First published 2021
Simi serves the gods as Mami Wata, a mermaid who collects souls from drowning victims and guides them to the afterlife. Her duty is clear: take the dead, bless their passage home. When she finds a living boy cast into the waves, everything changes. Simi breaks sacred law and saves him. The gods demand punishment for her defiance. To shield her fellow Mami Wata from divine wrath, Simi must travel to the Supreme Creator and face consequences. The rescued boy accompanies her, revealing knowledge he should not possess. Dark forces pursue them, seeking Simi's destruction. Gods turn vengeful. Treacherous territories stretch ahead. Legendary beasts block their path. Simi discovers the divine order hides secrets that challenge everything she believed. Her journey becomes a race against forces that would destroy not only the Mami Wata but the entire world. Simi must choose between obedience to the gods who shaped her existence and protecting those she loves.
Genres: mythology, adventure, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family
325 pages · Hardcover · Random House Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: violence