Skin of the Sea

i have no clue how to rate this, mostly because i read this with the wrong expectations (it was categorized as a romance when i first saw it, and then i didn't look beyond that and assumed it was a romance but it certainly is not by romancelandia tropes/usuals). the book is heavily plot driven rather than character development driven, and i think that affected the romance subplot a lot (in that the mains didn't really have alone time together when they were 1) both healthy and 2) not concerned/stressed about their families and the world). it wasn't meant to be a romance foward book though, i was just the confused reader reading this with the wrong lens.

romance confusion aside, the world was super interesting, and i would rec listening to the audiobook if you can! i definitely was not reading some of the words or names right. 

Initially I thought it was a bit "teen-y" for me (I'm 57 lol) but as I read more I became lost in the plot. Its a glorious retelling of the little mermaid, with added African mythology. Really enjoyable. Quite beautiful.