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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 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 3, 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.
April 11, 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 29, 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.
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 ��гадується 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 ��гадується 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Born at the End of the World is a sweeping and emotionally charged novel that brings history to life through deeply human storytelling. Donica Merhazion masterfully traces the intertwined journeys of Elen and Girmai from vulnerable adolescence to courageous adulthood, grounding their personal growth in the brutal political realities of 1970s Ethiopia and Eritrea. The historical backdrop is rendered with urgency and respect, giving weight to a story rooted in real events and real suffering.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its balance of intimacy and масштаб, love and patriotism, fear and defiance, sacrifice and hope. Elen and Girmai’s commitment to justice, even at great personal cost, lends the story moral power, while their relationship adds emotional depth and tenderness. Based on true events, this is a moving and unforgettable narrative of courage and resistance that deserves a wide and engaged readership.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its balance of intimacy and масштаб, love and patriotism, fear and defiance, sacrifice and hope. Elen and Girmai’s commitment to justice, even at great personal cost, lends the story moral power, while their relationship adds emotional depth and tenderness. Based on true events, this is a moving and unforgettable narrative of courage and resistance that deserves a wide and engaged readership.
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.
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!
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.
April 16, 2026
This book is is inspiration. Apart from that it’s thrilling and filled with suspense. It��s a kind of book I’m sure most people will enjoy
April 28, 2026
It's nice
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