The cover is appealing, but it's the description of the book that calls to me, reminding me somehow of The Temple of My Familiar. I love the believable concept of this supernatural story, that pregnant slave women dumped overboard somehow have given birth to a race of mermaids. Though absurd, there's a part of me that thinks, "Hey, why not?" Another part of me longs to read how this author will use this concept to explore the unfairness and inevitability of slavery and an alternative history that would have helped to balance the scales by imbuing these unfortunate victims with supernatural powers.