Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

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.

This YA fantasy novel blends mermaids with mythology. Overall, it is a delightful tale, though it drags at times. For me, it’s a bonus that it’s centered in Africa; the culture and mysticism is richly embodied in this tale.

First I want to thank PRH International for giving me the chance to read this beautiful book in advance, I am so thankful for the opportunity!

I really enjoyed this book and you're going to love it as well if you like stories about mermaids, vengeful gods, quests and strong, beautiful characters! Reading this book felt like going on the journey with Simi the mermaid and Kola, the boy she saved from drowning.
I laughed and I cried while reading this book, it definitely made me feel a lot of things and that's how I know it was a good book.

Immediately couldn't get into it or connect with it because of the first person POV. May try it at another time, but currently not for me

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.