Skin of the Sea

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Skin of the Sea
Skin of the Sea.jpg
First edition
AuthorNatasha Bowen
CountryNigeria/Wales
LanguageEnglish
GenreFantasy, Young adult
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
2 November 2021
Pages320
ISBN978-0-593-12094-1

Skin of the Sea is a 2021 young adult fantasy novel by Nigerian Welsh writer Natasha Bowen.[1][2] Bowen's debut novel follows Simi, a mami wata who travels across sea and land in search of the Supreme Creator after breaking a law that threatens the existence of all mami wata.

The book entered the New York Times and Indie Bestseller list a week after it was released in November 2021.[3]

Development[]

Bowen said she first became interested in mermaids and underwater worlds after reading The Little Mermaid as a kid. She wanted "to write the story I wanted to read", which included Black mermaids and West African traditions. Bowen began researching African civilizations, such as the Kingdom of Benin, and West African mythology after finding out that Yemọja, a goddess in the Ifá belief system, was believed to follow the first enslaved Africans to gather their souls home after they died. During her research, she spoke to an Ifá priest to learn more about the Orísha and Yoruba culture.[4]

Bowen wrote the novel while teaching full-time in a school. She wrote the book sometimes before school and during any free time she got in a notebook. She included mythological creatures of West and Central Africa including Senegalese fairies called Yumboes, Ninki-Nanka, a river monster, Sasabonsam, giant vampire bats, and Bultungin, shapeshifters who could turn into Werehyenas.[4][5]

Reception[]

Kirkus Reviews gave the novel a starred review, praising its pacing and the use of Yoruba religion and other West African religious traditions alongside "beloved, familiar elements". The review concluded by calling Skin of the Sea a "divine debut that explores the glories of West African myth, religion, and history."[6]

A review for Publishers Weekly commented on Natasha Bowen's attempt at writing about West Africa as "a historical place of great invention, fellowship, and hope" while avoiding to focus on the "human suffering" of the region.[7] Writing for the School Library Journal, India Winslow called the story in the novel "a testament to the strength of the human spirit amid tragedy".[8]

Caitlyn Paxson, reviewing for the NPR, acknowledged Bowen's use of The Little Mermaid as a starting point to talk about the effect of slavery on the people of Africa, but also noted the novel "takes a wider view of the lives of the people who have been uprooted by slavery and the rich and complex cultures they were stolen from." Paxson praised the depiction of the Yoruba gods, as well as the lore present in the novel, "from the Mami Wata to Senegalese fairy-folk called Yumboes". Writing about the characters, Paxson said the protagonist "is definitely the richest personality in the story", but criticized the lack of development of the supporting cast.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ "A Mermaid Tests Her Fate in West African-Inspired Tale Skin of the Sea". Gizmodo. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. ^ "A Mermaid Takes on the Gods in Natasha Bowen's Skin of the Sea". Tor.com. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen－Young Adult Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - Books - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "An Indies Introduce Q&A With Natasha Bowen". the American Booksellers Association. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Q&A With Natasha Bowen, Skin of the Sea". We Need Diverse Books. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. ^ "SKIN OF THE SEA". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Children's Book Review: Skin of the Sea (Skin of the Sea #1) by Natasha Bowen". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  8. ^ Winslow, India (1 October 2021). "Skin of the Sea". School Library Journal. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  9. ^ Paxson, Caitlyn (28 October 2021). "'Skin of the Sea' sends its little mermaid swimming into very different waters". NPR. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

External links[]

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