Reviews

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

silverie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ttbaby159's review against another edition

1.0

I really wanted to love this book, but it's safe to say that I truly was disappointed.

I would've loved this book if it weren't fantasy-based and that sucks because this book is meant to deliver a fantasy-like world with 'normal' yet mythical characters such as Tavia and Effie. I almost DNF this book, but I'm glad I finally finished it via audiobook. This book had really good topics and themes, but the way it was written seemed like a lot going on at once and mostly were confusing...
Overall, this book is a 1/5.

voicenextdoor's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

dlberglund's review against another edition

4.0

Powerful modern supernatural realism story about the myriad of extremely painful ways that society and individuals attempt to silence black women's voices, and the ways that black women use their powerful voices. (The metaphors here are not very subtle.) I have some quibbles (including the fact that the audiobook reader didn't know how to pronounce Willamette), but the book needs to be read, regardless of any criticisms I could possibly have.

ericxcherish's review against another edition

emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Bethany C. Morrow writes the most beautiful characters! I loved Tavia and Effie and their magic

bluelilyblues's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

readreadreadbby's review against another edition

DNF- I really struggled with this book. The writing really lacked a consistent flow. It felt like the author was trying to fit too many ideas into the first couple of pages. As a black woman I was really looking forward to black fantasy but I felt like the author didn’t deliver. :(

burstnwithbooks's review against another edition

4.0

I really appreciated this book. I liked the discussion, I liked the fantasy elements, I loved the characters, and I thought the audiobook was narrated super well. I didn’t have problems connecting with the characters (as I’ve heard from some people) and I really enjoyed the writing, so I’ll definitely be curious about future releases from this author!

courtsport's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lindsayreads21's review against another edition

4.0

First, I have to point out that I am a white woman with absolutely no perspective on the Black experience and cannot (and should not) speak to any aspect of the author's sharing of those experiences in this novel. What I can say is that this was a very creative way of continuing the conversation on racial equity and racism in our modern world through the lens of fantasy. I found it especially interesting how Morrow uses an example of a siren that has allowed herself to be voluntarily collared to demonstrate how the model minority expectation is so harmful.

It looks like this is the first in a series and I look forward to reading more about Tavia and Effie's experiences.