When she finds a human boy still alive after being thrown from a slave ship, she breaks the rules and rescues him.

Kola reveals that his younger siblings, twins, are the prophesied manifestation of two orisas and their birth has brought prosperity to the land.

Attraction has been growing between Simi and Kola, but if a Mami Wata falls in love with a human, she will melt into sea foam.

During their voyage, Simi leaves the ship to make a bargain with Olokun, the imprisoned orisa of the deep ocean.

The review concluded by calling Skin of the Sea a "divine debut that explores the glories of West African myth, religion, and history.

"[6] A review for Publishers Weekly commented on Natasha Bowen's attempt at writing about West Africa as "a historical place of great invention, fellowship, and hope" while avoiding to focus on the "human suffering" of the region.

[7] Writing for the School Library Journal, India Winslow called the story in the novel "a testament to the strength of the human spirit amid tragedy".

[8] Caitlyn Paxson, reviewing for the NPR, acknowledged Bowen's use of The Little Mermaid as a starting point to talk about the effect of slavery on the people of Africa, but also noted the novel "takes a wider view of the lives of the people who have been uprooted by slavery and the rich and complex cultures they were stolen from."

Paxson praised the depiction of the Yoruba gods, as well as the lore present in the novel, "from the Mami Wata to Senegalese fairy-folk called Yumboes".

Writing about the characters, Paxson said the protagonist "is definitely the richest personality in the story", but criticized the lack of development of the supporting cast.