She’s dealing with certain hallucinations which make her question her past and wonder who she really is. She is persistent and smart and I really liked reading about her.Įffie is a swimmer who loves to perform as a mermaid in the local Renaissance fair. Tavia is just a teenager trying hard to find herself while handling the people around her. She is trying to get answers about herself and trying to find out what she really wants while also struggling to keep silent while people discriminate against sirens. Tavia is a siren and her parents force her to keep that part of her hidden as being a siren puts her in danger. It was absolutely heartwarming to read about their sisterhood which was also one of my favourite parts about this book. They’re always there to protect and stand for and with each other. Tavia and Effie are as close as sisters and love each other fiercely. The two main characters were Tavia and Effie who were best friends. The story focuses on sisterhood, family, magic and being true to yourself however difficult that might be. The story is intriguing with a hint of suspense. Her best friend Effie is with her but Effie is also going through a lot of stuff as she tries to unravel her past and answer questions about who she really is. She is even more forced to hide her identity. There is a murder trial which takes place and a siren is caught in the midst of it which results in escalating tensions.

Tavia is a siren who has to hide her identity as she is one of the few Black girl with magical power.

I loved most parts of the book while some parts did not work for me! The StoryĪ Song Below Water was a story about two sisters and best friends as they navigate the world with their secrets and hidden identities. It was one of my most anticipated books of 2020 and I was so excited to read it. Trigger Warnings: casual racism, protests and riots, past suicide attempt, anxiety, self-harmĪ Song Below Water is a misogynoir with mermaids, sirens and social commentary. No secret seems safe anymore-soon Portland won’t be either. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.īut everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she’s also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Never mind she’s also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers.

Synopsis: Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key.

A song below water characters