Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen Book Review
- Tabitha Tomala
- Feb 28
- 2 min read
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Skin of the Sea Book Review
Simi is a Mami Water, a mermaid who collects the souls of the dead to pass on. And while her focus should remain on her task Simi sometimes questions the Mami Water’s purpose and wishes to do more. When she witnesses a boy thrown from a slave ship she tries to collect Kola’s soul, only to find him still alive. Defying her purpose, Simi saves his life, but at great cost. To go against the gods decree means there will be sacrifice.
Simi is such a complex character, torn between her duty as a Mami Water and her memories of a previous life. The more time she spends in the ocean, the more she is a Mami Water, and the more time spent on land, the more memories surface. But one thing remains clear, she can never go back to being a human without consequences. When Kola enters the story and Simi’s curiosity begins to take a turn, the inner struggle she has is set alight. Readers will be torn in her decisions and wish the best for Simi, only to know what the cost will be.
The Western African mythology woven into Skin of the Sea creates such a majestic and harsh world. Natasha Bowen brings to life such a fantastic world of lore and magical creatures. The emotional ties to the Orisas and each character are deep and meaningful. It’s great to learn more about beliefs and lore from other cultures. But this novel will also bring to light the atrocities caused to Africans and the heartbreaking fissures forcing people into slavery causes families and communities. The writing will set a parallel path of devastation when the Orisas are threatened as are the people of the land.
Skin of the Sea is a beautiful and tragic novel. Don’t just read this because it is a story about mermaids, there is so much more. There is a depth of mythology and worldbuilding that will enchant readers, and the emotional connection will make it hard to let go. By the end of this novel you will be looking forward to what happens next.
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