There’s a lot to appreciate in this novel, like the strong focus on community and togetherness that has been a staple for Black folks, the mother-daughter relationship that we see between Rue and Miss May Belle, and the shifting timelines that mirror and inform one another. This book is full of strong writing that keeps you gripped and engaged.

Where it fell off a wee bit for me was the ending. The ending started to feel a bit rushed and kind of convoluted, which doesn’t work in a story that has a shifting timeline and relies on clearly distinguished storytelling. The ending is also a bit wonky and comes fast and out of nowhere, but otherwise, this is overall a solid story. It shows the horrors of slavery without glorifying it or being overly traumatic, and it’s very much a story about one woman (Rue) who is trying her best to live her own version of her life after seeing two women in her life, one she looked up to and another she grew up with, who didn’t get the same courtesy. If you’re someone who enjoyed REMEMBRANCE by Rita Woods because of the way the story is told, the elements of light magic, and the writing, then I’d definitely recommend this book and vice versa.