Disney Publishing Announces Waterfire Saga by Jennifer Donnelly

Posted on January 23, 2014

Disney Publishing Worldwide has announced the Waterfire Saga by Jennifer Donnelly. Donnelly is the New York Times bestselling author of A Northern Light and Revolution. The first entry in the new series, Deep Blue, will be published in May 2014.

The series tells the story of six mermaids who seek to save their world. Disney has commissioned an original song, "Open Your Eyes," from Hollywood Records to support the series.

Deep Blue begins with Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakening from a strange dream that foretells the return of an ancient evil. Serafin's dream is confirmed when her mother is poisoned by an assassin's arrow poisons her mother. Serafina must search for five other mermaids who are living in bodies of water around the globe and get them to join her in a battle against the rising evil.

Author Jennifer Donnelly says, "What appealed so strongly to me about working with Disney is the Waterfire Saga is a fantasy, yes, but one grounded very much in reality and environmental consciousness. These aren't your mother's mermaids-hanging out on rocks all day. They're inspired by actual ocean life. And though they are magical creatures, these mermaids hope and dream and love, just as we do. They feel joy, sorrow, and pain. Like all teenagers, they struggle to understand themselves and their role in the world."