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Born at the End of the World
An epic story of espionage, love and sacrifice.
In 1970s Ethiopia, 13-year-old Elen, determined to escape her arranged marriage, secretly abandons her tiny village hoping to find her aunt living in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. Meanwhile, Girmai escapes his abusive stepmother after the death of his beloved father, only to end up homeless and starving on the streets of the city. Overcoming the odds, Elen and Girmai both grow up to be successful business owners, each with their own lives and families
When the Derg regime overthrows the government, they turn Asmara into a nightmare of roaming bands of soldiers, who torture and kill civilians with impunity. Refusing to accept the injustice and mass killings of the Red Terror campaign, Elen and Girmai join the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front's (EPLF) underground network to fight for freedom.
The stakes rise as the horror of Derg-sanctioned torture leaks out of dissident detention centers. Elen and Girmai struggle to maintain their precarious fight for justice and a growing passion for each other. As they fall in love, they are faced with impossible choices, tragedy, and heroism in a cause much bigger than their own lives.
Based on a true story, Born at the End of the World is a powerful narrative of patriotism, love, camaraderie, and courage, no less uplifting or appalling than Schindler's List.
In 1970s Ethiopia, 13-year-old Elen, determined to escape her arranged marriage, secretly abandons her tiny village hoping to find her aunt living in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. Meanwhile, Girmai escapes his abusive stepmother after the death of his beloved father, only to end up homeless and starving on the streets of the city. Overcoming the odds, Elen and Girmai both grow up to be successful business owners, each with their own lives and families
When the Derg regime overthrows the government, they turn Asmara into a nightmare of roaming bands of soldiers, who torture and kill civilians with impunity. Refusing to accept the injustice and mass killings of the Red Terror campaign, Elen and Girmai join the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front's (EPLF) underground network to fight for freedom.
The stakes rise as the horror of Derg-sanctioned torture leaks out of dissident detention centers. Elen and Girmai struggle to maintain their precarious fight for justice and a growing passion for each other. As they fall in love, they are faced with impossible choices, tragedy, and heroism in a cause much bigger than their own lives.
Based on a true story, Born at the End of the World is a powerful narrative of patriotism, love, camaraderie, and courage, no less uplifting or appalling than Schindler's List.
384 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 23, 2026
Engaging story about what it means to fight and never give up! I loved it!
Set in Ethiopia in the 1970s the story opens with Elen who is 13 years old and is promised to be engaged to a man she knows nothing about. In order to escape her faith she leaves her tiny village to go live with her Aunty in the capital of Eritrea. Nothing could prepare her for what could come next. While Elen is trying to find her way in the world, Girmai spends his time in Eritrea after escaping an abusive home. Quick witted and filled with street smart he builds a growing business that he is proud of. Both Elen and Girmai went through a lot but managed to build a life they love and enjoy.
While they are both settling into their lives, the Derg regime overthrows the government, they turn Asmara into a nightmare of roaming bands of soldiers, who torture and kill civilians with impunity. Refusing to accept the injustice and mass killings of the Red Terror campaign, Elen and Girmai join the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front's (EPLF) underground network to fight for freedom. This fight took everything from them but it is much bigger than them.
This book is filled with so much history. I did not know a lot about the people of Eritrea and how they fought for their freedom. What it took for them to be an independent country and how much people fought for their freedom. If you love a book that is based in history, filled with courage and love, pick this one up.
Set in Ethiopia in the 1970s the story opens with Elen who is 13 years old and is promised to be engaged to a man she knows nothing about. In order to escape her faith she leaves her tiny village to go live with her Aunty in the capital of Eritrea. Nothing could prepare her for what could come next. While Elen is trying to find her way in the world, Girmai spends his time in Eritrea after escaping an abusive home. Quick witted and filled with street smart he builds a growing business that he is proud of. Both Elen and Girmai went through a lot but managed to build a life they love and enjoy.
While they are both settling into their lives, the Derg regime overthrows the government, they turn Asmara into a nightmare of roaming bands of soldiers, who torture and kill civilians with impunity. Refusing to accept the injustice and mass killings of the Red Terror campaign, Elen and Girmai join the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front's (EPLF) underground network to fight for freedom. This fight took everything from them but it is much bigger than them.
This book is filled with so much history. I did not know a lot about the people of Eritrea and how they fought for their freedom. What it took for them to be an independent country and how much people fought for their freedom. If you love a book that is based in history, filled with courage and love, pick this one up.
May 2, 2026
Inspired by the true story of the author's mother, this tells the tale of everyday Eritreans fighting for independence during the Red Terror, when the Derg regime committed unfathomable atrocities.
Immersive and descriptive, this puts the reader into the lives of Elen, who fled the prospect of an arranged marriage as a young girl and came to Asmara to build a better life, and Girmai, a man with a similar backstreet of resilience who worked his way up from street kid to affluent business owner. We see their lives in the best of times and the worst of times, and we see their lives intersect when both decide they are willing to do whatever it takes to stand on the side of justice.
I've heard lots about the Eritrean fight for independence and the horrors of the Derg, though I imagine many readers have not, because my husband is from Eritrea. But even still, I could never have imagined just how nightmarish that time was before reading this book. It brings this period in history to life in an important way.
I loved the descriptions of life in Asmara, and I enjoyed seeing how Elen and Girmai both worked to build lives from nothing. And the fact that they were both willing to risk it all for something greater than themselves - freedom - did create a bond between them.
I do find, though, that one of the biggest ways to sour me on a love story is to include infidelity - especially when the partner in question is a loyal and kind person. As much as I wanted to root for Elen and Girmai, I couldn't get over how bad I felt for his wife, Helen!
3.75 stars
Immersive and descriptive, this puts the reader into the lives of Elen, who fled the prospect of an arranged marriage as a young girl and came to Asmara to build a better life, and Girmai, a man with a similar backstreet of resilience who worked his way up from street kid to affluent business owner. We see their lives in the best of times and the worst of times, and we see their lives intersect when both decide they are willing to do whatever it takes to stand on the side of justice.
I've heard lots about the Eritrean fight for independence and the horrors of the Derg, though I imagine many readers have not, because my husband is from Eritrea. But even still, I could never have imagined just how nightmarish that time was before reading this book. It brings this period in history to life in an important way.
I loved the descriptions of life in Asmara, and I enjoyed seeing how Elen and Girmai both worked to build lives from nothing. And the fact that they were both willing to risk it all for something greater than themselves - freedom - did create a bond between them.
I do find, though, that one of the biggest ways to sour me on a love story is to include infidelity - especially when the partner in question is a loyal and kind person. As much as I wanted to root for Elen and Girmai, I couldn't get over how bad I felt for his wife, Helen!
3.75 stars
March 2, 2026
Excellent book shedding light on events in Eritrea and Ethiopia most Americans know little about. We enter the world of Elen and Girmai and experience their intense struggles for freedom as well as their growing love for each other. I highly recommend this book.
March 29, 2026
What an amazing book! It is based on a true story that took place in Ethiopia and Eritrea starting in 1962, going through the 1970s and ending, briefly, in 1980. I valued gaining knowledge of the history of that region in those years. It was book of the month for March 2026 for the Book Club I go to. The author was in attendance at the meeting to answer questions and have a discussion. Read the book and you’ll understand why it was a most memorable occasion!
The story is quite fast paced, almost like a thriller. The central characters, Elen and Girmai, grew up separately before encountering each other (and falling in love!) in the context of fighting for freedom. They are admirable for their sheer resilience and determination. I liked the asides in italics which relay to the reader the inner-most thoughts of the characters.
A word of warning – the sections describing the treatment of Elen and of Girmai in prison are really harrowing.
The story is quite fast paced, almost like a thriller. The central characters, Elen and Girmai, grew up separately before encountering each other (and falling in love!) in the context of fighting for freedom. They are admirable for their sheer resilience and determination. I liked the asides in italics which relay to the reader the inner-most thoughts of the characters.
A word of warning – the sections describing the treatment of Elen and of Girmai in prison are really harrowing.
April 28, 2026
This was a powerful book, one that had me completely engrossed in the story line from page one. Donica has an amazing ability to share her parent’s story during an incredibly bleak and horrific period of time for Eritrean and Ethiopia. If you know anything about the Red Terror you know it was a brutal time of history. Reading about people who lived during the Red Terror yet found love, suffered torture and the loss of close friends and came out the other side as a family is nothing short of astounding.
Reading how Donica came to write the book is also inspiring, helping her three kids know their family history and be proud that their mother was born in a prison. It is not a shameful thing but one they should be proud of because their grand-parents stood up and were counted when it mattered.
You read about people who made a difference in the world makes you realize you need to be reminded that standing up takes a toll but it is worth it. Pick up this book you won’t be disappointed.
Donica thanks for taking the steps which lead to this book.
Reading how Donica came to write the book is also inspiring, helping her three kids know their family history and be proud that their mother was born in a prison. It is not a shameful thing but one they should be proud of because their grand-parents stood up and were counted when it mattered.
You read about people who made a difference in the world makes you realize you need to be reminded that standing up takes a toll but it is worth it. Pick up this book you won’t be disappointed.
Donica thanks for taking the steps which lead to this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2026
I’d never read a book about the Derg and this true account of one family’s story was a beautiful yet harrowing encounter with this period of history.. and those whose courage and kindness still illuminated the darkness
May 5, 2026
What a story! This book was gripping, informative and beautifully written. Readers who love Kristin Hannah will love Donica Merhazion.
April 25, 2026
What an incredible story of strength, resilience and love. Donica not only pours her personal story into these pages, but her deep passion for family and justice in the face of all odds. I loved the line: “Your daughter is a fighter, just like you.” It so beautifully portrays Donica and her mother. It’s the same spirit she has passed to her own children. This book will teach you so much about Eritrea. It will change you.
February 1, 2026
An incredibly powerful read. This story is an important contribution to our understanding of the world and the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a gift to see history through the author’s eyes. A must-read for anyone who values honest, perspective-shifting storytelling.
September 27, 2026
This was such a random pick, after listening to the author speak about the book at a Book Fair (and also peer pressure 😃) - Donica is such a lovely human being, just to add 😊.
There is very little history that the world knows about Eritrea and Ethiopia. Their struggle for independence and the Red Terror.
Based on a true story of her parents, Donica takes us into the world that Eritreans and Ethiopians experienced during those dark days. A tough, but very good read. Powered by real events and the belief of hope and love.
PS: If you've visited the Red Terror museum in Addis Ababa, pick this book. You'll make the connection.
There is very little history that the world knows about Eritrea and Ethiopia. Their struggle for independence and the Red Terror.
Based on a true story of her parents, Donica takes us into the world that Eritreans and Ethiopians experienced during those dark days. A tough, but very good read. Powered by real events and the belief of hope and love.
PS: If you've visited the Red Terror museum in Addis Ababa, pick this book. You'll make the connection.
November 10, 2026
Brilliant!!! I need someone to yap about this book with!
What a story! More so knowing it's rooted in the real-life experiences of the author's parents, who were members of the EPLF, fighting for Eritrea's independence. A wonderful debut from Donica.
What a story! More so knowing it's rooted in the real-life experiences of the author's parents, who were members of the EPLF, fighting for Eritrea's independence. A wonderful debut from Donica.
August 5, 2026
Probably the best book I’ve read all year!
May 31, 2026
This book was unputdownable. Based on a true life story, this book follows the life of a young girl who escapes an arranged marriage and is later drawn into the liberation struggles of Eritrea while navigating love,loss and motherhood.I thoroughly enjoyed reading it
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
українською нижче
In this novel, Donica Merhazion reconstructs, in a fictionalized way, the story of her parents in Eritrea and Ethiopia during the Derg dictatorship. It starts with brief glimpses into how both of them, as teens, ended up in Asmara (the capital of Eritrea): Elen running away from her village in Ethiopia, where she was supposed to be sold into marriage, and Girmai escaping near-starvation poverty after his father’s death. This opposition between rural traditional society and modern life in the city as a site of opportunity is not, however, an important focal point of the novel. In fact, we soon learn that both succeeded quite well in Asmara and built their own thriving businesses. The main story revolves around their joining the resistance—the EPLF, which had been fighting for the liberation of Eritrea from Ethiopian occupation as the emperor’s rule in Ethiopia was replaced by the even crueler dictatorship of the Derg.
So it is a love story and a spy story, and a documentary reconstruction of an actual family’s history (with some minor fictional adjustments, as the author acknowledges), all in one. The latter fact slightly diminishes the suspense associated with the “spy story” strain — we know from the outset that Elen will be imprisoned and will give birth to their daughter in jail; it’s in the title, after all.
I think I expected this text to be more self-conscious of its own nature as a post-memory reconstruction? Instead, the story is very straightforward, following Elen and Girmai in alternating close third-person POVs. I hesitate to say that it reads a bit YA-like: not in terms of themes, obviously, but in the way the story is told—in a very explicative manner that does not raise questions about the reconstructive work that went into its creation. It made total sense to me when I read in the afterword that the text began as something conceived to address Merhazion’s own children, as a way of telling the story of where they come from. And it makes sense beyond the single-family context as well: for a topic that is so marginally present in the international mnemonic repertoire as the occupation of Eritrea by Ethiopia and the ruthless authoritarian regime there, what is needed first is straightforward informing, “witnessing,” and only later any additional literary flourish.
One more thing I wanted to highlight, specifically in the context of low levels of informedness among Global North audiences about African history and the abundance of stereotypes, is how radically modern Asmara is in this portrayal: the Rome of Eritrea, where Elen and Girmai lead radically modern lives, running businesses with international clientele—especially striking in the case of Elen, who has children with different men. This clearly works against misconceptions suggesting that bad things happen to people in the Global South because of some inherent pre-modern “darkness.” The tropes of colonial modernity versus colonized pre-modernity are also overturned here, as the colonizer is indigenous and, if anything, it is the Ethiopian dictatorship that pulls colonized Eritrea back into pre-modern darkness—through sheer indiscriminate, “barbarian” violence, but also by closing schools, among other measures. (The legacy of Italian colonization is only briefly addressed here—but I totally get it; one colonizer at a time.)
Publication date: Feb 17, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher for the eARC that I received through Edelweiss+. The opinion above is entirely my own.
**
[Читала в рамках челенджу, протягом якого хочу познайомитися з книжками з країн, з яких досі нічого (умовно сучасного) не читала. Країна 8 – Еритрея. Англійський оригінал.]
Перше, що мені кинулося в очі: цей роман починається (з т.з. сюжету, а не оповіді) дуже подібно до "Нервових станів" - з того, як 13-річна дівчина залишає своє африканське село, тікаючи від тяжкої долі, яку традиційне суспільство накидає на неї саме як на жінку, і вирушає спробувати інших шляхів, які відкриває модерність. На цьому (і тому, що в сюжеті фігурує війна за незалежність), правда, паралелі закінчуються. (Я думаю, що це не я накидаю порівняння, бо щойно прочитала Дангарембгу, а авторка зростала в Кенії, отримувала освіту в англомовному середовищі, тож "Нервові стани" ще з того часу для неї можуть мати статус класики, з якою можна вести творчий діалог.)
Отже, роман починається з того, як двоє підлітків, Елен і Ґірмай, зі злиднів та обмежень традиційного суспільства вириваються до Асмари, де поступово влаштовують досить успішне життя, вибудовують бізнеси тощо. Цей етап їхнього життя накреслено загальними мазками, а основна історія пов'язана з тим, як уже дорослими, маючи по кілька дітей, вони долучаються до діяльності EPLF (Народного фронту за звільнення Еритреї), який бореться за звільнення країни від окупації Ефіопією. Особливо після того, як задушливий, але хоча б просвічений режим імператора Селасіє змінюється на диктатуру Дерг - кривавої червоної хунти, підтримуваної радянським союзом. Елен і Ґірмай, будучи добре влаштованими в Асмарі, збирають для спротиву важливу інформацію, а бар Елен (ще й ефіопки за походженням, відтак благонадійнішої в очах провладних сил) стає важливим майданчиком не тільки для підслуховування, а й для "окучування" агентами спротиву посадовців та військових очільників.
З цих тропів можна вже вгадати, що це читається як шпигунський роман - я думала про якийсь контекст 1930-х в європейських країнах за дедалі авторитарних режимів. Це підкреслено модерний сетінг, чим авторка, я думаю, цілеспрямовано працює проти можливих стереотипів міжнародної аудиторії про "темну, домодерну" Африку. Тут перевернуто типові структури, які пов'язують колонізатора з (хибною, можливо, якщо дивитися з антиколоніального погляду, але) модерністю, а деколонізацію - з поверненням до домодерного питомого. (Те саме, що в цьому сенсі не працює в контексті ЦСЄ і російського\радянського імперіалізму - але чи ми б подумали, що "колег" в Еритреї?) Те, що модерність Асмари - це сліди італійського колоніалізму, тут згадується дуже побіжно; але я розумію, ця історія про одну деколонізацію, яка з огляду на обставини затьмарює для героїв все, тож осмислення інших історичних вантажів може почекати.
Інша річ, яка нагадує про якісь 1930-ті або інші попередні приклади боротьби за національне визволення - це досить по-простецькому виражена траєкторія приходу до усвідомлення національної ідентичності, характерна для якихось попередніх хвиль націоналізму (або, можливо, зумовлена уявленням про адресата, не готового до більш складних конструктів):
А ще цей роман - реконструкція авторкою історії своїх батьків, якщо вірити її післямові, досить близька до факту поза зміненими іменами. Це вона, авторка, "народилася наприкінці світу" - це не метафора "останніх часів", а назва тюрми в Адіс-Абебі, де її мати\прототип героїні Елен було ув'язнено за описану вище участь у спротиві. І ось із цієї точки зору мені б, напевно, хотілося чогось більшого від цього тексту - демонстрації усвідомлення дистанції до реконструйованого матеріалу як роботи пост-пам'яті, наприклад. У цьому сенсі одна коротка післямова, яку Доніка пише вже від свого імені, робить більше, ніж весь роман. При цьому я розумію її вибір зробити цей текст максимально прямим, наративно прозорим - як документацію, свідчення, збереження досвіду; надто якщо прийняти до уваги те, що він виріс із спроби записати це спершу для власних дітей. Але як читачеві мені все одно не заважає хотіти, щоб він був складнішим і свідомішим того, як працює ця реконструкція.
З точки зору мого челенджу читання літератури різних країн - це все-таки не зовсім чесний вибір для Еритреї. Тут є два аспекти, і я тільки з цією книжкою зрозуміла, що на них треба дивитися окремо. Один, який для мене одразу відкидає купу письменників, яких можна вважати діаспорними: я дивлюся, де вони отримали освіту (бо не можна ж відкидати авторів, які просто багато їздять), і за цим критерієм ця авторка проходить - вона таки вчилася в університеті у незалежній Еритреї. Але очевидно міжнародна цільова аудиторія - це, виходить, окремий критерій, про який треба думати. Проте важливо, що це просто речі, про які "треба думати", а не очевидні критерії для включення/виключення, особливо тією мірою, як displacement/вигнання є структурною умовою того, щоб певна історія і певний культурний досвід взагалі були розказані. Книжку видано англійською в Кенії (минулого місяця; міжнародний дебют в лютому 2026 - дякую видавцеві за попередню копію на Edelweiss+), де авторка жила в дитинстві і живе зараз після перерв на Еритрею і США (і, якщо вірити блурбу, Замбію, але я маю підозру, що це хтось із глобальної півночі не розрізняє між Кенією і Замбією).
In this novel, Donica Merhazion reconstructs, in a fictionalized way, the story of her parents in Eritrea and Ethiopia during the Derg dictatorship. It starts with brief glimpses into how both of them, as teens, ended up in Asmara (the capital of Eritrea): Elen running away from her village in Ethiopia, where she was supposed to be sold into marriage, and Girmai escaping near-starvation poverty after his father’s death. This opposition between rural traditional society and modern life in the city as a site of opportunity is not, however, an important focal point of the novel. In fact, we soon learn that both succeeded quite well in Asmara and built their own thriving businesses. The main story revolves around their joining the resistance—the EPLF, which had been fighting for the liberation of Eritrea from Ethiopian occupation as the emperor’s rule in Ethiopia was replaced by the even crueler dictatorship of the Derg.
So it is a love story and a spy story, and a documentary reconstruction of an actual family’s history (with some minor fictional adjustments, as the author acknowledges), all in one. The latter fact slightly diminishes the suspense associated with the “spy story” strain — we know from the outset that Elen will be imprisoned and will give birth to their daughter in jail; it’s in the title, after all.
I think I expected this text to be more self-conscious of its own nature as a post-memory reconstruction? Instead, the story is very straightforward, following Elen and Girmai in alternating close third-person POVs. I hesitate to say that it reads a bit YA-like: not in terms of themes, obviously, but in the way the story is told—in a very explicative manner that does not raise questions about the reconstructive work that went into its creation. It made total sense to me when I read in the afterword that the text began as something conceived to address Merhazion’s own children, as a way of telling the story of where they come from. And it makes sense beyond the single-family context as well: for a topic that is so marginally present in the international mnemonic repertoire as the occupation of Eritrea by Ethiopia and the ruthless authoritarian regime there, what is needed first is straightforward informing, “witnessing,” and only later any additional literary flourish.
One more thing I wanted to highlight, specifically in the context of low levels of informedness among Global North audiences about African history and the abundance of stereotypes, is how radically modern Asmara is in this portrayal: the Rome of Eritrea, where Elen and Girmai lead radically modern lives, running businesses with international clientele—especially striking in the case of Elen, who has children with different men. This clearly works against misconceptions suggesting that bad things happen to people in the Global South because of some inherent pre-modern “darkness.” The tropes of colonial modernity versus colonized pre-modernity are also overturned here, as the colonizer is indigenous and, if anything, it is the Ethiopian dictatorship that pulls colonized Eritrea back into pre-modern darkness—through sheer indiscriminate, “barbarian” violence, but also by closing schools, among other measures. (The legacy of Italian colonization is only briefly addressed here—but I totally get it; one colonizer at a time.)
Publication date: Feb 17, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher for the eARC that I received through Edelweiss+. The opinion above is entirely my own.
**
[Читала в рамках челенджу, протягом якого хочу познайомитися з книжками з країн, з яких досі нічого (умовно сучасного) не читала. Країна 8 – Еритрея. Англійський оригінал.]
Перше, що мені кинулося в очі: цей роман починається (з т.з. сюжету, а не оповіді) дуже подібно до "Нервових станів" - з того, як 13-річна дівчина залишає своє африканське село, тікаючи від тяжкої долі, яку традиційне суспільство накидає на неї саме як на жінку, і вирушає спробувати інших шляхів, які відкриває модерність. На цьому (і тому, що в сюжеті фігурує війна за незалежність), правда, паралелі закінчуються. (Я думаю, що це не я накидаю порівняння, бо щойно прочитала Дангарембгу, а авторка зростала в Кенії, отримувала освіту в англомовному середовищі, тож "Нервові стани" ще з того часу для неї можуть мати статус класики, з якою можна вести творчий діалог.)
Отже, роман починається з того, як двоє підлітків, Елен і Ґірмай, зі злиднів та обмежень традиційного суспільства вириваються до Асмари, де поступово влаштовують досить успішне життя, вибудовують бізнеси тощо. Цей етап їхнього життя накреслено загальними мазками, а основна історія пов'язана з тим, як уже дорослими, маючи по кілька дітей, вони долучаються до діяльності EPLF (Народного фронту за звільнення Еритреї), який бореться за звільнення країни від окупації Ефіопією. Особливо після того, як задушливий, але хоча б просвічений режим імператора Селасіє змінюється на диктатуру Дерг - кривавої червоної хунти, підтримуваної радянським союзом. Елен і Ґірмай, будучи добре влаштованими в Асмарі, збирають для спротиву важливу інформацію, а бар Елен (ще й ефіопки за походженням, відтак благонадійнішої в очах провладних сил) стає важливим майданчиком не тільки для підслуховування, а й для "окучування" агентами спротиву посадовців та військових очільників.
З цих тропів можна вже вгадати, що це читається як шпигунський роман - я думала про якийсь контекст 1930-х в європейських країнах за дедалі авторитарних режимів. Це підкреслено модерний сетінг, чим авторка, я думаю, цілеспрямовано працює проти можливих стереотипів міжнародної аудиторії про "темну, домодерну" Африку. Тут перевернуто типові структури, які пов'язують колонізатора з (хибною, можливо, якщо дивитися з антиколоніального погляду, але) модерністю, а деколонізацію - з поверненням до домодерного питомого. (Те саме, що в цьому сенсі не працює в контексті ЦСЄ і російського\радянського імперіалізму - але чи ми б подумали, що "колег" в Еритреї?) Те, що модерність Асмари - це сліди італійського колоніалізму, тут згадується дуже побіжно; але я розумію, ця історія про одну деколонізацію, яка з огляду на обставини затьмарює для героїв все, тож осмислення інших історичних вантажів може почекати.
Інша річ, яка нагадує про якісь 1930-ті або інші попередні приклади боротьби за національне визволення - це досить по-простецькому виражена траєкторія приходу до усвідомлення національної ідентичності, характерна для якихось попередніх хвиль націоналізму (або, можливо, зумовлена уявленням про адресата, не готового до більш складних конструктів):
"...think of yourself as an Eritrean more than anything else. Unity is key. You are not a highlander, or a Christian, or a businessman. Your family is your country. Your country is your life. You are Eritrean first.” As Woldeab continued to speak, Girmai absorbed the weight of his words, feeling his own purpose crystalizing. Clarity opened his mind for the first time in years.
А ще цей роман - реконструкція авторкою історії своїх батьків, якщо вірити її післямові, досить близька до факту поза зміненими іменами. Це вона, авторка, "народилася наприкінці світу" - це не метафора "останніх часів", а назва тюрми в Адіс-Абебі, де її мати\прототип героїні Елен було ув'язнено за описану вище участь у спротиві. І ось із цієї точки зору мені б, напевно, хотілося чогось більшого від цього тексту - демонстрації усвідомлення дистанції до реконструйованого матеріалу як роботи пост-пам'яті, наприклад. У цьому сенсі одна коротка післямова, яку Доніка пише вже від свого імені, робить більше, ніж весь роман. При цьому я розумію її вибір зробити цей текст максимально прямим, наративно прозорим - як документацію, свідчення, збереження досвіду; надто якщо прийняти до уваги те, що він виріс із спроби записати це спершу для власних дітей. Але як читачеві мені все одно не заважає хотіти, щоб він був складнішим і свідомішим того, як працює ця реконструкція.
З точки зору мого челенджу читання літератури різних країн - це все-таки не зовсім чесний вибір для Еритреї. Тут є два аспекти, і я тільки з цією книжкою зрозуміла, що на них треба дивитися окремо. Один, який для мене одразу відкидає купу письменників, яких можна вважати діаспорними: я дивлюся, де вони отримали освіту (бо не можна ж відкидати авторів, які просто багато їздять), і за цим критерієм ця авторка проходить - вона таки вчилася в університеті у незалежній Еритреї. Але очевидно міжнародна цільова аудиторія - це, виходить, окремий критерій, про який треба думати. Проте важливо, що це просто речі, про які "треба думати", а не очевидні критерії для включення/виключення, особливо тією мірою, як displacement/вигнання є структурною умовою того, щоб певна історія і певний культурний досвід взагалі були розказані. Книжку видано англійською в Кенії (минулого місяця; міжнародний дебют в лютому 2026 - дякую видавцеві за попередню копію на Edelweiss+), де авторка жила в дитинстві і живе зараз після перерв на Еритрею і США (і, якщо вірити блурбу, Замбію, але я маю підозру, що це хтось із глобальної півночі не розрізняє між Кенією і Замбією).
April 16, 2026
Described as "An epic story of love, espionage and sacrifice," - #bornattheendoftheworld is more about surviving and then going through everything that comes with survival.
@donica_merhazion took me to Ethiopia in the 1970s, introduced me to Elen, Tsehay (🥰 the first heroine in Ellen's life), and then later on to Girmai- the war, restlessness, brutality of being afraid to even breathe in your own country. Each chapter hinged on the hope, determination of countless lives praying for peace, freedom, that somehow they'll make it out alive.
This is in no way close to a full review, yet, I hope that if you read a book this year, this one is of them.
@donica_merhazion took me to Ethiopia in the 1970s, introduced me to Elen, Tsehay (🥰 the first heroine in Ellen's life), and then later on to Girmai- the war, restlessness, brutality of being afraid to even breathe in your own country. Each chapter hinged on the hope, determination of countless lives praying for peace, freedom, that somehow they'll make it out alive.
This is in no way close to a full review, yet, I hope that if you read a book this year, this one is of them.
October 5, 2026
I'm so disappointed in this book. I tried not to judge it because it's a fictionalized true story, but some of the decisions the characters made just annoyed me. They tell us that Girmai is married and has 4 kids, only for the wife and children to be conveniently forgotten every time he was around Elen. The characters were so easily forgettable. We are told some of the characters are so important yet we don't really see them do important things. I only slightly liked the part where Elen gave birth and the women were such a good community to her. Otherwise I fear this missed the mark
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2026
I was so interested in learning more about the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia going into this book, but I came out of it knowing just as much as I did going in.
The story focuses entirely on Elen, who escapes childhood marriage and has two kids by different men. She owns a bar where she works as a spy for counterrevolutionaries.
Girmai is a self-made rich guy who is married with two or three kids. However, he falls in love with Elen. The fact that he is married is so glossed over. Girmai and Elen don’t even talk about it. It doesn’t even cause any tension in the relationship.
All the characters are so poorly developed, so there’s nothing to tie you to them. Even the kids are just there for the sake of being children. For instance, we see Elen travel to Nairobi with Girmai’s kids from his first marriage. They don’t interact at all. Moreover, these kids don’t even show any sadness after having left their MOTHER.
Girmai cowardly breaks off his marriage to Helen over the phone, claiming that he will take care of her financially. This was so lazy, in my opinion.
All in all, I would have loved to learn more about The Red Terror in this book, but I did not.
The story focuses entirely on Elen, who escapes childhood marriage and has two kids by different men. She owns a bar where she works as a spy for counterrevolutionaries.
Girmai is a self-made rich guy who is married with two or three kids. However, he falls in love with Elen. The fact that he is married is so glossed over. Girmai and Elen don’t even talk about it. It doesn’t even cause any tension in the relationship.
All the characters are so poorly developed, so there’s nothing to tie you to them. Even the kids are just there for the sake of being children. For instance, we see Elen travel to Nairobi with Girmai’s kids from his first marriage. They don’t interact at all. Moreover, these kids don’t even show any sadness after having left their MOTHER.
Girmai cowardly breaks off his marriage to Helen over the phone, claiming that he will take care of her financially. This was so lazy, in my opinion.
All in all, I would have loved to learn more about The Red Terror in this book, but I did not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 17, 2025Born at the End of the World is a gripping, historically rich narrative that intertwines personal struggle, romance, and the harsh realities of political oppression. The story follows Elen and Girmai, two resilient young individuals navigating the dangers of 1970s Ethiopia and Eritrea. Their journeys from escaping abuse and poverty to becoming successful business owners, and ultimately joining the fight against the Derg regime are both heart wrenching and inspiring. The author masterfully balances historical events with deeply human stories of love, courage, and sacrifice. Readers who appreciate tales of heroism and resilience will find this book unforgettable, echoing the emotional weight of works like Schindler’s List.
October 8, 2026
https://hararereview.com/2026/10/08/b...
Conflict in Ethiopia and the region goes back generations. A recent novel, Ian MacKenzie’s *Nothing on Earth*, describes Ethiopia’s history rather romantically as “regal and violent, a saga of kingdoms rising and falling and entering into battle, highlanders storming and conquering the lowlands.” And of course the prospect of open civil war has been simmering since 2018, when Nobel Peace Prize winner Abiy Ahmed Ali took office.
The history of Ethiopia and states that have seceded, or that want to secede from it, is indeed an extremely complicated one. Eritrea was an Italian colony for decades, from 1885 to 1942, British rule until 1952, and then federal status under Ethiopia until 1962, when it was annexed. It finally won its independence after a thirty-year-long war in 1991. The Oromo people, while divided in their goals, also sometimes clash with the federal government. And Tigray, a region of Ethiopia that shares cultural and language ties with Eritrea, has remained restive since the most recent war by dissidents against the Ethiopian government in 2020-2022. Fighting has resumed yet again now, in late 2026, in Tigray; and Eritrea and Ethiopia are on the verge of war again.
Eritrean independence is the subject of a book reveiwed in The Continent earlier this year, [[I Hope You Find What You're Looking For - Bsrat Mezghebe]], and of this novel too. Donica Merhazion has woven her family’s history into the story of Elen. Set mostly in the 1960s and ‘70s, the novel begins with Elen fleeing her village at thirteen after her father arranges a marriage between her and a much older wealthy man. She goes to her aunt in Asmara who has modern views, including that children should not be married off. Elen also trusts her aunt to help her seek treatment for an abscess on her face. She ends up at a mission hospital, masquerading as an orphan so that she will not be made to pay for her medical care. Not only is her health restored, but Elen thrives in that environment and finds her feet. Once well again, she’s able to stand up to her parents about not returning to the village. Instead, through her aunt, she finds work as a waitress, and is soon absorbed into urban life.
Later, Elen has saved up enough money to set up a business—a bar—just at the time when Emperor Haile Selassie is overthrown, and Asmara becomes restive under the Derg. With Derg soldiers an increasing presence in Asmara, Elen’s bar becomes a place where they gather, and where Elen can pick up gossip to pass on to Eritrea’s freedom fighters. She soon makes herself indispensable, but this also attracts the attention of the paranoid local Derg officials, and Elen nearly pays with her life.
This is also a love story, not only for nation, but between a man and a woman. After some false starts, Elen meets the love of her life in a fellow freedom fighter and spy, Girmai. Although the novel’s POV switches between Elen and Girmai, this is mainly Elen’s story. Girmai serves mainly as her foil: a man with a different and perhaps more central role in Eritrea’s struggle, but it’s clear the couple complements one another.
This is the story of the formation of a family through the life of its future matriarch. Elen is caught up in a struggle that’s not, strictly speaking, hers. She’s Ethiopian, and Eritrea is her adopted country. But partly as an accident of circumstance, partly in gratitude to the place where she finds her own freedom—also now that she’s a mother, for her children’s future—Elen wants to do what she can for Eritrea’s independence. She’s arrested, and becomes a victim of the brutality the Derg visits on ordinary citizens—known as the Red Terror—particularly when they’re suspected of being politically active, but even when they’re not. Significantly, here Merhazion is telling the story of the torture of and atrocities specifically against a woman. She spares us none of the details of what Elen, now a mother, suffers in prison. (Like Elen, Merhazion’s mother was incarcerated in the notorious prison, Alem Bekagn.) These passages about Elen’s experiences are extremely difficult to read, and sometimes quite graphic; but these things happened to real people at the time. It feels important not to look away from any of it. And so this novel, while partly fictional, serves as social history, a record of important oral and personal history of the Derg’s acvivities against the people of Eritrea. It may make no claim to commentary about current events, but remembering history may help us identify when we’re repeating it.
Another striking theme of this novel is its portrayal of people on the move. Firstly, as mentioned before, Elen is actually a migrant in Eritrea, but she takes on the struggle of Eritrea’s peoples for independence. Additionally, towards the end of the book, Merhazion describes the fraught and dreadful flight of characters across the border in search of safety, how they are then able to begin a new life in another country. Without this journey, a family would have been wiped out (again reflecting the author’s own family history). While the novel may not have set out to do so, Merhazion’s sympathetic portrayal of lives remade—and her note at the end of the book—is a reminder that no one should ever be considered a stranger when they are in need.
Elen’s story is riveting, and *Born at the End of the World* is a deeply stirring and emotionally charged novel. It’s worth trying, but not necessary for the reading of the novel, to bone up on the region’s history for greater context, and to understand why conflict keeps flaring up. While Ethiopia and its surrounds never feel like they’re completely at peace, reading this novel about events sixty to seventy years ago at a time when it’s all relevant again feels quite shocking.
Conflict in Ethiopia and the region goes back generations. A recent novel, Ian MacKenzie’s *Nothing on Earth*, describes Ethiopia’s history rather romantically as “regal and violent, a saga of kingdoms rising and falling and entering into battle, highlanders storming and conquering the lowlands.” And of course the prospect of open civil war has been simmering since 2018, when Nobel Peace Prize winner Abiy Ahmed Ali took office.
The history of Ethiopia and states that have seceded, or that want to secede from it, is indeed an extremely complicated one. Eritrea was an Italian colony for decades, from 1885 to 1942, British rule until 1952, and then federal status under Ethiopia until 1962, when it was annexed. It finally won its independence after a thirty-year-long war in 1991. The Oromo people, while divided in their goals, also sometimes clash with the federal government. And Tigray, a region of Ethiopia that shares cultural and language ties with Eritrea, has remained restive since the most recent war by dissidents against the Ethiopian government in 2020-2022. Fighting has resumed yet again now, in late 2026, in Tigray; and Eritrea and Ethiopia are on the verge of war again.
Eritrean independence is the subject of a book reveiwed in The Continent earlier this year, [[I Hope You Find What You're Looking For - Bsrat Mezghebe]], and of this novel too. Donica Merhazion has woven her family’s history into the story of Elen. Set mostly in the 1960s and ‘70s, the novel begins with Elen fleeing her village at thirteen after her father arranges a marriage between her and a much older wealthy man. She goes to her aunt in Asmara who has modern views, including that children should not be married off. Elen also trusts her aunt to help her seek treatment for an abscess on her face. She ends up at a mission hospital, masquerading as an orphan so that she will not be made to pay for her medical care. Not only is her health restored, but Elen thrives in that environment and finds her feet. Once well again, she’s able to stand up to her parents about not returning to the village. Instead, through her aunt, she finds work as a waitress, and is soon absorbed into urban life.
Later, Elen has saved up enough money to set up a business—a bar—just at the time when Emperor Haile Selassie is overthrown, and Asmara becomes restive under the Derg. With Derg soldiers an increasing presence in Asmara, Elen’s bar becomes a place where they gather, and where Elen can pick up gossip to pass on to Eritrea’s freedom fighters. She soon makes herself indispensable, but this also attracts the attention of the paranoid local Derg officials, and Elen nearly pays with her life.
This is also a love story, not only for nation, but between a man and a woman. After some false starts, Elen meets the love of her life in a fellow freedom fighter and spy, Girmai. Although the novel’s POV switches between Elen and Girmai, this is mainly Elen’s story. Girmai serves mainly as her foil: a man with a different and perhaps more central role in Eritrea’s struggle, but it’s clear the couple complements one another.
This is the story of the formation of a family through the life of its future matriarch. Elen is caught up in a struggle that’s not, strictly speaking, hers. She’s Ethiopian, and Eritrea is her adopted country. But partly as an accident of circumstance, partly in gratitude to the place where she finds her own freedom—also now that she’s a mother, for her children’s future—Elen wants to do what she can for Eritrea’s independence. She’s arrested, and becomes a victim of the brutality the Derg visits on ordinary citizens—known as the Red Terror—particularly when they’re suspected of being politically active, but even when they’re not. Significantly, here Merhazion is telling the story of the torture of and atrocities specifically against a woman. She spares us none of the details of what Elen, now a mother, suffers in prison. (Like Elen, Merhazion’s mother was incarcerated in the notorious prison, Alem Bekagn.) These passages about Elen’s experiences are extremely difficult to read, and sometimes quite graphic; but these things happened to real people at the time. It feels important not to look away from any of it. And so this novel, while partly fictional, serves as social history, a record of important oral and personal history of the Derg’s acvivities against the people of Eritrea. It may make no claim to commentary about current events, but remembering history may help us identify when we’re repeating it.
Another striking theme of this novel is its portrayal of people on the move. Firstly, as mentioned before, Elen is actually a migrant in Eritrea, but she takes on the struggle of Eritrea’s peoples for independence. Additionally, towards the end of the book, Merhazion describes the fraught and dreadful flight of characters across the border in search of safety, how they are then able to begin a new life in another country. Without this journey, a family would have been wiped out (again reflecting the author’s own family history). While the novel may not have set out to do so, Merhazion’s sympathetic portrayal of lives remade—and her note at the end of the book—is a reminder that no one should ever be considered a stranger when they are in need.
Elen’s story is riveting, and *Born at the End of the World* is a deeply stirring and emotionally charged novel. It’s worth trying, but not necessary for the reading of the novel, to bone up on the region’s history for greater context, and to understand why conflict keeps flaring up. While Ethiopia and its surrounds never feel like they’re completely at peace, reading this novel about events sixty to seventy years ago at a time when it’s all relevant again feels quite shocking.
October 11, 2026
I picked up this book blind, not knowing what to expect, and it completely swept me off my feet. It is set against the backdrop of the Ethiopian-Eritrean war, the occupation of Eritrea and the Derg regime. The story follows Elen, a thirteen-year-old girl from rural Ethiopia who is forced to marry as soon as she gets her first monthly period. Together with her friend, they run away to Asmara, where she begins to forge a life of her own. We are also introduced to Girmai, who, like Elen, ran away from home and finds himself in Asmara, where he too builds a life for himself. Their paths eventually cross amid revolutionary talks to overthrow the Derg regime, and from there, the espionage and romance begin.
This is a story of love, espionage and war. You get to experience the realities of fighting for freedom, the torture, and the killings inflicted on Eritreans under the Derg regime. It's heartbreaking, and there were moments when I had to sit with everything I was reading.
I loved how the author brings so much history to light. For the longest time, I always thought the major and only genesis of the occupation of Eritrea by Ethiopia was because of the Red Sea. Reading about the genesis of the Battle of Adwa gave me a better understanding of the animosity between the two countries. Seeing what both countries endured under the Derg regime was heartbreaking. I had never known what Eritrea experienced. What made this even sadder was seeing how happy people were when the Emperor was ousted, for they hoped for better days, only to find themselves living through some of the worst and most hellish periods of their lives.
And then there is the love story. I loved how the theme of love and romance came through, although a part of me felt so sad for Helen. I felt she was completely blindsided by Girmai’s final decision. This isn't a typo; there is Helen and Elen. I honestly felt she deserved so much more for enduring the pain of raising their children and holding the fort when he was fighting for liberation. As much as I feel sad for Helen, I cannot blame Girmai and Elen. They found love at the most bizarre time, and life is too short to spend it in misery with someone you no longer love. They endured so much, and sustained torture and pain with each other in mind, thinking of their moments together. I know I am not supposed to romanticize everything, but I can’t help it.
Reading this book felt like watching a James Bond movie. I was so immersed in the story. All in all, I absolutely loved this book. If you ever see me finish a book within 24 hours, know it was so GOOD. I will definitely recommend this book over and over again. Now I want to read more Eritrean literature.
This is a story of love, espionage and war. You get to experience the realities of fighting for freedom, the torture, and the killings inflicted on Eritreans under the Derg regime. It's heartbreaking, and there were moments when I had to sit with everything I was reading.
I loved how the author brings so much history to light. For the longest time, I always thought the major and only genesis of the occupation of Eritrea by Ethiopia was because of the Red Sea. Reading about the genesis of the Battle of Adwa gave me a better understanding of the animosity between the two countries. Seeing what both countries endured under the Derg regime was heartbreaking. I had never known what Eritrea experienced. What made this even sadder was seeing how happy people were when the Emperor was ousted, for they hoped for better days, only to find themselves living through some of the worst and most hellish periods of their lives.
And then there is the love story. I loved how the theme of love and romance came through, although a part of me felt so sad for Helen. I felt she was completely blindsided by Girmai’s final decision. This isn't a typo; there is Helen and Elen. I honestly felt she deserved so much more for enduring the pain of raising their children and holding the fort when he was fighting for liberation. As much as I feel sad for Helen, I cannot blame Girmai and Elen. They found love at the most bizarre time, and life is too short to spend it in misery with someone you no longer love. They endured so much, and sustained torture and pain with each other in mind, thinking of their moments together. I know I am not supposed to romanticize everything, but I can’t help it.
Reading this book felt like watching a James Bond movie. I was so immersed in the story. All in all, I absolutely loved this book. If you ever see me finish a book within 24 hours, know it was so GOOD. I will definitely recommend this book over and over again. Now I want to read more Eritrean literature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2026
There’s always a worry, when reviewing a book based on a family’s true story, that the writing will be bad or that the story is not as unique or interesting as the author thought. I’m delighted to report that Born at the End of the World is not such a book. Mostly set during the 1970s Ethiopian civil war and brutal Red Terror, the novel follows gutsy 13-year-old Elen, who flees her village rather than accept being married off to an older man, and teenage boy, Girmai, who is struggling to survive on the streets and ultimately becomes a successful businessman. Their stories come together when both join the underground freedom fighters trying to win Eritrean independence. Amid the danger and deceptions, they fall in love.
My grandfather, who was also in a political underground movement, said “you can either be a revolutionary or a family man.” We see why as these two – and their families – face ever-greater dangers and impossible decisions. The novel is unflinching in its description of the harshness of street life, the sacrifices required to be a revolutionary, and the horrors of interrogation rooms and deadly civil war prisons.
My only frustration with the book was not its fault because it merely follows what happened in real life. Girmai was married and the father of three when he met Elen. He does feel guilt over deceiving his wife, who, he acknowledges, is a good woman and has done nothing to deserve this. His betrayal of her made the story less emotionally satisfying. You know that even if both protagonists do somehow survive, there cannot be a fully happy ending. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book.
(NOTE: This review first appeared in the Historical Novel Society's book reviews section.)
My grandfather, who was also in a political underground movement, said “you can either be a revolutionary or a family man.” We see why as these two – and their families – face ever-greater dangers and impossible decisions. The novel is unflinching in its description of the harshness of street life, the sacrifices required to be a revolutionary, and the horrors of interrogation rooms and deadly civil war prisons.
My only frustration with the book was not its fault because it merely follows what happened in real life. Girmai was married and the father of three when he met Elen. He does feel guilt over deceiving his wife, who, he acknowledges, is a good woman and has done nothing to deserve this. His betrayal of her made the story less emotionally satisfying. You know that even if both protagonists do somehow survive, there cannot be a fully happy ending. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book.
(NOTE: This review first appeared in the Historical Novel Society's book reviews section.)
June 21, 2026
Now that's how you write historical fiction!!!!
I saw this book a while ago and got so intrigued by the synopsis.
I picked it up because I wanted to learn a bit about Ethiopia
Anyway.... the first half of the book was giving more fiction than historical and they almost lost my interest.... now the second part....it made the first half sensible
Donica is raw, emotional, logical and factual in her plot description.
I could picture the places the people and setting and this helped me elevate my reading experience.
It is so bold to tell such a story that is personal yet extremely brave and courageous.
To put yourself out there In this crude way.... ah I stan😭
The ending of the book had me crying soo bad( I should stop reading books in public 😂)
The moment I started the author's note at the end of the book...waa apo ndio walinikamata
Based on a true story of Donica and how she got the courage to share this part of her life....wacha tu
The only thing I would do in faulting the read is that I found the characters one too many (though they were given depth) so I would easily let that pass plus they kept getting 'dropped' as we picked up more during the plot
Elen is such a strong character and I admire her for her bravery!!!
The historical part got me so interested in Derg(Ethiopia) - Eritrea struggle and I can't wait to discover more of it through a million documentaries 😂
Donica gave an interesting individual and political POV of the 'struggle' and I loved how she blurred the lines between both.
Kwa kifupi, go read this book 🫵NOW!!!
I saw this book a while ago and got so intrigued by the synopsis.
I picked it up because I wanted to learn a bit about Ethiopia
Anyway.... the first half of the book was giving more fiction than historical and they almost lost my interest.... now the second part....it made the first half sensible
Donica is raw, emotional, logical and factual in her plot description.
I could picture the places the people and setting and this helped me elevate my reading experience.
It is so bold to tell such a story that is personal yet extremely brave and courageous.
To put yourself out there In this crude way.... ah I stan😭
The ending of the book had me crying soo bad( I should stop reading books in public 😂)
The moment I started the author's note at the end of the book...waa apo ndio walinikamata
Based on a true story of Donica and how she got the courage to share this part of her life....wacha tu
The only thing I would do in faulting the read is that I found the characters one too many (though they were given depth) so I would easily let that pass plus they kept getting 'dropped' as we picked up more during the plot
Elen is such a strong character and I admire her for her bravery!!!
The historical part got me so interested in Derg(Ethiopia) - Eritrea struggle and I can't wait to discover more of it through a million documentaries 😂
Donica gave an interesting individual and political POV of the 'struggle' and I loved how she blurred the lines between both.
Kwa kifupi, go read this book 🫵NOW!!!
September 17, 2026
Born at the End of the World was not an easy read, but it was an important one.
Set largely in Asmara, Eritrea, during the violence of the Derg regime, the novel follows a family trying to hold onto one another while the country around them is being torn apart by war, surveillance, fear and impossible choices. What makes the story even more affecting is knowing that Donica Merhazion drew from the experiences of her own parents.
There were chapters I genuinely had to put down and come back to. The brutality is harrowing, and the weight of what these characters endure stayed with me for days afterwards. But that discomfort is also part of why I think this book matters.
What moved me most was the way Merhazion makes history feel deeply personal. Events that can so easily be reduced to dates, regimes and political movements become the lived experiences of ordinary people: parents, children, partners and friends trying to love each other, protect each other and decide what they are willing to risk. It reminded me that behind every historical event are people whose stories may never make it into the history books.
This is a story about survival, resistance, family, love and the complicated meaning of home. It is painful in places, but also full of humanity.
I came away from it knowing more about a history I had not encountered enough, and thinking about the people at the centre of it long after I closed the book. For a debut novel, that feels particularly remarkable.
I hope more people find this book. It deserves to be read, discussed and passed along.
Set largely in Asmara, Eritrea, during the violence of the Derg regime, the novel follows a family trying to hold onto one another while the country around them is being torn apart by war, surveillance, fear and impossible choices. What makes the story even more affecting is knowing that Donica Merhazion drew from the experiences of her own parents.
There were chapters I genuinely had to put down and come back to. The brutality is harrowing, and the weight of what these characters endure stayed with me for days afterwards. But that discomfort is also part of why I think this book matters.
What moved me most was the way Merhazion makes history feel deeply personal. Events that can so easily be reduced to dates, regimes and political movements become the lived experiences of ordinary people: parents, children, partners and friends trying to love each other, protect each other and decide what they are willing to risk. It reminded me that behind every historical event are people whose stories may never make it into the history books.
This is a story about survival, resistance, family, love and the complicated meaning of home. It is painful in places, but also full of humanity.
I came away from it knowing more about a history I had not encountered enough, and thinking about the people at the centre of it long after I closed the book. For a debut novel, that feels particularly remarkable.
I hope more people find this book. It deserves to be read, discussed and passed along.
May 4, 2026
Beginning with a newly-minted woman's decision not to submit to an arranged marriage, this story builds on the alternative she chooses: a commitment to freedom and love. Elen escapes her home to the city where she learns from doctors and nurses at the hospital that treats her and from her aunt. With admiration for her dedicated and hardworking teachers, she responds to the Derg takeover of her new home. She aligns with the Eritrean resistance, where she meets Girmai. Imprisoned at different times, Elen and Girmai withstand torture to remain their loyal to each other and the cause until they reunite.
Patience characterizes the prose. Scenes of escape, hiding, covering secrets and tracks, direct the narrative toward an eventual release with suspense. Conversations show characters protecting their true feelings with code words and skilled acting. Elen and Girmai develop as pillars of strength and reserve rewarded at the end, demonstrating a heroism by which social change works. The book is a celebration of political movement in real time. The pace toggles between painstaking endurance of pain and moments of panic until a climax is an exhale of relief. The book is riveting from start to finish.
Patience characterizes the prose. Scenes of escape, hiding, covering secrets and tracks, direct the narrative toward an eventual release with suspense. Conversations show characters protecting their true feelings with code words and skilled acting. Elen and Girmai develop as pillars of strength and reserve rewarded at the end, demonstrating a heroism by which social change works. The book is a celebration of political movement in real time. The pace toggles between painstaking endurance of pain and moments of panic until a climax is an exhale of relief. The book is riveting from start to finish.
April 11, 2026
I just read this beautiful book almost in a single sitting.
From the very first pages, the book is utterly captivating.
It is difficult to fully capture just how powerful the experience of reading it was. The narrative is deeply moving—at times almost overwhelming. I was so absorbed in the story and its weight that there were moments when I realized I had been holding my breath.
What makes this work especially significant is its impact beyond the individual reader. It is not only a personal story. It’s a book that can help young readers of Eritrean and Ethiopian descent better understand their heritage and the strength of the people who came before them.
This is, without question, a courageous and generous work. It feels like a gift: to the author’s family, to the community, and to every reader who encounters it. The vulnerability and effort behind its creation are evident, and they make the book all the more meaningful.
A truly unforgettable read.
From the very first pages, the book is utterly captivating.
It is difficult to fully capture just how powerful the experience of reading it was. The narrative is deeply moving—at times almost overwhelming. I was so absorbed in the story and its weight that there were moments when I realized I had been holding my breath.
What makes this work especially significant is its impact beyond the individual reader. It is not only a personal story. It’s a book that can help young readers of Eritrean and Ethiopian descent better understand their heritage and the strength of the people who came before them.
This is, without question, a courageous and generous work. It feels like a gift: to the author’s family, to the community, and to every reader who encounters it. The vulnerability and effort behind its creation are evident, and they make the book all the more meaningful.
A truly unforgettable read.
Read
June 6, 2026Donica is such an outstanding African Woman writer, I dare say BORN AT THE END OF THE WORLD is my best book of the year 2026. Donica uses the non-chronological sequence, the reader will hardly predict what will happen in the next scene, leave alone the next Chapter.
I like how Donica, blends every stylistic device to drive the point home, Donica gives us the real definition of what peace really means in our communities.
This was my first Historical Fiction Genre of Novel to ever read and I liked it, so much.
I hope to see, the (ii) Series of the Book.
Grab a copy at your nearest Bookstore.
I like how Donica, blends every stylistic device to drive the point home, Donica gives us the real definition of what peace really means in our communities.
This was my first Historical Fiction Genre of Novel to ever read and I liked it, so much.
I hope to see, the (ii) Series of the Book.
Grab a copy at your nearest Bookstore.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I can't wait for others to get to read this book. If you are a looking for a book that is slow-paced and won't hold your attention... this is not it. I could not put it down and ended up finishing it in tears.
I absolutely loved the character development amidst an incredibly complex history that needs to be shared with more people (hence, another good reason for this story to be told).
It was an absolute privilege to get to preview a copy of this!
I absolutely loved the character development amidst an incredibly complex history that needs to be shared with more people (hence, another good reason for this story to be told).
It was an absolute privilege to get to preview a copy of this!
October 6, 2026
I am so glad I read this book. When I first picked it up I was reading it because it was the book club pick and didn’t expect to enjoy it. I was so wrong and pleasantly surprised by how much I learned, how much I enjoyed reading the story and even more by the fact that it was inspired by the author’s family’s story. It’s a book to read to educate oneself on the history of Eritrea during a particularly dark time.
April 11, 2026
This book was heart-wrenching, impassioned, uplifting, and based on a true story. I was excited to read this as I knew the premise, but not the content. I learned more about the Eritrea/Ethiopia issues than I'd known previously. I gained a huge respect for the political prisoners who lived in unimaginably difficult conditions.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
June 6, 2026
This is a beautiful tribute to the author's family. The rich descriptions draw you into the past and imagining yourself watching the plot unfold. The stories contained within the novel are each uniquely whole, while the connections across them over time makes you want to follow each of the characters' journey through the end. Highly recommended and can't wait to see what the author writes next.
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