Publisher: Penguin Teen Canada, November 9th, 2021

Format: ebook

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves.

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 does the unthinkable–she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But something is amiss. 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 doesn’t, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

My Review:

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: mermaid stories and West African folklore.
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This book was very immersive. Simi is a mermaid who’s job is to help souls cross over when they drown/are thrown overboard. But when a living boy is tossed into the sea, Simi ignites the wrath of the Gods by saving him. This brings Simi on an adventure to appease the Gods and save a village.
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I loved the mermaid theme and the aspects of West African folklore. Really enjoyed the story.
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CW: death of a loved one, kidnapping and imprisonment.