Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Nest of Nessies by Chrys Cymri is the sixth book in the Penny White series. Penny's engagement to Peter has ended. She knows the pain can only get better with time, but the break-up weighs on her even if she knows it's for the best. It doesn't help when she learns Raven has sought help from a monastery to deal with the effects of being possessed by a Snail Shark. But she doesn't have time to dwell on either after a mermaid is found dead and a submarine goes missing. The two may just be connected. Penny turns to her closest allies to find answers and to find a missing mermaid. That is if she doesn't get swept up in all of her other duties which involve helping a unicorn that drains the magic around her, meeting with a colony of rats, and working through church issues with vampires.

Chrys Cymri delves further into this magical world, exploring new characters and other societies, this time venturing into the water where Nessies, mermaids, and were-orcas reside. The new characters are complex and layered, as is Cymri's specialty. Penny has a lot on her plate as per usual. She has a recent break-up to work through along with kidnapping, piracy, and other situations that arise for her to manage, all of which makes for an exciting adventure full of action and twists. Her search for a missing submarine sends Penny into the societies of mermaids and Nessies, which opens a fascinating addition to this world.

Relationships are a key part of the story, a current underneath the situations Penny deals with as she's slowly working through her break-up with Peter. The first steps she takes at moving on are genuine and heartfelt as Cymri realistically weaves in Penny's heartbreak over the break-up while also having her work through why it was the right call to make. Peter does make an appearance, but overall doesn't play a role throughout. Family is at the heart of the story and grounds Penny through everything she deals with. The dynamics between Penny, James, Morey, Clyde, and Jago remain sweet and endearing, getting stronger with every installment as they're a family who constantly supports each other and accepts each other for their differences. It's easy to fall in love with all of these characters and this world. Penny White has another dazzling installment in The Nest of Nessies which as always leaves you wanting more with characters who are layered, each with their own complex journeys and plenty of new adventures around every corner.