Natasha Bowen

The stunning sequel to New York Times bestseller Skin of the Sea, in which the world must pay the price for one mermaid’s choice, and a dark force reverberates across realms. Perfect for anyone eagerly anticipating the live-action The Little Mermaid. One life. One choice. One sacrifice. To save those closest to her, Simi traded away everything: her freedom, her family, and the boy she loves. Now she is sworn to serve a new god, watching over the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the ocean. But when signs of demons begin to appear, it’s clear there are deeper consequences of Simi’s trade. These demons spell the world’s ruin . . . and because of Simi, they now have a way into the human realm. With the fate of the world at stake, Simi must break her promise and team up with a scheming trickster of a god. And if they succeed, perhaps Simi can also unbreak her heart along the way, and find herself again. "Epic and original . . . Simi's story will stay with me for a long time.” —Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing

Soul of the Deep

Holly 

Anger bubbles back up within me, the only thing of heat in such cold depths. How can they treat people in such a way? To deny them their humanity, treat them as if they are the same as spices and fabrics, and then cast aside their bodies as if they are nothing more than unwanted possessions? Even when our kingdoms war, any prisoners captured are still, people,

Dawn. That first flush of delicate light that dusts your skin and gilds the world. The time of day I miss the most. 

Yemoja moves closer and whispers, "I think we both know that you are a creature unto yourself. One that I created but has been unable to control or contain. I accept and celebrate you, Simidele.”

I think of all my own memories, reclaimed and mine. To know where you came from holds so much power over how you feel about yourself. This I know very well. 

A woman bends down to her small daughter. I see the girl press her face against her mother's chest. When the child raises her face, there are tears but also a fierce look of pride. I watch as the woman adjusts her black wrapper before strapping a goatskin quiver of arrows on her back. She has shaved her hair as Yinka has done, and patches of white are scattered across her brown skin, gleaming with shea butter, enhancing her beauty even more. A boy runs from a nearby doorway with a bow as big as him. He nearly trips on the end and is steadied by his father. The man takes the bow from his son and hands the weapon to his wife, their fingers touching. He brings his lips down to her forehead, kissing her once, his eyes shining as he steps back. The woman tips her head before pressing her fingers against her mouth. And then she is turning from her family and joining the other warriors who are waiting, lining the street.

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