How to Read the Watersong Series
Amanda Hocking’s Watersong series is a young adult paranormal fantasy quintet (four novels and one companion short story) that reimagines classic mermaid lore through the lens of ancient Greek sirens. Set in the coastal town of Capri, the story follows Gemma Fisher, a competitive swimmer who is transformed into a deadly siren, and her older sister Harper, who struggles to find a way to break the curse.
Because the series has a clean, linear progression, reading it is straightforward. However, you do have a choice regarding when to read the prequel novella, Forgotten Lyrics.
The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, we recommend starting with the first full-length novel, Wake, rather than the prequel. Starting with the first novel allows you to experience the mystery of the sirens and the town of Capri exactly as Gemma and Harper do. Once you are invested in the world and its characters, you can dive back to read the prequel for extra context.
- Wake (Book 1)
- Forgotten Lyrics (Prequel / Book 0.5) — Read here for the best character backstory transition, or save it for after Lullaby.
- Lullaby (Book 2)
- Tidal (Book 3)
- Elegy (Book 4)
The Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
If you prefer to follow the books exactly as they were released to the public, or if you want a strictly chronological progression, here is how the two approaches compare:
1. Publication Order
This is the order in which the books were released. Amanda Hocking published the prequel novella Forgotten Lyrics on the same day as Lullaby, offering readers a quick look into the past just as the stakes of the main sequel began to rise.
- Wake (August 7, 2012)
- Forgotten Lyrics (October 30, 2012)
- Lullaby (November 27, 2012)
- Tidal (June 4, 2013)
- Elegy (August 6, 2013)
2. Chronological Order
If you want to read the timeline strictly from the earliest events to the end, you would start with the prequel. Forgotten Lyrics details the background events of Daniel (a key human character in the main series) and how he ended up in the town of Capri, along with introducing some of the ancient mythological elements.
- Forgotten Lyrics (Prequel set before the events of the series)
- Wake (Book 1)
- Lullaby (Book 2)
- Tidal (Book 3)
- Elegy (Book 4)
What to Know Before You Start
Unlike lighthearted, whimsical mermaid stories, the Watersong universe draws heavily from the darker, more predatory aspects of Greek mythology. Here, sirens are beautiful but dangerous monsters who must feed on humans to survive and maintain their powers. The series deals with mature themes including survival, bodily autonomy, and the lengths family members will go to protect one another.
If you are looking for connections to Amanda Hocking's other popular series, note that Watersong is a completely standalone universe. While her Trylle trilogy and the Kanin Chronicles share a troll-based universe, Watersong exists independently and focuses purely on siren and oceanic myth. You do not need to have read any of Hocking's other series to fully enjoy these books.