If you’re Black American, please check trigger warnings before reading this. If you’re anything else, check the warnings but push through; you need to be uncomfortable and read this. 

I genuinely don’t know how to properly write this review except to say this book was perfect. It was raw, unfiltered, challenging, but beautiful and somehow one of the most romantic pieces of literature I’ve ever consumed. Honestly, it’s just very special and I felt connected to some of the characters in a way that I’ve never felt before. As a Black American, I obviously feel some level of kinship with the Black people in these kinds of stories because it’s my history, but something about Samuel really resonated with me. Also, Maggie felt just like one of my aunts or my grandmother and was just a really calming “presence” to me. 

This is a multi-pov story, and we do go inside the heads of some of the oppressors as well as some of the slaves that were more “cooperative” with the slave owners. I think that every pov was worthwhile, enlightening, and engaging — which doesn’t mean you enjoy sitting in their thoughts. The author did an amazing job of making you understand why a character feels the way they do, even if you, the reader, doesn’t agree. 

I felt fucking SICK through so much of this, but I also felt joy and pride during other parts. It’s just a testament to the strength, love, and community of Black people. Pre-colonization and the differences in beliefs and cultures were addressed in a way I thought was beautifully done. The fact that this is a queer-centered story is unique, and I think that perspective is vital when exploring the damage colonization did to the minds and morals of Black Americans over time. The impact of this is still evident today. I don’t know; I’ll just be thinking about this for a VERY long time. One of the best books I’ve ever read.