Cover Image: A Song Below Water

A Song Below Water

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I feel like some good editing and “reining in” could make this a very good book. But unfortunately, it’s very all over the place.... and I honestly don’t feel like it should be marketed as fantasy. It seems to only qualify as fantasy in the fantastical terms it uses. People think this book is about mermaids? Yeah, not even close.

Was this review helpful?

Bethany Morrow's book A Song Below Water is almost prophetic. This book is poignant for the times we are currently facing. This book had some real trigger warnings for me as a black woman. I experienced this story on a visceral level.

I have begun to see the magic in reading books about women and girls of color with supernatural powers. I appreciate the fact these types of stories are being written and seen by the masses. Tavia is a siren and has to keep her existence as such a secret. There is this secret underground network to mask her identity. Tavia is a high schooler and that in and of itself is enough of a struggle. There is also her "play" sister Effie who may or may not be a mermaid. There was a lot of action and subplots but I felt that as the reader, I was entering the story as if this were a second or third book not the first.

Overall this is a solid story that needs to be read. It is refreshing to read a story about black girl magic of any kind. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

First, I want to make something abundantly clear: this is a tremendously important book. It deals with lots of major issues that the Black community is currently facing, and has been facing for a long time, and it uses a highly unique premise (some very literal Black Girl Magic) to convey those ideas. I feel like I need to stress that part because this was one of those books that I loved in theory, just not in execution. I don’t want this review to be taken as, “This book isn’t important.” I think it is a book that is very, very much worth reading. However, it would be disingenuous for me to rate it higher, because it faltered in its actual writing, on technical elements like worldbuilding and pacing.

So, quick summary:

In an alternate version of America, humans live side by side with mythical creatures, including sprites (invisible mischief-makers), elokos (tbh still not quite sure what they are, but more on that later), and most importantly, sirens (Black women with the ability to use magical calls on people with their voices). Sirens are strongly condemned by society, from a combination of fear, racism, and misogyny, and so Tavia, a high school girl, keeps the fact that she is a siren secret from most people. Her best friend and adoptive sister, Effie, plays a mermaid at the Renaissance faire, but lately has been struggling with constantly shedding dry skin, mysterious blackouts, and guilt over a childhood accident she may have caused.

When a murdered woman is revealed to have possibly been a siren, and shortly thereafter Tavia’s favorite YouTube star also comes out as a siren, Tavia and Effie both find their lives taking a chaotic turn. Suddenly, the gargoyle that has taken up residence on their roof is actually talking to them. Public outcry and Black Lives Matter protests are escalating. Effie wants to find who her father is, and Tavia doesn’t know how much longer she can keep her siren call a secret. Amidst all this, the two strive to support each other and their communities…while also, of course, dealing with the regular pressures of high school, dating, and family drama.

So, we’ll start with the good. This is an amazing premise for a book. I loved the concept, the magic of the sirens, and the way it seamlessly interwove major social issues, minor personal problems, and the way both of those are amplified by magic. The juxtaposition of the fake magic in a Renaissance faire and the real magic present in their world was an interesting duality to observe, and I think that in that regard, Morrow more than succeeded. In a particularly poignant moment, we even learn that the hatred directed toward sirens once led an eleven-year-old Tavia to try and destroy her vocal cords so she couldn’t sing or speak anymore–and if that isn’t a striking depiction of the way Black voices, especially Black women, are often coerced into believing they must be silent, I don’t know what is.

The problem was, it was sometimes hard to appreciate how clever this design was, because the writing itself did not do enough to flesh out this world. Many elements of the worldbuilding were very confusingly executed. I’ve read the entire book, and I still don’t quite understand what elokos are, even though they’re a prominent type of magical person mentioned throughout the book. They have a magical charm and can put a trill in their voice that makes people like them or something, I guess? And somehow their voices can mask siren calls? Nothing was really explained about them, which made it hard to tell what was going on at times. Similarly, very little was established early on about things like the role of sirens, the extent of their abilities, or why Tavia was so determined to find her siren grandmother “in the water.” It felt like this book was a continuation of something and the readers were expected to know these things already–which, of course, is not the case.

Another positive element: Tavia and Effie were both very likable and believable protagonists, with emotions that ran deep and personalities that made them easy to root for. The strong sisterhood between them was enjoyable to read (what can I say, I’m a sucker for wholesome sister relationships), and I loved their constant loyalty to each other and refusal to back down from any challenge. Honestly, in addition to simply enjoying the premise, I’m pretty sure that my investment in these two as characters is a large part of what kept me reading.

Again, though, we had a case where the writing undermined some of this. The book was told in two perspectives, alternating between Tavia and Effie, but the written voices of the two were virtually indistinguishable, to the point that sometimes I would forget which girl’s point of view I was reading from until I encountered a plot detail that made it clear. The two girls have very different personalities and goals, and yet those didn’t manifest in their narration at all. That’s not to say that the voice wasn’t good–I enjoyed the writing style in general, but it didn’t make sense that it didn’t change at all when perspective changed.

And then there is the final issue this book faced: pacing. For a book that is under 300 pages, it took me a weirdly long time to finish. It was like it skipped out on providing some necessary background but then used that space to dwell on things that didn’t move the plot forward, instead stalling and meandering, especially for the first 50% or so. As the book got closer to its conclusion, it picked up as it really started to lean into the magic and the plot, but it took too long to get there. Though the slower parts did work hard on the thematic messages of the book, I think those themes could have hit a lot harder if they were just played up more in the action rather than stretched out in between, if that makes sense.

As a final note: for OwnVoices readers, this book may resonate more in a way that compensates for its technical shortcomings, and I highly suggest looking at OwnVoices reviews like Leelynn’s for more on that front. (Side note: Leelynn is freaking awesome and you should definitely check out more on her blog!) Similarly, for a reader who is going into this book with the intention of just gaining a deeper understanding of or a new perspective on themes like misogynoir, this book will be perfect. The lack of cohesion is the part that dampened the enjoyment for me–but don’t take this as meaning you should not read it. By all means, do give this one a try–you’ll be supporting a Black woman author and simultaneously experiencing a very unique story.

Was this review helpful?

disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Song Below Water follows both Tavia and Effie in the aftermath of the murder of a Black woman who was, apparently, also a siren. Tavia is forced to keep her siren identity under wraps because not only is it dangerous to be a Black woman, but also a siren. But when she accidentally lets her voice out during a police traffic stop, her secret no longer feels like a secret. Effie’s past soon comes back to haunt her and she has to try and uncover the secret as to what she is. As both girls discover their magical identities and what it means to them, they also face the challenges of today’s racism and sexism.

rep: black m/c’s, latino side character

content warnings: the murder of a Black woman, racism, police brutality

‘Black and female and a siren is just layers upon layers of trauma’.


A Song Below Water is a compelling novel about racism, and, more specifically, misogynoir. It is filled with interesting mythology set in an alternative Portland and has a wonderful relationship between Effie and Tavia – best friends but actually more like sisters. The beginning was a little difficult to get into due to the presence of mythological beings in a world like our own where it appears to be the norm but once I found my footing I was dragged into a compelling and important story about the dangers and injustices Black women face.

A Song Below Water is set in an alternative Portland where sirens, gargoyles, eloko’s, sprites, and mermaids exist and it is the norm of the world. However, not all are treated equally. Tavia is a siren, and her voice has power and that is why sirens are considered dangerous. She is also Black. In a world where being a Black woman is dangerous enough, she feels it is even more important to keep her siren identity secret. I loved Tavia and I really loved going on this journey with her where she truly discovers who she is and her place in the world and I loved watching her use her power for activism and to let the world know that siren’s and Black Lives Matter.

Effie was also a favourite. Her story focused on trying to figure out what she is. She is haunted by her past and struggles to escape it, but that past is catching up and she is struggling to outrun it. The mystery surrounding Effie and her mythical identity was really compelling and interesting. Her friendship with Tavia goes futher than just being best friends, there is a real sense of sisterhood between the two and I really loved the unconditional love and support the two had for each other.

A Song Below Water calls out racism and misogynoir. It puts a spotlight on the injustices that Black women face in not just this alternative Portland but in our own real world. We see it all over the news, and this book truly screams that Black Lives Matter. It calls out the hypocrisy and safety of white allies, discusses police brutality, and it also discusses the importance of protest and the anger that they feel at all the injustice and violence Black people face and the need to do something.

‘The sun is shining but there’s gonna be a storm. My skin is goose-pimpled, an unseen sharpness dancing in the air and prickling me everywhere I’m exposed.’

Was this review helpful?

‘In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers.’

‘Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school’s junior year.’

A SONG BELOW WATER, a Tor Teen YA fantasy novel, is the first book that I have read by Bethany C. Marrow, and one I won’t soon forget—Highly Recommend!

An ending I wasn’t expecting, but I loved it! I only wish this book was written when I was an awkward teenager so many moons ago.

The impenetrable friendship and love between Tav and Effie is palpable throughout the narrative, these two beautiful young women struggle with self-identity, the trials and tribulations of high school, parental figures who hide the truth, racism, sexism, and if that wasn’t enough, supernatural abilities.

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher Tom Doherty Associates, for loaning me an advance eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I thought when I read the synopsis that this was going to be an urban fantasy read about a black siren that has to face the repercussions of unleashing her siren call during a traffic stop but instead got a contemporary type book that didn't know where it was going until we were 70% into the book.

I struggled for the first 60% of this book because I came for the sirens but instead got a lot of talk about police brutality and racism against black people. NOT COMPLAINING. It's just that the author seemed to only want to comment on this topics to illustrate the unfairness of it without really having a plot for the first half of the book. I almost gave it 3 stars but the last 30% of the book really picked up with the mythological part and that was really interesting. The plot became a little more noticeable and I could understand what exactly we were rooting for.

I think the book is a great love letter to black girls while also acknowledging the very real threats black people face in the US. Especially with the current murders of black people by police and how they continue to brutalize the community during the protests.

I ultimately felt like it was a jumble of topics and some things didn't even get addressed on page or just came out of nowhere.

I enjoyed it, overall and would recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

This book was fantastic! It was a slow start, but once the plot started rolling, it went so quickly. I enjoyed the sisterly dynamic between Tavia and Effie. The renaissance faire turned into actual magic place was also really cool.
The style, kind of like how Effie moves in the water, was fluid and lovely to read.
And that plot twist! At the end! I did not see coming!

Was this review helpful?

This book was very disappointing for me. It was not what I was expecting at all and if you are looking for a book about sirens this isn't really that. I was very confused for most of the book. The fantasical elements were not it explained well and I actually had to look stuff up online to find out what they were talking about. But the author put her own twists on some mythical creatures so I was still confused.

Having it set in the real world basically replaced any world building. There was none of that at all, we didn't even know which creatures were real or not. I did like the parts of the book that were about racism and justice. It was very in time with current events. There wasn't a real plot to this book and I'm still not really sure what the point of the book was. It seemed that one character took the plot spotlight and it was not the siren. It actually would have been better without the siren character and focused on the others one story of finding out who they are.

I like the friendship between the main characters, the ren faire part and the point about using your voice but overall was not a good read for me.

Was this review helpful?

This was such an ethereal and fresh magical realism story. Like all I really need to say is it's about two sisters (not by birth, but by heart) who are absolutely everything to each other. One is a siren. One is...something else. They're Black, they're hurting, they're longing to be themselves and not have to hide. The story is so beautiful, and also raw with pain. It was sobering reading the scene where they go to the protest because I read this as the June 2020 Black Live Matter protests were happening and the descriptions of what is happening right now were right on page in this book. Things have not changed. Justice has not been given. And this adds in magic and secrets and the yearing to live without harassment?? It is here to make you think.

My absolute favourite thing was Effie and Octavia's friendship. They are so close, they love each other so much, they'd protect each other from anything. My heart is for them!!

There's also an entrancing spin on different mythos in here. I loved that! The world is ours, except magic is "expected" (although sirens are absolutely hated) and it has a lot of legendary creatures I haven't thought about/read about before. Gargoyles! And then Effie's reveal blew my mind and I LOVED IT. Also made so much sense.

And if you're thinking of trying the audiobook? Do. It's gorgeous. Each sister has a different narrator and their voices were such a pleasure to listen to.

The writing is definitely whimsical, on the slower paced side, and often the girls got lost in introspective thought spirals, so I did chaff at the communication fails. But the book would've been 100pgs shorter if people talked to each other..

Whimsical and fresh, full of twists and magical creatures! It also will make your heart hurt, and it didn't hesitate to dive in with a fresh hot knife to talk about the racism and abuse of the world.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Tor Teen for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

A book show casing Blake Girl Magic Black sisterhood, loyalty.
An intriguing urban fantasy that weaves social injustice with mythology.
A slow paced book set in Portland Oregon, the narration is told from between two POVs, Tavia and Effie's. The author includes several key elements of racism, misogyny, and modern social injustice. A clever premise, interesting world building. I did struggle somewhat with execution of the book, but overall it was a solid read. Urban Fantasy is a bit tricky for me personally. Fans of this style of writing will be captivated and love mythology and vibrant main characters. The dialogue was spot between the two friends and I really enjoyed this and thought their friendship was wonderful.

Was this review helpful?

I highly relevant book about not letting you be silenced by the fear of the society, about speaking up about racism.
I really liked this book it was well written, but it lacked some explanations about some of the mythological creatures.

Was this review helpful?

Amazing read. It's different from what I expected, it's a fantasy book that has mythical creatures but it reads as contemporary. Both main characters have their own different problems and personalities but their sisterly relationship is string and unshakeable. I enjoyed the mermaid/siren mythos a lot. Its a very unique read and I reccomend it.

Was this review helpful?

Modern fantasy set in Portland, black sirens, and extremely relevant social commentary. What’s not to love?

A Song Below Water tells the stories of Tavia, a siren who has to hide her power or be silenced, and Effie, the best friend that’s dealing with her dangerous past.

Okay first, this cover is gorgeous! Easily one of my favorites of the year. And black mythology? Even better.

Murrow has written such a unique novel that will have you cheering on Effie and Tavia as they fight for their place in society. At times I found myself amazed at how closely events in the book match current day events, but I suppose that’s where the “history repeats itself” phrase comes from. I found the sections in which Tavia and Effie battled for their rights most interesting and compelling.

The pacing felt a bit off to me - a bit slow in the beginning and then a lot all at once. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable read and I’m really happy to see two Black lead characters in a young adult novel!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Was this review helpful?

Even though this book hits some extremely relevant and hard-hitting topics it was still really fun. I think it did a good job of balancing racism and prejudice and protesting and other hard subjects but also giving you the whimsy of sirens and mermaids and other mythical beings. It is kind of eerie how similar this book is to what is happening right now in our nation and I think this is the perfect time to read it to gain a different perspective from my own.
I want to say that this cover is so stunning. I'm obsessed.
I think this book could've been even more amazing but I had some trouble following the world we were in and the different kinds of characters. There was little to no world building which had me confused for a lot of the book and mythological beings were hardly explained. Some were things we have heard of before so I had an idea of what they did. But even in the story it talked about how people just believe the "mythos" (which I came to assume meant that people believe in the mythological stories passed down through time) and that it's not usually accurate, but we never were give the accurate facts so I was left with what I know about sirens and mermaids and gargoyles (etc.) even though that was kind of contradicting what the characters were saying. And then there were characters I've never heard of before so I assume they are made up by the author, which is so great, but they were never explained or fleshed out, so I was confused by some characters and their actions because I didn't fully understand the background to their mythological-ness.
This book was pretty slow for most of the book and I think that left a lot of time to help explain more things..I think that would've helped me while reading a lot more.
I loved the gargoyle character and wish we would've gotten a lot more out of that whole situation and more background on gargoyles themselves.
A lot of the things that happened with Effie I think could've been resolved if her grandparents trusted her with her own "gifts" and explained things to her when she was young instead of trying to suppress her. It's frustrating that they wouldn't tell her ANYTHING. It literally could've saved so much trouble.
I really wish there would've been more explanation about Tavia and her siren abilities. I felt like I missed the entire beginning of this book where the world-building and character explanations take place. It felt like I was reading the second book in a series almost, so I had a hard time getting in to this. Once I got to the end I wanted more. So many big things happened at the end and by then it was all over when I was just wanting more from the characters and story.

Was this review helpful?

There was so much to love when it came to this book, but also a good amount that had me wishing there was just a little more. I know, that doesn't sound like it makes much sense, but it really does. I wanted more of what I was hoping for, which was the magical part of this to take over, to have more of a place in here than it did. But, that doesn't say that it took away from all the good things that were in here.

That would have to do with the fact, that even though it didn't always deliver in the magical parts of things (with gargoyles and sirens, you can see why one would want more), what this story represented gave it the push that I needed, as a reader, to keep going. There's much that goes on in here, with Tavia needing change to come quickly, as she is both a black woman and the feared siren that she's basically forced to hide.

I've got to say though, this is a bit of a slow start with a few detours along the way, and some scenes that didn't really seem to fit, but when it was on track, it was pretty great. I wanted there to be resolve for Tavia, I felt for her (as well as Effie... she's also a big part of it all) as she found her way through all the craziness that was this world, and held on to the story even when it wasn't at all about the magic, or when some descriptions (phrases, or words) weren't always as clear.

Even with those little tidbits that had me not as over-the-moon with this read, everything else in here surpassed all of that. The sirens being the only supernatural creatures to be restricted (seriously, the worst thing ever), the knowledge that the world knows all of this is going on but does nothing to stop it, and their fight to survive and reach a better tomorrow, creates for a novel you just can't put down 'til the end. And, what an ending! It left me wanting more of this world.

***I received this copy from Tor Teen, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

Was this review helpful?

This was really good! I'm so glad I got a chance to read it, I'd definitely would recommend it and I just might have to buy myself a finished copy too!

Was this review helpful?

A SONG BELOW WATER is a timely and necessary read in 2020. Set in Portland, Oregon (ps read about the history of Oregon's establishment as a white supremacy state), Tavia and Effie are two sisters who must confront and survive racism, trauma, and family inheritance. In the United States, magical beings - sirens, sprites, gargoyles, etc. - are known to all people and sirens are viewed as evil, predatory, and dangerous. Tavia is both Black and a siren, dealing with doubled societal alterity that threatens her safety every day. It is unsafe for her to use her voice because she could accidentally "call" someone and thus is forced to keeping silent. Effie was involved in a tragic incident as a child that left her friends frozen in stone. The only place where Effie feels she can be herself is at the Renaissance Faire where she is the mermaid Euphemia.

The story is set after the murder of a young Black woman who is accused of being a siren and as a result, the media and court find her of her own death. The novel follows Tavia and Effie navigating high school drama -shitty friends, teachers who commit microagressions (or imho macroaggressions because it's just so obvious), jerk ex-boyfriends- plus confronting systemic racism. I've seen several reviews critiquing the world-building (particularly with regards to the mythology of elokos) and frankly, it's not that difficult to Google things. While there were some parts of the book that were slower than others, I think the book emphasizes how life is like this. It's not constantly major action and sometimes, characters (like people IRL) have to sit with the weight of events and figure out where to go next.

I urge readings of all ages and identities to pick up A SONG BELOW WATER. Morrow does an excellent job showing the weight of racism on these two young women. Tavia and Effie are strong protagonists because they demonstrate the complexities of being one's own person and grappling with societal perceptions.

Content Warnings: racism, police brutality, suicide, domestic violence

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love this book! The cover is absolutely beautiful, for starters. When I started reading, the whole premise of it is amazing. This book doesn’t sugarcoat and I love that. The story covers black sirens and the injustices that they face in Portland. Although some parts of the book are sad, there are parts that I really loved, like the found family trope between Effie and Tavia. I loved the world building too. This was a siren and mermaid book I’ve never read before and I absolutely loved it. Definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This book is every bit as good as its cover (which is saying A LOT, because, OH WOW THAT COVER!). I just loved how Bethany C. Morrow crafted this fantasy from start to finish, with elements of social justice, persecution, trauma, and the over arching power of sisterhood. I really, really enjoyed the author's voice and I can't wait to read more.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this moving and relevant contemporary myth about Sirens and other fantastical creatures. Loved the connections to current racial issues. Highly recommend for teens.

Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Was this review helpful?