A fictional place somewhere in the Caribbean harbors a folktale entwined with questions of race, identity, womanhood, and centuries-long legacies.
About the Book
“April, 1976, St Constance, a tiny Caribbean village on the island of Black Conch. A fisherman sings to himself in his pirogue, waiting for a catch – but attracts a sea dweller he doesn’t expect. Aycayia, a beautiful young women cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid has been swimming the Caribbean Sea for centuries. And she is entranced by this man David and her song.
But her fascination is her undoing. She hears his boat’s engine again and follows it, and finds herself at the mercy of American tourists, landed on the island for the annual fishing competition. After a fearsome battle, she is pulled out of the sea and strung up on the dock as a trophy. It is David who rescues her, and gently wins her trust – as slowly, painfully, she starts to transform into a woman again. But transformations are not always permanent, and jealousy, like love, can have the force of a hurricane, and last much longer.” – from the author’s website
The Mermaid of Black Conch
I found this book under a stack of discounted books at my local store, and the cover intrigued me. Then, after reading the blurb, my curiosity only grew. This isn’t a new release, but I missed it and found it by accident. I’m glad I didn’t stick to my no-more-new-books-until-I’ve-read-the-ones-I-own rule, because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Since this was my first time hearing about the book, I dived in (no pun intended) without expectations. I did want to see how the mermaid story would transpire in this book, because mermaids interest me as a topic, as mythical creatures, but I’m mostly familiar with the same old story with little twists. And then, folklore is another thing I enjoy, so it was a score.
The Mermaid of Black Conch is a story about folklore, beliefs, and inescapable curses. It explores race, colonialism, and the complexity of interracial relationships in such a setting. It follows a woman who becomes prey to jealousy, hunger, and greed. It is also a story about identity and how much autonomy you have over it when society dictates your role and purpose.
Aycayia is a cursed creature that provokes fear and lust in men and envy in women. She is a singular, isolated force against the world that no longer, if ever, fits her. In every part of her story, right when she comes to the point where she knows who she is and what she wants, her whole world changes. She is a constant, unruly metamorphosis that is heartbreaking and untimely. Following that story was just as heartbreaking.
Final Thoughts
This book set me on a path that I feel like I have strayed from lately. By that, I mean that it kept me hooked on the story beyond the pages of the book. It inspired me to look into topics that weren’t on my radar before, like tribes I didn’t know about, deities and beliefs, and Caribbean folklore.
It also put Monique Roffey on my radar. I can’t wait to read more from this author. So, tell me, have you ever read this book? If yes, what did you think about it? Let me know down in the comments because I would love to hear your thoughts!
Okay, thanks, bye!
My Little Hawk 
I need to read this asap!! Sounds very interesting
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