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.

Immense gratitude To #NetGalley for the ARC of this novel for an honest review.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow is a tale steeped in mythology. The protagonist Tavia is a black siren who must keep here powers and song a secret. Only her family knows here secret, causing stress at home. Tavia and her step-sister Effie try to survive complicated family issues, anger, secrets, as well as the issues of the outside world. This novel address difficult themes such as social injustice, racism, sexism, and misogynoir. Initially the pacing of this novel reads more like a contemporary than a fantasy, once the world building is truly established you are immersed in magical realism. Morrow creates a powerful captivating story that is well crafted with characterization and a storytelling style that is thought provoking.

Thank you Macmillan/Tor and netgalley for the chance to read this as an eARC.

First this cover is a siren song of an image, it drew me in and immediately made me want to read the book. Combine that with the promise of mermaids and Black girl magic and I was sold!

Second, the book itself. So many sections had me wanting to tab/highlight it because the story sadly still echoes a lot of what we see and hear about on a daily basis when it comes to racism (especially as I am reviewing this in the midst of protests for justice in the murder of Black people at the hands of the police). This story is utterly amazing and heartbreaking for its honesty.

The fantasy built into our world seamlessly but there were some flaws: the pacing was uneven, we don’t really gain an understanding of what elokos are, and there was a lot going on at times with two narrators in the first person. This is a solid novel and I love the story, but the flaws would sometimes take me out of the story.

I definitely plan on ordering a hard copy and rereading so I can tab it up. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves urban fantasy, contemporary issue themes, and great female friendships.

Special thanks to the TorTeen team, the author Bethany C. Morrow and Netgalley for the physical and e-ARC copies of A Song Below Water. Receiving these copies did not affect my rating or review.

The Great: The plot twists/major reveals in the second half of the book, are maybe my favorite parts of the story. I did not see ANY of them coming. It has been a while since an author was able to completely and utterly shock me. And Morrow did just that. I'd thought I knew exactly where the story was going and could predict where the main characters would end up. But I was so wrong.

Also, I've found three new characters to love. Tavia and Effie’s sisterhood really stood out to me. They are two sides of the same coin. And their differences and similarities compliment each other. Their fierce loyalty to one another made the story that much better.

Tavia and Effie face similar struggles like being young black girls in a re-imagined yet still a predominantly white city. But they each have their own separate battles as well. They know each other's strengths and weaknesses and try to make sure the other knows that they're there for them. It isn't perfect, but it's really great to see.

And the third character I adored is Gargy the Gargoyle! Want to know more about him? You have to read the book.

The Good: Simply put, plot! Tavia and Effie are battling layers of social injustice. Whether it is based on race, gender, or mythology. Tavia's identity as a siren and Effie's involvement in an incident when she was younger makes them targets for scrutiny and hate. Morrow does a great job tackling these various themes with fantasy elements as a bonus. It felt comforting to see conversations I’ve had with my family and friends on the page. However, it is sad and disheartening to read the social injustices we are currently protesting against almost verbatim in the story. I so easily related characters in Morrow's world to people who we are currently fighting for.

The not-so-good: Unfortunately, the pace, especially for the first half of the book. This is something I expect in a debut fantasy novel. And it usually doesn't deter me. But I have to say that it took me longer than usual to get through it. I'm not sure if it is because of the usual reasons like setting the world/ world-building, introducing the magic system, and mythology. Or whether it was because I was reading it during the George Floyd protests when I was angry and hurt and terrified. And reading those same feelings and injustices in the story made it just a bit harder to read. I haven't fully decided yet.

However, the pace did pick up about halfway in and up until the end of the book.

Overall, I recommend this book to lovers of YA Fantasy, to readers who want to see themselves as glorious mythical creatures, and to readers who need to better understand the black experience.

I have to say I was drawn to this book. Was it the cover, the concept or the summary? I don't know. But I just was. When I started reading it however, I had a feeling of unease. I realized that I didn't quite know too much about the siren myth (and the other myths of sprites and elokos), so I found myself constantly googling things.

I think my only point of contention really was that it felt like I was just thrown into the deep end of this world, so to speak, and was made to figure things out and piece things together rather than given a more cohesive sense of what the world is and who the characters are from the beginning.

However, the book catches up from the sixth chapter and completely had me bowled over. I loved the discussions of race and cultural biases that were formed in this fantasy book. It gave this conversation a different take and was a great read - both in terms of the content and what I was left to think about.

I also loved the relationships that were shown in this book - the love, the need to protect and the mistakes that you make along the way. I would love to see a sequel for this book as I’ve found myself to grow quite attached to the characters - especially Effie, Tavia and Wallace. :)

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this one. I made it 30% but I've been very lost. I don't understand the relationship between the characters or even other things in the plot, like elokos. Sorry. I wanted to love it! I love all the social commentary but, I struggled.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The first thing that struck me about A Song Below Water was the gorgeous cover. And then the concept won me over: Black sirens in alternate reality Portland?! Yes, please!

And while I’ve had issues with contemporary fantasy in the past, I did not have problems with that in this one. The way the fantastical intersects with the reality to touch on social issues, including racism, misogyny, and modern politics is incredibly well done.

While I did chafe a bit at the dual first person, as sometimes I did forget who was narrating what, I found Tavia and Effie otherwise pretty solid characters. I liked the overlap of Tavia’s struggles with hiding her new powers, and how that interacts with how she experiences persecution for being Black. And Effie comes to some revelations about herself as well, and while I ultimately found her storyline a bit less compelling, I did enjoy the friendship aspect between the two.

This book is great, delivering on a really cool premise, as well as discussing issues that continue to be relevant in our world today. I recommend this to anyone currently looking for a novel by an up-and-coming Black author that touches on racism in light of recent events.

Stunning cover, amazing concept, lovely writing, and two main characters I fell in love with!

Things I felt a bit lukewarm about: the little-explained world building (what the hell are elokos?), and the kind-of-meandering plot line (this book tried to include a lot, there wasn’t a clear objective right from the beginning, and I felt like that caused some loose ends). Things just kind of happened. It's just something that, as a reader, you mind or you like.

This wasn’t exactly what I expected, but it was a very enjoyable read nonetheless! The sisterhood in this book is just *chef’s kiss* and I was living for Gargy! I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!

A Song Below Water is a modern siren story, which Morrow uses to explore racism. In this alternate universe, all manner of supernatural creatures coexist with humans. And while many of the creatures are respected, even loved, the siren remains the outcast. Their irresistible voices are viewed as a threat to free will, and sirens are forced to hide or be persecuted. This is a heavy and moving story, and I'm so glad to see steadily growing representation in YA fiction. Though it was a coincidence, given the events of late May, this book is more relevant than ever.

Timely and relevant with the current events.

I have never came across a book so timely and reading this is this trying times and with the injustice for George Floyd, I made a decision to preorder this book and add this amazing gem to my TBR.

100% amazing 🎉

From Publisher's Summary: Bethany C. Morrow's A Song Below Water is the story for today’s readers — a captivating modern fantasy about black mermaids, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today's racism and sexism.

I was instantly captivated by the description of this novel and it did not disappoint. A Song Below Water is an amazing tale of friendship and all the ways that companionship between two black girls can be affirming and validating. The writing is almost lyrical and Morrow weaves in major issues like racism and sexism flawlessly. Nothing is too heavy-handed. I couldn't put this one down! I am not generally a fan of speculative fiction, but this is making me reevaluate that!

I got an ARC of this book.

Look at that gorgeous cover. Just look at it for a moment. Two black women on the cover of a YA book. That is still so rare that I really want you to take it in. This is not the story of some white kid who finds out he is the only one who can save the world. It isn’t the story about a sassy white princess finding out she doesn’t need a knight. This is the sort of fantasy I need in my life. This the fantasy that is about characters that feel real and aren’t just a script or a subverted script. This is new.

The book’s description is a bit misleading. The siren trial does happen, everything is exactly what it says, but it really isn’t about that. The description is more the setting than the plot. The trial and the protest are just such small parts of the narrative. There is even talk about police policing people of color more than white people and just how dangerous the police really are. It has been extra hard to read that right now. I know that exposes my white privilege, but that is good. You should know that when I am reviewing a book about black characters. I am white and I have said and done bad things thinking they were the right things. Books like this help me learn and they help others to feel seen. The plots are just hard. This is a huge bonus for me in this book. There is no shying away from things.

The characters were hard to tell apart at first. The first 25% was so slow for me. I couldn’t tell the two women apart and I couldn’t figure out when the plot was ever really going to start. Then BAM it was full steam ahead. It was a wild ride and I loved every second after that first chunk. So much happened. SO MUCH. If the first chunk was a little faster, then this easily would have been one of the best books I have read in the last few years. I almost put it down and gave up on it repeatedly.

The twist ending was not what I was expecting. I was expecting only a small part of it. I am so happy with it. I don’t want to ruin anything though. Just know that the ending will have an easier to guess portion, but there is a lot you won’t know. No matter how much you think you have figured out there is just a bit more there.