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mattiedancer's review
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Writing: 4.25⭐️/5
The novel started off a bit rough, but it quickly cleaned up into some very clean and clear prose. She handles complex plot points with precision and foreshadows the progression clearly enough that you’re not caught off guard, even if you are still surprised.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
The characters were well-described and felt mostly realistic. At all times they felt complex without being overwhelming. I particularly loved her method of humanizing the gods without stripping them of their powers. They felt real, raw, and dangerous, even as they talked to humans. The antagonist, too, is a formidable opponent who, at all moments, felt dangerous and unhinged.
Plot: 5⭐️/5
The novel is described as “The Little Mermaid” inspired by West African mythology. While I think this is a great description of the opening section of the novel, I do think it sells the rest of the novel a bit short actually. The depth this plot goes to, blending the seriousness of real-life events with the levity of this magical world, is wonderful to read and an addicting page-turner.
Post-Reading Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
Slight cliff-hanger. There is a sequel, so maybe have that on hand if you like the first half of the novel.
Who Should Read This?
- Fans of The Little Mermaid
- Fantasy readers
- Young adult readers 14+
- Fans of mythology-inspired stories
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Slavery, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Violence
imaginingly's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
it took me a while to finish this book because of how slow it was. the beginning was very nice and i loved how it started but the plot, to me, seemed very jumbled and all over the place. the characters were nicely written but i just wish we could’ve spent more time getting to know them.
overall, it was a good book and i’m very glad it involved several black characters but i didn’t enjoy it as much as i had wanted to. a younger reader might find it amazing and it would be awesome for a child of color to see someone of their skin tone on the cover!!
overall, it was a good book and i’m very glad it involved several black characters but i didn’t enjoy it as much as i had wanted to. a younger reader might find it amazing and it would be awesome for a child of color to see someone of their skin tone on the cover!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Classism, Violence, and Slavery
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