Creature Feature: Mermaids

Over at Pitch Dark they’re talking about mermaids this week, and it’s no joke that these undersea ladies have become a new trend in YA.

“According to ancient legend the first mermaid was the Assyrian goddess Atargatis. She was so madly in love with a human shepherd that she accidentally killed him with her goddess-powers. To escape her grief, Atargatis flung herself into the ocean with the hope of becoming a fish. But then her goddess powers failed her again. Because she was too beautiful to be a fish, Atargatis instead became a half goddess with a tail below the waist and a human body above.

Mermaids have maintained their status as a symbol of beauty. Using their feminine wiles, these mythic beings would lure fishermen to their deaths at sea or entrap them in a giant storm. When they were feeling more benevolent, tales told of mermaids teaching humans how to cure their illnesses.

Chinese legend says that a mermaid’s tail will smell of happiness and men would hunt them down for a chance to smell their tails. Has Chanel figured out how to bottle that scent yet?”

If you love these fish ladies (and what girl doesn’t) then there are some books you definitely need to check out: