Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

32 reviews

ghostlyprince's review

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Hate crime, and Outing

Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

shlymiller's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Police brutality

Minor: Suicide attempt and Death of parent

michaelion's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

I'm not a fan of this style of mixing fantasy and reality. Like, why would the Disney princess Ariel exist in this universe? If mythical creatures are real, why in the real world would you call them mythical beings? Surely there would be some other term. Also, the writing tries to be mysterious to be point where it's confusing. Like. Just tell us what's happening instead of telling us what happened 3 pages later.

Also!!! A quarter into the book, my journal entry for page 73 is "medusa?!" I guessed it that quick! Which isn't bad but is funny. In a world where "mythical creatures" are real and there's real stigma around them, even though no one's ever seen a gorgon or whatever why didn't they think of that?! I did!!!

But anyway. It really hooked my attention after the halfway point, which isn't good, but I had fun. The fantasy element just clearly wasn't thought out thoroughly enough, but before the book was over I rented out the sequel at my library because I wanted to keep the ball rolling!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism and Terminal illness

donttouchmyfeet's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Police brutality

Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, and Death of parent

rubybastille's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I loved the use of mythical creatures as a mirror/allegory for real-world racism, but the story itself felt thin and unfocused. Characters who were meant to come across as sympathetic (or at least complicated) felt unlikable to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

guessgreenleaf's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Death of parent

melinajoy's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

4.75 stars. Highly recommend! 

A Song Below Water had this overall anticipatory feeling. It was really hard to put it down. "...two sister friends discovering their magical identities against the challenges of misogynoir." 
Sirens, elokos, sprites, gargoyles and more! This book does a really great job of being a magical and fantasy escape, a story anyone can read and enjoy, and yet so real still managing to incorporate relevant struggles of Black people especially Black women. Plus it has sign language and Portland/Vancouver. Reading it is like listening to someone tell you a story (as in it's not in proper English, it's very conversational and internal monologues, and AAVE). It's everything someone could ask for in a book! 

Effie and Tavia are great characters, but Gargy the Gargoyle was my favorite because he was so unique- I've never read a book with a gargoyle as a character!

The only thing is that I found myself confused at points with all the different characters- specifically who's related to whom at times (but I figured it out towards the end). But especially because the one of the grandmas is called Mama. So that was a little challenging for me to keep track of. 

But overall, can't wait to read the next books!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

This was extremely interesting, and I think this book could be really helpful for young people who are wading into social justice issues. Would definitely read this author again - I really appreciated the extent of the world-building.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Racism

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

katharina90's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Unique blend of fantasy elements with real world socio-political commentary on anti-Black racism and police brutality. 

Plot, characters and worldbuilding had a lot of potential but felt underdeveloped, and the pace was too slow for my liking.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Suicide attempt

Minor: Police brutality and Death of parent

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Police brutality

Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder