This debut novel was so intriguing and uniquely layered with a magical realism twist. It takes you on a journey through sisterhood, family drama, culture, storytelling, and the complexities of discovering yourself. This is probably the third novel I’ve read that involved magical realism and was the only one that surpassed my expectations.

It’s something about a book that can immerse you into the plot and make it easy to connect with the characters. While this may not be an easy read for some due to the timeline jumps and magical elements the novel was so vivid, well-developed, fast-paced, and detailed.

It follows two sisters Zora and Sasha Porter as they begin to drift apart in the midst of dealing with their father’s mistreatment & infidelity, along with their mother becoming ill, and uncovering hidden truths about their families past. Zora is on the road to self-discovery and dreams of becoming a writer. While her sister Sasha struggles with sexuality, gender identity, and finding herself. The novel also highlights the power of mythical storytelling featuring the Rolling Calf who haunts butchers, Mama Dglo who lives in the ocean, a vain tiger, and an outsmarted snake.

Overall this book was nothing short of amazing. I highly recommend if you’re into magical realism or just want to give it a try this book is a must read. It’s a perfectly woven novel with a solid premise. I enjoyed the audiobook so much I ordered a physical copy. Special thanks to the author, Catapult, & netgalley for my advanced audio copy!!!