Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen (review)

As Mami Wata—a mermaid-like creature who serves the orisa Mother Yemoja— Simidele is tasked with easing the journey to the creator Olodumare for Africans who lost their lives on slave ships in the fifteenth century. When Simi discovers a boy named Adekola in the sea who still lives, she saves his life, violating her responsibilities. In order to make amends, Simi must search for magical rings to summon Olodumare—but Esu, the messenger orisa and a trickster, will do anything to stop her. Simi, traveling in her human form, and Kola grow close on their journey, but Simi knows that if she falls in love with a human, she’ll turn into “foam upon the sea.” Bowen’s debut uniquely crosses The Little Mermaid with West African-inspired mythology. The different magical barriers (and delights) the duo encounter range from yumboes, Senegalese fairy-type beings; to dreaded sea serpent Ninki Nanka; to bultungin, were-hyenas. Simi is genuinely sympathetic as a girl who misses the human life she had before she was Mami Wata, and her desire to love is both believable and relatable. Those who have been riveted by the many new West African-inspired novels of the last few years including Children of Blood and Bone (BCCB 4/18) and The Gilded Ones (BCCB 3/21) will find this a worthy addition to the genre, and readers new to an African fantasy setting have an excellent introduction here.