I think I liked this one a lot better than the first.
There was a lot of action.
Betrayals and twists.
This series has really good world building

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

This is a continuation of Simi's story. It is a one sitting read full of action, character building and full of life lessons. It can be read as a standalone. I look forward to reading more from the author.

This book has been on my list since I wrote my Skin of the Sea book review last year. It was exciting to return to this world to witness the consequences of Simi’s actions and to find out what she’d do next. Simi made a choice that would not only impact her future, but the future of the entire world. She wasn’t aware of the far-reaching consequences of her actions, but it’s not long into Soul of the Deep that reality comes crashing down.

I enjoyed the dark beginning to this novel, where Simi chooses to bear responsibility for what she has done. There is peace at the bottom of the ocean, even if the water chills her to the bone. Soon, Simi and Kola find their way back to each other, though it’s not a happy reunion given what they are about to face. Still, their journey throughout this book kept tension high and certainly kept me reading to find out where they would end up by the end.

Bowen has perfected in the big battle scene, which carried through several chapters and detailed the widespread ramifications of war. The lead up to the battle was realistic, with high stakes and dire consequences. Not everyone makes it out alive, and though we mourn for those lost, hope continues to linger on every page. What Simi and Kola are doing is bigger than themselves, and they are willing to risk everything to ensure the ajogun do not claw their way into the mortal realm.

There were a few twists at the end that caught me by surprise, and I appreciated the complex nature of everyone involved. Villains are better when they believe they are heroes, and a hero who doesn’t face their worst nightmare doesn’t truly understand the weight of that mantle. While Simi has struggled with who she is—and has questioned her purpose on more than one occasion—the decision she makes by the end of the book is for her and her alone. She does not accept influence from Kola, Yemoja, Esu, or anyone else. As layered and complex as her existence is now, her journey has led her to the type of solace she has longed for.

Soul of the Deep picks up at the end of Skin of the Sea after Simidele has traded away her freedom to save those she cares about. She is now sworn to serve a new god at the bottom of the ocean in the Land of the Dead. But, Simidele's trade for her family may have much more dire consequences than she realized. Signs of demons begin to appear, demons who will bring death and destruction, and now have a way into the human realm. Simidele must find a way to escape her bond with the new god and will have to team up with unlikely allies to save the world.

I am so incredibly disappointed, but I just did not enjoy this. And that's such a shame because I really enjoyed Skin of the Sea! But something about this sequel just didn't work for me. I almost wish that the two books were combined into just one standalone, I feel like the story would have flowed better that way. I honestly was just kind of bored throughout this and felt like I was forcing myself to pick it up and read it. The characters that I had loved in the first book fell flat for me in this story and everything just felt very surface-level. There wasn't a lot of emotional connection being built with the characters this time around and it felt like such a sharp turn from the first book. It also felt like the plot just changed on a whim after the end of the first one, to the deal being broken pretty quickly at the beginning of this book, and then we just moved on from it and kept going. Too many things were happening, yet it also felt like nothing was really happening. I don't know, I feel like I'm not making any sense, but this one just missed the mark for me.

Thank you, NetGalley for a copy of this book for an honest opinion.

I was so excited to jump back into this world, to follow Simi and her friends through another adventure. This story started off so strongly, but after the first 60-70ish pages, it started to turn into an entirely different book.

Simi has made her choice to go into the deeper parts of the ocean to help ferry the souls of the dead. I'm glad she made this decision, but my happiness soon turned to frustration. Simi is rash, and sometimes it seems as though she doesn't believe there are consequences to her actions. She makes many knee-jerk decisions and often leaves her friends behind to pick up the pieces of the issues she brought upon herself.

I know this is supposed to be a sequel but the character dynamics are so different from the first book that this one could've been its own standalone book. There are so many things that were not resolved in book one, I was hoping they would come full circle in this one, but we are left with more questions at the end. Seriously hoping that there is a book 3 in the works because this one has left so much to be desired.

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

My Review:

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

I honestly don’t know how I am going to get through this review without gushing about this wonderful book the entire time and spoiling it for everyone. That being said, as this is a review of the sequel, this review may contain spoilers for Skin of the Sea, so reader beware.

I know (think??) this is the conclusion to the Skin of the Sea duology, but what I wouldn’t do for another book set in this world that Bowen has crafted. She has easily become an auto buy author for me, her prose, characters, world-building, everything(!) is perfection. I cannot recommend this series enough.

It was easy to fall back into this world in Soul of Deep even a few months after reading Skin of the Sea, which ends with everything seemingly calm, which made the premise of this book even more intriguing. It brought back familiar woes, while crafting new ones and redrawing us back into this complex world. This is a historical fantasy, and Bowen does an excellent job balancing these two elements without making it feel like more history than fantasy or vice versa. This is a large part of the appeal of this novel, and why I think that most YA fantasy readers will enjoy this series.

At the heart of the first book was its cast of characters, and Soul of the Deep still does, but to a slightly lesser extent. More than anything, SotD is Simi’s book, which means the introduction of new characters and the development of one’s we loved from the first book does suffer a bit in this book. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Simi’s character development in this one, I only wish we would have gotten to round off the rest of the characters we love (Kola especially) in the same way. Which is why I really wouldn’t mind another book set in this world: there are certainly more stories that could be told.

The ending of this book is what sets it apart from the first one. Simi’s choices are such an important part of who she is, considering how few of them she has gotten to make on her own, and that final choice she makes on page, I won’t lie and say I didn’t tear up a bit at the end. Everyone needs to go read this series so I have more people to talk to about it!

Soul of the Deep released September 27th, 2022

Like the first book in this set, Soul of the Deep is is a fascinating blend of The Little Mermaid and the legend of Mami Wata, set in Africa in the mid-1400s. Soul of the Deep picks up where Skin of the Sea leaves off, and assumes an understanding and memory of Skin of the Deep, to the extent that if you haven't read Skin of the Sea yet, you should probably read it first; it's been nearly a year since I read it, and while I appreciate a sequel that doesn't repeat the events of the previous book, I had to remember a significant amount to understand all the nuances in this volume, to the extent that I went back and reviewed Skin of the Sea.

Simidele, the main character in both volumes, is a Mami Wata, a handmaiden of Yeruba, a deity in charge of releasing the souls of the deceased. In this volume, she and her friends must try to stop the release of the anti-deities, who are in control of various negative influences, such as war and pestilence. This is a quest to help good prevail over evil, and, as such, is full of action and energy. Simi is a unique sort of protagonist, a mermaid who can walk on land, and who is conflicted over her responsibilities to Yeruba, to her people, to her friends, and to what is right.

This was such a fun and exciting book! I love the character development throughout. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this whole story. What a fantastic read.

Soul of the deep, sequel to skin of the sea was exciting, highly emotional and more in depth. The start of the sequel was slow, the writing style and world building were beautiful. the ending was fast paced and rushed. We are going to need book 3 of this series. The African mythology was fascinating.

Simi decides to stay in the Land of the Dead but the various situations unfolding has her working with a trickster with no option but to give one last shot at saving everyone and making difficult choices.

3.5 Stars
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this ARC.

This sequel tied up nicely and I liked it slightly more than the first book.. What I really liked about this book was the mythology tie-ins with the story. The writing was easy enough to read so it made the book a pretty quick read, which was nice after reading a lot of heavier books prior to picking this series up.

If you're looking for a quick, fun read then I would try this series out.

If I could give this infinite stars I would. This is my favorite mermaid book ever. So rich in world building and amazing characters. The high stakes narrative. The culture within the book too! I want to forget this story just to reread it for the first time again.

This was one of those sequels that surpassed its predecessor, which was amazing on its own. I adored Bowen’s lush worldbuilding based on the history and mythology of several different African cultures. Her writing is absolutely gorgeous and transportive. Bowen also weaves exciting plot twists, romance and betrayals in order to achieve near perfect pacing, so no second book syndrome here! SOUL OF THE DEEP is an emotional and powerful conclusion to Simidele’s story and I highly recommend this book for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and those Little Mermaid lovers out there!

A very original and unique spin on mythology and fairytale. A mermaid in the underworld, working with a trickster god.

This is definitely a series better enjoyed reading than listening to. I struggled to get into the audiobook version but the ebook is better to visualize.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for allowing me to read a digital ARC of Natasha Bowen’s Soul of the Deep. I read the first book of the series, Skin of the Sea, and became invested in the life and travails of Simi, a Mami-Wata or African American mermaid. I must admit I did not like that Skin of the Sea ended in a dreaded cliffhanger. When I discovered Soul of the Sea was being released, I couldn’t wait to read the novel. Simi matured during her journey and experiences in these books. The themes of honor, faith, courage, sacrifice, and redemption run rampant in Soul of the Sea. I enjoyed traveling with Simi, Koala, and their friends and learning about West African mythology, and meeting the orishas, ajoguns, and anti-gods. I loved how several orishas overcame their cruel, selfish nature and fulfilled their destiny to humanity.

Ms. Bowen is a descriptive writer, and this book is a multi-sensory feast. You feel the characters' anguish, visualize the dreaded creatures in the cold depths of the water, etc. The female characters in Soul of the Deep are multi-faceted, powerful sheroes and villains. These women, who live both on land and sea, held their own with the men they encountered.
Kola and Simi are magic together. Ms. Bowen does a great job ending book two with a surprising choice - in the end one must do what is most important for self, before fully committing to another.

I recommend this book to all who yearn for a saga about an African American mermaid. This book is so apropos today with all the vitriol poured out on the internet over Disney’s decision to cast an African American female in the role of Ariel in the live movie version of The Little Mermaid. Who says African American Mermaids don’t exist? I also hope Ms. Bowen continues writing novels about West African mythology and Yoruba culture.

Currently taking a break from this book but might try it again later. It just didn’t catch and maintain my interest.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS SERIES!
A new take on The Little Mermaid story that centers Blackness and introduces readers to the concept of Mami Wata and Orisas. Natasha Bowen gives us a history lesson and takes us all the way back to Africa (even though I've never been) and incorporates 14th and 15th century West African history and mythology with modern day fantasy storytelling. Smidele and Adekola are a timeless love story and you can't help but root for them over the course of the 2 books. There is definitely room for a 3rd book and I can't wait see what else' this author produces! And can we talk about the covers?! Absolutely stunning!

Soul of the Deep was an excellent follow-up to Skin of the Sea as Simi moves from understanding herself and her own journey to the impact she can have on the world. Lushly written with fantastic exploration of African mythologies, well-presented and readable for all audiences.

This was an action-packed adventure full of fascinating African mythology and terrifying creatures galore. It also tackled some darker topics, including the corrupting influence of power, and introduced fearsome new entities bent on wiping out humanity. I should have been riveted by all of it, but I just wasn't. I struggled to stay focused and found myself skimming a lot. The plot was full of conveniences and proceeded at a pace that left no room for the characters. It seemed like the author packed in confrontations with all of her favorite mythological creatures at the expense of the story. I also found it annoying that the events of the last book were swept under the rug and the ending effectively undone within the first quarter of this book. Olokun got shafted big time. It seemed like he was going to be an important character and then his story went pretty much no where. The romance in this story also didn't really work for me. The relationship between Simi and Kola felt tense in a way that wasn't there in the first book. It was missing their chemistry, and they felt disconnected and aloof for most of the story. Overall, this sequel just wasn't for me, and I kind of wish the author had wrapped up the story in the first book instead. It is rare for me to dislike a sequel so much that it sours my opinion of the first book, as well, but this one managed to do it. Therefore, I rate it 2 out of 5 stars.

Ya’ll know me! I love when a book jumps straight into the action and Soul of the Deep did exactly that! We are instantly thrust into Simi’s struggles with the decisions she made in Skin of the Sea and what she does when she realizes that this choice may have been for naught. We are quickly reunited with some of my favorite side characters from the first book and thrust into the struggles they all now face as the try to save the world once again!

The intriguing world, lore about orisas, and tie in to actual history is done SO well by Natasha Bowen. If you’re looking for a mermaid fantasy steeped in West African mythology, this is absolutely the duology for you!

4.5/5 Stars!

Steeped in West African mythology and lore, Bowen continues her mermaid story, delving deeper into the rich and lush world she created in Skin of the Sea. Following the main character Simi into the depths of the ocean, chained to a god who wishes to be free from his cursed domain. But over time Simi comes to realize not all is what it seems.

Even though the pacing was a bit choppy, with certain chapters losing ground, Bowen still captivates her readers with epic battles, an aching romance, and a main character who stands on the precipice of losing everything.

Soul of the Deep is a grand story of vengeful gods, waring kingdoms, found family, and the indelible threads between soulmates.

Happy Reading ~ Cece