After hearing so many rave reviews of The Mermaid of Black Conch, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed.

First of all Roffey's writing is magical. The word usage she uses and the imagery she envokes will stick with the reader long after they put the book down. The way the plot and characters are weaved into the The Mermaid of Black Conch is beautiful. I wanted so much more of this book. The main theme of The Mermaid of Black Conch is love; not only is love explored by the main characters but also the side characters as well. I'm a sucker for beautiful love stories. David and Aycayia's story was thought-provoking. I highly highly enjoyed that Aycayia was not a "beautiful" mermaid but she was a true mermaid of the sea and that David was enthralled with her from the very beginning anyway. Ms. Rain, Life, their son and the complicated love of that family was also beautilful to see. I almost cried a few times reading their parts. I enjoyed how Life and Ms. Rain were truly each other's person and how in the end they reunited.

The history and folklore in The Mermaid of Black Conch made my entire day. I loved the little peeks we'd get from the characters', their tales and the general research they'd do. Aycayia and her curse was.... a lot. Women can be so vindictive but also so helpless in relationships. I felt bad that Aycayia's life seem to be snatched away so soon from her both times. However as I reflected upon it, it's the same way in modern-day society. Young girls and women are commanded to not be too tempting for grown men or whatever happens to them is their fault. There's a lot of be said about the themes of The Mermaid of Black Conch but I just want to come back to the pure love in The Mermaid of Black Conch and how it touched me deeply.