siren quickly bond over hating the expectations placed upon them both, even as they sympathize over the responsibilities that lie heavily on their young shoulders. But when other species — all looking forward to earning the Beacon’s blessings through their own prophecies — catch wind that the Sharks intend to kill him, violent plans go into motion. Will Kappa and Siren be able to figure out a way to save each other and the people they care about the most?

Spoiler alert: that is actually an answer for a future book, as this volume ends pretty much in the thick of the ongoing conflict. And honestly, that’s okay, as the charm of this book lies in the sensitive portrayal of the main characters and of Siren’s mother, who all weigh the costs of their roles and destinies in a believable and honestly heart-wrenching fashion. I genuinely did not expect such nuance from what looked on the face of it to be a typical YA romantasy graphic novel.

The art inside the volume also belies the somewhat pedestrian cover. From the glistening old gold endpapers onwards, everything between the covers is magical. The palette is predominantly blues and greys but for the gold and brown of Kappa, understandable given the underwater locale. The character designs are truly inventive, and really highlight the biodiversity of the oceans.

This was a really great character study of kind, gentle souls placed in untenable situations, with a romantasy framing that serves only to underscore the warmth of the cast without leaning into cliche and melodrama. Wendy Martin has created something truly refreshing with Castle Swimmer, and I’m super looking forward to reading what happens next.

Castle Swimmer Vol 1 by Wendy Martin was published was published October 22 2024 by Ten Speed Graphic and is available from all good booksellers, including