Skin of the Sea (Skin of the sea, 1)
£7.90£8.50 (-7%)
An epic love story infused with West African mythology. For fans of The Gilded Ones, Children of Blood and Bone, and Circe, this book is a powerful new imagining of a devastating time in history, told through the eyes of a bold and unforgettable heroine.
This is the story of a great love – a love that will threaten worlds and anger Gods.
This is a story that will change history.
Simidele is one of the Mami Wata, mermaids duty-bound to collect the souls of those who die at sea and bless their journeys back home to the Supreme Creator.
But when a living boy is thrown overboard a slave ship, Simi saves his life, going against an ancient decree and bringing terrible danger to the mami wata.
Now Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends – a journey of vengeful gods, treacherous lands and legendary creatures. If she fails, she risks not just the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.
“A compelling, moving YA fairytale, richly woven with west African mythology” – The Guardian
“One of the most epic and original fantasies Ive read in a long time. Natasha Bowen has crafted a world full of heart and imagination” – Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing
“The most engrossing, thought-provoking, beautiful novel…knocks your socks off and leaves you wanting more” – Namina Forna, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Ones
“A triumph of storytelling” – Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella is Dead
‘This poignant supernatural romance stands out for its sensuous prose’ Financial Times
‘Fantastical creatures and vengeful gods form a vivid backdrop to this rich and original story of one girl’s journey to find herself’ Observer (YA Books of Month)
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Additional information
| Publisher | 1st edition (4 Nov. 2021), Penguin |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0241413974 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0241413975 |
| Reading age | 12 – 17 years |
| Dimensions | 21.6 x 13.8 x 0.76 cm |
by Kindle Customer
I bought this for my daughter-in-law, who is black herself, after I overheard her talking about dressing up as a mermaid and being sad because she thought there were no black mermaids and my heart went out to her.
by Nee
I really enjoyed this book.
The selflessness of the characters depicted through their sacrifices.
Natasha’s weaving of the past and present initially had me confused but I soon got the hang of it. The reflections on the past provided understanding of the Deities and their characters.
A fantastic read, I truly enjoyed this book.
by Lauren
QOTD: Have you ever felt like you have waited your whole life for a book?
Thanks to Michelle Nathan at at Penguin Books for my stunning proof copy and to Natasha for being so patient with my excitement for her book! Thanks also to Netgalley for my e-copy
This is the story I have been waiting for since I was a little girl and I watched The Little Mermaid. To see a black mermaid, a mermaid who looked something like me, is a dream come true.
Skin of The Sea is a blend of history, myth and fiction. It’s has made me want to learn more about African history, culture and stories.
I loved the descriptions of the Orisha’s and the magical creatures and their abilities.
There are not enough words for how much I love this book. To become absorbed in the world in a book is fairly normal for me but this book was different. I felt like a child again, first discovering the little mermaid. Only this time she looks something like me.
The fluidity of the story was just magical and I felt like there were easy traditions between Simi’s present and past.
I loved the parallels drawn in the book between the water and its power and Simi and Yemoja.
To see Simi learn to trust those around her to help her on her quest and how she took them into her heart.
That ending tho
I read this via the stunning physical proof and then again via the audio read by @yetide which just made it that bit more real to me
Whether you are a lover of mermaids and black girl magic or not, this is a book you want to dive into
by Lauren
I bought this book based on a recommendation from a book tik-tok video suggesting stories by black authors.
It was a good read, the story flowed well and I found myself absorbed from the first chapter.
I loved the mixture of traditional fairytale and African mythology. It was so different from the usual retelling of a fairytale.
I read the book in two sittings, only able to put it down when I was too tired to focus on the words.
I will be giving this one to my kids to read, they’ll love it too!
by Christine A.
A mermaid that looks like me!
This book was amazing. I grew up on the tales of mami wata, those stories were nothing like the little mermaid or anything out of Disney or Hollywood. I have never liked mermaid stories, but this story has just put a new dimension on mermaids in my psyche.
I look forward to part 2.
Thank you, Natasha Bowen.
by kellybean
My first book by this author,the cover grabbed me and this is not a genre I typically enjoy. However this was a beautiful read,I appreciate the author’s use of traditional African Deities that are so close to my heart. She did not misrepresent them,which white author or movie makers do. The story gripped me from start to finish,I read a sample then bought the book. I recommend this as a read for all women of colour,representation and not forgetting our roots mixed with a great story and descriptive writing style! I’ll read book #2
by Miss Hall
Only just got this and can’t put it down. Love mermaid stories and combine history literature.
by Susan Lines
I enjoyed reading something about African mythology. Slow start but by the end I was invested in the characters. I would recommend