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queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, death, blood, animal cruelty mention, enslavement
Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowen is the final book in the Skin of the Sea duology. This was a great fast paced sequel, that continues to expand West African mythologies. I found the ending predictable, similar to book one, but it didn't make it less enjoyable. This is a pretty solid YA book. Warning for possible spoilers for Skin of the Sea ahead.
We follow up with Simi in the Land of the Dead, a deep, dark, cold part of the Sea where the orisa Okun is bound to bless the dead that fall to the ocean floor. Though Simi is miserable and misses her fellow Mami Wata and Kola, she is determined to honor her agreement with Okun. That is until she realizes Okun has lied to her about the trickster god, Esu, making it possible to calamity to strike land with ajogun (the anit-gods) not being appeased and bound.
In this book we see a lot of the rivalries between West African kingdoms exacerbated by the European slave trade. We see the corruption in the pursuit of power that cannot be controlled. I loved seeing more of the mythology and culture of different African peoples. We see women water drummers, African vampires, undead, a loch ness monster type of creature, and a man eating tree. Above all, the message of this book in the freedom of choice. The freedom to choose what is right for yourself, not just for others. And what is right for you might not be the thing you think you want.
This series is perfect for teens grappling with coming of age and the burden of choice. It's also just a great adventure! Looking forward to more from this author.
Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowen is the final book in the Skin of the Sea duology. This was a great fast paced sequel, that continues to expand West African mythologies. I found the ending predictable, similar to book one, but it didn't make it less enjoyable. This is a pretty solid YA book. Warning for possible spoilers for Skin of the Sea ahead.
We follow up with Simi in the Land of the Dead, a deep, dark, cold part of the Sea where the orisa Okun is bound to bless the dead that fall to the ocean floor. Though Simi is miserable and misses her fellow Mami Wata and Kola, she is determined to honor her agreement with Okun. That is until she realizes Okun has lied to her about the trickster god, Esu, making it possible to calamity to strike land with ajogun (the anit-gods) not being appeased and bound.
In this book we see a lot of the rivalries between West African kingdoms exacerbated by the European slave trade. We see the corruption in the pursuit of power that cannot be controlled. I loved seeing more of the mythology and culture of different African peoples. We see women water drummers, African vampires, undead, a loch ness monster type of creature, and a man eating tree. Above all, the message of this book in the freedom of choice. The freedom to choose what is right for yourself, not just for others. And what is right for you might not be the thing you think you want.
This series is perfect for teens grappling with coming of age and the burden of choice. It's also just a great adventure! Looking forward to more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Writing: 4.75⭐️/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: 4.25⭐️/5
I felt like the characters suffered a bit when compared to the first novel. Now, don’t misunderstand me, the characters were still very well-written and well-developed, but they lacked a bit of development that I remember being so prevalent in the first book. Some of the twists and turns also felt a bit fast, happening without understanding the characterization that forced or pushed them in that direction.
Plot: 4.25⭐️/5
The overarching plot of the world and the novel is still stunning. I applaud how Bowen weaves serious topics with fantastical elements, maintaining levity at the right moments, and depth at others. Mostly, I felt the ending was a touch rushed in several spots. Again, I wanted a bit more time to understand the development, whereas everything felt so rushed towards a specific ending that certain sections definitely felt a touch forced. Overall, an enjoyable end to a series though, even if it was not perfectly happy.
Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5
**Spoilers**
I don’t want to hate that the characters didn’t end up immediately together, but I do. Felt like a bit of a forced ending to have them not together.
Who Should Read This?
- Those who read the first book in the series
- Fans of The Little Mermaid
- Fantasy readers
- Young adult readers 14+
- Fans of mythology-inspired stories
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Animal death, Violence, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, Stalking, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
paigeinabook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Genocide, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and War
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