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The Color of Mourning
Just as Margaret Atwoods’s
Handmaid’s Tale
prophesied a repressive dystopian future, Kim Dempster’s
The Color of Mourning
takes us on an intensely emotional journey into the very real world of today where women are confronted by fanatic religious fundamentalists in an existential fight for freedom.
Set in the war torn city of Raqqa during the Syrian civil war, Mourning is a story about love, loss, and the extraordinary strength women have when they are desperately fighting for their autonomy. Nooda, an intrepid journalist who is chronicling the harsh realities of the war, and her daughter Layal, a young woman who dreams of a better future, are repeatedly forced into excruciating situations as their family is torn apart.
Filled with raw emotion and vivid detail, Dempster’s Mourning is an unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience of women and their enduring fight for justice.
Set in the war torn city of Raqqa during the Syrian civil war, Mourning is a story about love, loss, and the extraordinary strength women have when they are desperately fighting for their autonomy. Nooda, an intrepid journalist who is chronicling the harsh realities of the war, and her daughter Layal, a young woman who dreams of a better future, are repeatedly forced into excruciating situations as their family is torn apart.
Filled with raw emotion and vivid detail, Dempster’s Mourning is an unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience of women and their enduring fight for justice.
292 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2025
7 people are currently reading
10752 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 6, 2025
This is a powerful novel set in the war torn city of Raqqa during the Syrian civil war. It's hard to believe this is the authors debut novel because it is so well written and emotional. I haven't read any books set during the Syrian civil war, and I learned so much about it while reading. It's so scary to think about it all. Especially during the times we're living in right now. A mother, Nooda, and her daughter, Layla, are fighting for their rights and autonomy just as we are here in our own country as we are heading down a path of autocracy. This was frightening to read although I couldn't put it down. The author writes so well that it's hard to not feel for these women as they feel so real. This would honestly make a great book club read as there would be much to discuss. This will be one that sticks with me!
Thank you to the publisher, author and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, author and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
July 12, 2025
This book packs a punch in a short amount of time. The women’s emotions were well depicted and made for a compelling read. I could feel their fear as the rules and laws changed rapidly. I like how Layal and Nooda adapted fast to try to keep their family out of harm’s way. The bravery they had really makes you think about the lengths you would go in that situation. It is a heavy read but I really enjoyed how the themes of survival and love came through.
Thank you @kim.dempster @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
Thank you @kim.dempster @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
November 15, 2025
The Color of Mourning by Kim Dempster. Thanks to @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
During the Syrian civil war, Layal and her family are caught under Islamic State jihadiam.
Amazing, heart pounding story; you’ll find this one hard to put down. It’s a fictional story, but based on reality and mirrors so many true accounts. Besides the excitement, I loved Layal’s relationship with her husband and how it showed the cognitive dissonance within his belief system. The story showed how individuals react differently to oppression. Layal and her mother showed strength and persistence. This particular line at the ending was chilling to me, and while open for interpretation led me to think about how our freedoms can be taken in an instant as well: “…. eyes drift to the newly hung pictures of Trump and Pence on the back wall behind him, and she wonders….”
The Color of Mourning is available now.
During the Syrian civil war, Layal and her family are caught under Islamic State jihadiam.
Amazing, heart pounding story; you’ll find this one hard to put down. It’s a fictional story, but based on reality and mirrors so many true accounts. Besides the excitement, I loved Layal’s relationship with her husband and how it showed the cognitive dissonance within his belief system. The story showed how individuals react differently to oppression. Layal and her mother showed strength and persistence. This particular line at the ending was chilling to me, and while open for interpretation led me to think about how our freedoms can be taken in an instant as well: “…. eyes drift to the newly hung pictures of Trump and Pence on the back wall behind him, and she wonders….”
The Color of Mourning is available now.
June 15, 2025
Set in the devastated Syrian city of Raqqa during the height of the civil war, The Color of Mourning follows the intertwined lives of Nooda, a courageous journalist determined to bear witness to the horrors of war, and her daughter Layal, a young woman with aspirations for a brighter, freer future. As religious fundamentalism tightens its grip on the region, mother and daughter face escalating threats to their freedom, safety, and family bonds. The novel captures the emotional and physical toll of life under an oppressive regime, offering a deeply human look at the consequences of extremism and the unyielding will of women to survive and resist.
November 17, 2025
The Color of Mourning is one of those rare books that grips you and does not let you go—not emotionally, not intellectually, not morally. Kim Dempster has crafted a sweeping, intimate, and unflinching portrait of a Syrian family whose lives are shattered and reshaped by war, extremism, and the cruel machinery of authoritarian power. What begins as a domestic moment around a backgammon board spirals into a harrowing tale of loss, resilience, and the devastating weight of choices no one should ever have to make.
This is not just a story about conflict; it is a story about women—their endurance, their pain, their power, and the quiet ways they hold humanity together when the world insists on tearing it apart.
Dempster writes with a cinematic eye and the emotional intelligence of someone who has lived inside these characters. The early chapters—particularly Jorem’s abduction—are masterclasses in tension. The sensory details, the slow-motion shock, and the fragile quiet after violence are rendered with heartbreaking precision.
The author doesn’t rush grief; she lets it unravel in stages—death, denial, shock, anger, bargaining, reflection, depression, acceptance—mirroring the book’s structure. This choice alone elevates the narrative beyond a typical war story.
Also, Nooda and Layal are unforgettable. Their mother-daughter dynamic is drawn with tenderness but also layered with fear, duty, and unspoken sacrifices. Their courage is quiet but monumental. Dempster succeeds in making them symbols without stripping them of humanity.
Many novels set in war zones fall into either sensationalism or oversanitization. The Color of Mourning avoids both. It paints the complexity of rebel factions, the contradictions of liberation, and the chaos of shifting power with refreshing clarity. Scenes of everyday survival—fetching water, hiding in bathrooms, searching for loved ones—carry more emotional weight than any battlefield spectacle.
Although set during the Syrian conflict, the book serves as a global warning. The foreword and thematic threads highlight how quickly rights—especially women’s rights—can be stripped when fanaticism and authoritarianism go unchallenged. Dempster is not preachy, but she is unmistakably urgent.
Although an interesting read, at the beginning, it was hard to follow as too many things were happening at once. We met all the main characters right from the first chapter with little to no backstory.
Also, Characters sometimes deliver political background in dialogue that reads more like a news report than natural speech. This is understandable. Dempster is painting context for an international audience—but it occasionally breaks immersion.
Some rebels and secondary figures feel symbolic rather than fully fleshed out. Given the breadth of the story, this isn't surprising, but a bit more nuance for side characters could strengthen the worldbuilding even more.
Kim Dempster has given us a story that is both intimate and global, tender and brutal, tragic and hopeful. The Color of Mourning stands as a reminder that behind every headline about war are real families, real dreams, and real love struggling to survive impossible circumstances.
If you appreciate works like The Kite Runner, A Woman Is No Man, Room, or The Book Thief, this novel will stay with you long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers of emotional literary fiction, those interested in Middle Eastern conflicts and feminist readers seeking stories of women’s resilience.
This is not just a story about conflict; it is a story about women—their endurance, their pain, their power, and the quiet ways they hold humanity together when the world insists on tearing it apart.
Dempster writes with a cinematic eye and the emotional intelligence of someone who has lived inside these characters. The early chapters—particularly Jorem’s abduction—are masterclasses in tension. The sensory details, the slow-motion shock, and the fragile quiet after violence are rendered with heartbreaking precision.
The author doesn’t rush grief; she lets it unravel in stages—death, denial, shock, anger, bargaining, reflection, depression, acceptance—mirroring the book’s structure. This choice alone elevates the narrative beyond a typical war story.
Also, Nooda and Layal are unforgettable. Their mother-daughter dynamic is drawn with tenderness but also layered with fear, duty, and unspoken sacrifices. Their courage is quiet but monumental. Dempster succeeds in making them symbols without stripping them of humanity.
Many novels set in war zones fall into either sensationalism or oversanitization. The Color of Mourning avoids both. It paints the complexity of rebel factions, the contradictions of liberation, and the chaos of shifting power with refreshing clarity. Scenes of everyday survival—fetching water, hiding in bathrooms, searching for loved ones—carry more emotional weight than any battlefield spectacle.
Although set during the Syrian conflict, the book serves as a global warning. The foreword and thematic threads highlight how quickly rights—especially women’s rights—can be stripped when fanaticism and authoritarianism go unchallenged. Dempster is not preachy, but she is unmistakably urgent.
Although an interesting read, at the beginning, it was hard to follow as too many things were happening at once. We met all the main characters right from the first chapter with little to no backstory.
Also, Characters sometimes deliver political background in dialogue that reads more like a news report than natural speech. This is understandable. Dempster is painting context for an international audience—but it occasionally breaks immersion.
Some rebels and secondary figures feel symbolic rather than fully fleshed out. Given the breadth of the story, this isn't surprising, but a bit more nuance for side characters could strengthen the worldbuilding even more.
Kim Dempster has given us a story that is both intimate and global, tender and brutal, tragic and hopeful. The Color of Mourning stands as a reminder that behind every headline about war are real families, real dreams, and real love struggling to survive impossible circumstances.
If you appreciate works like The Kite Runner, A Woman Is No Man, Room, or The Book Thief, this novel will stay with you long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers of emotional literary fiction, those interested in Middle Eastern conflicts and feminist readers seeking stories of women’s resilience.
March 12, 2025
Such a sad and beautiful story of strength and the horrors of the conflict in Syria. The writing was so good, it was a privilege to read!
August 9, 2025
The Color of Mourning by Kim Dempster is a must read.
This powerful novel is both emotional and empowering, shedding light on the horrors of war and the oppression of women through its compelling main characters.
The book had a profound impact on me, and it's astonishing that it's a debut novel as the writing is impressive.
A truly moving and unforgettable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon KDP for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This powerful novel is both emotional and empowering, shedding light on the horrors of war and the oppression of women through its compelling main characters.
The book had a profound impact on me, and it's astonishing that it's a debut novel as the writing is impressive.
A truly moving and unforgettable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon KDP for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for access to this book. It was such a compelling read. I learned much about the oppression of women in Syria. The book forewarns of how power corrupts and quickly strips women of freedom, identity, and will to survive. A frightening look back and forward.
May 29, 2025
This book is incredibly powerful and draws you in from the very first page. The bravery and courage these women find to survive the fear, uncertainty, and horrors that are happening is immeasurable and my heart wept for their circumstances and their lives irrevocably changed. Well-written and completely absorbing this novel created a very visceral reaction in me and should be a must read for everyone.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2025
The Color of Mourning is a powerful novel that describes the fallout that impacts ordinary people when fanatic believers in religious fundamentalism take over a society. Kim Dempster’s vivid writing will fully open the eyes of readers to the dangers that particularly affect women and girls when men, especially impressionable young men, are radicalized and subjugate their female counterparts.
The book is set in the Syrian city of Raqqa during 2011, during the conflict between the dictatorship of the ruling Assad regime versus dissident militant groups. The focus is on the Wassef family, which consists of Nooda, an independent journalist who surreptitiously reports to the outside world on local political conditions, her husband Jorem, a doctor, their son, Tarek, a college student, and their daughter Layal, who is about to leave for England where she will attend the London School of Economics. Tarek has secretly joined one of the rebel groups, and when the loyalist army comes looking for him, a series of heartbreaking and often violent events is set into motion.
The family is devastated by what is happening in their city and to people they know and care about, but circumstances will shift from bad to worse when the Assad loyalists leave Raqqa. The rebel groups are then defeated by ISIS, who completely take over with ever-expanding extremist policies that will completely strip women and girls of their freedoms and autonomy, creating nearly unlivable, oppressive, and often terrifying circumstances almost overnight. Nooda and Layal’s experiences are the focus of the novel’s narrative.
Dempster takes the reader deep into the physical environment through her vivid descriptions, and particularly into Nooda’s and Layal’s thoughts and emotions as they are subjected to their new reality. From such effective prose, the reader becomes one with the women, suffering each emotional blow and the feeling of being surrounded by the sad devastation of what must have once been a vibrant city.
This is a book for readers who want to understand the rapidly changing environment of the Middle East, especially as it affects women and girls, and their families. Just this year, the Assad regime was completely overthrown, and Syria is trying to re-emerge politically and morally. Undoubtedly, the new government is aware that the world is watching. This novel feels like an important explanatory prequel to those events.
This is not an easy read, as it is emotionally draining and often graphic in its depictions of the brutalities of ISIS. It is a novel for mature, serious readers, and it is most definitely not something to be read before bedtime. However, it is an excellent book, and I feel that I have gained a new understanding of the issues facing women and girls in countries and societies where they lack essential freedoms. The characters of Nooda and Layal were relatable and added a personal level of context to the news stories we read and hear every day. Highly recommended.
The book is set in the Syrian city of Raqqa during 2011, during the conflict between the dictatorship of the ruling Assad regime versus dissident militant groups. The focus is on the Wassef family, which consists of Nooda, an independent journalist who surreptitiously reports to the outside world on local political conditions, her husband Jorem, a doctor, their son, Tarek, a college student, and their daughter Layal, who is about to leave for England where she will attend the London School of Economics. Tarek has secretly joined one of the rebel groups, and when the loyalist army comes looking for him, a series of heartbreaking and often violent events is set into motion.
The family is devastated by what is happening in their city and to people they know and care about, but circumstances will shift from bad to worse when the Assad loyalists leave Raqqa. The rebel groups are then defeated by ISIS, who completely take over with ever-expanding extremist policies that will completely strip women and girls of their freedoms and autonomy, creating nearly unlivable, oppressive, and often terrifying circumstances almost overnight. Nooda and Layal’s experiences are the focus of the novel’s narrative.
Dempster takes the reader deep into the physical environment through her vivid descriptions, and particularly into Nooda’s and Layal’s thoughts and emotions as they are subjected to their new reality. From such effective prose, the reader becomes one with the women, suffering each emotional blow and the feeling of being surrounded by the sad devastation of what must have once been a vibrant city.
This is a book for readers who want to understand the rapidly changing environment of the Middle East, especially as it affects women and girls, and their families. Just this year, the Assad regime was completely overthrown, and Syria is trying to re-emerge politically and morally. Undoubtedly, the new government is aware that the world is watching. This novel feels like an important explanatory prequel to those events.
This is not an easy read, as it is emotionally draining and often graphic in its depictions of the brutalities of ISIS. It is a novel for mature, serious readers, and it is most definitely not something to be read before bedtime. However, it is an excellent book, and I feel that I have gained a new understanding of the issues facing women and girls in countries and societies where they lack essential freedoms. The characters of Nooda and Layal were relatable and added a personal level of context to the news stories we read and hear every day. Highly recommended.
October 18, 2025
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
😭 are looking for a book that’ll make you cry
☀️ loved A Thousand Splendid Suns
🎥 liked the movie Not Without My Daughter
📚 enjoy stories about war
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Just as Margaret Atwoods’s Handmaid’s Taleprophesied a repressive dystopian future, Kim Dempster’s The Color of Mourning takes us on an intensely emotional journey into the very real world of today where women are confronted by fanatic religious fundamentalists in an existential fight for freedom.
Set in the war torn city of Raqqa during the Syrian civil war, Mourning is a story about love, loss, and the extraordinary strength women have when they are desperately fighting for their autonomy. Nooda, an intrepid journalist who is chronicling the harsh realities of the war, and her daughter Layal, a young woman who dreams of a better future, are repeatedly forced into excruciating situations as their family is torn apart.
Filled with raw emotion and vivid detail, Dempster’s Mourning is an unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience of women and their enduring fight for justice.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a beautiful and moving story that felt so real. I wondered if I was reading a memoir of sorts. It reminded me a lot of the movie, Not Without My Daughter, which I absolutely loved, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this story as well. I was rooting for Layal throughout the entire story. She suffered so much abuse and mistreatment and it was difficult to read, but knowing that women like her actually suffered in this way made me push on. Their voices, even if fictionalized, needed to be heard.
😭 are looking for a book that’ll make you cry
☀️ loved A Thousand Splendid Suns
🎥 liked the movie Not Without My Daughter
📚 enjoy stories about war
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Just as Margaret Atwoods’s Handmaid’s Taleprophesied a repressive dystopian future, Kim Dempster’s The Color of Mourning takes us on an intensely emotional journey into the very real world of today where women are confronted by fanatic religious fundamentalists in an existential fight for freedom.
Set in the war torn city of Raqqa during the Syrian civil war, Mourning is a story about love, loss, and the extraordinary strength women have when they are desperately fighting for their autonomy. Nooda, an intrepid journalist who is chronicling the harsh realities of the war, and her daughter Layal, a young woman who dreams of a better future, are repeatedly forced into excruciating situations as their family is torn apart.
Filled with raw emotion and vivid detail, Dempster’s Mourning is an unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience of women and their enduring fight for justice.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a beautiful and moving story that felt so real. I wondered if I was reading a memoir of sorts. It reminded me a lot of the movie, Not Without My Daughter, which I absolutely loved, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this story as well. I was rooting for Layal throughout the entire story. She suffered so much abuse and mistreatment and it was difficult to read, but knowing that women like her actually suffered in this way made me push on. Their voices, even if fictionalized, needed to be heard.
December 2, 2025
Wow, what a debut.
We follow Nooda and Layal as they navigate their new normal during the invasion of Syria.
Kim did a fantastic job of walking us through the stages of grief; denial, shock, anger, bargaining, reflection, depression & acceptance - through the eyes of both characters.
This story was written so richly, thoroughly unpicking what happens when a war is started somewhere where you call home. I loved that with each new rule came an there was an additional piece of clothing the ladies had to wear, a further change that happened and the removal of these garments almost outwardly allowing each of the ladies to breathe until they had to go out into society again.
The way friendship and sisterhood was woven throughout was also done well. And when I read the last chapter I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief for Nooda and Layal.
Ola, at first I felt bad for her. Not having a stable upbringing and how this then manifested into the bad decisions she made and the power she craved at the expense of others.
Saad, and his conflicting feelings that led to him not being the man he could have been and ultimately leading to his demise.
All in all, this was a fabulous debut. I would recommend. It’s a slow starter, but once I was hooked I was hooked!
We follow Nooda and Layal as they navigate their new normal during the invasion of Syria.
Kim did a fantastic job of walking us through the stages of grief; denial, shock, anger, bargaining, reflection, depression & acceptance - through the eyes of both characters.
This story was written so richly, thoroughly unpicking what happens when a war is started somewhere where you call home. I loved that with each new rule came an there was an additional piece of clothing the ladies had to wear, a further change that happened and the removal of these garments almost outwardly allowing each of the ladies to breathe until they had to go out into society again.
The way friendship and sisterhood was woven throughout was also done well. And when I read the last chapter I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief for Nooda and Layal.
Ola, at first I felt bad for her. Not having a stable upbringing and how this then manifested into the bad decisions she made and the power she craved at the expense of others.
Saad, and his conflicting feelings that led to him not being the man he could have been and ultimately leading to his demise.
All in all, this was a fabulous debut. I would recommend. It’s a slow starter, but once I was hooked I was hooked!
October 18, 2025
With grace and sincerity, Dempster truly lifts the veil on women's survival within Syria’s civil war. Her care and concern for not just the story, but her characters (especially Layal and Nooda), show throughout the novel. I literally read this in one sitting! Then I re-read it, allowing the characters’ emotions to sink in, all the while taking the time to research the setting, the harrowing sights and the dangers her characters faced.
What an emotionally gutting, yet, ultimately encouraging and inspirational novel! I was so impressed with how Dempster was able to convey the grotesqueness of the brutalities her characters witnessed, yet allowing her readers to escape the graphicness of them.
Not only do I think that it would be great for book clubs (there is so much to discuss), but I feel that everyone should read this novel. We cannot become “desensitized, numb, unfeeling” to the atrocities of war and the inequities thrust upon women, for as Layal says, “If true, there is little hope of deliverance.” Many thanks to @kim.dempster and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What an emotionally gutting, yet, ultimately encouraging and inspirational novel! I was so impressed with how Dempster was able to convey the grotesqueness of the brutalities her characters witnessed, yet allowing her readers to escape the graphicness of them.
Not only do I think that it would be great for book clubs (there is so much to discuss), but I feel that everyone should read this novel. We cannot become “desensitized, numb, unfeeling” to the atrocities of war and the inequities thrust upon women, for as Layal says, “If true, there is little hope of deliverance.” Many thanks to @kim.dempster and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 21, 2025
A devastating yet incredibly powerful story of two women trying to survive amidst the civil war in Syria. As we are given a glimpse into life for many women caught in countries in similar conflicts, I was deeply moved, angered, and horrified by all these women had to endure.
This book gripped me and grabbed hold of my heart. While it does describe life under an oppressive regime, daily violence, and the rise of insurgent forces, the author's skillful storytelling interweaves the bonds of family and friendship, making it a story of not only war and terror but also one of humanity.
I was in awe of these women’s courage, determination, and bravery. It put many things in perspective for me. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the human experiences in war, particularly the struggles of women. This is an important and eye-opening read that will leave a lasting impact on you.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @kim.dempster for the gifted book.
July 3, 2025
During the Syrian Civil War, we follow a mother and daughter as theirs freedoms get stripped away pretty much overnight. It doesn’t matter that Nooda’s husband is an upstanding doctor treating anyone who is in need. Layal had dreams of schooling in London and a future for herself but that’s all been taken away. Her father is taken, her brother often is missing and the neighbor she often thought of as a sister can no longer be trusted. It’s each one on their own and when Layal is forced into a marriage things don’t seem so bad until they are. In survival mode she does all she can to try and get through each day. To get back to her heart broken mother. With their lives on the line they come up with a plan to escape to the Turkey border in hopes Nooda’s friend will be there. This was a very eye opening and somewhat scary read and the end of the book had my heart pounding! Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
August 10, 2025
Thank you to Kim Dempster and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is a debut novel and is excellent, whilst being harrowing, emotionally charged and thought provoking. I was hooked from the start, and became quickly invested in the main characters, mother and daughter Nooda and Layal. The Handmaid’s Tale kept springing to mind due to the parallels between the women’s terrible life experiences under a fundamentalist religious and military regime. I know this is a story, but it feels very genuine, and with Kim Dempster’s background I am sure it has a true basis in the sad reality for many women in this world. Sadly I know many of the experiences directly relating to living in a war torn country are being fully experienced by many thousands of people right now.
Although this is a really hard read at times, with some awful sections and some heart stopping ones, there are also inspiring moments too and I highly recommend this book to others.
This is a debut novel and is excellent, whilst being harrowing, emotionally charged and thought provoking. I was hooked from the start, and became quickly invested in the main characters, mother and daughter Nooda and Layal. The Handmaid’s Tale kept springing to mind due to the parallels between the women’s terrible life experiences under a fundamentalist religious and military regime. I know this is a story, but it feels very genuine, and with Kim Dempster’s background I am sure it has a true basis in the sad reality for many women in this world. Sadly I know many of the experiences directly relating to living in a war torn country are being fully experienced by many thousands of people right now.
Although this is a really hard read at times, with some awful sections and some heart stopping ones, there are also inspiring moments too and I highly recommend this book to others.
July 9, 2025
Wow—this debut hit hard. The Color of Mourning is a powerful, eye-opening read that dives into the lives of women in Syria during the civil war—something I admittedly knew little about. Through Nooda and her daughter Layal, we witness the heartbreak, fear, strength, and sheer will to survive in a world turned upside down by extremism. These women are forced to adapt, resist, and sometimes even fight back in ways that are deeply moving and incredibly human.
Kim Dempster doesn’t just tell a story—she puts the reader into the nightmare without ever feeling heavy-handed. The writing is vivid and emotionally gripping, and the characters will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a tough read, but an important one—and it reminds us that resilience can look like a whisper, a protest, or a mother protecting her child in the face of horror. Highly recommend this one for anyone ready to be both informed and inspired.
Kim Dempster doesn’t just tell a story—she puts the reader into the nightmare without ever feeling heavy-handed. The writing is vivid and emotionally gripping, and the characters will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a tough read, but an important one—and it reminds us that resilience can look like a whisper, a protest, or a mother protecting her child in the face of horror. Highly recommend this one for anyone ready to be both informed and inspired.
October 8, 2025
Kim Dempster, the Author of “The Color of Mourning” has written a memorable and thought-provoking Historical Fiction Novel. This is a difficult, deep, distressing and dark read about women, and how women “confronted by fanatic religious fundamentalists in an existential fight for freedom”( Amazon) This takes place in the city of Raqqa during the Syrian Civil War. The author vividly describes the dark, complex and complicated characters. Any kind of war is tragic and has devastating consequences. One of the characters is a journalist who is secretly writing to a friend, to expose what is going on. It is disturbing to read how women’s identities seem to be discarded, through use of garments for religious observance, and forced marriage. The author does leave a feeling of hope, when women of various cultures, understand and can fight this evil.
October 19, 2025
This was such a hard read. The civil war in Syria is so very real. Seeing it from the eyes of Layal and Nooda makes it much more personal.
If we didn't have the viewpoint of the main female characters, it wouldn't have hit so hard. I also think that with current events, it makes it more difficult.
I could not put this book down; I had to know everything. I had to know what happened next. Did these women ever make it to safety? Were they ever going to be safe?
This shows such a harsh reality that no one thinks of. I am so glad that Kim Dempster has provided this book as insight into the world of civil war. Women are so strong, and they are just as much a part of history as the men fighting in the wars. Kim provides this viewpoint, and I will be forever grateful that I have read this book.
Thank you, Kim!
If we didn't have the viewpoint of the main female characters, it wouldn't have hit so hard. I also think that with current events, it makes it more difficult.
I could not put this book down; I had to know everything. I had to know what happened next. Did these women ever make it to safety? Were they ever going to be safe?
This shows such a harsh reality that no one thinks of. I am so glad that Kim Dempster has provided this book as insight into the world of civil war. Women are so strong, and they are just as much a part of history as the men fighting in the wars. Kim provides this viewpoint, and I will be forever grateful that I have read this book.
Thank you, Kim!
May 25, 2025
I've read Kim Dempster's novel twice - something I rarely do.
However I simply wanted to re-experience the emotional weight of this literary piece.
By that I mean how easy it was to climb into the story and 'live' with these women throughout their struggle.
It opened my eyes and my heart to a reality I had never thought about and the writer's deep rich storytelling drew me back in immediately.
This time I knew the ending, but it didn't for a minute take away from the lovely prose, the journey I embarked upon and how moved I was by an extraordinary tale of struggle and triumph in a far off land - all of it happening to ordinary people.
Bravo and thank you to the writer for broadening my view in the most satisfying way.
However I simply wanted to re-experience the emotional weight of this literary piece.
By that I mean how easy it was to climb into the story and 'live' with these women throughout their struggle.
It opened my eyes and my heart to a reality I had never thought about and the writer's deep rich storytelling drew me back in immediately.
This time I knew the ending, but it didn't for a minute take away from the lovely prose, the journey I embarked upon and how moved I was by an extraordinary tale of struggle and triumph in a far off land - all of it happening to ordinary people.
Bravo and thank you to the writer for broadening my view in the most satisfying way.
October 19, 2025
The Color of Mourning is a wonderful work of fiction with a very important message. Some months ago I kept coming across this book in various places and knew deep down that maybe I should read it. Then I was offered the opportunity and I knew that saying yes was the best option and I am super thankful that I took the time to read it.
This book shows how conflict can get out of control when not taken seriously. While this doesn't happen everywhere but when it does happen it is very tragic. I admire Kim for weaving a tale filled with demographical facts and creating the backstories of some interesting characters. I believe that The Color of Mourning is a book everyone should read because it is a real eye opener to issues in the world.
This book shows how conflict can get out of control when not taken seriously. While this doesn't happen everywhere but when it does happen it is very tragic. I admire Kim for weaving a tale filled with demographical facts and creating the backstories of some interesting characters. I believe that The Color of Mourning is a book everyone should read because it is a real eye opener to issues in the world.
July 3, 2025
The Color of Mourning by Kim Dempster is a heart-breaking story set during the Civil War in Syria.
The story follows a mother and daughter amongst others lose their freedoms.
No one is safe from the emotional and physical casualties of the war. Friends who were friends, are no longer. Everyone can only trust themselves.
This story was sad, and very eye opening. The author does a fantastic job of creating the atmosphere for the atrocities that were taking place.
This story was an adventure of a read.
Well written and yet another sad piece of history and the reminder of the strength of the people that have had to endure it.
The story follows a mother and daughter amongst others lose their freedoms.
No one is safe from the emotional and physical casualties of the war. Friends who were friends, are no longer. Everyone can only trust themselves.
This story was sad, and very eye opening. The author does a fantastic job of creating the atmosphere for the atrocities that were taking place.
This story was an adventure of a read.
Well written and yet another sad piece of history and the reminder of the strength of the people that have had to endure it.
July 10, 2025
I was a little worried about reading this novel now, given the current climate, but I trusted the early reviews and am glad I did. The Color of Mourning is an important look into the repression of women under the Assad regime in Syria. It’s about religious zealotry and fundamentalism. The characters feel very real. It’s shared in a page-turning fashion as well.
Overall, I was inspired by the brave and bold characters and thoroughly immersed in this most important story.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Overall, I was inspired by the brave and bold characters and thoroughly immersed in this most important story.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 15, 2025
I read once that the hellscapes presented in dystopian novels like Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Divergent weren’t far off from things that actually happened to black and brown bodies in history.
This book, and its deeply traumatic truths, bears witness to that.
It’s our job, as pasty folk, not to look away.
While fiction, The Colour of Mourning weaves together three all-too-real stories of fear and heartbreak and inequality.
I can’t say I loved the story, but I loved the writing, the characters, and the themes of family, endurance, hope, and ending (THE ENDING!) was perfection.
Also: Why doesn’t the author have more of a back catalogue? Ridiculous! lol
This book, and its deeply traumatic truths, bears witness to that.
It’s our job, as pasty folk, not to look away.
While fiction, The Colour of Mourning weaves together three all-too-real stories of fear and heartbreak and inequality.
I can’t say I loved the story, but I loved the writing, the characters, and the themes of family, endurance, hope, and ending (THE ENDING!) was perfection.
Also: Why doesn’t the author have more of a back catalogue? Ridiculous! lol
July 28, 2025
It's interesting that Kim Dempster's powerful novel about the civil war in Syria is listed as historical fiction since the novel ends in 2017, when our main characters, a mother and daughter arrive at O'Hare airport and see Trump and Pence's photos on the wall. The Assad Regime finally ended in December 2024, yet the violence and instability remain today, with refugees starving and unable to safely relocate. Dempster's novel gives readers and intimate portrayal of how, in particular, the lives of women have been so harshly, and how they have been viewed as commodities to their oppressors. The novel begins with a father, a doctor, who didn't try to relocate their family when there seemed to be a safe opening for escape, and he is removed from the home, and their college-aged son's campus that was destroyed by missiles, becomes the "man of the house," and finds it impossible to find work to feed his family. Their mother, a journalist, risks her life by keeping her cell phone so she can report to the rest of the world the horrors that are happening, and their young daughter is forced to marry an oppressor. It's a fast-paced novel filled with the horrors of war.
September 23, 2025
One of my favourite books of 2025.
The heartbreaking story of a Syrian family, experiencing the joy of the removal of Assad as the Syrian president, onto the subsequent ruling by the terrorist group, the Islamist state.
The fast descent, for the main character, from plans to go to university in London to having to become virtually invisible in her community is shocking, yet believable.
The main characters are well-drawn, and you feel sorrow for all of them. The story is well written and moves at a fast pace.
I would say this is recommended reading for everyone.
The heartbreaking story of a Syrian family, experiencing the joy of the removal of Assad as the Syrian president, onto the subsequent ruling by the terrorist group, the Islamist state.
The fast descent, for the main character, from plans to go to university in London to having to become virtually invisible in her community is shocking, yet believable.
The main characters are well-drawn, and you feel sorrow for all of them. The story is well written and moves at a fast pace.
I would say this is recommended reading for everyone.
October 26, 2025
Taking place in the civil war of Syria, mother Nooda (a journalist) and daughter Layal must navigate every changing regulations for women that are being thrust upon them. Losing their husband/father never to be seen again and a son/brother joining as a soldier the side he feels is in the right, they will fight in their own way.
This novel pulled at my heart so much. The atrocities of an ISIS state and the horrible treatment of everyone, most especially women, made me more angry as the story unfolds. But Layal and Nooda have this quiet strength that is a sight to behold.
This novel pulled at my heart so much. The atrocities of an ISIS state and the horrible treatment of everyone, most especially women, made me more angry as the story unfolds. But Layal and Nooda have this quiet strength that is a sight to behold.
November 9, 2025
THE COLOR OF MOURNING is an interesting work of historical fiction. The setting is in Syria in 2011. This is the first book that I have read that is set in the middle east. Very unique and eye opening. I also thought it was very well written and would read this author again in the future.
Many thanks to Kim Dempster for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Many thanks to Kim Dempster for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
June 11, 2025
The Color of Mourning is a fast-paced story that offers a powerful glimpse into the lives of women surviving in starkly different ways under the Assad regime in Syria and the brutal grip of ISIS. The mother-daughter relationship between journalist Nooda and hopeful Layal grounded me as a reader in the intimate impacts of State oppression and religious zealotry. Layal’s character is especially compelling as she navigates her ever-shifting future prospects (foreign student, militant's wife) and the radicalization of people close to her. I also appreciated the diversity of women's experiences included in the novel--it helped avoid formulaic traps. In short, Kim Dempster’s novel highlights women’s resilience and efforts to reclaim control over their lives even in the harshest of circumstances.
June 20, 2025
This story centers on the ordeal of Layal, as she escapes child marriage and persecution in the war-torn country of Syria, to start a new life with her mother overseas. A relatable story indicating the resilience and hardships of women throughout their daily lives in such countries. Kudos to the author! I recommend this to all readers interested in fiction.
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