Shallow Waters
Books | Fiction / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
3.9
Anita Kopacz
In this “captivating” (Harper’s Bazaar) and lyrical debut novel—perfect for fans of The Water Dancer and the Legacy of Orïsha series—the Yoruba deity of the sea, Yemaya, is brought to vivid life as she discovers the power of Black resilience, love, and feminine strength in antebellum America. Shallow Waters imagines Yemaya, an Orïsha—a deity in the religion of Africa’s Yoruba people—cast into mid-1800s America. We meet Yemaya as a young woman, still in the care of her mother and not yet fully aware of the spectacular power she possesses to protect herself and those she holds dear. The journey laid out in Shallow Waters sees Yemaya confront the greatest evils of this era; transcend time and place in search of Obatala, a man who sacrifices his own freedom for the chance at hers; and grow into the powerful woman she was destined to become. We travel alongside Yemaya from her native Africa and on to the “New World,” with vivid pictures of life for those left on the outskirts of power in the nascent Americas. Yemaya realizes the fighter within, travels the Underground Railroad in search of the mysterious stranger Obatala, and crosses paths with icons of our history on the road to freedom. Shallow Waters is a “riveting and heartbreaking” (Publishers Weekly) work of ritual storytelling from promising debut author Anita Kopacz.
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More Details:
Author
Anita Kopacz
Pages
224
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published Date
2021-08-03
ISBN
1982177608 9781982177607
Community ReviewsSee all
"Incredible book! Love is unconditional and this journey one go through to found your true love is relentless. The traditions our ancestors engaged in that brought comfort, solidarity and happiness was relentless. We are stronger than we think! It's amazing how calming the water can soothe yet strengthen you! Love "
"After I finished this book, it took me a moment to really take in what I had just read. A novel filled with heartbreak, and yet a form of reality that read like non fiction in a way that caused a lump in my throat and I couldn’t help but cry. <br/>This emotional novel, about the beautiful Mermaid Goddess Yemaya opened my eyes to HER beautiful story. A story about love, a story about fighting for freedom, and a story of many beautiful characters, who are so important and essential in this story.<br/>I felt like it may have been s bit of a short read, I know I definitely wanted to know more. But they say, the best books are those that keep you wanting more. <br/>I recommend it to all readers, those who love a touch of fantasy, and magical realism, with some historical elements within."
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