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aseel_reads's review
adventurous
medium-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
5.0
obsessed with this duology, this was fantastic. had no idea how i was suppose to like the mean girl from the first book, as the mc of this book, but boy did i love the direction the author went with. i liked the social commentary about being able to dislike someone from a minority group/same identity as you, because you don't have to like everyone. just felt very nuanced and real. huge fan.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Outing, Hate crime, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Body horror
Minor: Cursing, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Classism
Incarceration, Misogynoiroliviagraz's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia
Minor: Vomit, Violence, Outing, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Confinement, and Classism
kayladaila's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Stalking
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
azyef's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Police brutality, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcoholism and Pedophilia
rini's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
taremeredzwatchirewa's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Hate crime
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
For some reason I thought this was more of a companion novel, but you definitely can't read this without reading A Song Below Water. Which you should definitely read because it's also an amazing book!
What I liked about this one were the many discussions about how society views Black girls and Black women. The metaphor with these magical abilities and Naema tackles these issues head on. I also liked how this built on the world we got in A Song Below Water, expanding it and giving us more characters and more interaction with society in general. Overall, a really great read!
What I liked about this one were the many discussions about how society views Black girls and Black women. The metaphor with these magical abilities and Naema tackles these issues head on. I also liked how this built on the world we got in A Song Below Water, expanding it and giving us more characters and more interaction with society in general. Overall, a really great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Stalking, and Hate crime
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
sunsetcity's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Racism, and Stalking
gracefulbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So this is the sequel to the magical urban fantasy that is A Song Below Water. But in this one, we follow the antagonist of the first, Naema Bradshaw. An Eloko local celebrity who is beloved by all until she is suspected of some horrid deeds. Determined to redeem herself and get her side of things out she takes a break from Portland and leaves and gets a new more loyal following. But things quickly get sinister and messed up as Naema's new platform starts to fill and quickly turn into a radical place that is determined to tear down other Black girls & women.
Can Naema set things right and possibly move forward from what took place in the first book?
I want to say right off the bat that A Song Below Water was one of my most favorite books from last year. It really set the bar for me and sadly this installment didn't live up to it but not because Morrow is a bad author-I just think the story lost some momentum halfway through but then it picked it back up ear the end. Despite this, the writing was just as addictive as it was in the first book. I found I had ate up a hundred-plus pages within like the first day because I was just sucked in that quickly.
I also think I just in general really loved Naema's strong personality. I wasn't expecting to like her so quickly but I genuinely loved her voice pretty soon into the book. I can also say once more that I really loved that this book had so many messages when it came to racism as well as identity and how some people aren't allowed to just dislike each other without it being weaponized. I also appreciated the commentary on how quickly people online can be radicalized when given a space to congregate and anonymity to top it off.
I think Morrow once again packed a small book with a great and powerful message and used her addictive writing style to really pull the reader in-I will look forward to anything more that comes from her in the future.
Once again this book wasn't 4 stars because it did drag at some point and I found myself losing interest at parts despite the good writing.
Can Naema set things right and possibly move forward from what took place in the first book?
I want to say right off the bat that A Song Below Water was one of my most favorite books from last year. It really set the bar for me and sadly this installment didn't live up to it but not because Morrow is a bad author-I just think the story lost some momentum halfway through but then it picked it back up ear the end. Despite this, the writing was just as addictive as it was in the first book. I found I had ate up a hundred-plus pages within like the first day because I was just sucked in that quickly.
I also think I just in general really loved Naema's strong personality. I wasn't expecting to like her so quickly but I genuinely loved her voice pretty soon into the book. I can also say once more that I really loved that this book had so many messages when it came to racism as well as identity and how some people aren't allowed to just dislike each other without it being weaponized. I also appreciated the commentary on how quickly people online can be radicalized when given a space to congregate and anonymity to top it off.
I think Morrow once again packed a small book with a great and powerful message and used her addictive writing style to really pull the reader in-I will look forward to anything more that comes from her in the future.
Once again this book wasn't 4 stars because it did drag at some point and I found myself losing interest at parts despite the good writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
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