Skin of the Sea (Of Mermaids and Orisa)

Product Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The must-read Black mermaid fantasy series that #1 NYT bestselling author Nicola Yoon calls “epic and original,” in which one mermaid takes on the gods themselves. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Beasts of Prey. “Riveting.” —NPR“Evocative.” —Entertainment Weekly“Remarkable.” —Buzzfeed\nA way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.\nSimi 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.\nBut when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable—she saves his
life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.\nTo 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. . . .\nDanger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.\nFrom School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up-It's been three months since Yemoja remade Simidele in the image of Mami Wata (a mermaid) and tasked her with recovering the souls of those who perish in the water. Though she knows this to be a gift, as she would otherwise be a soul sent back to Olodumare, the Supreme Creator, Simidele still clings to the memories of her human life. When a living boy named Kola is tossed from a slave ship, she rescues him and in doing so unknowingly breaks an ancient decree from the Supreme Creator-an act that could cost her very existence and that of her fellow Mami Wata sisters. She needs Olodumare's forgiveness, but another jealous Orisha is dogging her every step, hoping that she fails. It is no easy thing for a single girl to defy the gods. Blending West African mythology with the dark history of the slave trade, Bowen weaves a magical tale that will delight readers. Despite its heavy subject matter, this book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit amid tragedy that never shies away from the horrors it conveys. VERDICT Give this book to everyone, but especially fans of mythological and well-crafted fantasy.-India Winslow, formerly at Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
Instant New York Times BestsellerNPR Best of 2021 SelectionPopSugar Best New Book – November 2021Publishers Weekly Best of 2021 Selection\n"Bowen has built an
impressive mythology to buttress her fairy tale, and it's a pleasure to discover this world through Simi's eyes."
—The New York Times"An evocative debut."
—Entertainment Weekly\n"Riveting. . . . I'm sure that Simi has many ardent fans to await her further adventures."
—NPR\n"Remarkable."
—Buzzfeed\n“Skin of the Sea is
one of the most epic and original fantasies I've read. . . . Simi's story will stay with me for a long time to come.”
—Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing\n“The most
engrossing, thought-provoking, beautiful novel I’ve read in ages.
Skin of the Sea knocks your socks off and leaves you wanting more."
—Namina Forna, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Ones\n“An enchanting, unputdownable fantasy. Bowen’s lush world building and beautiful prose will have you rooting for these characters from page one.
A triumph of storytelling.”
—Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella is Dead\n★ “A story bursting with innovative inspiration. . . .
a divine debut."
—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review★ "Reinvigorating the image of West Africa as not merely a site of human suffering but a historical place of great invention, fellowship, and hop