When sixteen-year-old Ell Gossamer's two mothers mysteriously disappear, the teen human-mermaid hybrid quickly flees home with little more than a mysterious family keepsake, a book called “Dreams of Song Times.” Alone in the world, Ell seeks love and safety—only to be pursued by a fanatical cult hoping to extract magic from her ancient DNA. Ell’s quest to control her life leads to heartbreak and triumph, as she courageously steps out to defend other endangered creatures before discovering her own astonishing destiny.