Betray humanity and risk insanity to love a siren queen. Cape Althea whispers of a wraith guarding the bay. Capricious weather and the glint of iron scales betray an ominous presence, but nothing more… until Laura Rivell sets sail. Embarking on a revival cruise with her childhood friend, Laura is reborn into darkness instead of the promised light: A fate of ethereal dirges, kindred spirits, and a treacherous siren that the sheltered Miss Rivell cannot resist. Now Laura must decide whether to turn her back on religion, society, and humankind itself to love a monster— And perhaps become a monster. Seize the lure of Half Moon Bay , romantic Gothic fantasy for women influenced by Andersen’s Little Mermaid meets Eggers' Nosferatu, crafted for souls that embrace the villain within. “ Half Moon Bay blends genres and offers readers intense romance that knows no bounds—a truly distinctive novel.” —The BookLife Prize (2025) “This story is so inventive that it seems like folklore uncovered, rather than told. Manteufel’s writing is filled with rich imagery and detail, and her voice will remind readers of the best Gothic novels—lush and haunting, expressive and hypnotizing, but always clear about the most heightened moments… a dark fairytale. Half Moon Bay is a book about what happens when you chase monstrosity and you catch it.” —Ana Hansen, Sparks Editorial Title Information *Closed door sapphic romance with fade-to-black intimacy *Engaging worldbuilding with siren lore, undersea politics, and man-eating siren horror centered around femme rage *Categorized Adult for mature themes with the full advisory on the copyright page *Man Devil Press does not support the use of Gen-AI programs in the arts. No Gen-AI was utilized in the making of this book. "Half Moon Bay blends genres and offers readers intense romance that knows no bounds-a truly distinctive novel." -The BookLife Prize (2025) "This story is so inventive that it seems like folklore uncovered, rather than told. Manteufel's writing is filled with rich imagery and detail, and her voice will remind readers of the best Gothic novels-lush and haunting, expressive and hypnotizing, but always clear about the most heightened moments... a dark fairytale. Half Moon Bay is a book about what happens when you chase monstrosity and you catch it." -Ana Hansen, Sparks Editorial "A compelling Gothic love story that is as unique as it is intense." Elise Nelson, author of The Light in Hades "The physical empowerment and freedom of the siren is a most delicious call, and I delight in this book's exploration of it." Arlo Z. Graves, author of The Ice Moves for No One "I really enjoyed the dark, gothic approach to sirens... Laura is drawn to the feral, unrestrained, rule-defying way they live, and I can relate." Booksprout Reviewer (starred review) Scribe of Gothic literary and fantasy fiction for women, Richelle Manteufel grew up relishing the psychological deep-dives of Poe, Stoker, and the Brontë sisters. She discovered her passion for writing fiction at nine years old. Now a married mother of two in Spanish Fort Alabama, she can be found shopping for gothic fashion or writing in her Victorian-style office, earbuds blasting heavy metal. Find her latest publications and social media handles at www.manteufelbooks.com. Elise Nelson is an author of romance, poetry, comics, and more with a BA degree in English literature, creative writing, and multimedia storytelling. She is also a therapeutic writing teacher and a passionate mental health advocate. You can visit her website at www.elisenelsonauthor.com.