Overall Rating: 5/5

Genre: YA Fantasy

Published: November 2, 2021

Synopsis: Provided by NetGalley

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.

Overall Thoughts:

This book was magical. I grew up obsessed with the little mermaid but could never see myself in the character or the story. Skin of the Sea allowed me to truly see myself as Simmi. Nothing makes my heart happier than a black mermaid. Not only did I feel represented physically, but also part of my heritage was represented. This novel is rich in West African mythology and lore, and it was a lot of fun to read. Definitely not something I come across often, so it was refreshing. Natasha, THANK YOU! Representation matters! This was truly magical. The world-building was excellent. I was truly transported into this world. Thank you, NetGalley, for my advanced readers’ copy. 5/5 Skin of The Sea deserves all of the stars!