Skin of the Sea

By: Natasha Bowen

Narrated by: Yetide Badaki

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The must-read 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.

Wonderful story!

I absolutely LOVED this story! The mixture of history and fantasy helped to make the story feel real, so to speak. There is just the right amount of adventure and conflict to fully round out the tale and move the story along. There was never a point that I didn’t want to listen. And I thought the narrator’s voice and delivery were perfect for this story.

Magnificent & Beyond!

Engaging, romantic, & intelligent! Although set in the 1400s of early slavery, the light & love of a people shines, along with a definitive & everlasting hope that transcends time.

Inspired!

This book was amazing and definitely inspires me to seek African Mythology. Well performed as well ❤️

Beautiful

The author threads history, mythology, and prose into a magically thrilling tale. Wonderful to dive into a story about African perspectives, themes of compassion, and rich cultural narratives.

Awe inspiring

Such an amazing story and so well narrated!! Hearing the native language spoken did it a justice I never could have with reading an actual book.