With her crooked spine and reckless heart, Princess Meera always knew she wasn't meant to become queen of Ezo. But when her sister, the rightful heir, is cursed on the eve of her coronation, Meera must defend her kingdom from ruthless invaders by taking the throne. Yet, while some countries have simple coronations, in Ezo . . .

The princess must first claim a sea dragon.

Only the dragon is vicious, perfect, and whole—everything Meera is not. And if the dragon doesn't deem her worthy, it will devour her. Turning to the Saints for help, she doesn't anticipate that her actions will transform the dragon into a mortal, or that she'll steal his heart . . . literally.

Now, as two hearts beat inside Meera's chest, she's reminded that her life is entwined with a dragon, who despises her weaknesses. Despite their differences, they must work together to reverse the curse and save the kingdom before more is lost than their stolen hearts.

Praise for Saints and Monsters

#1 Amazon New Release, PenCraft Award Finalist, Readers’ Choice Book Award Finalist 2024

“In the fantastical novel Saints and Monsters, a girl fights for her family and kingdom, bearing the burden of two hearts within her.” - Foreword Reviews

"A beautifully crafted fantasy adventure set in a unique world full of complex characters, and an imperfect heroine who grips your heart on the first page and never lets go! Dragons and curses are deftly woven with threads of magic and romance. You will not want to put this one down!" -Lorie Langdon, author of the Disney Villain's Happily Never After Series

"Clever. Original. Mesmerizing. Captivating from page one, McGinty's Saints and Monsters draws you into an imaginative and complex world filled with high stakes, stirring romance, and unforgettable characters that just may steal your heart." -Nova McBee, award-winning author of the Calculated Series

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From debut author Ellen McGinty comes a heartbreaking tale of discovery and loss, inspired by the events of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Seventeen-year-old Tora Hayashi has always been irresistibly drawn to the ocean, lulled by the dream of becoming a pearl diver like her free-spirited, adventurous mother. But when their family moves to Tokyo, Tora’s beloved Okaasan becomes increasingly withdrawn, opening up an impassable chasm between mother and daughter.

Then Tora’s mother vanishes in the middle of the night, taking only her most precious possession: a pearl-white diving suit, locked away when they left Miyako. Believing that Okaasan may have returned to the sea, Tora persuades her best friend, Sakura, to accompany her back to their coastal hometown under the guise of a spring break trip. There, Tora begins to unravel a complicated web of painful secrets about her mother’s past…and discovers the real reason for the distance between her and Okaasan.

As Tora struggles to regain her balance, the entire coastline is hit by a brutal earthquake. With buildings collapsing and tsunami sirens wailing, Tora and a group of refugees race against a towering wall of water to reach high ground. But when time runs out, it’ll take every ounce of strength she has to survive in a world where the ocean she loves is now bent on destroying her.

Praise for The Water Child

#1 Amazon New Release for Young Adult Asian Historical Fiction

“McGinty’s mesmerizing debut proves her place among the vast sea of storytellers. This imaginative tale calls on every emotion, bringing to light a deeply tragic moment in Japan’s history. So very well done!” — Laura Francis, author of the Slave trilogy

"‘Dive deep. Look deep.’ Ellen McGinty asks us to not only read a tragic story of loss through one of the worst natural disasters of the century but invites us to find underlying hope and meaning not despite it but through it. ‘Pearls were proof that that beauty could be found in any dark place,’ she writes. ‘That pearl began as a painful shard. But the abalone wrapped it with color, cradled it with smooth nacre, kneaded it into something beautiful.’ She shows us that even the darkest times of our lives we can dream, connect, and love. Five stars!" — Roger Lowther, Community Arts Toyko Director

"A remarkable and heartbreaking debut full of depth, treasure, and hope. Beautifully written with themes as deep as the ocean." — Nova McBee, award-winning author of the Calculated Series

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