A review by akhcreates
Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book was a true adventure, criss-crossing continents, revealing family secrets, and evading wolves in sheep's clothing. I enjoyed the peek into the dub reggae scene in and near London in the late 70s/early 80s and the specificity that Crooks brought to that setting. Yamaye's ongoing grief felt very realistic to me. Those unfamiliar with Caribbean diaspora slang and ways of speaking, as I am, should be prepared to take some time and energy to understand some of the unfamiliar language, but it wasn't so hard to follow that I had to stop frequently. I was able to use the context clues. The ending was both satisfying and not. I'm glad this one was shortlisted for the Women's Prize.