Tag: mermaids

Soul of the Deep (Skin of the Sea #2) by Natasha Bowen #bookreview #YA #fantasy

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews19 Comments

The highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller Skin of the Sea, in which the world must pay the price for one mermaid’s choice, and a dark force reverberates across realms. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and those eagerly anticipating the live-action film adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

One life.
One choice.
One sacrifice.

To save those closest to her, Simi traded away everything: her freedom, her family, and the boy she loves. Now she is sworn to serve a new god, watching over the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the ocean.

But when signs of demons begin to appear, it’s clear there are deeper consequences of Simi’s trade. These demons spell the world’s ruin . . . and because of Simi, they now have a way into the human realm.

With the fate of the world at stake, Simi must break her promise and team up with a scheming trickster of a god. And if they succeed, perhaps Simi can also unbreak her heart along the way, and find herself again.

After I finished the first book in this series, I wasn’t sure if another one was coming, and I hoped to learn what happened with these characters. Seeing this second book on NetGalley, I knew the author wouldn’t leave the readers hanging. We’d get the rest of the story.

My favorite things from this book remain the same as the first – incredible world-building, West African mythology and culture, the sisterhood of the Mami Wata (mermaids), and some of the characters. This story picks up several months after the first book. Simi is living with the hard choices she made to save the lives of others, but blame and guilt rest heavily on her shoulders. She’s not happy in her new home, but she takes her responsibilities seriously and is determined to follow through on the bargain she struck with Olokun. After learning of a betrayal, her circumstances change rather quickly, and Simi finds herself teaming up with old friends and fighting fierce opponents.

While I enjoyed this story, I was a little surprised that consequences of the first book were wrapped up/changed within the first fifty or so pages, and this sequel seemed like almost a different series. Honestly, it can be read as a standalone since the author provides backstory.

The ending leaves open the possibility for a sequel, but I could also see the author wrapping up things here and letting the reader predict what happens in the future. If you’re fascinated by creative world-building and enjoy learning about other cultures and mythology, this is a series to add to your TBR.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen #bookreview #YA #fantasy #AfricanMythology #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews27 Comments

An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves.

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata–a mermaid–collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable–she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But something is amiss. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn’t, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

The comp titles for this book intrigued me. Children of Blood and Bone has magnificent world-building, and who doesn’t like The Little Mermaid? Any mermaid who takes on the gods sounded like someone I wanted to meet.

Once a human, Simi is now a Mami Wata (mermaid) whose responsibility is to collect the souls of those claimed by the sea and bless their journeys back home. When the body of a teen boy is thrown overboard, she’s shocked to discover he’s still alive, and instead chooses to save him. Her act of mercy puts the lives of all Mami Wata in danger, and to save them she must find the Supreme Creator and seek forgiveness. Although Simi appreciates the importance and significance of her duties, she also misses aspects of her human life, which she can’t entirely remember. When her journey begins on land (her tail transforms into legs), memories and flashbacks from her human life become more prominent, and she’s reminded of what she lost.

Simi is feisty and courageous, two qualities desperately needed to take on Esu, messenger to their Creator. He’s power hungry and a threat to both the Mami Wata and Kola’s village. Esu is described as a trickster, which immediately made me think of Loki from Marvel Comics. They certainly share some similar qualities, and not the admirable ones.

It’s clear from nearly the moment they meet that Simi and Kola have feelings for each other, but I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between them. It comes across as very “insta-love”, and until somewhere around the middle of the book, very little is known about Kola. Revealing his backstory earlier would have distinguished him as more than just the guy Simi saved and a traveling companion.

This is an outstanding debut filled with lush descriptions, immersive world-building, and fascinating African mythology. It doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the slave trade during that time period, but also doesn’t go into extensive detail. The ending leaves a strong possibility for a sequel, but I haven’t seen anything on Goodreads to suggest one is coming. If that’s the case, I’d be disappointed with the way things wrapped up – keeping my fingers crossed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#BadMoonRising The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by D. Wallace Peach #paranormal #mermaids #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising124 Comments

This author is known for her beautiful prose and imagery, whether in poetry or her fiction books. I’ve reread passages in several of her novels because of their lyrical quality. Talk about eerie – her tarot card reading from many years ago may have predicted something that didn’t turn up until decades later in her life. Welcome D. Wallace Peach!

Have you ever had a tarot card reading?

Of course, Teri. And thanks for the fun questions. I’m delighted to be visiting during this bad, bad moon. I’ve had many tarot readings, and for a while I became absorbed in giving them too. The most unusual one I received was when I first married my husband. We both had children from a previous marriage, and the reader said I shouldn’t have more kids because it could damage my heart. We never did have more children (for various reasons) and my heart was fine… until my fifties. I wonder sometimes whether the tarot cards knew something that I didn’t discover until twenty years later.

Was there a horror movie you refused to watch because the previews were too scary?

I had to ask my husband the name of the movie because, of course, I never watched it. Hellraiser. That was a bazillion years ago in 1987, so I don’t know if I’d feel the same way now. He watched it with our kids when the tykes were about ten years old, and they all loved it. Now it’s the twisted psychopaths that totally creep me out because they could be REAL.

Do you ever see figures in your peripheral vision?

Oh yeah. My youngest brother was murdered in 2003 (my own little horror story), and after his death, I saw him everywhere. I’d pull over in the car, stare at people, follow them like a stalker. I’m surprised I didn’t get a crick in my neck from all the doubletakes. It was very disorienting. And eventually it stopped. Apparently, this happens to a lot of people. I wonder… is it wishful thinking or is the person’s soul making its presence known?

Would you and your main character get along?

That depends on the book. My main characters tend to live hard lives, and they take everything so seriously. They’re usually honorable people at the core, but who needs all that drama? Not me. The exception may be Madlyn in the Sorcerer’s Garden. She’s self-deprecating and snarky, two qualities that I find irresistible, especially the snark. It’s my lightest book, and I think she’d be fun to hang out with around a fire pit and drink wine.

If you decided to write a spinoff of a side character, who would you choose?

I have a lot of side characters that I think might have a good story inside them, usually from stand-alone books where there’s more story to explore. In my recent high seas fantasy, The Ferryman and the Sea Witch, there’s been some reader interest in Grier. He’s lazy, sarcastic, self-serving, and at times, remarkably noble. Who know? He may get his own book someday.

What do you do to get inside your characters’ heads?

I write extensive bios on my main and secondary characters before I ever start writing. I know everything about them from their hobbies down to their fears, hopes, and deep dark secrets. They’re fully formed before I write my first sentence. I was also a mental health clinician in the real world, and I think those years exploring people’s emotional lives helped. My husband can always tell what type of scene I’m writing by the look on my face. His frequent question: “Are you okay?”

Thanks for the fun Teri. Happy October!

The merror rule the sea. Slender creatures, fair of face, with silver scales and the graceful tails of angelfish. Caught in a Brid Clarion net, the daughter of the sea witch perishes in the sunlit air.

The queen of the sea bares her sharp teeth and, in a fury of wind and waves, cleanses the brine of ships and men. But she spares a boy for his single act of kindness. Callum becomes the Ferryman, and until Brid Clarion pays its debt with royal blood, only his sails may cross the Deep.

Two warring nations, separated by the merrow’s trench, trade infant hostages in a commitment to peace. Now, the time has come for the heirs to return home. The Ferryman alone can undertake the exchange.

Yet, animosities are far from assuaged. While Brid Clarion’s islands bask in prosperity, Haf Killick, a floating city of derelict ships, rots and rusts and sinks into the reefs. Its ruler has other designs.

And the sea witch crafts dark bargains with all sides.

Callum is caught in the breach with a long-held bargain of his own which, once discovered, will shatter this life.

Buy Links

Amazon global link: http://a-fwd.com/asin=B095J5X8DW

Amazon Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/D-Wallace-Peach/e/B00CLKLXP8

Author Bio:

A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked.

In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.

Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.

Social Media Links

Author’s website: https://dwallacepeachbooks.com

Authors blog: https://mythsofthemirror.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dwallacepeach

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DWPeachBooks/

The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by D. Wallace Peach #bookreview #mermaids #fantasy #paranormal #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews43 Comments

The merrow rule the sea. Slender creatures, fair of face, with silver scales and the graceful tails of angelfish. Caught in a Brid Clarion net, the daughter of the sea witch perishes in the sunlit air. Her fingers dangle above the swells.

The queen of the sea bares her sharp teeth and, in a fury of wind and waves, cleanses the brine of ships and men. But she spares a boy for his single act of kindness. Callum becomes the Ferryman, and until Brid Clarion pays its debt with royal blood, only his sails may cross the Deep.

Two warring nations, separated by the merrow’s trench, trade infant hostages in a commitment to peace. Now, the time has come for the heirs to return home. The Ferryman alone can undertake the exchange.

Yet, animosities are far from assuaged. While Brid Clarion’s islands bask in prosperity, Haf Killick, a floating city of derelict ships, rots and rusts and sinks into the reefs. Its ruler has other designs.

And the sea witch crafts dark bargains with all sides.

Callum is caught in the breach, with a long-held bargain of his own which, once discovered, will shatter this life.

With the author posting an occasional teaser from this book on her blog, I’ve been anticipating it for quite a while. It was absolutely worth the wait.

Having read several other books by this author, I knew it would be a treat to immerse myself in the world of the merrows and kingdoms of Brid Clarion and Haf Killick. Her lavish descriptions always make me feel like I’m experiencing everything right alongside the characters – the salt spray across my face while sailing the high seas, the rolling of the ship as it crosses the Deep, and the graceful beauty of the merrow. In spite of Callum’s attempt to save the life of the Sea Witch’s daughter, she dies. After killing the rest of the crew responsible for her death, the Sea Witch spares his life for his kindness. It’s a bargain he can’t refuse but considering what he’s forced to do, Callum may wish he perished with the crew. My heart went out to him immediately after he’s put in an incredibly difficult position. He has no choice other than to take a human life every time he crosses the Deep and spend his life caught between two warring nations unless he sacrifices royal blood.

The characters are wonderfully flawed and well-drawn. Some I had a love/hate relationship with, not knowing where their loyalties fell until nearly the end. They kept me guessing – which I totally enjoy.

Warring nations, deceit, lies – it’s impossible to trust either nation, but it soon becomes evident Callum has something precious worth saving and fighting for. Don’t assume you’ll accurately predict the path of this plot. Alexa read this to me from my Kindle, and I had to stop and immediately rewind (more than once!) to make sure I’d heard correctly when some astonishing twists spun the story in a different direction.

Exciting battles, long held secrets, treachery, and deadly bargains – this novel engaged me from the first page. The ending was everything I’d hoped for these characters. I can’t go without mentioning the incredibly beautiful cover. Easily five stars!