While I was intrigued by this book’s premise and opening chapters, only the first 25% truly held my attention. The other 75% was excruciatingly slow, and I found many of the twists predictable. Although I liked Simi and Kola, I never really got attached to them or invested in their story.

This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped, either. Going in, I hadn’t known there would be a sequel, so there were a few minutes where I was confused by the cliffhanger. I’m currently unsure whether or not I’ll read said sequel.

Despite my criticisms, I would recommend this book to anyone interested. It’s a historical fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid inspired by West African history and mythology, and Bowen’s writing is good. I definitely think she has potential, and just because most aspects of the story weren’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean they won’t be someone else’s.

Representation