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isabezza 's review for:
The Mermaid of Black Conch
by Monique Roffey
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
The sea was the giant woman of the planet, fluid and contrary. All men shuddered as they gazed at her surface.
For a book I picked up in the library when I had forgotten my own, which interested me with it's awards and themes, The Mermaid of Black Conch blew my expectations. Roffey discusses emotive themes of race, heritage, social position, and language. Linguists would be interested in the discussions of Creole languages, signed languages, and the questions of legitimacy and ownership over these voices.
I particularly enjoyed the magical realism and evocative scenery such as
Roffey engages all of a reader's senses and respects their intelligence in her unique and immersive writing style. This book was sensual, fantastical and moving.
Many women straddle my waist, many sit over me, drop their hair over me, and every man knows this is to see a woman in her full power.
Not an easy read, but great authorship. Character development was imaginative and relatable, with particularly interesting discussions of identity. The plot developed smoothly with enough adrenaline, suspense, twists, and unexpected events (typically in the form of ancient curses, magic, and fantasy) to keep a reader entertained. Despite the distressing and therefore powerful chapters, I found the ending underwhelming.
Obliterated by the storm that had come for the mermaid, they spiralled into a vast vortex of debris.