Thank you Netgalley, Wraith House LLC, R. M. Carpus, and D. M. Million for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an interesting set of mermaid and siren based short stories. Most of them took about 15 minutes for me to read.

My favorite was the first story of a mother, daughter, and Siren (turned mermaid) friend. The spin on Greek lore was great.

The second one about Atlantis was me least favorite. It ended on a sudden unexplained cliffhanger. It was literally like the story was cut off.

The rest of the stories were also dark as well. The one about a siren refusing the call to take the life of a child was detailed and interesting. I wish it also hadn't been a little bit of a cliffhanger as well.

It's good overall if you like dark stories, and at less than 100 pages it's a very quick read.

First of all, thanks to NetGalley, Wraith House and the writers for making this available for free to review.

This was phenomenal. I find myself really enjoying short stories after reading 2 anthologies last year, and this was no exception. Maybe it's the fast pace, maybe it's because all of the crap has been cut and there is no bloat, maybe it's just my shortening attention span lol.

These 5 stories, 2 by D.M. Million and 3 by R.M. Carpus, all include mermaids or sirens as main focus of the stories.

Million's stories are up first and they're a bit more light-hearted, with a very upbeat and almost carefree writing style.

The first one emphasized the contact between a mother and her daughter, where the daughter is enchanted by her mothers' stories about meeting and befriending a siren-turned-mermaid, with roots in Greco-Roman myths.
The second story is more of a discovery story, where a biologist and archaeologist discover and navigate through Atlantis. While they lack a conclusive endind, both of these stories feel like the beginning of grand adventures and left me wanting for more. I'd definitely read the full stories.

The latter three stories, by R.M. Carpus, are a bit darker. They feel more edgy, almost horror-adjacent. Not necessarily more mature in writing style, but definitely thematically.

All of the stories deal with death or suspension of life in some way, and they treat the mermaids or sirens as the main facilitator. Where the first story has a dark yet wholesome tone, the second one is more of a teen-horror story. I think the last story is the most scary of them all, with the prospect a dreadful emptiness instead of a life. Where these also differ is their endings: all three of Carpus' stories have a very conclusive and imo satisfying ending

All in all, I really enjoyed this hidden gem and cannot recommend this enough. I'm rather disappointed I haven't found full novels by these authors.

The Mermaid's Grotto, the second volume in the Under the Sea anthology series by R.M. Carpus and D.M. Million, delivers on its promise of eerie, enchanting tales that challenge everything you thought you knew about merfolk and the mysteries of the deep.

This collection of short stories skillfully blends fairytale retellings with gothic elements and urban legends, creating an atmosphere that's both hauntingly beautiful and subtly menacing. The authors excel at world-building, crafting underwater realms that feel both alien and eerily familiar. Each story stands well on its own while contributing to the anthology's overarching theme: the sea holds secrets far more powerful than humans can comprehend.

What impressed me most was the fresh take on mermaid mythology. These aren't your Disney-friendly merfolk—they're complex, sometimes dangerous beings with their own motivations and moral codes. The writing style shifts beautifully between lyrical descriptions of underwater kingdoms and spine-tingling moments of supernatural suspense.

My only critique is that a few stories felt slightly rushed toward their conclusions, leaving me wanting more development. However, this is a minor point in an otherwise captivating collection.

Fans of supernatural suspense, folklore retellings, and readers who enjoyed the first volume will find themselves quickly immersed in these tales. The anthology succeeds in creating that perfect balance of wonder and unease that makes for compelling dark fantasy.

If you're drawn to stories where the line between myth and reality blurs, where the beautiful can be deadly, and where ancient powers lurk just beneath the surface, take the plunge into The Mermaid's Grotto—just remember to watch the tide.

Swim deep through the lagoon with these five tantalizing short stories. Each story is raw with the ebb and flow of suspense, imagery, and fresh iterations of folklore inspired by the deep blue. From mermaids to sirens there is someone for everything craving a watery collection. Take a bite into this with the sirens to truly digest each story and enjoy it. As someone who reads anything mermaid related – this was a must! The stories are eerie, campy, and very descriptive with the fantastical diction!