What do you think?
Rate this book
The Scent of Burnt Flowers
Fleeing persecution in 1960s America, a Black couple seeks asylum in Ghana, but fresh dangers and old secrets threaten their newfound freedom in this hypnotic debut novel.
“I am truly blown away by this novel.”—Jacqueline Woodson, New York Times bestselling author of Red at the Bone
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE CrimeReads
When the windshield of his Chevy Impala shatters in a dark diner parking lot in Alabama, Melvin moves without thinking. A split-second reaction marrows in his bones from the days of war, but this time it is the safety of his fiancé, Bernadette, at stake. Impulse keeps them alive, and yet they flee with blood on their hands. What is life like now that they are fugitives? Pack passports. Empty bank accounts. Set their old life on fire. The couple disguise themselves as a pastor and a reluctant pastor’s wife who’s hiding a secret from her fiancé. With a persistent FBI agent on their trail, they travel to Ghana to seek the help of Melvin’s old college friend who happens to be the country’s embattled president, Kwame Nkrumah.
The couple’s chance encounter with Ghana’s most beloved highlife musician, Kwesi Kwayson, who’s on his way to perform for the president, sparks a journey full of suspense, lust, magic, and danger as Nkrumah’s regime crumbles around them. What was meant to be a fresh start quickly spirals into chaos, threatening both their relationship and their lives. Kwesi and Bernadette’s undeniable attraction and otherworldly bond cascades during their three-day trek, and so does Melvin’s intense jealousy. All three must confront one another and their secrets, setting off a series of cataclysmic events.
Steeped in the history and mythology of postcolonial West Africa at the intersection of the civil rights movement in America, this gripping and ambitious debut merges political intrigue, magical encounters, and forbidden romance in an epic collision of morality and power.
“I am truly blown away by this novel.”—Jacqueline Woodson, New York Times bestselling author of Red at the Bone
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE CrimeReads
When the windshield of his Chevy Impala shatters in a dark diner parking lot in Alabama, Melvin moves without thinking. A split-second reaction marrows in his bones from the days of war, but this time it is the safety of his fiancé, Bernadette, at stake. Impulse keeps them alive, and yet they flee with blood on their hands. What is life like now that they are fugitives? Pack passports. Empty bank accounts. Set their old life on fire. The couple disguise themselves as a pastor and a reluctant pastor’s wife who’s hiding a secret from her fiancé. With a persistent FBI agent on their trail, they travel to Ghana to seek the help of Melvin’s old college friend who happens to be the country’s embattled president, Kwame Nkrumah.
The couple’s chance encounter with Ghana’s most beloved highlife musician, Kwesi Kwayson, who’s on his way to perform for the president, sparks a journey full of suspense, lust, magic, and danger as Nkrumah’s regime crumbles around them. What was meant to be a fresh start quickly spirals into chaos, threatening both their relationship and their lives. Kwesi and Bernadette’s undeniable attraction and otherworldly bond cascades during their three-day trek, and so does Melvin’s intense jealousy. All three must confront one another and their secrets, setting off a series of cataclysmic events.
Steeped in the history and mythology of postcolonial West Africa at the intersection of the civil rights movement in America, this gripping and ambitious debut merges political intrigue, magical encounters, and forbidden romance in an epic collision of morality and power.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2022
119 people are currently reading
21946 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
August 23, 2022
Nighttime Alabama in the 1960’s. Melvin and his fiancée stopped to eat at Otto’s. The place is not listed in the Green Book, the “Negro motorist’s bible” spelling out the safe roadside cafes, hotels, and gas stations for black people. As a result of taking a chance he ended up defending himself against a mob and killing a white man. Stick around for a trial? Seriously? No… it was time to flee that crime scene…to Ghana. A volatile third world country promised better odds of survival for an innocent couple than the United States. At the height of America’s 1960’s civil rights movement the escape is to what once was the biggest slave trading center in West Africa.
Melvin had a good friend in college from Africa. This man, Kwame Nkrumah, has risen to the presidency of Ghana. Melvin figured Kwame owed him and could provide his only escape. There are a few complications: not only is Melvin being tracked by an obsessed FBI agent, Kwame is supressing a revolution and assassination attempts before he is even aware that Melvin is in the picture.
We have Melvin’s fiancée, Bernadette. He has convinced her she is just as likely to be prosecuted and must run with him. She loves him but it is dawning on her that Melvin is not the man she thought he was. His irrational jealousy, his quick temper and his rush to drunkenness are undermining their relationship. The man we see at the onset of the story is losing his luster.
A triangle develops with the appearance of a musician, Kwesi Kwayson. He is hugely popular in Ghana and is scheduled to perform for the president. Melvin and Bernadette, posing as a minister and wife, convince Kwesi to take them across the country to the concert. As Melvin begins diminishing in Bernadette’s eyes, she and Kwesi try in vain to resist the attraction swelling between them.
There is magic here, too. Drawing from the fireside stories of author Blitz Bazawule’s grandmother, we see visions of maternal mermaids and magical guitars spouting flower petals as the magic fills the air… and, of course, love is only intensified under these spells.
The flight from the CIA, the dangerous trek through Ghana for the president’s help, the revolutionary intrigue and the romantic turmoil all propel us to an unpredictable conclusion. In “The Scent of Burnt Flowers” we can not turn pages fast enough to see where this all takes us.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheScentofBurntFlowers #NetGalley
Melvin had a good friend in college from Africa. This man, Kwame Nkrumah, has risen to the presidency of Ghana. Melvin figured Kwame owed him and could provide his only escape. There are a few complications: not only is Melvin being tracked by an obsessed FBI agent, Kwame is supressing a revolution and assassination attempts before he is even aware that Melvin is in the picture.
We have Melvin’s fiancée, Bernadette. He has convinced her she is just as likely to be prosecuted and must run with him. She loves him but it is dawning on her that Melvin is not the man she thought he was. His irrational jealousy, his quick temper and his rush to drunkenness are undermining their relationship. The man we see at the onset of the story is losing his luster.
A triangle develops with the appearance of a musician, Kwesi Kwayson. He is hugely popular in Ghana and is scheduled to perform for the president. Melvin and Bernadette, posing as a minister and wife, convince Kwesi to take them across the country to the concert. As Melvin begins diminishing in Bernadette’s eyes, she and Kwesi try in vain to resist the attraction swelling between them.
There is magic here, too. Drawing from the fireside stories of author Blitz Bazawule’s grandmother, we see visions of maternal mermaids and magical guitars spouting flower petals as the magic fills the air… and, of course, love is only intensified under these spells.
The flight from the CIA, the dangerous trek through Ghana for the president’s help, the revolutionary intrigue and the romantic turmoil all propel us to an unpredictable conclusion. In “The Scent of Burnt Flowers” we can not turn pages fast enough to see where this all takes us.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #TheScentofBurntFlowers #NetGalley
March 27, 2022
Bernadette dreamed of becoming an award-winning writer, but upon the death of the grandmother who raised her, she had writer's block. "[Her] grief had clouded any creative spark...in search of inspiration...she found an apartment...atop a local bookstore...instantly fell in love with her job." Melvin, a bookstore customer, requested help finding an automobile catalog. He dreamed of opening the first Black-owned car dealership in Philly. Their eyes locked, an immediate connection ensued.
The turbulence of the civil rights movement of the 1960s propelled Mel and Bern, his bride-to-be, to flee the United States after an altercation. Looking at a twenty-five year old photo, Mel determined that "the only person who could help them now was his old friend whose life he had saved, the president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah."
Mel and Bern traveled to West Africa. Mel would reach out to Nkrumah, by letter, once they checked into a hotel. As a result of carelessness and the loss of their passports, a disguise became necessary. Meet the pastor and his wife! The Daily Graphic newspaper, in the meantime, ran their photos. A doggedly determined U.S. federal agent was hot on their trail. Monetarily compensated, fellow hotel guest, highlife musician Kwesi was willing to allow Mel and Bern to board his bus and accompany his band, from their hotel in Cape Coast, on the three day journey to Kulungugu where Kwesi & Co were set to perform for President Nkrumah. They hoped that Ghana's post-independent President Nkrumah would grant them safe haven. Nkrumah, however, was embroiled in his own unsettling times, a crumbling regime replete with coup-plotters seeking his demise.
Highlife music is a musical genre that originated in 1900s Ghana and used "jazzy horns and multiple guitars". Charismatic Kwesi's ultimate goal was to bring his style of music to the American audience. It was hoped that playing for President Nkrumah would enhance his musical credentials. What he didn't count on was "bask[ing] in Bernadette's light...subtle flirtation..." "[Mel] had told himself that Kwesi was merely a means to an end...". Kwesi could not resist the beautiful guitar conjured by a mermaid who saved his life. The mermaid's voice called to him, "This is your destiny. You must play this guitar on the eve of Ghana's independence. Not a day before and not a day after." Did Kwesi heed these words?
"The Scent of Burnt Flowers" by debut author Blitz Bazawule is a novel of civil rights, political upheaval and magical realism infused with superb character development through backstories flawlessly woven throughout. Choices made, some split second, shaped each protagonist's history. The use of shape shifters added lovely embellishments to this excellent, fast paced read. Highly recommended.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The turbulence of the civil rights movement of the 1960s propelled Mel and Bern, his bride-to-be, to flee the United States after an altercation. Looking at a twenty-five year old photo, Mel determined that "the only person who could help them now was his old friend whose life he had saved, the president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah."
Mel and Bern traveled to West Africa. Mel would reach out to Nkrumah, by letter, once they checked into a hotel. As a result of carelessness and the loss of their passports, a disguise became necessary. Meet the pastor and his wife! The Daily Graphic newspaper, in the meantime, ran their photos. A doggedly determined U.S. federal agent was hot on their trail. Monetarily compensated, fellow hotel guest, highlife musician Kwesi was willing to allow Mel and Bern to board his bus and accompany his band, from their hotel in Cape Coast, on the three day journey to Kulungugu where Kwesi & Co were set to perform for President Nkrumah. They hoped that Ghana's post-independent President Nkrumah would grant them safe haven. Nkrumah, however, was embroiled in his own unsettling times, a crumbling regime replete with coup-plotters seeking his demise.
Highlife music is a musical genre that originated in 1900s Ghana and used "jazzy horns and multiple guitars". Charismatic Kwesi's ultimate goal was to bring his style of music to the American audience. It was hoped that playing for President Nkrumah would enhance his musical credentials. What he didn't count on was "bask[ing] in Bernadette's light...subtle flirtation..." "[Mel] had told himself that Kwesi was merely a means to an end...". Kwesi could not resist the beautiful guitar conjured by a mermaid who saved his life. The mermaid's voice called to him, "This is your destiny. You must play this guitar on the eve of Ghana's independence. Not a day before and not a day after." Did Kwesi heed these words?
"The Scent of Burnt Flowers" by debut author Blitz Bazawule is a novel of civil rights, political upheaval and magical realism infused with superb character development through backstories flawlessly woven throughout. Choices made, some split second, shaped each protagonist's history. The use of shape shifters added lovely embellishments to this excellent, fast paced read. Highly recommended.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2025
Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review.
Sad. Magic. Violent. Escape. 😕 This one has a lot going on. And I was a bit disappointed with its ending. 🤨
Sad. Magic. Violent. Escape. 😕 This one has a lot going on. And I was a bit disappointed with its ending. 🤨
April 16, 2023
Historical fiction set in Ghana and America with a dash of magic! Sign me up.
It is 1960s in Ghana and Bernadette wakes up beside her fiancé Melvin, they are wanted in America and decided to flee and seek asylum. While on a road trip in Alabama Melvin got in an altercation with some white men, that became deadly and now he must leave, Bernadette decides to go with him to Accra. With little time and not a well thought out plan, Melvin suggested Ghana because he went to school with the country’s current president, Kwame Nkrumah, who is currently in hiding after numerous assassination attempts. The president owes Melvin for saving his life so all Melvin has to do is get to him… this proves to be difficult.
Disguised as a pastor with his wife doing a missionary trip Melvin and Bernadette meets a well know musician, Kwesi Kwayson who is on his way to play for the president. Things align themselves and they all decide to travel together to see the president. What started off as a great plan turns to chaos when another attempt is made on the president’s life, the FBI is in Ghana looking for the couple who are on the run, a coup is being planned and Bernadette is falling for the musicians. Yes- chaos!
Honestly, this one was a hit for me, it felt like the author was on vibes- he threw in history, adventure, mythology, magic, couple on the run and one set of drama! I loved reading about the history of Ghana, and learning about what happened before and after colonialism. For me, I enjoyed reading about Melvin and Bernadette love story and how that played out.
If you like adventure with a lot of history. This is it!
It is 1960s in Ghana and Bernadette wakes up beside her fiancé Melvin, they are wanted in America and decided to flee and seek asylum. While on a road trip in Alabama Melvin got in an altercation with some white men, that became deadly and now he must leave, Bernadette decides to go with him to Accra. With little time and not a well thought out plan, Melvin suggested Ghana because he went to school with the country’s current president, Kwame Nkrumah, who is currently in hiding after numerous assassination attempts. The president owes Melvin for saving his life so all Melvin has to do is get to him… this proves to be difficult.
Disguised as a pastor with his wife doing a missionary trip Melvin and Bernadette meets a well know musician, Kwesi Kwayson who is on his way to play for the president. Things align themselves and they all decide to travel together to see the president. What started off as a great plan turns to chaos when another attempt is made on the president’s life, the FBI is in Ghana looking for the couple who are on the run, a coup is being planned and Bernadette is falling for the musicians. Yes- chaos!
Honestly, this one was a hit for me, it felt like the author was on vibes- he threw in history, adventure, mythology, magic, couple on the run and one set of drama! I loved reading about the history of Ghana, and learning about what happened before and after colonialism. For me, I enjoyed reading about Melvin and Bernadette love story and how that played out.
If you like adventure with a lot of history. This is it!
December 24, 2022
Another disappointing entry in the diaspora return subgenre, which Michaela is also calling the Into Africa subgenre. It was funny reading this right after Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo, given the similarities between Onuzo's fictional president/country and Blitz Bazawule's fictionalized version of Nkrumah’s Ghana.
This one is mostly upsetting because it is a Queen and Slim wannabe, chock full of self-indulgent movie scenes and absent of IRL sense. This is precisely what I mean when I say I want people to stop basing their books and main characters on topics they have to research—we can always tell!
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is both overresearched and under-experienced: it feels like Blitz Bazawule just said “let me throw in every hot topic or fun fact I’ve ever heard about Black Americans, add in what I've heard about 1960s Accra, and press blend.” This is a flaw he shares with many of the authors in this subgenre—how are y’all writing books based on your favorite trivia topics, when you have zero unique contributions to the thought/literature/mythos of those topics?!? Like give us something!!
Unfortunately, there is very little incentive for Bazawule and his ilk to do better. We now know that an adaptation is coming, and I feel like this is part of the reason why the “info dump fanfic about my favorite Wikipedia fixation” books keep getting published!! It’s not about the quality of the book, it’s about getting a head start on the eventual screenplay. What a shame!!
Other gripes: I felt annoyed by the constant flashbacks—one even came within another flashback scene, and it was unnecessary information at a certain point. It felt cinematic, but not in a good way—more like when a tv show gets stuck in a habit of “let’s throwback to people’s past for special effect”, not realizing that the trick isn’t as moving after it’s been repeated nine times, or when it’s used to explain the backstory of a person we don’t even care about.
Speaking of people we don’t care about, one of the main ways I can tell this book is an info dump is because none of the character details take on meaning—they remain random factoids thrown in because the author heard about something similar on NPR one day. This means that when Melvin started being violent towards the main characters, we were thrown for a loop as readers. It’s not that I didn’t think he could be that way, it’s just that it his personality was never clear in general. This leaves us unnecessarily confused about any major actions the characters make, because we’ve never gotten a coherent picture of them.
More specifically, I was disappointed that Melvin and Bernadette's work in Alabama mattered so little in the end. It winds up feeling like a plot device to get them out of Philly, and like that was the first answer Bazawule thought of to explain "why would they be down there in 1966." We receive no exploration of what their political action means to their characters, or why their pasts led them to this involvement. In my opinion, this is a sign of the author failing to realize how rare that level of involvement would have been for most people, and how much our government retaliated against those who did actively get involved. Bazawule completely misses what could have been a strong connection between Melvin and Bern’s political work and the novel’s FBI/CIA subplots. The agents could have had significantly more reason to follow the couple, but that would require the author to possess more than a surface-level understanding of Black American political realities in the late 60s and 70s (e.g. a character namedropping COINTELPRO.)
More broadly, I think these failures to truly engage the subject matter speak to the lack of rigor in the overresearched books of the diaspora return subgenre. By that, I mean these books’ authors are overreliant on revisionist and state-sanctioned histories, yet they refuse to ask any novel questions of those historical records. It’s not Blitz Bazawule’s fault that he may not know many people with memories/experiences of this time, and I don’t think that's a requirement to write a decent novel. But I do think that personal/intimate knowledge of a topic leads to a higher level of insight. Without this, you have to dig deeper and trouble the archive for your contributions to be worthwhile.
Overall, I am disappointed by what I hoped would be an improvement in the subgenre! Once again, an author and their publishers are more interested in the movie deal than the book quality. We as readers continue to suffer for it!!! However, Michaela and I have decided we will keep reading all the books in this subgenre because once someone finally nails this concept, it will be one of the greatest books of the 2020s. Until then, the search continues!!!
P.S. I want to end by giving a reading list of books I enjoyed (yes, that actually does happen sometimes!) that are much more successful at executing some of the common conventions within this subgenre.
—The Scent of Burnt Flowers was just an info dump when we deserved a skillful connection of included facts back to the book’s major themes. Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House is one of my favorite examples of how an author can use a lot of facts that still bear relevance to the overall story.
—Several times in this book, I wanted the author to think about if something made sense for a typical person in 1966. For example, with very few exceptions, people Melvin’s age would not have grandparents old enough to have purchased their wife and kids’ freedom. I wished Bazawule had read books like Cane River by Lalita Tademy or The Twelve Tribes of Hattie for examples of how to create fictional stories about Black American genealogy and migration that are still grounded in real life.
—Finally, I will always be in awe of how Tayari Jones creates compelling flashbacks/vignettes that have something new to say about otherwise ordinary scenarios, particularly ones that are related to Black institutions. Bazawule's Lincoln flashback could’ve used some inspiration from her books!!!
This one is mostly upsetting because it is a Queen and Slim wannabe, chock full of self-indulgent movie scenes and absent of IRL sense. This is precisely what I mean when I say I want people to stop basing their books and main characters on topics they have to research—we can always tell!
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is both overresearched and under-experienced: it feels like Blitz Bazawule just said “let me throw in every hot topic or fun fact I’ve ever heard about Black Americans, add in what I've heard about 1960s Accra, and press blend.” This is a flaw he shares with many of the authors in this subgenre—how are y’all writing books based on your favorite trivia topics, when you have zero unique contributions to the thought/literature/mythos of those topics?!? Like give us something!!
Unfortunately, there is very little incentive for Bazawule and his ilk to do better. We now know that an adaptation is coming, and I feel like this is part of the reason why the “info dump fanfic about my favorite Wikipedia fixation” books keep getting published!! It’s not about the quality of the book, it’s about getting a head start on the eventual screenplay. What a shame!!
Other gripes: I felt annoyed by the constant flashbacks—one even came within another flashback scene, and it was unnecessary information at a certain point. It felt cinematic, but not in a good way—more like when a tv show gets stuck in a habit of “let’s throwback to people’s past for special effect”, not realizing that the trick isn’t as moving after it’s been repeated nine times, or when it’s used to explain the backstory of a person we don’t even care about.
Speaking of people we don’t care about, one of the main ways I can tell this book is an info dump is because none of the character details take on meaning—they remain random factoids thrown in because the author heard about something similar on NPR one day. This means that when Melvin started being violent towards the main characters, we were thrown for a loop as readers. It’s not that I didn’t think he could be that way, it’s just that it his personality was never clear in general. This leaves us unnecessarily confused about any major actions the characters make, because we’ve never gotten a coherent picture of them.
More specifically, I was disappointed that Melvin and Bernadette's work in Alabama mattered so little in the end. It winds up feeling like a plot device to get them out of Philly, and like that was the first answer Bazawule thought of to explain "why would they be down there in 1966." We receive no exploration of what their political action means to their characters, or why their pasts led them to this involvement. In my opinion, this is a sign of the author failing to realize how rare that level of involvement would have been for most people, and how much our government retaliated against those who did actively get involved. Bazawule completely misses what could have been a strong connection between Melvin and Bern’s political work and the novel’s FBI/CIA subplots. The agents could have had significantly more reason to follow the couple, but that would require the author to possess more than a surface-level understanding of Black American political realities in the late 60s and 70s (e.g. a character namedropping COINTELPRO.)
More broadly, I think these failures to truly engage the subject matter speak to the lack of rigor in the overresearched books of the diaspora return subgenre. By that, I mean these books’ authors are overreliant on revisionist and state-sanctioned histories, yet they refuse to ask any novel questions of those historical records. It’s not Blitz Bazawule’s fault that he may not know many people with memories/experiences of this time, and I don’t think that's a requirement to write a decent novel. But I do think that personal/intimate knowledge of a topic leads to a higher level of insight. Without this, you have to dig deeper and trouble the archive for your contributions to be worthwhile.
Overall, I am disappointed by what I hoped would be an improvement in the subgenre! Once again, an author and their publishers are more interested in the movie deal than the book quality. We as readers continue to suffer for it!!! However, Michaela and I have decided we will keep reading all the books in this subgenre because once someone finally nails this concept, it will be one of the greatest books of the 2020s. Until then, the search continues!!!
P.S. I want to end by giving a reading list of books I enjoyed (yes, that actually does happen sometimes!) that are much more successful at executing some of the common conventions within this subgenre.
—The Scent of Burnt Flowers was just an info dump when we deserved a skillful connection of included facts back to the book’s major themes. Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House is one of my favorite examples of how an author can use a lot of facts that still bear relevance to the overall story.
—Several times in this book, I wanted the author to think about if something made sense for a typical person in 1966. For example, with very few exceptions, people Melvin’s age would not have grandparents old enough to have purchased their wife and kids’ freedom. I wished Bazawule had read books like Cane River by Lalita Tademy or The Twelve Tribes of Hattie for examples of how to create fictional stories about Black American genealogy and migration that are still grounded in real life.
—Finally, I will always be in awe of how Tayari Jones creates compelling flashbacks/vignettes that have something new to say about otherwise ordinary scenarios, particularly ones that are related to Black institutions. Bazawule's Lincoln flashback could’ve used some inspiration from her books!!!
May 18, 2023
A taut drama that illuminates how impulsive decisions shape the course of our lives, and how the most incredible power is often hidden within ourselves. Through snapshots of memory and emotion, The Scent of Burnt Flowers portrays the long lasting effects of colonialism, through both a political and artistic view. The characters are compelling in their rage and desire; their motivations and choices lead them on a collision course that has unexpectedly resounding results. Both dreamy and tense, blurring the edges of a journey into an adventure of magic.
May 3, 2025
Loved it. Awesome story amazing audio. So glad I finally picked this one up. I can't stop thinking about it. A little magical realism but I loved it.
July 10, 2022
2.5 stars. I found the writing to be amateurish, and the realistic plot developments and the characters lacked credibility. The imaginative/magical sections were not well integrated and seemed random in this otherwise straightforward historical narrative. A better writer might have done a lot more with the story and the setting…this didn’t work for me.
November 16, 2022
QUICK TAKE: Dreamy and visionary and beautiful writing. A really great read and one of the most unique stories I've read this year. Loved it.
May 18, 2023
“This is the land of our ancestors, those who survived the perilous journey across the ocean, thrown overboard and adapted to the water; we return to this land, to help free and be freed.”
🧜🏿♀️🎸💐
Blitz Bazawule's electric debut, The Scent of Burnt Flowers, is a lyrical, harrowing story both embedded by history and softened by a whimsical lens, as well as a twinge of eccentricity.
Razor-sharp and ethereal, we follow a fugitive African-American couple seeking asylum in Ghana after a deadly altercation lands them on the FBI's radar. Enter Ghana's most beloved musician, an obsessive FBI agent, and a slew of magical, shamanistic warriors, setting off a cataclysmic series of events leading the cast to their ultimate destinies.
The novel addresses the devastating effects of colonialism, racism, and misogyny; fantastical scenes of divine metamorphosis, such as soldiers becoming animals, flowers erupting from guitars, and women awakening as mermaids, are intermingled throughout its conventional thriller structure.
Nonetheless, the novel is masterfully crafted, never sagging under the weight of its ambition, and ludicrous sense of humor that saves the plot from becoming too self-serious.
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is an epic, magical adventure steeped in myth and history, a very intriguing debut. I look forward to Bazawule's future projects, including the cinematic adaptation of The Scent of Burnt Flowers!
🧜🏿♀️🎸💐
Blitz Bazawule's electric debut, The Scent of Burnt Flowers, is a lyrical, harrowing story both embedded by history and softened by a whimsical lens, as well as a twinge of eccentricity.
Razor-sharp and ethereal, we follow a fugitive African-American couple seeking asylum in Ghana after a deadly altercation lands them on the FBI's radar. Enter Ghana's most beloved musician, an obsessive FBI agent, and a slew of magical, shamanistic warriors, setting off a cataclysmic series of events leading the cast to their ultimate destinies.
The novel addresses the devastating effects of colonialism, racism, and misogyny; fantastical scenes of divine metamorphosis, such as soldiers becoming animals, flowers erupting from guitars, and women awakening as mermaids, are intermingled throughout its conventional thriller structure.
Nonetheless, the novel is masterfully crafted, never sagging under the weight of its ambition, and ludicrous sense of humor that saves the plot from becoming too self-serious.
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is an epic, magical adventure steeped in myth and history, a very intriguing debut. I look forward to Bazawule's future projects, including the cinematic adaptation of The Scent of Burnt Flowers!
August 28, 2022
Devastating, but sorry when it went off into metaphysical symbolism. It seemed as if there were two books here, one of which I liked, the other, not so much. The idea of a couple on the run relentlessly pursued by an agent bent on self retribution reminded me a lot of Les Miserables, but I had trouble when magic entered.
April 20, 2022
Very good. The magical realism derailed the story just a little, but that's my personal hangup. I just can’t seem to get comfortable with this “magical realism” business. I’m a fan of real realism.
Having said that, I still recommend this book with great enthusiasm because Melvin and Bernadette have a suspenseful and anxiety filled journey from Alabama to Ghana.
The emotions they encounter and how they process these emotions are heartfelt. Why the need for magic?
Melvin, in a very brief fit of rage has made a terrible mistake. His solution is to make it to Ghana to connect with his college friend, who happens to be, the President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. Ahhh, if they could just get an audience with Nkrumah things would be set right.
The problem is, Nkrumah is constantly avoiding coup attempts, so he is not easily reachable. As, the couple get closer, the intrigue becomes more heart rendering sending your blood pressure up a few points, yes it feels that real. So, why the magic? Just so not necessary.
The reader is easily pulled into the couple’s various machinations trying to stay one step ahead of the law, and although you understand the gravity of what has happened you root hard for the couple to experience a positive outcome. The story moves at a quick pace and the prose is feel inducing to the point that it isn’t necessary to tell the reader that the relationship is unraveling the prose leads the show.
So again, why the magic, in what is so real of a story?
As the FBI agent states upon learning of one of Nkrumah’s escapes, ““Birds that magically turn into soldiers and rescue a president? Now I’ve heard it all.”
Yep, the magical realism was a spoiler of a great story but for fans of that literary device this one is for you! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC, book is out June28, 2022
Having said that, I still recommend this book with great enthusiasm because Melvin and Bernadette have a suspenseful and anxiety filled journey from Alabama to Ghana.
The emotions they encounter and how they process these emotions are heartfelt. Why the need for magic?
Melvin, in a very brief fit of rage has made a terrible mistake. His solution is to make it to Ghana to connect with his college friend, who happens to be, the President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. Ahhh, if they could just get an audience with Nkrumah things would be set right.
The problem is, Nkrumah is constantly avoiding coup attempts, so he is not easily reachable. As, the couple get closer, the intrigue becomes more heart rendering sending your blood pressure up a few points, yes it feels that real. So, why the magic? Just so not necessary.
The reader is easily pulled into the couple’s various machinations trying to stay one step ahead of the law, and although you understand the gravity of what has happened you root hard for the couple to experience a positive outcome. The story moves at a quick pace and the prose is feel inducing to the point that it isn’t necessary to tell the reader that the relationship is unraveling the prose leads the show.
So again, why the magic, in what is so real of a story?
As the FBI agent states upon learning of one of Nkrumah’s escapes, ““Birds that magically turn into soldiers and rescue a president? Now I’ve heard it all.”
Yep, the magical realism was a spoiler of a great story but for fans of that literary device this one is for you! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC, book is out June28, 2022
April 9, 2022
3.5/5
Had a hard time connecting with the characters. It was a really interesting read tho
*thanks to Netgalley for the arc
Had a hard time connecting with the characters. It was a really interesting read tho
*thanks to Netgalley for the arc
June 18, 2022
This book hits a lot of themes in a fairly quick read. An editor has referred to this as a “thrilling fugitive story, West African mythology, political intrigue, and a blistering love triangle” - and that sums it up pretty well! I would also note that this is a historical fiction book but it includes some very real people.
We have a young Black (or as they probably would have described themselves at the time, Negro) couple on the run in early 1966 after a violent racist incident in Alabama: Melvin and Bernadette. As luck would have it, Mel was a classmate and friend of the man who was then the president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, so they decided to flee to Ghana and ask him for asylum.
I enjoyed the first part of the book, which detailed the experiences of Bernadette and Mel while they were on the run in Ghana, more than the second part, which concentrated more on political maneuvering, featuring a dogged FBI agent, CIA operatives, and the above-mentioned love triangle. I really enjoyed the glimpses of Ghanaian culture, including the “highlife” musical style, and the everyday difficulties encountered while traveling around the country. The magical realism woven throughout reminded me a bit of The Deep by Rivers Solomon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
We have a young Black (or as they probably would have described themselves at the time, Negro) couple on the run in early 1966 after a violent racist incident in Alabama: Melvin and Bernadette. As luck would have it, Mel was a classmate and friend of the man who was then the president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, so they decided to flee to Ghana and ask him for asylum.
I enjoyed the first part of the book, which detailed the experiences of Bernadette and Mel while they were on the run in Ghana, more than the second part, which concentrated more on political maneuvering, featuring a dogged FBI agent, CIA operatives, and the above-mentioned love triangle. I really enjoyed the glimpses of Ghanaian culture, including the “highlife” musical style, and the everyday difficulties encountered while traveling around the country. The magical realism woven throughout reminded me a bit of The Deep by Rivers Solomon.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2024
The flow of this story was superb - it was definitely a page-turner. I appreciate that highlife music was the ‘lifeblood’ of the book. I liked the diaspora connections Blitz made with Mel & Bern’s character, as well as New Orleans and Philly being backdrops when we got flashbacks of the past.
I just found the magical realism aspects a bit corny… almost made the book feel like it was YA at times (no shade). Also, the inconsistencies with life in the late 60’s in Ghana were too apparent… it felt like Blitz wrote the book with the white gaze at the forefront of his mind. I mean, I understand this work is fictitious, but…. naaaw. This would have made for an even better motion picture, for me. Anyways, solid 3.5 stars.
I just found the magical realism aspects a bit corny… almost made the book feel like it was YA at times (no shade). Also, the inconsistencies with life in the late 60’s in Ghana were too apparent… it felt like Blitz wrote the book with the white gaze at the forefront of his mind. I mean, I understand this work is fictitious, but…. naaaw. This would have made for an even better motion picture, for me. Anyways, solid 3.5 stars.
September 1, 2022
Had to lower my rating after i've had time to really think about this book and how terrible it was...
Thank you to the publisher for providing me the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of this book throught Netgalley.
I've been excited about this book since i saw the cover and read what it was going to be about. It sounded quite promising and i wanted nothing more than to enjoy a book that revisits such an important time period in Ghana's history, however i was left disappointed. I will start with what i loved. The setting, the magical realism elements and Bernadette. These things were alluring to me from the beginning. What i had issues with was the lack of direction in this point, why introduce us to so many things and not give them a meaningful directions. Overall i didnt care, i was not emotionally attached to this story, mainly because of the format of this book. I have a film background and this felt like a screenplay and that really killed the story for me because we are jumping from point to point of view, each sign scene written like vignettes with barely any character development needed to capture the attention of readers reading a fiction novel. A lot of subplots and characters were introduced for them to basically go nowhere. It all felt very pointless which is unfortunate because the idea of this story had so much potential. This is a 3.0 stars read for me. I am excited about the screen adaption since that seems to be more of the author's element.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of this book throught Netgalley.
I've been excited about this book since i saw the cover and read what it was going to be about. It sounded quite promising and i wanted nothing more than to enjoy a book that revisits such an important time period in Ghana's history, however i was left disappointed. I will start with what i loved. The setting, the magical realism elements and Bernadette. These things were alluring to me from the beginning. What i had issues with was the lack of direction in this point, why introduce us to so many things and not give them a meaningful directions. Overall i didnt care, i was not emotionally attached to this story, mainly because of the format of this book. I have a film background and this felt like a screenplay and that really killed the story for me because we are jumping from point to point of view, each sign scene written like vignettes with barely any character development needed to capture the attention of readers reading a fiction novel. A lot of subplots and characters were introduced for them to basically go nowhere. It all felt very pointless which is unfortunate because the idea of this story had so much potential. This is a 3.0 stars read for me. I am excited about the screen adaption since that seems to be more of the author's element.
February 20, 2022
This book had me on the edge of my seat - I could not put it down! This was a fantastic debut and I look forward to more from the author.
Bernadette and Melvin were forced to flee the American south in the 1960s after an altercation turned them into fugitives. They sought refuge in Ghana, but were unaware of the turmoil they were walking into when they arrived to the young country on the brink of a coup. After joining up with a popular highlife musician Kwesi Kwayson on a trek to try and find the President and former revolutionary Kwame Nkrumah (who Melvin knew from his days at college), they are forced to navigate danger and chaos as they attempt to save themselves and escape the chaos that unfolds around them.
The writing was rich, immersive, and poetic. The characters were complex and I quickly connected with them. The story itself was epic, exciting, and dangerous, steeped in history and culture, with a touch of magic and mysticism.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC to read and review.
Bernadette and Melvin were forced to flee the American south in the 1960s after an altercation turned them into fugitives. They sought refuge in Ghana, but were unaware of the turmoil they were walking into when they arrived to the young country on the brink of a coup. After joining up with a popular highlife musician Kwesi Kwayson on a trek to try and find the President and former revolutionary Kwame Nkrumah (who Melvin knew from his days at college), they are forced to navigate danger and chaos as they attempt to save themselves and escape the chaos that unfolds around them.
The writing was rich, immersive, and poetic. The characters were complex and I quickly connected with them. The story itself was epic, exciting, and dangerous, steeped in history and culture, with a touch of magic and mysticism.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC to read and review.
September 26, 2023
i don't think i'll be finishing this... the main story is constantly being interuppted by flashbacks to random short stories so it felt like a collection of random ideas bundles and thrown into Ghana like the socks in my sock drawer... very hard to feel invested and i found myself reading other books on top of this one so i was planning on just sucking it up and finishing it but then i remembered i have free will! i dont need to read this if i am not enjoying it because reading is meant to be enjoyable! yeah stuff this!!
Also the main character was called Bernadette and all i could think was baguetty. and i don't really get the trope where the chracter cheats on their partner, but the author makes the partner a somewhat unlikable guy as if that makes it totally okay and doesnt put the cheating character in such bad light. like you know you can just wake up and break up if youre in a relationship with someone you dont like, right? and then you can go kiss as many rockstars as you want. stupid dog behaviour.
Also the main character was called Bernadette and all i could think was baguetty. and i don't really get the trope where the chracter cheats on their partner, but the author makes the partner a somewhat unlikable guy as if that makes it totally okay and doesnt put the cheating character in such bad light. like you know you can just wake up and break up if youre in a relationship with someone you dont like, right? and then you can go kiss as many rockstars as you want. stupid dog behaviour.
June 27, 2022
Two African Americans with the FBI in hot pursuit flee to Ghana to seek protection/asylum from an old college roommate in this fictionalized account of the rise and fall of Ghana’s 1st President, Kwame Nkrumah. Set in the 1960s with “thriller/suspense” and “historical fiction” flavorings, the novel moves along at a solid and quick pace thanks to unexpected twists and turns, a chase throughout the country that takes the reader to historic and iconic places and venues. A dose of magical realism is also added to ride the waves of the Mami Wata myth which is strategically embedded throughout the novel.
Overall, this is an easy, insightful read which I found rather “light” and entertaining despite the “dark” undertones and serious aspects of the subject matter.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
Overall, this is an easy, insightful read which I found rather “light” and entertaining despite the “dark” undertones and serious aspects of the subject matter.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
February 10, 2025
It's a different kind of pain when a book you hate has a gorgeous cover.
It makes sense that the author is a film maker because a lot of the issues I had with the book would probably be less so if it were a show. The writing was clunky and filled with extensive descriptions of irrelevant characters and things. The fight/gun scenes were written with more detail than was accorded to the rest of the book.There was so much going on the book that I found it hard to scrounge interest for any part of it. The author also loved to place flashbacks in the most random parts of the book and make it about the most forgettable characters. After you use a singular writing device more than 5 times, it tends to lose its appeal.
None of the characters in this felt fleshed out. They were all just strung together by concepts and random facts and it made it difficult to understand and/justify why they took certain decisions in the book. And not to rehash the 'male authors do not write female characters well' sentiment but in this case it's very much true with how the author wrote Bernadette. From the beginning we see Bern as an independent, strong woman when she had to take care of her ailing grandma with her friend Ella, and then we move forward a bit and suddenly she's submissive and withdrawn with Melvin. okay fine. She also finds out she's pregnant right before they flee the country. Knowing Melvin doesn't want kids, that they're both fugitives, and that her mother lost her life due to childbirth, I expected the author to use this as a way to give dimension to Bern's character, especially after Melvin choked her. Having her battle internal conflict and doubt about the pregnancy would have done wonders for this story but no! she's so accepting and docile about it. I was just about done with the book when the author decided that killing her off just as she was about to escape her abuser was a good idea, especially when it was very obviously so that we could spend the rest of the book reading about two men perform as alpha men over her death.
I'd have been less pissed if we at least got a pov of Bern at the end since we're told she'd become a mermaid (the book contains bits of magical realism) but once again we're forced to spend the rest of the book in the heads of Mel, Kwesi and Hughes who are honestly very bland.
There was no point when reading this that I could have said I was having fun .
It makes sense that the author is a film maker because a lot of the issues I had with the book would probably be less so if it were a show. The writing was clunky and filled with extensive descriptions of irrelevant characters and things. The fight/gun scenes were written with more detail than was accorded to the rest of the book.There was so much going on the book that I found it hard to scrounge interest for any part of it. The author also loved to place flashbacks in the most random parts of the book and make it about the most forgettable characters. After you use a singular writing device more than 5 times, it tends to lose its appeal.
None of the characters in this felt fleshed out. They were all just strung together by concepts and random facts and it made it difficult to understand and/justify why they took certain decisions in the book. And not to rehash the 'male authors do not write female characters well' sentiment but in this case it's very much true with how the author wrote Bernadette. From the beginning we see Bern as an independent, strong woman when she had to take care of her ailing grandma with her friend Ella, and then we move forward a bit and suddenly she's submissive and withdrawn with Melvin. okay fine. She also finds out she's pregnant right before they flee the country. Knowing Melvin doesn't want kids, that they're both fugitives, and that her mother lost her life due to childbirth, I expected the author to use this as a way to give dimension to Bern's character, especially after Melvin choked her. Having her battle internal conflict and doubt about the pregnancy would have done wonders for this story but no! she's so accepting and docile about it. I was just about done with the book when the author decided that killing her off just as she was about to escape her abuser was a good idea, especially when it was very obviously so that we could spend the rest of the book reading about two men perform as alpha men over her death.
I'd have been less pissed if we at least got a pov of Bern at the end since we're told she'd become a mermaid (the book contains bits of magical realism) but once again we're forced to spend the rest of the book in the heads of Mel, Kwesi and Hughes who are honestly very bland.
There was no point when reading this that I could have said I was having fun .
April 14, 2023
Hmmm I’d say this is a 2.5 stars rounded up but left me wanting a lot more.
First off, some of the characters were confusing and maybe it’s because I did this on audio but I found myself rewinding quite often to better understand who was who… and grasp the story plot.
And what happened to Bernadette? What was the point of adding in the part at the end about President Kwame… and so Agent Hughes dassit??
This felt quite underwhelming but the plot of the story seemed to have promise.. and I wish it focused on maybe one or two characters instead of so many...
First off, some of the characters were confusing and maybe it’s because I did this on audio but I found myself rewinding quite often to better understand who was who… and grasp the story plot.
And what happened to Bernadette? What was the point of adding in the part at the end about President Kwame… and so Agent Hughes dassit??
This felt quite underwhelming but the plot of the story seemed to have promise.. and I wish it focused on maybe one or two characters instead of so many...
June 2, 2025
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is an unusual novel that combines historical fiction, magical realism, and mystery-thriller. The storyline follows an African American couple, Bernadette and Melvin, who flee the United States after a violent racist attack. They fly to Accra, intending to seek asylum in Ghana under the protection of (real) President Kwame Nkrumah, Melvin's former college friend. An FBI Agent pursues them on an unauthorized mission. They meet Kwesi Kwayson, a charismatic musician, who plays Highlife Music (a type of music that originated in Ghana in the early 1900s). Kwame is attracted to Bernadette and decides to help them.
It is set mostly in Ghana in the 1960s with flashbacks to the couple’s lives in the States. The author Bazawule incorporates elements of West African mythology, spirituality, and magical realist elements, such as soldiers with the ability to transform into animals. I enjoyed the Ghanaian historical and cultural details. It is more tightly plotted and fast-paced than the books I typically read. I questioned the motivations of some of the characters, especially the FBI agent who goes rogue, but I enjoyed it overall.
It is set mostly in Ghana in the 1960s with flashbacks to the couple’s lives in the States. The author Bazawule incorporates elements of West African mythology, spirituality, and magical realist elements, such as soldiers with the ability to transform into animals. I enjoyed the Ghanaian historical and cultural details. It is more tightly plotted and fast-paced than the books I typically read. I questioned the motivations of some of the characters, especially the FBI agent who goes rogue, but I enjoyed it overall.
April 24, 2022
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bernadette and Melvin, a newly-engaged, young Black couple, flee America in December 1965. Bernadette dreams of becoming a writer. Melvin wants to open a car dealership. BUT, they flee the US and head to Ghana because of an unfortunate incident. Why Ghana? Melvin's old college friend is Kwame Nkrumah, the country's president--who because of circumstances in college, promised Melvin he'd always be there for him. So, when they become fugitives, Melvin [disguised as a pastor] figures if he can only get to Nkrumah...
Along the way [in Ghana], they meet up with a beloved musician, Kwesi Kwayson, whose hit single is on everyone's lips. Add in an attraction between Bernadette and Kweisi and...
And FBI Agent Hughes--on their trail though unauthorized. {His story was amusing]
Flashbacks to Bernadette's childhood friend, Ella, and then forward--in Philadelphia, married to a Muslim, and with a young child. [She figures in on the hunt]
Many parts of it the story were amusing [was it supposed to be funny? I think not necessariy] but I was not engaged as I never really connected and didn't buy into the main characters.
Interesting enough, but...
I'm okay with magical realism but this just seemed to go from [not] sublime to ridiculous. Rounding up from 2.5 to 3 because it may appeal to some [many?]. Thankfully on the short side and at about 3/4 my interest took a steep nosedive. Read, just don't run.
Note: the author: Blitz Bazawule, is a Ghanian-born musician and filmmaker. He has won a Guggenheim Fellowship, a TED Fellowship, and is directing The Color Purple Musical. So, extremely talented but this book was just not my jam.
Bernadette and Melvin, a newly-engaged, young Black couple, flee America in December 1965. Bernadette dreams of becoming a writer. Melvin wants to open a car dealership. BUT, they flee the US and head to Ghana because of an unfortunate incident. Why Ghana? Melvin's old college friend is Kwame Nkrumah, the country's president--who because of circumstances in college, promised Melvin he'd always be there for him. So, when they become fugitives, Melvin [disguised as a pastor] figures if he can only get to Nkrumah...
Along the way [in Ghana], they meet up with a beloved musician, Kwesi Kwayson, whose hit single is on everyone's lips. Add in an attraction between Bernadette and Kweisi and...
And FBI Agent Hughes--on their trail though unauthorized. {His story was amusing]
Flashbacks to Bernadette's childhood friend, Ella, and then forward--in Philadelphia, married to a Muslim, and with a young child. [She figures in on the hunt]
Many parts of it the story were amusing [was it supposed to be funny? I think not necessariy] but I was not engaged as I never really connected and didn't buy into the main characters.
Interesting enough, but...
I'm okay with magical realism but this just seemed to go from [not] sublime to ridiculous. Rounding up from 2.5 to 3 because it may appeal to some [many?]. Thankfully on the short side and at about 3/4 my interest took a steep nosedive. Read, just don't run.
Note: the author: Blitz Bazawule, is a Ghanian-born musician and filmmaker. He has won a Guggenheim Fellowship, a TED Fellowship, and is directing The Color Purple Musical. So, extremely talented but this book was just not my jam.
April 6, 2022
Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
(4.5 stars) This is a well-written, well-paced piece of historical fiction. Taking place in the late 60’s, it tells the story of Melvin and Bernadette, a black couple, who are forced to go on the lam after a hate crime against them ends badly. Mel and Bern head to Ghana, where Mel’s college friend, Kwame Nkrumah, is president. They are followed by a federal agent, who will stop at nothing to find them. Once in Ghana, Mel and Bern encounter many colorful locals, most notably Kwesi Kwayson, a highlife musician on tour, who has plans to visit and play for the president. Mel and Bern join Kwesi for a chaotic, often violent, sometimes magical, journey through postcolonial Ghana.
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is no lightweight novel. It’s Blitz Bazawule’s authorial debut and it hits hard on the themes of culture, civil rights and political upheaval. The characters are well-developed and 1960s Ghana is brought to life in all its chaotic beauty. Through myriad POVs, Bazawule tells a story that blends the past and the present with a hint of magic. I enjoyed this story thoroughly and look forward to whatever the author puts out next, because he’s hella talented. In addition to an author, Bazawule is a successful filmmaker, hip-hop musician and visual artist. The Scent of Burnt Flowers has already been picked up by FX as a 6-episode TV series written, directed and produced by Bazawule. It’s a must-watch for me.
(4.5 stars) This is a well-written, well-paced piece of historical fiction. Taking place in the late 60’s, it tells the story of Melvin and Bernadette, a black couple, who are forced to go on the lam after a hate crime against them ends badly. Mel and Bern head to Ghana, where Mel’s college friend, Kwame Nkrumah, is president. They are followed by a federal agent, who will stop at nothing to find them. Once in Ghana, Mel and Bern encounter many colorful locals, most notably Kwesi Kwayson, a highlife musician on tour, who has plans to visit and play for the president. Mel and Bern join Kwesi for a chaotic, often violent, sometimes magical, journey through postcolonial Ghana.
The Scent of Burnt Flowers is no lightweight novel. It’s Blitz Bazawule’s authorial debut and it hits hard on the themes of culture, civil rights and political upheaval. The characters are well-developed and 1960s Ghana is brought to life in all its chaotic beauty. Through myriad POVs, Bazawule tells a story that blends the past and the present with a hint of magic. I enjoyed this story thoroughly and look forward to whatever the author puts out next, because he’s hella talented. In addition to an author, Bazawule is a successful filmmaker, hip-hop musician and visual artist. The Scent of Burnt Flowers has already been picked up by FX as a 6-episode TV series written, directed and produced by Bazawule. It’s a must-watch for me.
December 10, 2022
3-3.25⭐️
I truly hate the fact that I didn't enjoy this book enough!! I thought that the premise was very intriguing but I felt like the execution was kinda flat. I wish the fantasy elements were discussed in more depth and the relationship between the characters was more fleshed out.
I liked the concept of exploring the strain in relationships in these type of situations and discussing if "ride or die" is a concept that truly exists in relationships. However, I felt like it was kinda rushed and that annoyed me because it was something I wanted to really explore more.
I did enjoy the political insights in the book and the way that it was hard to really trust anyone in the book and the characters weren't bad but I just felt like this was a book that should have been longer so more things can be explored. I didn't even mind the ambiguous ending, I love open endings, but sadly, the ambiguous/open ending here just annoyed me.
Side note: trying to write longer reviews; debating starting a booktwt and bookstagram
I truly hate the fact that I didn't enjoy this book enough!! I thought that the premise was very intriguing but I felt like the execution was kinda flat. I wish the fantasy elements were discussed in more depth and the relationship between the characters was more fleshed out.
I liked the concept of exploring the strain in relationships in these type of situations and discussing if "ride or die" is a concept that truly exists in relationships. However, I felt like it was kinda rushed and that annoyed me because it was something I wanted to really explore more.
I did enjoy the political insights in the book and the way that it was hard to really trust anyone in the book and the characters weren't bad but I just felt like this was a book that should have been longer so more things can be explored. I didn't even mind the ambiguous ending, I love open endings, but sadly, the ambiguous/open ending here just annoyed me.
Side note: trying to write longer reviews; debating starting a booktwt and bookstagram
November 12, 2022
I’ve realized recently that I read a lot of novels written by women of color, and I have actively tried to include more novels by men of color. In reading these novel I can’t help but to compare writing styles of the sexes. The male writers that have read recently are very descriptive, they love the details, they also love characters, so much so that you are introduced to several characters and storylines before the end of the book. Finally love is tragic, it is some arduous emotion that their character has to endure or overcome. Bazawule’s novel fits the description. It’s a well written book I appreciate the details he highlights and at points it’s almost like you’re reading something poetic. However I feel like due to the amount of characters in the book I couldn’t determine who was the center of the story. And the only character I wanted to know more about (Bernadette, the woman) was glossed over. Essentially I didn’t know who to root for and spent most of the novel frustrated with the characters, and the shifting point of view. His writing is very episodic and would probably work well for TV, but it didn’t translate for me in this novel. Then there was this magical realism element, which I liked but it didn’t feel complete. Like I never got the full story or “the why” behind it, but that’s probably because it was associated with the woman’s character. Maybe I’m biased but I don’t think Bernadette received a complete story and men were frustrating and uninteresting.
July 29, 2022
The book is a timeline of real life historical events that took place in America and Ghana. Melvin and Bernadette flee America to seek asylum in Ghana. Melvin hoped President Nkrumah, a friend from his college days would save them from the murder charge. In Ghana they meet a singer named Kwasi who will help them get to the president. The scent of Burnt flowers is Part fugitive thriller, part political intrigue and part romance with a wonderful blend of magical realism. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this author.
July 5, 2022
In 1960's America, a Black couple seeks asylum in Ghana. With an FBI agent on their tail, they are forced to find a friend to help them. The description of this book made me want to dig in, but I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters and the story line left a lot of unanswered questions. There was also a 'magical' element that seemed completely out of place and didn't really add to the story.
Thank You NetGalley for the free e-book. (2 1/2 stars)
Thank You NetGalley for the free e-book. (2 1/2 stars)
March 28, 2022
The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule is a historical fiction novel set in the 1960s about a black couple who flees from Philadelphia to Ghana after committing a serious crime.
Although the story of Melvin and Bernadette is fictional, this novel contained lots of information based on real life people and events. I enjoyed learning about the rise and fall of Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana who led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957. In addition to the historical elements and high stakes storytelling, The Scent of Burnt Flowers is also interspersed with magical realism and mythical creatures.
This was a quick read that I enjoyed overall, but I never found myself emotionally invested in the story or the outcome for the characters. The writing felt very matter-of-fact and practical which is why I gave it 4 stars. This has already been picked up for a TV adaptation starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, so I'm hoping that the series will be successful in conveying more of the emotion and passion that I was hoping the book would evoke.
Blitz Bazawule is a VERY talented filmmaker, musician, visual artist and now author who was born in Ghana and moved to New York City to pursue his dream. He's known for directing The Burial of Kojo (Netflix, 2018), codirecting Beyoncé’s Black is King and directing the forthcoming The Color Purple movie-musical.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although the story of Melvin and Bernadette is fictional, this novel contained lots of information based on real life people and events. I enjoyed learning about the rise and fall of Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana who led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957. In addition to the historical elements and high stakes storytelling, The Scent of Burnt Flowers is also interspersed with magical realism and mythical creatures.
This was a quick read that I enjoyed overall, but I never found myself emotionally invested in the story or the outcome for the characters. The writing felt very matter-of-fact and practical which is why I gave it 4 stars. This has already been picked up for a TV adaptation starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, so I'm hoping that the series will be successful in conveying more of the emotion and passion that I was hoping the book would evoke.
Blitz Bazawule is a VERY talented filmmaker, musician, visual artist and now author who was born in Ghana and moved to New York City to pursue his dream. He's known for directing The Burial of Kojo (Netflix, 2018), codirecting Beyoncé’s Black is King and directing the forthcoming The Color Purple movie-musical.
Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
March 8, 2023DNF - 25% finished. I just couldn’t get into the story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews