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Blessing
Two young illegal immigrants, Dev, with aspirations and irresistible charm, and Adey, his amoral friend, who negates difficulties for money, are brought to London. Dev is happy to bend the law, Adey to break it. Whilst Adey lives in the shadows, Dev chases his dream of a business empire. Fate, love and circumstance, aided by a dominating Pastor compromised over a Blessing passed down through the firstborn of a family for millennia, have other ideas.
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Published September 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 26, 2026
Blessing by Brian J. Twiddy
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉This book is an ambitious and emotionally charged novel that weaves together themes of immigration, ambition, faith, and inherited destiny. At its core, the story follows two young illegal immigrants, Dev and Adey, whose contrasting moral compasses shape the direction of their lives in London. Dev is charismatic and forward-looking, driven by dreams of wealth and independence, while Adey is colder and more pragmatic, willing to cross any line for money. From the beginning, the novel establishes a strong sense of tension, not only through their illegal status but also through the mysterious “Blessing” tied to a powerful and morally compromised Pastor, hinting that forces beyond human control are at work.
👉One of the novel’s strengths lies in its character development, particularly in the way Dev is initially portrayed. Early on, he is easy to admire—ambitious, resourceful, and determined to rise above his circumstances. Living under his uncle’s surname, Lucas, Dev and his family inhabit a world built on quiet deception, which mirrors the compromises Dev makes as he climbs toward success. Adey, who has no family and stays in Dev’s household, acts as both a foil and a warning: he represents what happens when survival completely eclipses morality.
👉The story takes a more personal and grounded turn when Dev meets a young woman at a flower stall and marries her. Their small flower shop, with a flat above it, symbolizes the life Dev has always wanted—a legitimate business, stability, and social acceptance. However, this sense of achievement is fragile. Dev’s obsession with expansion pulls him away from home, while his wife’s desperate desire for a child goes largely ignored. This emotional neglect marks a turning point in Dev’s character, shifting him from an underdog to someone increasingly responsible for his own unhappiness.
👉As Dev’s personal life unravels, the consequences of his choices grow darker. His affair, conducted under a false name, and the resulting pregnancy expose the depth of his moral decline.
#review
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉This book is an ambitious and emotionally charged novel that weaves together themes of immigration, ambition, faith, and inherited destiny. At its core, the story follows two young illegal immigrants, Dev and Adey, whose contrasting moral compasses shape the direction of their lives in London. Dev is charismatic and forward-looking, driven by dreams of wealth and independence, while Adey is colder and more pragmatic, willing to cross any line for money. From the beginning, the novel establishes a strong sense of tension, not only through their illegal status but also through the mysterious “Blessing” tied to a powerful and morally compromised Pastor, hinting that forces beyond human control are at work.
👉One of the novel’s strengths lies in its character development, particularly in the way Dev is initially portrayed. Early on, he is easy to admire—ambitious, resourceful, and determined to rise above his circumstances. Living under his uncle’s surname, Lucas, Dev and his family inhabit a world built on quiet deception, which mirrors the compromises Dev makes as he climbs toward success. Adey, who has no family and stays in Dev’s household, acts as both a foil and a warning: he represents what happens when survival completely eclipses morality.
👉The story takes a more personal and grounded turn when Dev meets a young woman at a flower stall and marries her. Their small flower shop, with a flat above it, symbolizes the life Dev has always wanted—a legitimate business, stability, and social acceptance. However, this sense of achievement is fragile. Dev’s obsession with expansion pulls him away from home, while his wife’s desperate desire for a child goes largely ignored. This emotional neglect marks a turning point in Dev’s character, shifting him from an underdog to someone increasingly responsible for his own unhappiness.
👉As Dev’s personal life unravels, the consequences of his choices grow darker. His affair, conducted under a false name, and the resulting pregnancy expose the depth of his moral decline.
#review
August 24, 2023
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I can’t believe that Blessing is the authors debut novel, it’s absolutely a fantastic page-turner. I just loved, loved loved , it! Marriage crisis books are specially my theme of books that I like reading about best.
This story is about two immigrants. Dev’s family move in with his uncle’s house in England, with rather than using their family name Lawrence, they are all using his uncles name Lucas.
I really liked Dev, at the early stages, with his goal in life to be rich and have his own business.
Adey, who doesn’t have a family stays in Dev’s family home.
When Dev meets a young girl at a flower stall he marries her buying a small shop selling flowers with a flat above the shop. His wife is desperate to have a baby, but he is too busy travelling getting customers to buy regular orders of flower’s from their shop.
At this point I was unhappy with Dev, making a mess of his life having an affair, under a different name, where he ends up getting her pregnant. Under Devon’s watch the baby is snatched away.
Devon Lucas, wife finds out she can’t have a baby, but is overjoyed with an adopted daughter.
Lies always come back to bite you. Soon Dev’s life is going crumble in more ways than one, and he’s not the only one whose life is going into a crying crisis.
This is one of the best books about a cheating husband that I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait for the author to write another book.
I can’t believe that Blessing is the authors debut novel, it’s absolutely a fantastic page-turner. I just loved, loved loved , it! Marriage crisis books are specially my theme of books that I like reading about best.
This story is about two immigrants. Dev’s family move in with his uncle’s house in England, with rather than using their family name Lawrence, they are all using his uncles name Lucas.
I really liked Dev, at the early stages, with his goal in life to be rich and have his own business.
Adey, who doesn’t have a family stays in Dev’s family home.
When Dev meets a young girl at a flower stall he marries her buying a small shop selling flowers with a flat above the shop. His wife is desperate to have a baby, but he is too busy travelling getting customers to buy regular orders of flower’s from their shop.
At this point I was unhappy with Dev, making a mess of his life having an affair, under a different name, where he ends up getting her pregnant. Under Devon’s watch the baby is snatched away.
Devon Lucas, wife finds out she can’t have a baby, but is overjoyed with an adopted daughter.
Lies always come back to bite you. Soon Dev’s life is going crumble in more ways than one, and he’s not the only one whose life is going into a crying crisis.
This is one of the best books about a cheating husband that I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait for the author to write another book.
January 31, 2026
‘You young uns ain’t got the fortitude we had when we was kids’ – An immigration tale
UK author Brian J. Twiddy is an established voice artist, actor, and founder of the Arty-Fact theater company. While he has written a published series of 20 history playbooks and 23 original plays and adaptations for young people, BLESSING is his debut novel!
The magnetism of Twiddy’s prose bursts forth in the opening ‘The Book of Devon’ (chapter one, each chapter named after one of the stories characters): ‘This is a hell of a town. I love it. Wouldn’t want to live any place else. Never have. That is leastways snice I was about ten years old. That was when we got here, in 1982, in the back of Uncle Lucas’ car. It was lucky we weren’t stopped, or crashed into, the way he drives.’ A story about immigration is especially timely today, and Twiddy suggests the content as follows: ‘Two young illegal immigrants, Dev, with aspirations and irresistible charm, and Adey, his amoral friend, who negates difficulties for money, are brought to London. Dev is happy to bend the law, Adey to break it. Whilst Adey lives in the shadows, Dev chases his dream of a business empire. Fate, love and circumstance, aided by a dominating Pastor Ben compromised over a Blessing passed down through the firstborn of a family for millennia, have other ideas.’
Beautifully constructed characters and an involving plot make this an impressive novel debut, leaving the reader eager for more. Very satisfying story – and well delivered!
UK author Brian J. Twiddy is an established voice artist, actor, and founder of the Arty-Fact theater company. While he has written a published series of 20 history playbooks and 23 original plays and adaptations for young people, BLESSING is his debut novel!
The magnetism of Twiddy’s prose bursts forth in the opening ‘The Book of Devon’ (chapter one, each chapter named after one of the stories characters): ‘This is a hell of a town. I love it. Wouldn’t want to live any place else. Never have. That is leastways snice I was about ten years old. That was when we got here, in 1982, in the back of Uncle Lucas’ car. It was lucky we weren’t stopped, or crashed into, the way he drives.’ A story about immigration is especially timely today, and Twiddy suggests the content as follows: ‘Two young illegal immigrants, Dev, with aspirations and irresistible charm, and Adey, his amoral friend, who negates difficulties for money, are brought to London. Dev is happy to bend the law, Adey to break it. Whilst Adey lives in the shadows, Dev chases his dream of a business empire. Fate, love and circumstance, aided by a dominating Pastor Ben compromised over a Blessing passed down through the firstborn of a family for millennia, have other ideas.’
Beautifully constructed characters and an involving plot make this an impressive novel debut, leaving the reader eager for more. Very satisfying story – and well delivered!
March 2, 2026
Ever wondered what happens when ambition, survival, and something almost… ancient collide?
In Blessing, Brian J Twiddy doesn’t just tell an immigration story, he builds a tense, layered world where fate feels like an unseen hand guiding every decision. At the heart of the novel are Dev and Adey, two young illegal immigrants brought to London, but walking very different moral paths. Dev dreams big. He’s charming, ambitious, willing to bend rules if it means building something greater. Adey, on the other hand, operates in the shadows, practical, detached, and willing to break whatever needs breaking if the price is right.
But this isn’t just a story about survival in a new country.
As Dev chases his vision of a business empire, their lives begin to intertwine with forces beyond hustle or street-smart decisions, particularly through Pastor Ben, whose influence is tied to an ancient “Blessing” passed down through generations of firstborn sons. What starts as a grounded tale of migration slowly shifts into something deeper, where destiny, love, power, and belief start shaping outcomes in ways no amount of planning can control.
Twiddy does something compelling here: he makes you ask whether success is ever purely self-made… or if something unseen is always tipping the scale.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
In Blessing, Brian J Twiddy doesn’t just tell an immigration story, he builds a tense, layered world where fate feels like an unseen hand guiding every decision. At the heart of the novel are Dev and Adey, two young illegal immigrants brought to London, but walking very different moral paths. Dev dreams big. He’s charming, ambitious, willing to bend rules if it means building something greater. Adey, on the other hand, operates in the shadows, practical, detached, and willing to break whatever needs breaking if the price is right.
But this isn’t just a story about survival in a new country.
As Dev chases his vision of a business empire, their lives begin to intertwine with forces beyond hustle or street-smart decisions, particularly through Pastor Ben, whose influence is tied to an ancient “Blessing” passed down through generations of firstborn sons. What starts as a grounded tale of migration slowly shifts into something deeper, where destiny, love, power, and belief start shaping outcomes in ways no amount of planning can control.
Twiddy does something compelling here: he makes you ask whether success is ever purely self-made… or if something unseen is always tipping the scale.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
February 25, 2026
I felt like it was a breeze of fresh air after a long time.
My latest read, "Blessing," is an emotional and engaging novel about ambition, morality, and destiny. Dev and Adey are two illegal immigrants who are trying to build better lives in London. Despite a similar onset, their personalities are very dissimilar, which makes it more realistic and engaging. On one hand, Dev is optimistic and driven by dreams of success, whereas Adey is practical and lives in survival mode. Their approach to life is different. This different approach paves a different life ahead of them. One being passionate and the other being realistic serve to make the story captivating.
The story also drives towards a mysterious force of blessing that guides us in our lives for a better future.
I liked the strong and specific character development and gradual development of emotional depth. I can see how ambition, temptation, and personal decisions shape a person’s future.
Overall, it is a thoughtful read that makes you reflect on choices, responsibility, and the cost of success. It was picked for me as I enjoy realistic drama built around strong characters.
My latest read, "Blessing," is an emotional and engaging novel about ambition, morality, and destiny. Dev and Adey are two illegal immigrants who are trying to build better lives in London. Despite a similar onset, their personalities are very dissimilar, which makes it more realistic and engaging. On one hand, Dev is optimistic and driven by dreams of success, whereas Adey is practical and lives in survival mode. Their approach to life is different. This different approach paves a different life ahead of them. One being passionate and the other being realistic serve to make the story captivating.
The story also drives towards a mysterious force of blessing that guides us in our lives for a better future.
I liked the strong and specific character development and gradual development of emotional depth. I can see how ambition, temptation, and personal decisions shape a person’s future.
Overall, it is a thoughtful read that makes you reflect on choices, responsibility, and the cost of success. It was picked for me as I enjoy realistic drama built around strong characters.
September 7, 2023
Blessing is broken down at first by different characters (Devon, Ben, and Maeve) then with all of them intertwined.
Devon is a Jamaican living in England who moved around a lot as a child. Ben is a pastor at a local church. Maeve is the adopted daughter of Devon and his wife Elina.
Their lives are connected just they didn’t know it. This is why the book at first is broken down by characters. As a reader, you are able to see the connections. Then, the last few chapters are once they realize the connections and they are not happy about them.
I enjoyed parts of Blessing and other parts took a while for me to get through them. This will not be a book for everyone but I can see plenty loving it.
Devon is a Jamaican living in England who moved around a lot as a child. Ben is a pastor at a local church. Maeve is the adopted daughter of Devon and his wife Elina.
Their lives are connected just they didn’t know it. This is why the book at first is broken down by characters. As a reader, you are able to see the connections. Then, the last few chapters are once they realize the connections and they are not happy about them.
I enjoyed parts of Blessing and other parts took a while for me to get through them. This will not be a book for everyone but I can see plenty loving it.
June 28, 2023
Having had the pleasure of already reading Blessing, I have to say this story is tenacious. You find yourself pondering the fates of the characters and willing them into making different decisions, only to find that in the end those were the only choices they could make.
Poignant. Passionate. It resonates with the challenges even simple lives can be faced with.
Poignant. Passionate. It resonates with the challenges even simple lives can be faced with.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews