This is a very short novella, but despite its length it is not a quick or easy read to get through. In fact, there is so much in this short novella, that I feel like it will deserve a reread to fully understand the many themes present in this story. That being said, this was a beautiful and haunting exploration of the inter-generational trauma that the slave trade created. The characters were interesting, but what really did it for me was the plot. It was reminiscent of The Giver where one person holds all the memories of their society, in this story Yet holds this role for her people (or mermaids). I love that fantasy was the way the authors chose to explore these complex ideas, it was something truly original. The only thing that took some getting used to was the writing style, it took me quite a bit of time to get into the flow of the story, which is a shame given how short it is. That being said, it gives a great reason to read it again!