There’s discussion of how easily online voices can be weaponized to do real harm to real people.

This story covers some really interesting topics that I didn’t see coming. Their relationship made me think of my cousins that were my best friends while I was growing up. He’s hilarious and I think he was a great support system for Naema. I really enjoyed getting to see Naema spend time with family she never sees and getting to know more about her Eloko abilities. It’s here that Naema discovers that there’s more to being an Eloko than just the popularity she has in Portland. She takes a break and goes to visit her family for their yearly reunion in the south. But Portland doesn’t feel the same to Naema anymore. So, Naema has had some time to heal, emotionally, from being stoned. This book takes place about a year after the end of A Song Below Water. She has a confidence in herself that most people would love to have. You don’t have to be friends or even like someone to wish that they’re not being discriminated against because they’re a magical or black.īut the further we get into this story, the more I couldn’t help but like Naema. They can want better for one another and still actively dislike each other. I think it’s important to mention that this is totally okay! Naema mentions often that just because they’re all black, doesn’t mean they all have to be best friends. These three girls do not get along at all. Our first look at Naema is in A Song Below Water which is from Tavia and Effie’s perspectives. A Chorus Rises is set in the same urban fantasy world, but in this one we follow Naema, who wasn’t a super nice person from Tavia’s perspective in A Song Below Water.ĭespite actively disliking Naema for the first third of this book, I ended up really loving her. But at the same time, I wasn’t surprised because I absolutely loved A Song Below Water ( reviewed here). I was actually surprised by how much I enjoy this book. Thanks, NetGalley for this eARC, in return, here is my honest review.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow