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My May pick for #12BooksOf2022 @Andrew65

This is a blend of fantasy and historical fiction that expands the myth of Yemaya, a Yoruba goddess. She falls in love with a human, and when enslavers capture him, she follows him to America. I enjoyed the story, although I thought the end was a little rushed. #Booked2022 #BlackOwnedImprintOrPublisher @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Shallow Waters tells the tale of Yemaya, Yoruba goddess of the sea. As a mermaid falling in love with Obatala in Africa, following him on a slave ship to America, and her experience becoming human among Native and enslaved people in America. The story itself is super interesting to follow but is quite simplistic in the telling, missing out on an opportunity to go deeper with important themes.
#Booked2022 Black-centric publisher
#DoubleBookspin

Loved the premise for this debut—the story of how Yemaya makes her way from Africa to mid-1800s America. The real strength of the story is the Yoruba culture & religion which inspired it. Unfortunately, the story itself is rather unsatisfying—things happen quickly, often too easily & emotional depth is lacking. The writing is quite simple, better for a younger audience (YA) than the book is marketed towards (adult). It‘s ok but I hoped for more.

This slim 200 page novel packs in so much folklore, history, and action! It was recommended to me by one of my middle schoolers (she‘s normally more of a reluctant reader). Yemaya—a powerful mermaid orisha,Harriet Tubman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frederick Douglas, indigenous Americans, enslaved people, and Quakers all have a moment to shine here. Celebrating heroes, compassion, and never giving up seem to be the themes. I loved it all!

Starting a new book during the Waxing Gibbous Moon 🌖

I loved this. A mermaid falls in love with a fisherman and when he is kidnapped and brought across the ocean and sold as a slave she follows him and then loses him and all sorts of other things. Mermaid + Underground Railroad. Obviously.

#BookSpinBingo square 18
@TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 8/3/2021.

#BookSpin #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo list for June.
@TheAromaofBooks

This actually doesn't look very inspiring but I'm excited about the tagged book.