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A review by plumpaperbacks
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
While I was intrigued by this book’s premise and opening chapters, only the first 25% truly held my attention. The other 75% was excruciatingly slow, and I found many of the twists predictable. Although I liked Simi and Kola, I never really got attached to them or invested in their story.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped, either. Going in, I hadn’t known there would be a sequel, so there were a few minutes where I was confused by the cliffhanger. I’m currently unsure whether or not I’ll read said sequel.
Despite my criticisms, I would recommend this book to anyone interested. It’s a historical fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid inspired by West African history and mythology, and Bowen’s writing is good. I definitely think she has potential, and just because most aspects of the story weren’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean they won’t be someone else’s.
Representation
This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped, either. Going in, I hadn’t known there would be a sequel, so there were a few minutes where I was confused by the cliffhanger. I’m currently unsure whether or not I’ll read said sequel.
Despite my criticisms, I would recommend this book to anyone interested. It’s a historical fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid inspired by West African history and mythology, and Bowen’s writing is good. I definitely think she has potential, and just because most aspects of the story weren’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean they won’t be someone else’s.
Representation
- full Black cast
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Slavery, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide attempt
Injuries described include whipping, blade wounds and animal bites. The mentioned suicide attempt happened prior to the story but is detailed in a flashback—attempted drowning. As for slavery, it’s discussed frequently and both the protagonist and love interest spent time on slave ships, but none of it is actually on-page.