Preview
  • Skin of the Sea

  • Skin of the Sea, Book 1
  • By: Natasha Bowen
  • Narrated by: Yetide Badaki
  • Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,068 ratings)

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Skin of the Sea

By: Natasha Bowen
Narrated by: Yetide Badaki
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Publisher's summary

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The must-hear Black mermaid fantasy series that #1 NYT bestselling author Nicola Yoon calls “epic and original,” in which one mermaid takes on the gods themselves. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and anyone who can't wait for the live-action The Little Mermaid.

“Riveting.”—NPR

“Evocative.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Remarkable.”—Buzzfeed

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 goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable—she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. 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 fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

©2021 Natasha Bowen (P)2021 Listening Library

Critic reviews

Instant New York Times Bestseller

NPR Best Book of the Year

PopSugar Best New Book–November 2021

Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

Children’s Africana Book Awards–2022 Honor Book for Older Readers

Top 10 YALSA Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults

"Bowen has built an impressive mythology to buttress her fairy tale, and it's a pleasure to discover this world through Simi's eyes."The New York Times

"Riveting . . . I'm sure that Simi has many ardent fans to await her further adventures."—NPR

“Skin of the Sea is one of the most epic and original fantasies I've read. . . . Simi's story will stay with me for a long time to come.”—Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing