winetess's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sabinaleybold's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
summerleighann7's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
paulaaav's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
wow… this is an absolutely remarkable novel and i can’t believe we aren’t all raving about it every chance we get
a million stars✨
“and most men i knew before, in that place, laid their spirits to rest the first time the cat-o-nine-tails flew into their backs. and without a spirit, you cannot feel. you react, but the longer you exist in a world without your spirit, the less you feel. … laughter was a reaction. tears were a reaction. those screams were a reaction. but the source of them - the mother of joy, of sadness, or terror - was a ghost like me.”
it has very similar vibes to The Shadow King, Kindred, and Homegoing, connecting the truth of enslavement and liberation from the Americas to Liberia, giving breath and life to the complexities that exist within this historical time period. Wayétu Moore is able to tell these stories with such dedication, love, and compassion through a fierce and empowering female narrative
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Slavery, and Violence
martinaschmid's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
mercedesb's review against another edition
4.0
Historical fiction with a heavy dose of magical realism. An imaginative narrative about Liberia's history.
I really enjoy magical realism, but sometimes found it hard to understand what was happening. That's more of a reflection on me than this book. This book was beautiful. And I like how it grappled with complex ambiguity, especially towards the end. It brought a lot of nuance to the history of the slave trade and Liberia's founding.
I'd def recommend.
I really enjoy magical realism, but sometimes found it hard to understand what was happening. That's more of a reflection on me than this book. This book was beautiful. And I like how it grappled with complex ambiguity, especially towards the end. It brought a lot of nuance to the history of the slave trade and Liberia's founding.
I'd def recommend.
natalie_b's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Loved the magical realism elements and the range of characters in the story. I look forward to seeing what this author does next.