For the urban fantasy, realistic fiction crossover (YA) audience:
Here is a story that is extraordinarily powerful, magical, and relevant as hell! Thank you, thank you, Bethany C. Morrow for describing the holes in this nation in a way that is digestible enough for us escapism devotees. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

This book is such an interesting concept! I love the idea of using a siren song as a metaphor for the power of a voice. It is a lovely own voice novel about Black identity, oppression, and finding empowerment that has a lot to say to the current moment.

It is slow in some places, but picks up and hits powerful emotional moments. My only other problem was I could have used more detail on the world building. I was often unclear about the natural of the magic in this world in ways that made the plot a bit harder to figure out.

Overall so good!

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book was released at the exact time it needed to be. Actually, it probably needed to be in the hands of readers earlier so that we could educate ourselves prior to what is currently going on in the world. The book is a dual voices POV about "fake sisters" Tavia and Effie who live with Tavia's parents in Portland, Oregon. Due to sirens (who are always black women) being feared and hated, Tavia must hide her identity and her voice from the community. Effie's been in and out of the spotlight since a tragic accident occurred in her youth, and is struggling with anxiety stemming from that. Together, the girls battle a whole host of real-world issues in order for their voices to be heard. This book should be on all of the awards and recommendations for years to come.

I love the premise of this story so, so much. Unfortunately, the style didn't work for me. That being said, a friend (who buddy read the book with me) sent me a link to what the author said on Twitter about readers who aren't the target audience reading Black creators' work. I'm not interested in arguing either way about the points she makes -- just thought I'd share as it is a perspective that has made me think a lot.

So, while I will admit this particular story was a DNF @ 27% for me, I also think it's fair to say I'm not the target audience for this book. I'll be really interested to read what #ownvoices reviewers think. As an additional note, this story won't deter me from reading the author's future books... and I may come back to this one eventually, too. We'll see.

Anyway, don't let my review stop you from reading A Song Below Water and forming your own opinion -- especially if you're part of the intended audience. (I honestly wouldn't have posted anything at all, except that I was provided a free e-ARC by Tor Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, so this is my review.)

While this book was not a 5-star for me I found it so incredibly powerful. A Song Below Water portrayed a stark message about racism, police brutality and social justice in a way not often seen with fantastical elements.

I want to quickly outline what didn't work for me. The writing style, particularly in the beginning of the book, felt a bit jaunty and awkward to me. I felt as though I was reading a debut novel.* Sadly, the writing was just not fluid and intuitive for me as a reader. I felt this pulled away from the story.

In the same sense, I felt some of the fantastical elements were inserted in a way that just seemed odd. Overall, it just did not feel like a seamless blend between realistic fiction and fantasy.

*Note: This isn't a debut! Morrow has another book that I am super psyched to pick up, sooner rather than later.


But to the good stuff. Morrow did a fantastic job instilling a sense of frustration, anger, and family bond in the reader through the characters experiences in this story. While I felt there wasn't a great blend between the realistic fiction and fantasy elements, they each absolutely fantastic on their own.

I adored a lot of the fantasy components in this story. The different fantasy races - sirens, gargoyles, mermaids, sprites and elokos - were all depicted in way that felt both magical and tangible.

And then there was the themes of race and discrimination that are weaved into the story. These were fantastic. Raw and hard-hitting, Morrow presented these concepts in a way that was both removed in a fictional sense - applying them to fantasy races. But the story doesn't ignore the realistic notions of discrimination, prejudice and brutality against POC either. I think this was done in such a fantastic and respectful way.*

*Note: Please know that I AM NOT an #ownvoices reviewer on this matter. Please seek out other POC reviews to understand this matter and how the book has dealt with it. Also understand that this is an #ownvoice authored book.


I think this was a fantastic book that was unique in how it tackled the stories issues.

If too many tabs open were a book "A Song Below Water" would be it. I had to DNF at 60% because it was too much work to stay engaged. I felt like a lot was happening, but at the same time nothing was happening. I would still want to purchase a physical copy and revisit another time, but right now? It's a no for me. I am giving a one star rating only because I did not finish the book.

I would recommend this book if you have patience.


Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Song Below water is more like a contemporary with fantastical elements of mermaids, sirens and other mythical creatures, instead of a fantasy. It is set in Portland, Oregon, in a world were only black women can be sirens. We follow two main protagonists, Tavia and Effie, in their day to day struggle for being black in the US - but also to for a population that fears mythical creatures such as sirens. We now from the start that Tavia is a siren, but we don't know which type of creature that Effie is.

In the world were we live in today, I really struggled to read this book. This because it handles protests, police brutality and non-educated people concerning racism. I felt like this was to close to the reality, and I'm a privileged white girl, so I can't even image how hard it would be to read this type of book during this time for someone that is black.

Anywho, I did really want to love this. But it is a solid three star read. I had problems to distugniashe the two main characters from time to time, and after I read this book I quite don't feel that I know them. I also felt that it was such a large cast of characters, with not so much explanation who they were? I struggled to understand the different mythical creatures that was represented in this book, but for a person who isn't much for mermaid and those kind of creators, this was a bit to hard to read. But I did some googling and I learned about them.

As I said before, this book is marketing as a young adult fantasy, and I think it lacks in the fantasy elements. For me to actually fall for a fantasy book, I need some explanation for the world, I need to fully understand the extent of the magic system and how the different creatures looks like. In this book it was more like "I'm a mermaid" and then none explanation after. I felt a bit lacking in the overall plot and that the author wanted so much out of this book, that it sometimes felt very hard to know where the plot was going.

As for the writing style it felt very simplistic. It was like the author needed us to fully understand every emotion that the characters was having, but couldn't show the emotion but telling it. For example if a characters was afraid, the author wrote "I'm afraid", instead of showing how afraid is.

But overall, I did really like the commentary and the contemporary urban fantasy setting about a world were black people still need to push through so much shit - even when they are so powerful.

In 'a song below water,' we meet the sisters Tavia and Effie. They are not sisters by blood, but by heart. Their strong band is what they both connect. In a not-so-magical world, they both try to hide from the danger which wants their identity to be revealed.

Bethany C. Morrow has a nice writing style. Her way of telling the story is intense but in a very positive way. She knows how to show emotions through words, and manages to hit the reader. The word choice is also suiting the writing style and genre. For someone whose native language is not English, it is easy to read.
I also adored the band between the sisters. They are great characters with both a very unique personality. I liked Effie the most because she had this mysterious vibe around her. The other characters in the story were also very interesting. They all felt realistic and the way they communicate clearly shows who is talking.
What surprised me most was how the author incorporated racism and sexism into the story in a very special way. It was clear on some points, but most of the time it was metaphorically. The magical world was used as a kind of cover for what is the reality in real life. I found it original and very pleasant to read. It is something different than a kind of sermon attitude.

However, I didn't like this book that much to be honest. It is a fantasy YA-story, but I'm missing the fantasy. Nothing is more important than a strong story setting when it comes to fantasy. There was barely any world-building in the story. To be honest, there was none. If some characters weren't fantasy creatures, it would have felt like a contemporary story.
I also think I would have liked the story more if it was written as a contemporary story. Because now it's very vague and weird, with all those creatures in a very normal world. It clashes with the positive side of the metaphorical references to racism and sexism. The world should have been better worked out to come across as a fantasy story.
Another thing that bothered me, is the fact that the author doesn't explain anything. There were fantasy creatures in the book, which I never heard of. But she doesn't describe them, nor tells them what kind of things they do. I needed to search for it online, but then it clashed with certain things the author described in the book. It was very confusing. Same for culture. Eloko (if I remember correctly), I've never heard about it and I had no idea what it was.
The last thing is more a question about how the 'magic' works. Only a certain group of black women is able to be a mermaid/siren. Nowhere is explained why it is that way, and I would have loved to know why. Also, fantasy creatures do not pass on their magic to posterity. For example, a vampire dad doesn't need to have a vampire baby but can have a baby with the powers of a warlock. It was very confusing how the magic/creatures worked.

Overall, I wasn't a fan of the book, but I am a fan of the author. I love her way of writing and creativity in her language. (Like the metaphorical ways of explaining racism and sexism.)

Every time I think about writing this review, I don't know how to start. It is now more relevant than even when I read it back in February, and frankly, I am not the best person to review this book. I am white, in a white country, able-bodied, am not a minority, have never had any real contact with racism aside of the "casual" racism of old people (which is still not okay, but I think you know where I'm getting at) and frankly, I do not like confrontation.
As you see, I am the exact opposite of anyone betrayed in this book.
But that doesn't matter, because even if it has "nothing to do with you", black lives still matter. A lot. And we can't just not look at shit like systematic racism because it "doesn't concern you".

I usually avoid being political anywhere, but with a topic and a book like this, you can't. A Song Below Water takes a very real, very bad situation and fictionalizes it with sirens and other supernatural beings without taking away from the conflict. I can't and won't speak for black folks, so I can't say anything about the accuracy of the story, but it was a good read either way.
A Song Below Water portrays the relationship between sisters beautifully, and the worldbuilding with the sirens and their safety nets and everything was fascinating.


@Netgalley and Tor Teen: Thank you guys for this ARC!

I loved this book. In this world, Sirens are persecuted and Tavia must keep the truth about her being a siren secret. The dual perspective between bestfriends Effie and Tavia is so well done. There was some amazing world building and I loved the idea that the persecution of the sirens was similar to the Salem witch trials.

I can't wait to tell everyone I know about this book!

Tavia is a Siren, and though there are other mythical creatures out and proud and fully accepted by the world, she must hide her abilities. A few years ago, she was tired of her father’s scorn for her abilities and her need to hide, so she tried to get rid of her voice. The incident resulted in her parents deciding to tell others she tried to commit suicide and a move back to her ancestral homeland in Portland, where a group of other mythical and regular humans protect her kind.

I feel like there is no succinct way to describe this book. It encompasses so much in its pages and between its chapters, also as a white woman, I don’t feel qualified to do much commenting other than to say, I loved it so much. I think it perfectly captured nuances in racism, and the addition of fantasy elements helped amplify these points rather than hinder or make them more complicated.

I saw many parallels between what’s going on in the streets outside of my door as well as things that have been happening for years in our country. I’m a total nerd for lore, and I love the way elements of many creatures from multiple cultures were worked into Tavia’s story. I found myself making guesses at plot points and character reveals, something I usual don’t bother doing.

I was completely immersed in this story from day one, and if you’re looking for literature associated with Black Lives Matter but need a break from nonfiction, please give this one a shot. It’s not light. It pulls no punches, and it’s apt commentary on our world, but all within the confines of fantasy fiction. Morrow’s lyrical prose is amazing, and her rich characters make me want to be friends with them. It’s YA but tackles issues facing both young adults and older ones.

It just came out on Tuesday, so be sure to pick up a copy at your local bookstore or request a purchase at your library as they begin to reopen. Support black authors!

A contemporary fantasy with mermaids in Portland? YES! And that cover! Gorgeous! Unfortunately, I stopped reading at 20% in. There was nothing super compelling to continue. The two main characters did not each have a distinct voice, and I found myself confused as to whose POV I was reading. The types of supernatural creatures excited me at first, as I hoped they'd be better explained--their mythology would unfold for the reader. As of 20% in, that didn't happen and again, it led to a lack of connection to the story.

Thank you to Net Galley for a copy to review.

Heartbreakingly so, A Song Below Water is most certainly a timely and relevant read to immerse yourself in given the current state of events.

But man, did I have a really hard time connecting with it. I came into this book with the notion that it was supposed to be fantasy. However, as I was diving into the story, it seemed to read more so as contemporary but with fantastical elements. Majority of the time, I felt lost as a lot of information got thrown around with not that much explanation or development. When it comes to fantasy, the worldbuilding is key which I feel the book didn't go too in depth with. For example, when it came to the creatures, there were many that were introduced (gargoyles, sprites, elokos) but not much in terms of the lore behind them. It seemed as if the author tried to incorporate too many issues in the book all at once instead of focusing on a few and letting it all play out naturally. It found it difficult to distinguish between Tavia and Effie's voices as well as they sounded quite similar for a good majority of the story.

Despite that, let's talk about some of the things that I loved. The social commentary, Morrow really dives into the fear and injustices that Black sirens experience which is subtly a necessary parallel to what's going on in the world right now. The strong sense of sisterhood between Tavia and Effie. Even with their own individual struggles, they both remain loyal to each other and have such a solid relationship. I also enjoyed how the girls used ASL to communicate with each other as you don't see too much of that represented in YA books.

Overall, enjoyed some of the themes but the story left much to be desired.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Jean Book Nerd, Netgalley, and Tor Teen for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Do you know how eerie this book is? It starts off with a murder trial for the killing of a woman named Rhoda Taylor, who was killed by her boyfriend. Before, nobody was saying her name. She was a Black woman. Nobody was saying her name. Nobody was giving credence to her murder until a photo came out of her that made it seem like she was a Siren, and that’s what made people start to care. And the only reason why people started to care was because people around the world do NOT like Sirens. In fact, Sirens are the only supernatural creatures that have a device – called a silencing collar – to negate the effects of their Siren call. No other supernatural creatures have a government created device, no other supernatural creatures are feared across the board. No other supernatural creatures are deemed justified to be killed solely because of what they are.

Now, doesn’t this sound familiar?

Immediately starting this book, I was getting chills, and I was tearing up because not only were Sirens always Black women, but they were always persecuted by the public and Tavia (understandably) has to hide the fact that she is a Siren because she would ostracized by her classmates and more. Her own father hates Sirens, and it shows in how he treats his own daughter, and it breaks my heart. He knew that there was an opportunity that he would have a Siren if he had a daughter, since his mother was a Siren, and rather than allow his mother and his daughter to have a relationship and give them an opportunity to bond and Tavia to learn what it means to be a Siren, he kept them apart out of spite.

It got to the point that 11 year old Tavia tried to take her Siren voice out herself – which almost had disastrous consequences and long lasting scars in her life. Thank goodness for Effie, Tavia’s “play” sister, who has her own reasons for why she is living with Tavia and the Philips in Oregon. Even though they are not blood sisters, I feel like Tavia and Effie have the kind of sisterhood that is absolutely great and they have learned how to understand one another and really love one another in a world that is already set against them as Black women.

In addition, Effie doesn’t yet know what she is supernaturally, but she is able to escape from the anxieties of real life during the Renaissance Faire every year when she turned into Euphemia the Mer. It’s clear that when she dons her mermaid tail and she’s in the water, she is really in her element. And her story with Elric the Smith’s son, it’s magical and wonderful. With the sudden changes that Tavia sees on Effie one day when Effie blacked out after visiting her mother’s grave, the answer to what she is may come out this year, and hopefully it is something that she has known all along.

I feel like this was a really emotional read for me. There were a lot of quotes in this book that I had to take note of because I had to just stop and digest it. As a Black woman myself, I felt them in my heart and soul, and even though I’m not a Siren (if only I was, honestly), I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of those micro-aggressions on the daily. It’s tiring and exhausting and I’m still trying to be proud to be Black. I wish I could be like Tavia and Effie and just be proud to be in my own skin, and even sometimes Tavia and Effie aren’t. They are still learning how to use their voices and be strong, and I feel like this book shows their journey on how they learned how to do this, both together and apart.

"His hand's still on the holster, so I guess that's just where it rests. Maybe he's forgotten the gun beneath his fingers is a deadly weapon but I won't. Not when (siren or not) Rhoda Taylor reminds all of us how real the threat of harm really is. Not when every Black person knows, cops face no consequences when they decide to pull the trigger."

Thank you NetGalley and TorTeen for providing me with a temporary e-arc.

I'll be using the official description to avoid spoilers for this 5-star reads:
Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Never mind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.
But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she's also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore—soon Portland won’t be either.

Narrated through POV's of Tavia and Effie, 'A Song Below Water' is a highly riveting, compelling and promising literary fiction portrayed as a speculative modern fantasy, with exceptionally pivotal main characters dealing with their own identities and race. Engrossing its readers on the very first line, this is a quintessential tale bringing light to the identity of Black girls in a society that judges every inch of them and in which, in general, Black lives innocence is always questioned & tarnished. Even though the first half of the book is slow and takes its time to pick up the pace, it hits an electric turn of events that makes this an unputdownable read.
Tavia and Effie struggle with their identities and family lives, oppressed and silenced because of the privilege that exists outside their door. It would cease to exist, if those with privilege, sit down with their family and give them the talk on how they have no right to steal the lives of those who are underprivileged. It is time we stop oppressing the victims with positive toxicity everytime we are about to step out.

The characters are finely constructed and the world-adaptation is on-point! I have never seen an accurate portrayal of black young adults in fantasy this way before. Both of them are given equal importance in their portrayal of exploring their identities and facing discrimination by those who are privileged. It is explored and portrayed so very close to the reality that it angers you. "The general audience prefers fantasy over literary fiction so it is absolutely necessary to bring in the magical touch of fantasy to appeal to the young readers," is what I said a week ago but now, after PROPERLY educating myself I am going to fix that line: as harsh as reality sounds, it is what we live in. It is what the black lives live in every single day in their lives. I urge you to read works like this. And better works than this. All that stayed with me, in the end, is not touch of fantasy but the essence of reality at every page turn. I know for a fact that it is the point of this tale. When it comes to topics like this, it should NEVER matter what your preference is.

Bethany brings to the table with the literary blend Angie Thomas and Tomi Adeyemi and makes her own mark with this overwhelming read. Bethany does not shy away from describing the brutality that it invokes fits of anger, tears, empathy and a sense of solidarity at each page turn. It not only explores 'Racism in America', but it also explores sexism. The tale is entrancing in the last few chapters and this turned out to be an easy 5-star read for me but few questions went unanswered, relationships that should have been explored more and few characters that vanished without reaching their full potential. But these are not noticeable to take in consideration for the general audience. I think that there is going to be another part to the story and if I am right, sign me up for it.

Bethany is going to be one of the celebrated voices in the contemporary world with her adroitness in weaving a tale so inspiring, full of power and also, enchanting! Not everyone can explore and portray realism in humanitarian themes in the way Bethany has nailed them. I choose to read works by people who know what they are talking about instead of those who follow and write with the stereotypical perspectives set by the privilege, oppressors and both. I chose a long time ago to listen to the voice of underprivileged and I will continue to do so. Bethany is someone whose works I'll be keeping my eyes on!

Some memorable quotes from 'A Song Below Water':

1. "For some reason, now I'm remembering that viral picture of theBlack boy tearfully hugging the police officer. It happened years ago, when I was still in Santa Cruz, but when we moved to Oregon, I heard about it even more. Portland loved that picture. Because that's what's gonna heal the world. If we're the only ones crying, offering unlimited love no matter what's done to us. No matter how obvious our distress and discomfort."
2. "If I refuse to speak or if I say even a single word whatever happens to me next is my own fault. It's always our fault."
3. "If it is our destiny as black women to stand before crowds, before press and police and people enamoured of our grief--if we are to give eulogy after eulogy and defend the dead"--and now she raises her voice and her eyes go from the tide of us to the wall closing in--"if all we have are our voices, then why are we so feared?"
Last, but not least:
4. "No one should get away with murder for what we are."

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
I had to start this book again. At first, I just couldn't put my finger on what it was that was making me give up reading it. Then I came back and read other reviews...They nailed it. I felt like I was just thrown in the deep end without the knowledge of how to swim. BUT other reviews said that once they kept reading, they fell in love with the book, so I gave it another chance and I'm glad I did. This would be an excellent choice for a book club as it covers so many topics: sibling love, mythology, race relations, analogies...the list can go on and on. We will be getting this one for our high school library. The title and cover will lure students in and once they give it a chance, the story will make a lasting impression on them. #asongbelowwater #bethanycmorrow #Netgalley

The book starts out with the murder of a young black girl, Rhoda Taylor, which is relatively ignored by the media until it turns out she's a siren. Sirens are young black girls who are persecuted and considered dangerous. The media begins to turn on the young murdered girl, Rhoda Taylor, and the world starts to question whether it can actually be murder if it's a siren being killed. The story follows two sisters, Tavia and Effie. Tavia is a siren and lives in fear of being found out. Her father has taught her and pressured her to hide herself and to live in fear of her abilities. Her sister Effie appears relatively normal at first glance, but her life begins to spiral out of control as the book goes on. She also likes to dress up as a mermaid for a renaissance faire show.
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This book is about the relationship and the bond between the two sisters (they're not biological sisters) and how they navigate the trials and tribulations of race, high-school and the magic in the world around them. I thought the book had an incredibly nuanced take on its approach to siren persecution and the connection with race. It touched on police brutality, media cover ups, protests and the gassing of protestors, and the persecution of minorities. This book felt incredibly relevant to the moment.
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The magical realism element was good, but I did think it could have been better. I felt the world building and back story behind what a siren, a eloko, a gargoyle and a sprite all were was lacking. However, I think it was a clever technique to use the magical realism and different creatures to create hierarchies and show how these divisions created persecutions within communities.
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Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was incredibly powerful and relevant and so many young black people would be able to identify with the themes, the fears and the discussions in this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the eArc. The book was published yesterday, so do check it out!

Everyone should buy this book and read it. It is a beautiful fantasy about what it means to be different and dealing with prejudice.

I will not be writing a full review at this time as I do not feel it is appropriate for a white British woman to critique black literature currently. Suffice to say, go buy this book.

I really wanted to love this book. I was so intrigued by the description of fantasy/mythology mixed with contemporary racism, mysogynoir, and social justice issues. And I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest here. The cover is STUNNING!

Unfortunately, it just fell short for me. I felt like the writing was just chunky and disjointed. I found myself having to read and re-read multiple times just to get a true understanding of what was happening. For a long time, I wondered if this was a sequel to another book, because I felt like I was just missing out on crucial information. This information eventually was provided, but not in a very cohesive manner.

I did enjoy getting to know Effie and Tavia, as well as many of the other characters, and I loved seeing their "play-sister" bond throughout. I just didn’t feel like the overall character development was deep enough. The whole story just left me wanting more. There were some great characters in the story, and I felt like their stories were just left hanging in the end.

My 15 year old was intrigued by this book, so when she finishes I will add an update with her review as well.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Macmillan-Tom Doherty Associates and NetGalley.

This is probably going to be my shortest review to date. I'm going to go back and update it later, when I can handle talking in-depth about these topics. I began this arc two days before the news of George Floyd's death and the ensuing protests and riots reached me, and at this point I cannot in good conscience give an in-depth review without taking into account everything that is happening. However, you can see similarities between Tavia and Effie's story and current events.

Here is what I will say: I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I thought black sirens was everything I needed in my life, and I still think it's a wonderful idea. I loved the way the author included other magical creatures as well, especially the gargoyles and sprites. However, I think the plot can be a little lost in all of the ideas going on. It reads like a contemporary novel, which I expected, but the fantasy aspects aren't always clearly explained. I found myself googling to ensure I was understanding everything correctly (looking at you Elekos). I also felt like some definitions could have been included for the non-poc reading this novel. Just because we know what locs are, doesn't mean everyone else will.

What I loved most of all was the relationship between Tavia and Effie. While they face both external and internal struggles, they still have each other.

I look forward to rereading this book and taking a deeper dive into the world.