Natasha Bowen’s writing and world-building in Soul of the Deep was just as imaginative and effective as it was in Skin of the Sea. The plot of book 2 was intriguing and I loved discovering even more about West African mythology. I’ve often wondered why mermaids aren’t featured more in the fantasy genre, so this duology is perfect for that niche. SotD was just as fast-paced as the first book which I think works really well with the narrative it follows as we are constantly finding out more and more along with Simi.

However, there were multiple times where Simidele would make a very rash decision with no-build up. It felt very jarring to read and it would often distract me from getting lost in the story. There is still zero chemistry or tension between Simi and Kola and all their romantic scenes came across very forced and insta-love. I think their dynamic would work better as best friends.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Again, brilliant story, great writing style and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Hopefully we get a third installment!
Thank you to netgalley for this arc

Simidele is back!

When we last left her, she had struck a deal with Olokun - she would remain with him and help him bury the dead, and he would deliver Esu to Olodumare to receive punishment for all that transgressed in the first book. In Soul of the Deep, Simidele discovers Olokun has not held up his side of the bargain, electing to keep Esu trapped deep underwater with them. Upon discovering this, Simidele frees Esu from his prison - he's needed for a new purpose - the antigods, the ajogun, are close to being released and Esu is the only orisha capable of preventing this.

With Yemoja's blessing, Simidele ventures once more on a journey with Esu to appease the ajogun and prevent the destruction of their world, though this time she's joined by her friend, fellow Mami Wata Folusade.

Simidele makes some difficult choices. She's reunited again with Kola and it's clear to see that their attraction to one another hasn't lessened. While Simi would like to be with Kola she makes the decision to go back to Yemoja, despite how much it will hurt to leave him behind again.

I don't know if there will be a third book, it seemed to be that way so this book addict is hoping that will be the case!

I am in LOVE with the authors writing style! It was a perfectly struck balance of description, speech, world building and internal monologue that it all played out so vividly in my mind as I was reading it.

The plot was really intruiging to me - often in fantasy it takes me at least 100 pages to get stuck in, but straight off I was hooked on Simi's story. It was fast paced throughout, but the flow of reading worked so well in my opinion. The story and narrative progression were balanced out really well - I felt like I could take pause in certain parts of the story to really absorb the story, and the dialogues progressed smoothly.

My only issue was that the romance between Simi and Kola wasn't really there for me - I think a best friend relationship would've worked a lot better.

Overall, I loved this book. The West African mythology was really well established and the characters all came across likeable in their own ways.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, how pretty are the covers for this series?!😍

Soul of the Deep picks up where Skin of the Sea left off, with Simi upholding her bargain and burying the bodies of the dead in the depths of the ocean with Olokun. When news of demon sightings on land reach her, Simi teams up with fellow Mami Wata’s and her friends on land in order to stop the invasion.

I love this author’s writing style. The book is so vivid it plays out like a movie in your mind as you’re reading. There’s just the right amount of description, internal monologue and speech that you cannot get bored because the balance is perfect.

I loved the first book and this one is no different. The plot was amazing and I love how the author actually uses cultural names rather than just saying vampire ect. I do think the start of the book was a little too fast paced and thought maybe Simi could have found the Soul Song before discovering where Esu was; with maybe a chapter POV from Olokun to see the reasoning. Olokun, weirdly, is probably one of my favourite characters purely because I think he’s hiding things and knows more about what’s going on than he lets on. I’m a little torn over the romance side of things because I love the fact Simi is so independent and doesn’t bow down to others wants and opinions, but I did sort of wish we had a few stolen moments between her and Kola. But then she would have been contradicting herself so I understand why it wasn’t put it, just the romantic in me wishing we had more of them together.

The ending was amazing and almost sets up for a third book, which I’m praying we get because I’d love for Simi to get that closure and see where Kola’s journey takes him.

Overall, the book was an amazing edition to the series and I really hope the author writes some spin offs set in this world they’ve created because I’m hooked!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book for an honest review.
Natasha Bowen continues the sequel to Skin of the Sea with beautiful writing and very descriptive world building. This book picks up straight where book one finishes. The mythology and culture of West Africa is woven so well throughout this story and the different characters and creatures we come across we’re some of my favourite aspects of the book.

Simi again, is needed to save the world from doom and we see her pair up with Kola and some old friends in order to do so.


The book was a small bit predictable with a similar plot twist as book one.

Overall I rate this book 3.5 stars.

A classic mermaid story with a modern Nigerian twist. Old meets new with a blend of c15th history and c20th themes of enslavement and abuse. It’s a difficult read in part ma and comes with an apt trigger warning, however the language is romantic and beautiful which makes the overall read enjoyable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Soul of the Deep' by Natasha Bowen.

I had high expectations for this sequel and I felt a smidge disappointing. The writing style is gorgeous and Natasha Bowen does know how to write. But this just fell flat for me. The duology as a whole is still lovely but I just wished I loved this ending more.

Soul of the deep by Natasha Bowen

Thank you Netgallery UK and Random House for the e-book ARC for an unbiased review.

Melancholy, hurt, anger and sadness that spilt from the opening pages has the book hitting the ground running.

And this is kind of where the book faltered for me, but stick with me here as there are things I loved! That fast pacing went on throughout the book, and if it isn't balanced out with a slower pace at times, it can be as detrimental as a slow paced book that just doesn't pick up. I felt occasionally I just wanted it to slow down a notch so we could all collectively catch our breath.

Simi as a character is great and frustrating in equal measure. Even in the 1st book I just wished they stopped to think about decisions. Too often they were making choices without thought of consequences, particularly to those around her. I also feel that the love interest between her and Kola isn't quite gelling for me. Best friends, absolutely, but I couldn't grasp the love factor. Of course others might well love it.

Having said all that I loved the West African mythology (anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sucker for any mythology, especially in a fantasy setting).
Despite my thought in regards the pacing, there is no doubt the prose used really brings the emotions to the fore particularly for Simi and others around her.
The honouring of the dead I felt was hauntingly beautifully.
Simi despite all that has happened doesn't forget her humanity. And there's a certain beauty about that too.

The cover is gorgeous and does the book justice. 

I do recommend you read Skin of the Sea first if you haven't already. This is a worthy successor to that book.

I'm happy to give this 4/5 stars 🌟

I was really excited to receive the arc of this book as I loved the first book, and this did not disappoint it was just as gripping as the first and was an automatic five star. The writing is just exquisite! The author is so talented!

2.5 stars

Again, just like with the first book, my main issue is with the characters of this world. The concept of the book is amazing, but it all just fell quite flat for me once again. I just wish that Kola and Simi were friends; I don't feel the chemistry between them, and this forced romance just takes away from the actual interesting part of the book which is the rest of the plot, because it is just shoved in there every page.

A large problem for me is that the events of the first book are pretty much undone within the first 50 pages, and so the entirety of the first book just didn't matter, which is not the route a sequel should take in my opinion. The pacing is so fast, just like in book 1, but it just went too fast - you barely got to see anyone's reactions to anything that happened, and it leaves you feeling even more disconnected, and Simi was frustrating me throughout because she made rash decisions without talking to anyone else about it.

The ending feels like we're leading onto another book, but if there is going to be one, I don't think I'll be picking it up sadly.

Thankyou Penguin and NetGalley for the Arc.

This was the perfect sequel to Skin of the Sea.
The characters, plot & world building is brilliant, Natasha Bowen is an amazing writer and I'm so excited to read more!

Wow! What an amazing book!!
Would love to read more from the author.
Thankyou netgalley for the Arc!