Review: A Song Below Water

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a novel of magical realism that couldn't be better suited for this moment in US history, Bethany C. Morrow's A Song Below Water tackles issues of racism and sexism in a story of two teenagers who are being raised as sisters. 'Tavia (short for Octavia, which has to be a hat tip to Octavia Butler) is a siren who is struggling to resist exposing herself by using her voice. She can't remember a time she didn't know what she was. Unlike Effie. Effie is... a sprite, maybe? A mer? Effie is trying to figure out why she started living with Tavia's family and the details of her heritage. Her grandmother, Mama Theo, isn't giving her the answers she needs. And both girls are trying to figure out why a gargoyle has been gracing the roof of their house for the past couple of years, conferring its protection. Meanwhile, in the world these girls live in, being African-American and possessing this magic is a dangerous thing. Many times sirens are forced to wear collars that control their siren voice, literally silencing them. Sirens are wrongly blamed for crimes, targeted by police, and feel they must try to hide their existence and try to pass below the radar. But sometimes, it's impossible not to be who you are, to silence your voice, or to cover your hair.

While the story begins slowly, it builds to a powerful tale about identity and of the price of asking people to give up the power of who they are. A Song Below Water is a unique story, Morrow is an author whose work I look forward to reading in the future.

I received a Digital Review Copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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