pickI was not far into this story before deciding the title of book is such a tell. And then deciding no, it‘s a red herring. Then no, it's a tell. Then okay, just calm down and read to the end. … I also did a stereo listen with the audio since I love the voice Bahni Turpin brings to an author‘s characters.
Our traumas, the things that injure us in this life, even over time, are not always behind us. Sometimes they linger in the smell of a newborn baby. They surprise us in the taste of a home-cooked meal. They wait in the room at the end of the hall. They are with us. They are present. And there are some days when memories feel more real than those who remain, than the joys of this world 💔
pickUnapologetic reminded me that Black queer women are the blueprint. I felt seen, held, and called to action. This book isn‘t just theory—it‘s a lived mandate for liberation, organizing, and reimagining our future. Tender, powerful, and necessary. I took my time with it, and it was worth every page.
Full review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO9SiLFkgJE/?igsh=aDVpcGV1ZGIwa2Jw
pan
Loved the era, but the plot dragged and left too much unexplained. Characters lacked depth, and the ending felt unresolved. Some vivid scenes, but overall it didn‘t land for me. If you're into historical fiction and don't mind ambiguity, give it a shot—otherwise, skip it.
Full review is: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOeWVd7Eo2B/?igsh=dGlkcTkyZHV2bDJq
The bones are buried deep, white against the velvet of dark water. I shudder in the cold press of the sea as I swim beneath giant rib cages. The chill has burrowed into my core, where it nestles in the pit of my stomach, settling next to the promise I made to Olokun.
#SoulOfTheDeep #NatashaBowen #SkinOfTheDeep #firstline #openingline #book #books #bookbag #Fantasy #YoungAdult #Mythology #Mermaids #Romance #Fiction #HistoricalFiction #Audiobook 🩶
so-soAkenna was so impulsive and immature I forgot I wasn‘t reading YA until they started screwing. She continued on with her antics to everyone‘s detriment & was some how seen as a great leader almost simultaneously. That lowers my rating, that action was amazing & worldbuilding was elaborate. But the MC was infuriating
Slasher summer continues.
#librarybook #summerslasher
so-soI found myself conflicted on this one, rating it somewhere between a 3 and a 4. While the writing didn't particularly impress me, I was utterly captivated by the central mystery of the plot—I just had to know what Grace was.
Monica's gullibility was honestly annoying, but the sheer, over-the-top absurdity of the story kept me entertained.
