Name: Skin of the Sea
ISBN: 9780593120941

Natasha Bowen

Transformed by the goddess Yemoja into a Mami Wati, an African mermaid charged with collecting the souls of those who die at sea, Simi goes against the gods to save a living boy, Kola, from drowning.

Skin of the Sea

Chrissie Smith

Michele Papa

Holly 

My skin feels tight, the bones awkwardly arranged. 

An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves. A way to survive. A way to serve. A way to save. Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata—a mermaid—collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home. But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable—she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it. To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . . Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn't, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

chian

Hmmmm, trying to decide where this falls between a 2 and a 3. Great concept, good characters, bland romance. What I didn't like: 1. The romance could've been dropped in my opinion, though I may just feel this way because I hate insta-love. Story goes: girl saves boy from drowning, experiences distrust/violence at his hands (though admittedly it was in a situation where violence was possibly expected), and then... Likes him less than a day later?? Cause he's a boy and she's a girl and that's obviously the only way this story could go??? Idk. I try to be a little generous with this because I remember being a teenager and how big and fast emotions felt, and this is - at the end of the day - a story about teens. 2. Why have her supposed fighting skills mentioned when she only genuinely uses them in a practice fight that was all of two paragraphs and never when it's needed? It seems every time they fight an enemy, she stabs at them once, hopes for the best, then fawns over Kola after he's hurt. It got old quick. Maybe the fighting scenes just lacked necessary details, but I would've focused more on the MC than what all the side characters were doing. What I did like: The concept of the story itself is wonderful. African mermaids, gods seeking vengeance on slave traders, the yumbo, etc. Bowen was able to create a genuinely unique story based on myths many of us readers may have know or little knowledge of. I enjoyed learning about the different orisas and wish there had been more stories or even flashbacks of Simi's mother telling them. I like how - even though it is through her pain - we truly see that Simi belongs to the sea: the relief she feels when she enters water, how it heals her, how it is home to her, and that we get to see through a flashback that she did choose this life. I also actually liked the ending (and the blurb for the 2nd book). It was fitting that Simi defeated Esu with a trick instead of through her fighting (skills?). That Olodamare was light and warmth instead of a physical presence. And also by choosing to show love is sacrifice and vice versa when she agreed to live in the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the sea. Idk, it got to me 😭 All in all, good book, underwhelming MCs.

Bria

This is some of the most beautiful writing I've read in a while

An epic love story infused with West African mythology. For fans of The Gilded Ones, Children of Blood and Bone, and Circe, this book is a powerful new imagining of a devastating time in history, told through the eyes of a bold and unforgettable heroine. This is the story of a great love - a love that will threaten worlds and anger Gods. This is a story that will change history. Simidele is one of the Mami Wata, mermaids duty-bound to collect the souls of those who die at sea and bless their journeys back home to the Supreme Creator. But when a living boy is thrown overboard a slave ship, Simi saves his life, going against an ancient decree and bringing terrible danger to the mami wata. Now Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends - a journey of vengeful gods, treacherous lands and legendary creatures. If she fails, she risks not just the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it. "One of the most epic and original fantasies Ive read in a long time. Natasha Bowen has crafted a world full of heart and imagination" - Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing "The most engrossing, thought-provoking, beautiful novel...knocks your socks off and leaves you wanting more" - Namina Forna, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Ones "A triumph of storytelling" - Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella is Dead

Bella Baxter

10/10 writing, incredibly immersive, 10/10 narrator

This is just me, buuuuut I think I would have loved it more without Simi’s incessant pining. It was just a little much for me.

Julie Burszan 

I actually yelled at the end because I was so caught up in the beautiful story telling I didn’t realize the book was finished.

Sha-Tyra Clausell

I felt it had very little detail and left so many unanswered questions.

I loved this book! It had a great plot, the characters were easy to root for, and the writing was truly amazing. I had a little trouble following some of the world-building, and I also felt one of the twists was really obvious. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves 

, mermaids in general, and very rich lore:)

Holly

I loved this book! It had a great plot, the characters were easy to root for, and the writing was truly amazing. I had a little trouble following some of the world-building, and I also felt one of the twists was really obvious. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves The Little Mermaid, mermaids in general, and very rich lore:)

Pien van Nunen

4.25* 
so interesting!! will be delving into west african mythology now

Elizabeth Hagenlocher

I want to write more later, but for now I’ll just say that I really enjoyed this story! It’s always fun to have a mermaid story, and I loved the inclusion of West African history and mythology, and Yoruba deities. 

If you’re a fan of Beasts of Prey or Raybearer and are wanting more African fantasy, this is a must read. I also think fans of the Percy Jackson books will love Skin of the Sea. 

And of course there are some great nods to the HCA version of the little mermaid.

Heather Harrington

I had high hopes for this, but it was just okay. I liked The Little Mermaid-meets-African folklore vibes and did think all the mythology woven throughout was interesting, but it wasn't enough to keep my attention. The beginning started strong, but as the story progressed, it fell into those stereotypical YA fantasy tropes. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it made the story easy to predict. While it had good moments, I wanted something that felt a little more original.

"Skin of the Sea" is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid that remains completely original.  This story was so tremendously told and combines all of my favorite genres into one.   
 Bowen addresses the often avoided topic of the slave trade in combination with West African mythology.  This is a must-read.

"When you peel back the skin of the sea you never know what you will find"

First thoughts: Move over Ariel there is a new Mermaid in town & her name is Simi! Skin of the Sea was a beautiful retelling of The Little Mermaid through African Mythology and a splash of history. Set in the mid 1400s it touches on the beginning of the slave trade when the Portugese start abducting and buying West Africans. I absolutely loved this book! I need more!

Bowen created a beautiful world and allowed us to see it through the eyes of Simi, a mami-wata. Newly created, she’s torn between her life in the sea and her life on land, one that is slowly fading. When Simi saves a life instead of guiding his soul on to Olodumare she must seek forgiveness to save her fellow mami-wata. Simi’s journey leads to encounters with humans, fairies, gods, and monsters. Truths are uncovered, sacrifices are made, and she must choose between love and her future…

I cannot recommend this book enough!


Allison

2.5-3 stars. Finished in one sitting. 

I loved the unique twist on what it meant to be a mermaid, or Mami Wata. The historical fiction aspects were great.

However…….

the pacing was too off for me to be invested in the romance. The journey felt like it was taking up most of the book because once the characters reached one destination they immediately had to set out for another. I didn’t feel connected to the side characters from Kola’s village either. 

I also felt like the book was working so hard to build up to this one particular moment (the meeting with the Supreme God) and then when it finally happens it’s like the scene was just skipped over almost entirely and you’re reading instead more about what happens next. 

And then the book tried to leave off on a cliffhanger where I’m supposed to think oh noo how will she find her way back to Kola? Why didn’t the Supreme God resolve this and give her her humanity back or make her legs permanent so they could be together? Truthfully, I don’t care about any of that because I don’t feel a connection to their love for each other.

Delaney LaFalce

Really good, based off of some African mythology which is interesting because I haven’t seen many mythology books with ties to Africa.

Tatiana Alvarez 

Stepping outside my comfort zone and back into a fantasy book after reading pure romcoms was definitely a hard switch. However, this book was completely magical. The writing was fantastic, the storyline was intricate and left room for so much more, and the characters were well written and believable.

I'm obsessed with mermaids, but sadly I haven't been able to find tons of mermaid books that weren't middle grade. Skin of the Sea delivers to the YA audience who loved the Little Mermaid growing up.

There are so many more deeper themes in this book than a simple Little Mermaid retelling. You also get images and treatment of enslaved people and people stolen from their homes. 

I highly recommend listening to the audio because the reader really made the story come alive for me. I loved her voice so much and I loved being able to hear all the names I probably would have butchered if I tried reading it on my own.

Paola C

What the hell was that ending?! Why did I get so emotionally attached to these characters *sobs*

Disclaimer: I bought this finished copy but I did originally have an e-arc of it and this is my first reread. Thanks! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.

Recommended For...: young adult readers, mythology, mermaids, fantasy, slight Little Mermaid references

Age Relevance: 15+ (violence, death, gore, slavery, suicide, animal death)

Explanation of Above: There is violence mentioned and shown as well as death. There is some gore involving blood shown. Slavery is mentioned and shown in the book and there is a theme of the mermaids being created from people who were thrown overboard slavery ships and it plays an important plot point in the story. There is an attempted suicide shown in the book. There is animal death with a cow mentioned.

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Synopsis: Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable--she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Review: I loved this book so much! I love the magical-ness of this book and how action packed it is for being so short. The pacing doesn’t feel weird and I love how original of a mermaid tale it is but that it keeps some of the callbacks to Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid tale. The book includes CWs in the front of it which I very much appreciate. The character development and the world building was also well done and I loved the magic system in this one.

The only issue I had with the book is that the flowery language of it kinda messed with my head. I wished it didn’t have as much fluff and was a bit more straight forward, but it was good regardless.

Verdict: It’s so good! Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Skin of the Sea

Author: Natasha Brown

Book Series: Skin of the Sea Book 1

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Black MC and side characters

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, mythology

Publication Date: November 9, 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, enslavement, death, suicide TW)

Explanation of CWs: There is violence and gore in this book. The book talks a lot about Black people being enslaved and shows the act. There is lots of death and the main character’s role centers around death. There is a suicide attempt shown.

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Pages: 336

Synopsis: A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable--she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But something is amiss. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn't, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Review: I really liked this book overall. The book is very lyrical and so well written. It’s the type of book you can get lost in, as it has amazing world building and character development. The book is also full of culture and mythology and history and they all blend together in this beautiful work. I also love that the author put a content warning at the beginning of the book.

However, I did feel like the book was slow paced and that there was a lot of time spent going to places in the book rather than actions at the places. The book has a lot of travel and travel sequences and if you’re here for the journey of a story, then this is a great book for you. However, if you’re looking for the action, this one is a little lacking. I also sometimes had issues following along to what was going on because the words were too poetic that I felt drowned by them.

Verdict: It’s a great book, just a little not for me.


Paige Green

Disclaimer: I bought this finished copy but I did originally have an e-arc of it and this is my first reread. Thanks! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.

 

Book:  Skin of the Sea

 

Author: Natasha Bowen

 

Book Series: Skin of the Sea Book 1

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Diversity: Black MC and characters

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, mythology, mermaids, fantasy, slight Little Mermaid references

 

Publication Date: November 9, 2021

 

Genre: YA Fantasy

 

Age Relevance: 15+ (violence, death, gore, slavery, suicide, animal death)

 

Explanation of Above: There is violence mentioned and shown as well as death. There is some gore involving blood shown. Slavery is mentioned and shown in the book and there is a theme of the mermaids being created from people who were thrown overboard slavery ships and it plays an important plot point in the story. There is an attempted suicide shown in the book. There is animal death with a cow mentioned.

 

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

 

Pages: 303

 

Synopsis: Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

 

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable--she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

 

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . .

 

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

 

Review: I loved this book so much! I love the magical-ness of this book and how action packed it is for being so short. The pacing doesn’t feel weird and I love how original of a mermaid tale it is but that it keeps some of the callbacks to Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid tale. The book includes CWs in the front of it which I very much appreciate. The character development and the world building was also well done and I loved the magic system in this one.

 

The only issue I had with the book is that the flowery language of it kinda messed with my head. I wished it didn’t have as much fluff and was a bit more straight forward, but it was good regardless.

 

Verdict: It’s so good! Highly recommend!

** Previous Review:

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Skin of the Sea

Author: Natasha Brown

Book Series: Skin of the Sea Book 1

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Black MC and side characters

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, mythology

Publication Date: November 9, 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, enslavement, death, suicide TW)

Explanation of CWs: There is violence and gore in this book. The book talks a lot about Black people being enslaved and shows the act. There is lots of death and the main character’s role centers around death. There is a suicide attempt shown.

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Pages: 336

Synopsis: A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable--she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But something is amiss. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn't, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Review: I really liked this book overall. The book is very lyrical and so well written. It’s the type of book you can get lost in, as it has amazing world building and character development. The book is also full of culture and mythology and history and they all blend together in this beautiful work. I also love that the author put a content warning at the beginning of the book.

However, I did feel like the book was slow paced and that there was a lot of time spent going to places in the book rather than actions at the places. The book has a lot of travel and travel sequences and if you’re here for the journey of a story, then this is a great book for you. However, if you’re looking for the action, this one is a little lacking. I also sometimes had issues following along to what was going on because the words were too poetic that I felt drowned by them.

Verdict: It’s a great book, just a little not for me.


Skin of the Sea

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