When you finally book that vacation to your favourite fantasy spot, it helps to have an insider’s guide to find all the hidden-jewel beaches, the best local restaurants, and the must-see spectacular scenery. Who better to show you around than a local?

For decades, Nicandra kor’Nyx has operated an underwater selvedge business out of Haven, the centre of trade and the arts on Sirenia’s northeast shore. While she prefers to spend more time with a tail underwater than with legs on land, she’s seen most places there are to see on the island. Here are the top five must-see spots, in Nicandra’s own words.

(Though be warned—if you ever meet her, she is quite adamant about being called Nick. And don’t even think of addressing her as kyria.)

Sireniapolis

Some of the best places to hike are on the south shore—right around the capital, Sireniapolis, and all up the Paradise Valley. In fact, just climbing up to the Opal Palace is a bit of a hike, and that’s on paved streets with the canal right beside it and everything. But you get back into those black spires behind the city streets and there are some really pretty views. Not my thing, but some people like it. That’s where you’ll find the Light River Aqueduct that feeds water into the canal along the Street of Pearls. If you’re lucky, you might even see the royal family out swimming in the canal while you’re there.

The city itself is pretty incredible, of course. You’ve got the Temple of Atargatis, the Court of the Redeemed, and the Opal Palace itself. And if you ever get a chance to go to the Human Quarter, there’s this amazing little restaurant in an inn called the Mermaid’s Curse. Named by the owner, some woman from England. She’s got a sense of humour, that one. And what a great joint. Best snapper you’ve ever eaten, I swear.

But if you want to see the Heartstone, forget it. Only royalty and stone healers ever get to see the Light of Atargatis. But there are some pretty paintings of it you can pick up at the market. If you’re lucky, you might find a datastone capture of the image, but those are rare.

Fire Lake

Most tourists eventually head to Fire Lake, the tourist town around the caldera in the centre of the island. It’s a steep afternoon’s journey, so rent a horse and carriage if you can. But the lake and the scenery make the trip worthwhile. Rent a villa for yourself or the family, do morning ablutions at the Shrine of Atargatis, and enjoy nighttime swims beneath the stars. History buffs can take tours of the mine where the only revolution in undine history was staged almost twenty years ago. Don’t worry, the douloi who work there are all contained, and there have been no incidents of any Unredeemed men since. You’ll be perfectly safe.

Haven

As you head north, you’re bound to hit Haven eventually. This is Sirenia’s only city besides Sireniapolis. While the capital is full to the gills with healers and sirens, thanks to the Royal Academy in the palace, Haven is an artisan’s dream. Most of the girls who didn’t have quite enough talent with the elements to make it at the Academy end up in a guild of some kind in Haven. A lot of stone healers set up business there, too.

You could spend an entire day just in the market, looking at all the sculptures, textiles, and interesting crystal datastones. My sister, Nelly, has an antiques shop at the corner of the Weaver’s Square. She sells a lot of my selvedge. You should check it out.

While you’re there, stop at the seafood restaurant next door. Clams don’t get fresher than that unless you dig them out of the sand yourself.

Trinity

This little village on the northwest shore is the island’s best-kept secret. Definitely the friendliest place on Sirenia, you’ll be welcomed like a long-lost sister. It’s also the most musical place on the island, thanks to the music school there. Students don’t study sirensong like at the Royal Academy, but listening to the Trinity Choir’s rendition of the Hymn to Atargatis is a transcendent experience.

The best part is, of course, the food. Go to Calliope’s Cloister—their signature tuna fricassé is worth its own column. The owner’s grandmother got the recipe from a human woman she partnered with. Won’t tell a soul how she makes it.

While you’re there, take an underwater tour of the caves along the shore on the west side. Supposedly they’re full of fire opals like the one the Heartstone is made of, but I think that’s a guppy’s tale. Haven’t found anything more exciting than selenite myself, but that doesn’t stop tourists from trying. Everyone wants to be the one to solve the Heartstone problem—as if you could just replace it. No, that’s a stone healer problem. I’ve heard the young princess is showing some promising talent in this area. Maybe she’ll be the one who finally gets it working again.

Atlantis

Technically, this isn’t on Sirenia, but it’s still well within the barrier—only an hour or so north of Haven by submersible. You probably don’t want to go into the Sunken City itself—rumour is, it’s haunted. However, the trip out there is worth the ride. You’ll see plenty of underwater wildlife and get to relax away from the stresses of daily life. And, even from afar, the architecture of Atlantis is a sight to behold. Bring your friends and make it a girls’ day, but leave the douloi on shore—a lot of humans get seasick, unless they were sailors when they were Harvested. No one wants to spend two hours in a submersible with sick on the carpet.

And don’t worry about a barrier breech by a human ship. With the additional siren pods the queen has posted lately, hardly any ever get through, and those that do are processed immediately. Again, you’re perfectly safe.

But if you find a fire opal anywhere, be sure to get a message to the queen. Desperate times, desperate measures, and all that.

Thank you to Archeolibrarian for hosting the original post. And thanks for joining me on this tour of Sirenia! What place do you want to visit first? Let me know in the comments.

This post is a piece of bonus content for the Rise of the Grigori young adult epic mermaid fantasy series.

About the series:

One mistake could unleash hell…

Three thousand years ago, a Mad undine healer sank Atlantis. Ever since, the Heartstone that protects the undines’ island has been failing and they haven’t produced a single boy. As the most powerful healer in three millennia, Calandra is the last hope of not only her people, but the entire world. Because if she can’t figure out how to undo her ancestor’s mistake, the Father of Lies will unleash hell on Earth.

Packed with complex characters, lush world-building, gritty action, and impossible odds, this intricately woven tale presents mermaids like you’ve never seen them before. Join Calandra in a search for redemption that will threaten the very fabric of the universe.

In this series:

Part One: Introducing the Rise of the Grigori series

Part Two: Where the idea for this series came from

Part Three: Author Interview and a peek beneath Calandra’s bed

Part Four: Narcissa gives us the low-down on Calandra’s true colours

Part Five: The Seed Ideas that became the fantasy world for Rise of the Grigori

Part Six: The Story Behind the Name (What’s an Undine’s Tear?)

Part Seven: Mermaid Secrets and Dwarf Duels (with a bonus scene)

Part Eight: Top 5 Places to Visit on Sirenia (A Fantasy Tour listicle)

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