2.5
As a reference, 2 stars for me is an “okay” book and that’s what this book was. Just okay.

I was instantly drawn to this book because of the cover and the idea of a black mermaid. I love mermaids so I was disappointed when I realize we spend more time with the mermaid as a human.

My favourite parts of the story was the mythology. It was so intriguing and interesting, fresh and something new. I honestly wish there was more because there were some moments I was confused, tho that may have been me.

The characters and plot was a typical YA. Aside from the mythology a lot of it was just typical and something we’ve seen before. For someone who doesn’t read often, they will enjoy this more than someone who reads a lot of YA. The characters fell flat for me and I didn’t feel like they had much of a personality. The romance was there, but didn’t FEEL like it was there.

I think a lot of people will love this story and it’s a representation that needs to be on shelves. I hope many readers will read and enjoy this book more than me.

Ultimately this didn't work for me, partly because the pacing was very slow--I think because Simidele spends the opening chapters of the book entirely alone so there isn't a lot of opportunity to explore her world which makes the story claustrophobic--and partly because I'm just not the right audience for it. Relatedly, be sure to note the content warning at the front. I decided to proceed even seeing it but it wound up getting too gory for my taste very quickly (which, again, makes sense with the period and themes covered but was still hard to read).

The cultural and historical details Bowen brings into this story are fascinating and so well integrated into this story that hews very close to the original Grimm version of The Little Mermaid complete with that non-Disney ending (you have been warned).

While I liked Simidele right away, it took me longer (arguably too long) to warm up to Kola who never felt like a particularly compelling love interest. An abrupt ending adds another jarring note to the story although knowing that there is a sequel leaves room for more closure.

I was enjoying the setup, the premise, and characterization up until around the 30% mark where I believe the plot became too convoluted and haphazard. It was exposition and dialogue heavy with not enough context or believable motivation.

Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had a fun time with this book! It was really cool to learn the mythical lore of the Mami Wata and the different types of Gods in this world. There were some very interesting creatures that were introduced that I found fascinating.

The main character has to struggle with the choice between saving a life and following the path she is on. She has to remember what it was like to be human knowing that she can’t go back to the way things were and you really feel for her throughout the book. It made for some good tension and forbidden romance elements being added in and I was here for it.

There is also a cinnamon role of a character that comes in about halfway through and I loved them.

It felt very much like an action adventure style book (kind of like Indiana Jones) where they have an objective to get to and retrieve and then set off of this journey. I love these types of books so I enjoyed it.

Overall, I think you would enjoy this book if you are into mermaid lore at all or like adventure stories with a journey as the main element to them.

Wow what a beautiful book. I was sucked in right away.

Natasha Bowen's writing style is so lyrical and engrossing.
Skin of the Sea is a historical fantasy that draws from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, Yoruba culture and the Little Mermaid.

We follow Simi who is a Mami Wata, on an adventure after she saves a boy named Kola drowning. Simi sets out on a journey with Kola to help him return home.

I loved that although this story draws inspiration from the slave trade it focuses more on the characters and the plot.

Can't wait for Soul of the Deep!

My assigned review of this title is available at Bookbrowse.com for interested parties, along with accompanying article.

Favorite quote: “The sea and its waves enfold and cradle me. I am Simidele, ‘follow me home.'”

I absolutely adored this book! We need more Black mermaid tales with incorporation of the Orishas!

Skin of the Sea is a beautiful African Mythology folklore. Set in the mid 1400s it touches on the beginning of the slave trade when the Portugese start abducting and buying West Africans. To see a black mermaid, a mermaid who looked something like me, is a dream come true. Bowen created a beautiful world and allowed us to see it through the eyes of Simi,

A strong YA novel! I loved this book and I am so excited for the sequel. This cover is everything and the story makes it even better.

A superbly written story full of culture and adventure that grips you with the stunning beauty of a fantasy! I love how the author uses her platform to include diversity into a well know fairytale so all feel included. The story was full of magic and wonder and had me enthralled in its spell.

"In the water there are many things that mankind doesn't know about.[...] When you peel back the skin of the sea, you never know what you will find."

TL;DR: A really cool, unique retelling of H. C. Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" which blends the Eurocentric story with West African mythology and history that often gets sanitized and white-washed.
Those scenes depicting the kidnapping of Africans for slavery were hard to read, and they're supposed to be. I think they would be unsettling for all readers, but white readers especially should acknowledge the shift in perspective and not descry the book because Bowen paints an unapologetic picture of the past. Because that's one part of the story, and not the most important one. As Bowen writes in her preface, "Black history doesn't start with slavery. An important aspect of Skin of the Sea for me is the positive depiction of ancient African knowledge, culture, and history, which are often insidiously and incorrectly presented as primitive." (I actually thought Bowen's preface was one of the most powerful parts of the book -- don't skip it.)
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Vibes: Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" (NOT Disney's) + West African mythology

Genre: New Adult/YA Mythology - Fantasy - Retelling - History
First in a duology.
Could work for either YA or NA, especially for those who enjoy diverse retellings of Eurocentric fairy tales. (I tend to believe, like Tolkien, that "fairy stories" aren't only for children.)

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤
Very heavy on the romance. No love triangle, but very much an enemies-to-lovers trope. Or, if not enemies, at least "begrudging-acquaintances-who-are-attracted-to-each-other."

Character MVP: Issa - a sort of West African Lilliputian, who despite his size, has a big heart and lots of courage.

Verdict: TBH, it's been awhile since I finished this book, so I'm not really sure why I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5. If I remember correctly, it was the romance with Kola who, while he grows complex over the course of the story, starts off a little ungrateful and pretentious. There was also, for me, a bit of a subdued quality to the story -- heavily influenced by the subject matter, I think -- which took awhile to really draw me in.

That being said, my two favorite parts of this book were:

(1) ...the nods to Andersen's Little Mermaid. If you went in to this story only knowing Disney's version, you might be disappointed/confused. But as someone who loves the original story (and also agrees that it is a very white story), the little nods were there, and done in a way which increased the agency of the central female character. Simi isn't Andersen's mermaid who passively swims the seas, dreaming of a life on land and pining for a prince she barely knows. She's an active, dynamic character with a purpose -- to rescue the souls of the kidnapped Africans who have died at sea on the slaving ships taking them to the Americas (I think. Or back to Europe. Unclear and irrelevant).
The "sea foam curse" is still there, as Yemoja warns her that if she *acts* on her love for a human -- not if she loves him, but if she acts on it, which I assume means "kiss" -- she'll turn into sea foam. It's a nice way to (1) not have the goal be a kiss, and Simi falls for Kola-the-person without the focus on being on the physical act and (2) acknowledge Andersen's "punishment" for the mermaid.
There's also the fact that Simi, if she spends too long on land, walking, gets pain in her feet as if she's walking on needles. It's not constant, and is explained by the fact that she's been away from the water/her natural form for too long. It's not necessarily a punishment as Andersen intends it to be, and Simi can, if near water, bring her tail back.

(2) ...the way Bowen handled the mythology. It's tricky, I think, to orient readers to (potentially) unfamiliar mythologies/worldviews without being overly didactic & info-dumping or throwing the reader in and making them fend for themselves, offering up little explanation. I learned so much from this story, and I thought Bowen did an excellent job balancing the mythology with the story. While it was a little disorienting at first -- and that is 100% because I'm used to Eurocentric narratives -- it wasn't overwhelming and unfolded naturally and in an engaging way.

Given the ending of Andersen's original tale, I was surprised to see that this was going to be a duology, because I accepted the "unhappy" ending at face value. But apparently it's less of a stopping point and more of a cliffhanger, so I'm curious to see where the story goes next.

I was really looking forward to this novel; I had heard so much good stuff about it. I found it tough to get into and slightly convoluted.

The novel takes place in Africa during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Simi is a Mami Wata--a mermaid. She was created in order to find people who were thrown into the sea and help their souls to the afterlife. But, while she is following one ship, she comes across a body, and he's not dead. Now, she's not supposed to mettle with humans, but she can't leave him.

And here is where the adventure begins. It is exciting, though I felt it forced at times for me. The book wrapped up, but there were some loose ends I hope the sequel wraps up.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc!

This book was an amazing debut! The worldbuiling is lush and expansive, and I was sucked in right from the start. Simidele and Kola's relationship was adorable, and I definitely can't wait to see what happens to them in the sequel. Overall a quick read, and would definitely recommend for anyone who likes mermaids, slow-burn romances, and mythology.

*A NOTE*While it might be easy to dismiss this novel as "just another" fantasy read, I really think reviewers are underselling the importance of these narratives.
Fantasy, as a genre, is oversaturated by whiteness and maleness. Novels such as Skin of the Sea, Children of Blood and Bone, The Gilded Ones, Witches Steeped in Gold, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, Wings of Ebony, Beasts of Prey, and many more are seeking to shore up the gaps in our collective narrative. I, for one, and extremely grateful for the work of these authors and publishers.

REVIEW: Anyone who loved the premise of The Little Mermaid but yearned for more representation in their narratives should check out Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen. If you love fantasy, magic, mermaids, a quest, and inclusion in literature, Skin of the Sea is for you!

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.***

The Little Mermaid meets African mythology in this first installment of a new series by Natasha Bowen. Bowen draws on the tale of Mami Wata to tell the story of Simi, whose job is to bless souls on their journey to the next life. She makes a big mistake when she saves the life of a boy and must go on a journey to ask forgiveness of the Supreme Creator.

I really liked all the elements of African mythology; the gods, the mythical creatures, etc. The story itself is solid and well written, although I did get a little bored in some parts. I was almost super mad at the ending, until I realized there was going to be a sequel. But the ending is a huge cliffhanger! I look forward to seeing what happens next in this story.

I read the author's note, which I thought was one of the most honest and purest things I've read this year. Bowen explains how even though The Little Mermaid was one of her favorite books as a child, she never saw any other mermaids she could relate to. Hence the creation of Skin of the Sea. Using the classic retelling of mermaid girl saving boy and falling in love as the guideline, Bowen used African lore and historical elements to replace Sebastian and his friends from under the sea. Instead, we're introduced to the Orisha Gods, rebels commandeering slave ships, African fairies, unicorns, etc. It's a wild spin on West African culture and European pop culture.

I'm not quite in tune with the story, though. As fascinating as this story projects to be, I can't get into it. There are times I find myself wanting to skip a few pages because I'm bored. I did end up DNFing at 38%. I don't know if that's because of the reading slump I was in or if it genuinely deserved abandonment. I'll be picking up the book again in January for book club, so we'll revisit this review in two months!
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Ok, back for Part 2. It turns out my original decision to DNF was not because of the reading slump I developed. The book was boring as shit. The plot bored me. The journey bored me. The characters bored me. The personalities bored me. The best thing I pulled from this book is the brief appearances of the Orisha Gods. Let's be real, everyone got excited for this book because it showcased a black mermaid as the main character.

I'm highly disappointed. I downgraded my 3-star rating to a 2.

Skin of the Sea is a gorgeous mermaid tale that I couldn't put down. I was introduced to more African mythology and have been researching other titles I can add to our collection because of this book. I look forward to the second book.

4.5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, mermaids, gods, mythical creatures, African-inspired fantasy, magic

This review has been posted to GoodReads and Instagram as of 10/24, and has been posted on my book blog as of 11/10.

TW slavery

This was a book that I was absolutely entranced in from the first page. I had a busy day, so I couldn't read it all in one sitting, but when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. Bowen created a world of magic and gods with fleshed-out characters and an interesting plot.

We're dropped into the story in the middle of one of Simidele's soul-collecting journeys. While in media res can be confusing or bothersome at times, Bowen does a good job introducing us to the action in a way that makes it feel natural. I think it was helpful for the book to start where it does because it introduces Simi to readers in a way where we get to really get a feel for who she is without a ton of exposition. Her mission and her personality shine through immediately, as does the world's magic and danger.

The world itself is lush, both when it comes to the people and to the magic. I'd heard of Mami Wata before but wasn't really familiar with the legend, and the other gods, magic, and mythical creatures were new to me entirely. I really enjoyed that we got to see a variety of different magics in the book and liked learning about them. The yumbo were interesting and I'd like to see more of them, either in a sequel or in something else by Bowen. I'd like to get to know more about the other Mami Wata too, or perhaps some of the other shifters. I thought the realism of having pain from walking on two legs after so long in the sea (and also how it calls back to The Little Mermaid) was a nice touch, along with the seafoam thing.

For the characters themselves, Simi was compassionate and protective, determined to do what's right seemingly no matter the cost. Even when she's unsure of the people or situation, she tries to see things in a way that allows her to sympathize (generally) with those around her, which was a quality that I liked about her. While she wants to me Mami Wata, she also yearns for her human memories and life. This struggle is something that plays out during the course of the book and both desires tug at her.

Kola was a hard character to like at first. He seems reckless and impulsive, which I suppose he is, but paired with a temper it doesn't make for a good combo. Despite this entrance, he does calm down a lot and expresses regret over some of his initial actions. Kola seems to be a good dude and actually becomes more thoughtful and less impulsive as the story goes on. I like that we get to see this side of him ebb away during the story as part of his character growth since his background does involve his impulsivity as something that gets him into trouble. Additionally, I like how his protective comes out from the get-go and we get to see that explored more during his journey with Simi. A lot about his character makes sense when we get to his background, which is always something that's nice to see in books.

There were a number of side characters in the story that I also enjoyed. Yinka and Bem are two who end up journeying along with Simi and Kola. Yinka is very protective, to the point where she seems to be resentful and mistrusting of Simi, which I feel are two traits that I don't often see in protective women in stories. I really liked that Yinka and Simi had a chance to bond and I enjoyed the friendship that started blooming between them. Bem is more of an open-hearted character who seems to rarely not have a smile. I liked that his character brought some lightness to the story, particularly since it does deal with some heavier topics at times. Issa is a yumbo and was another character who ends up journeying along with the group. He was very kid-like in nature, but eager to help and do a good job. His character was endearing in the way that such characters can be. The final main side character was Ifedayo, whom nobody seems to like very much. At first I was thinking his story would go one way, but then it veered off differently. However, both Issa's and Ifedayo's plots were fairly predictable and I was able to figure out fairly early on from their introduction how their roles would play out.

We also get to see several orisa/gods throughout the story. Yemoja is a given considering she made Simi into a Mami Wata and is the one she releases souls with. We also get to meet a husband-wife pair of storm gods who fight to destroy the slaving ships stealing around the coast. Toward the end of the story the Supreme Creator comes in, as does a god who was exiled to the bottom of the sea. Aside from Yemoja, the god that receives the most time is Esu, a trickster god who is plotting all sorts of nasty stuff in order to gain power and subjugate humans. I had an inkling his story was going to go one way, but Bowen surprised me with that one (in a good way) and something else ended up happening.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed the story with its characters, mythical creatures, culture, and plot. I appreciated the author's note that Bowen included with the book because it does give a little background about some of the magical creatures as well as something else that becomes integral to the plot, but stays subtle for a while. The half star off is mostly for the ending, which I felt was pretty abrupt and almost unfinished. Another reviewer here mentioned that there's a sequel coming, which would definitely help with the ending, though I'm wary of that since it can still technically stand on its own as-is.

Skin of the Sea is a beautifully captivating story with incredible world building. The author has done a magnificent job of having deeply complex characters and the African mythology mixed with a truthful look at the slave trade creates for a book that can hardly be put down. I give it 4 out of 5 and thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review and enjoy this book.