The wind on her tongue

The wind on her tongue

Anita Kopacz

Book - 2025

"In this lyrical and stirring companion to the "spellbinding" (Harper's Bazaar) Shallow Waters, Oya-the Yoruban deity of the weather-is brought to life during 1870s America. Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Sun. Born in Cuba after her mother Yemaya's adventures in the New World, Oya has inherited otherworldly powers from her Yoruba Orisha lineage. While Yemaya is known for her healing abilities, Oya's influence over the storm proves to be destructive, posing a threat to her mother and the island's safety. Sent to New Orleans to study under Marie Laveau, the Queen of Voodoo, Oya begins a journey across the still young America, encountering a myriad of historical figures, including Ma...ry Ellen Pleasant, Jesse James, Lew Hing, and more. As Oya navigates the landscapes of racism, colorism, and classism, she grapples with her own identity and powers, striving to find her place in a fraught and complex society. A moving, vivid exploration of resilience, heritage, and the enduring spirit of a young woman coming into her own, The Wind on Her Tongue transports you to a world where magic and reality intertwine"--

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FICTION/Kopacz Anita
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Location Call Number   Status
1st Floor New Shelf FICTION/Kopacz Anita (NEW SHELF) Checked In
Subjects
Gods > Fiction.
Yoruba (African people) > Mythology > Fiction.
African American women > Fiction.
Fantasy fiction.
Novels.
Genres
Fantasy fiction
Novels
Published
New York : Black Privilege Publishing/Atria Books 2025.
Language
English
Main Author
Anita Kopacz (author)
Edition
First Black Privilege Publishing/Atria Books hardcover edition
Physical Description
xiv, 208 pages ; 24 cm
pages cm
ISBN
9781668052211
9781668052228
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

The second book in Kopacz's Daughter of Three Waters trilogy, following Shallow Waters (2021), is a deeply evocative tale that centers on Oya, born in Cuba to the Yoruban Yemaya. The story continues with Oya's journey through profound grief after losing her stillborn child. As she struggles to wield her supernatural abilities, Oya learns to channel her powers for healing rather than destruction. Kopacz's storytelling is steeped in historical richness, honoring Black matriarchs like Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau and real-estate magnate and abolitionist Mary Ellen Pleasant as fierce revolutionaries instead of the often-misunderstood figures portrayed in popular narratives. Kopacz revives threatened traditions and legends, paying homage to the African diaspora and revealing cultural legacies that shaped history. With a cameo by Harriet Tubman, this novel is historically rooted, rich in human emotion, and suffused with magic, perfect for fans of The American Daughters (2024), by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, The Water Dancer (2019), by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Sadeqa Johnson's novels. Kopacz masterfully intertwines the mystical and the real, leaving readers eager for the trilogy's conclusion.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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