Song Below Water (A Song Below Water, 1)

"Not when every Black person knows, cops face no consequences when they decide to pull the trigger."-Tavia, Ch. VII (7) - pg. 1618 [ebook]“It’s about not letting being Black in America be an executionable offense,” he says. Like he’s had this type of conversation before."-Wallace(Effie's POV), ch. XII (12) - pg. 3108 [ebook]Two sister-figures face various changes in their lives. Tavia is a Siren but she fights to keep her identity secret in a world that against people like her. Effie is about to move up in her role as Ephermia the Mer at the yearly Ren Faire, but when her past comes back to haunt her, she begins to find out what she really is.I really wanted to like this but it turned not to be exactly blurb says. I feel mislead. Here are my thoughts:•PROS-Loved Tavia and Effie's sister relationship, although I thought they could've been closer and found it weird how quickly they his stuff from each other.-Loved the black rep and mentioning of Effie's twists.-Loved the attempted mixture of fantasy and black social issues, it's a very interesting and original concept.-this book had some really, really good quotes on oppression for being black.•CONS-I feel the stakes weren't high enough. Something would happen but we're left with more questions while the books would move on and focus on other things like romance.-the writing style is WEIRD. this book reads like a blog or journal of some kind. The dialogue is so causal and cringe at times. I don't know I just have like I keep getting high info dumps of information that wasn't that important. I feel like nothing was actually explained. Sometimes it was hard to tell if we were in the next scene. It only explained how they felt, no inner personal connection. Important things would happen off-page and it felt like we missed something.-the fantasy was too low. We barely learned anything about the different creatures in this world, where they come from, the history. They're all barely touched on, we're just given the bare basics.-the "romance" was wack and lackluster and the twist near the end totally ruined it. Wallace, a boy at a pool that Effie likes, wasn't a big enough character for it to have an big impact on the audience. He was kind of in the background the whole book.-And for all of the book there just so much talk of the Renaissance Faire and how important it is to Effie, but we barely to see it, and that was before Ren Faire started. Why have such a hug emphasis on something only to write it out when it matters?-Tavia and Effie go to a Black Lives Matter protest and the way was written was short and lackluster. It didn't feel like a protest I felt like the protest was shifted away from the black kid that died, and onto sirens and supporting them. It didn't feel right.-Effie's POV was much more broad than Tavia's. Although, I like Tavia's more Effie's was much more interesting. She had to deal with a lot of changes and a lot of heartache and a lot of mystery. Tavia's POV mostly talked her Siren identity and being Black. When she's stopped by the police and uses her voice (on purpose btw, not accidentally), she barely had to face any consequences from that, not even from her parents.-what happened and how people reacted near the end was unrealistic and unbelievable.Honestly, after the 60% mark I was just done. I was ready to get the book over with but I didn't want DNF it, I at least wanted to know the direction it was headed.Overall, I really wanted to like this book more, but it was average. It could have been written and structured better. It didn't what it wanted to focus on. (Black Lives Matter? High school issues? Romance?) And the book suffered because of it. A Black Lives Matter fanasty can absolutely be done, but preferably not executed like this.

This book was fantastic!It is a YA Fantasy mixed with a good amount of social commentary. I've had this ARC on my TBR for a while, it as it was just published at the beginning of June, but the timing could not have been more perfect given the the current social climate. Morrow weaves the social commentary elements beautifully into the fantasy and mythology elements. I also loved that she used lesser known types of fantasy beings. Words cannot express how wonderful the relationship between Tavia and Effie is. They always have each other's backs, and even though they aren't sisters by blood, they truly are family.Siren's are not accepted in society because they can use their voices to compel someone to do what they want or appeal someone to do what someone else wants. Tavia lives in secret, and wants to get rid of her siren voice. She uses sign language instead of talking so she won't let her siren voice out by accident. People of color are already a minority where she lives, but she has a network of people with magic willing to help keep her secret. When a woman is murdered and suspected of being a siren, Tavia's world is turned upside down as her idol and favorite vlogger reveals that she too is a siren and won't be silenced.Effie, has been plagued by blackouts and has seen watery mirages her entire life. No one will tell her why, and her mother passed away before she could tell her anything. Her grandmother refuses to tell her what is going on and explain some of the weird things that happen to Effie. Her only reprieve is the Renaissance Faire she performs at for 2 weeks every year as a mermaid, and her best friend and play-sister Tavia. Effie has gone to live with Tavia, and while they call each other play-sister, they truly are sisters. They always have each other's back and understand each other like sisters. As opening day of the Faire approaches, more strange things being happening to Effie and people begin suspecting that she is a real mermaid or even a siren. The reveal of what she really is was really good. I didn't expect it at all!The character development in this is excellent. I loved that each of the girls had to develop on their own, as well as together. They never stopped needing each other, but they both had to make decisions on their own to find their place and their voices. Again, I can't say how much I loved this modern take on the mythology and how it was woven in with the commentary on several social justice issues.

This has to be one of the best YA fantasy/magical realism books I've read in a long time. I've actually been in a reading slump recently for fantasy--it's actually become rare (unfortunately) that I finish a fantasy, as I'm mainly into thrillers now. But this wasn't the case with A SONG BELOW WATER. This is a refreshing and authentic story.This book is about two sisters, Effie and Tavia. It's about Black Girl Magic, Sirens, Oppression, and Racism. And it's about secrets and identity, and not knowing quite how you fit in--I especially loved Effie's story as she discovers what she is. Her sister's a siren, and there's this whole mystery over what she is. And the reveal at the end--it was perfect. (Oh and the sisters are more like 'soul sister's--they're not related by blood, and I loved what this book says about family.)The worldbuilding is so rich and beautifully layered. Again, I find magical realism kind of hard to get to grips with, but the moment I started reading this, I was drawn in. It felt like I was really stepping into this world, and all the mythical creatures that walk this alternate Portland just seemed like they fitted in there. It was seamless.A SONG BELOW WATER is such a relevant book for these times as it explores how Black women are treated and it's about its young Black characters finding their voices in society. There were a lot of scenes in this book that I found chilling--particularly how sirens (all of whom are Black in the book) are often given collars that silence their voices. This book really makes us think.I actually came across A SONG BELOW WATER following the recent #BlackLivesMatter movement where the publishing industry encouraged everyone to read books by Black authors. This is one of them that I discovered, and I am so glad I did--and I'll definitely be interested in anything more that Bethany C. Morrow writes.

I bought this book because it was 'a Black Lives Matter inspired novel - with mermaids'.While there were some allusions and nods to the BLM movement, they were few and far between and felt like completely wasted opportunities.You learn on the first page that Tavia is a mermaid/siren, and her step/foster sister Effie plays a mermaid/siren in a circus show! And then it descends into complete anarchy! They go home from rehearsal and there's a gargoyle on the roof! There's pixies in the woods, there's a whole Underground Railroad-style community choir at school that serves to protect secret sirens. Effie spends most of the novel wondering if she too, like Tavia, is a siren because she knows so little about her parents, but it turns out she's actually a gorgon. Yes. A gorgon. Like Medusa.It started to get a little bit interesting when they all went to a BLM-esque protest, but as soon as the protest started the gargoyle flew them away in what is probably the worst bit of writing I have ever been subjected to - VERY LAZY!I was hugely disappointed in this novel.

World-building. Interesting take of weaving fantasy species into society. I’ve read way more books where they live hidden from the general public, but here people are aware of sprites, enokos (didn’t know what those were before) and giants, even proudly referencing their giant heritage. Unless you’re a siren. If your voice can compel people to do something, they want you to be silent. Worth noting that sirens are only ever Black women.Characters: Quite liked Effie and Tavia. Tavia repeats herself often about her fear of discovery and not being heard, but if that is a part of everyday life for you I suppose it’s normal. Effie had a couple of moments that made me sigh. When she wants to ask somebody something important she just clamps up and does nothing instead. That was a tad frustrating.On the other hand she makes some assumptions in the story that are just… lol. Can’t say any more without adding spoilers, but her wrong conclusion is hilarious.Missing resolutions: What happened to Camilla? We see her unlawfully arrested, but hear nothing after that.

This book was fabulous on so many levels. Morrow really got the two voices of two teenagers without being cringe. they felt young but so wise too when compared to some of the adults around them. ths came from their bond which was so beautiful. Morrow immediately shows the reader what these girls mean to each other and why.Then she brings in the fantasy/mythos elements and they were so original. Why focus on werewolves and vampires when there are so many fantasy people to bring to life!And finally, poignantly, Morrow questions society's reaction to black women and their voices through zooming in on the treatment of sirens. if you don't really "get" this element of white supremecy and patriarchy, this book will show you. you ccouldn't read this book and not want to #SayHerName

A Song Below Water is a wonderfully written story that is full of well-developed characters and brilliant plot twists.I loved the relationship and sisterly bond between Tavia and Effie - they deeply care for one another and always support each other. There were moments in this book when they teased each other as well as some where they each opened up about how they felt about the events of the book - the balance was so perfect and it honestly felt like I was going through it all with them. The story is told from both Tavia and Effie's points of view which only strengthened my love for the both of them and showed how truly they loved one another.I don't think I've ever read a story that featured gargoyles before and thanks to Bethany C. Morrow (and this delightful book) I'm going to need more of them in my life! The Gargy twist at the end made me so incredibly happy. It was such a lovely surprise and made total sense when reflecting on earlier parts of the book. I also now want a gargoyle as a bodyguard and friend!This is a wonderful contemporary fantasy that is full of sisterly love, strength and magicial discoveries. I highly recommend it!