A review by mappy
Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

The voice, the language of this book is simply divine. Crooks pays dividends with her words - sound, colour and heat are described in such a way that they are palpable across all five senses, a sixth sense, beyond; like past and present, life and death, every element of Fire Rush comes together to draw a setting that the reader can step into, mangoes and molasses at once flavour, colour, scent.

This story contains one of the most beautiful examples of Black love I have every read. I could not get enough of Moose and all that he embodied.

Fire here is so many things - music, dance, violence, passion, communication, tradition. It's almost unbelievable that the themes that carried through this novel failed to become repetitive, but it's easy to understand if you're pulled in by this novel the way I was, if you feel that you're living every burning moment with Yamaye.

I hoped to finish my last read of the Women's Prize longlist before the shortlist was announced, but what an opportunity to celebrate its place on the shortlist. I would be absolutely thrilled if this won.
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