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Fierceland
After many years abroad, Roz and Harun return to Malaysian Borneo for the funeral of their father Yusuf – and to reckon with their inheritance. A renowned palm-oil baron during Malaysia’s economic rise, Yusuf built the family’s immense wealth by destroying huge tracts of rainforest. What his children know is that he was also responsible for the violent disappearance of a man who stood in his way.
Harun has become a successful tech entrepreneur in Los Angeles, Roz is an artist struggling to stay afloat in Sydney. Now they want to return something their father stole from the forests of their homeland. In their quest for redemption they grapple with the legacy of power and corruption, dreamers and exiles, thugs and zealots. Most dangerous of all, they are haunted – by the ghosts of colonialism, the ghosts of family, the ghosts of language, and the ghosts of the forest itself.
A trailblazing journey across the globe, Fierceland weaves the past and the present into an emotionally powerful family saga that plays out at a mythical scale.
Harun has become a successful tech entrepreneur in Los Angeles, Roz is an artist struggling to stay afloat in Sydney. Now they want to return something their father stole from the forests of their homeland. In their quest for redemption they grapple with the legacy of power and corruption, dreamers and exiles, thugs and zealots. Most dangerous of all, they are haunted – by the ghosts of colonialism, the ghosts of family, the ghosts of language, and the ghosts of the forest itself.
A trailblazing journey across the globe, Fierceland weaves the past and the present into an emotionally powerful family saga that plays out at a mythical scale.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
29 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
About the author
Omar Musa
17 books84 followersOmar Musa is a Malaysian-Australian rapper and poet from Queanbeyan,
Australia. He is the former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and
the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam. He has released three hip hop albums,
two poetry books (including "Parang"), appeared on ABC's Q&A and
received a standing ovation at TEDx Sydney at the Sydney Opera House.
His debut novel "Here Come the Dogs" was published by Penguin Australia in July 2014.
Australia. He is the former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and
the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam. He has released three hip hop albums,
two poetry books (including "Parang"), appeared on ABC's Q&A and
received a standing ovation at TEDx Sydney at the Sydney Opera House.
His debut novel "Here Come the Dogs" was published by Penguin Australia in July 2014.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 25, 2025
This started out really strong for me - the setting and folklore of Malaysian Borneo both drew me in and held me captivated during the first part of the book. But when Roz and Harun were reintroduced as adults at the time of their father's death, in Australia and the USA respectively, I struggled to remain engaged. There were some really interesting ideas (I have heard Omar Musa talking about the real-life project of his wife's, recording the sound of the sap in the trees) and I also enjoyed the device used to pull the reader along through the story - a Venetian glass bead that changes hands many times over several generations. Overall I'm glad I read it, but I thought I would have liked it more.
Narration of the audiobook was entirely competent and suited to the story and characters, but I think I grew a bit weary of listening to the broken English after a while. I may have liked it more if I'd read a text edition.
Narration of the audiobook was entirely competent and suited to the story and characters, but I think I grew a bit weary of listening to the broken English after a while. I may have liked it more if I'd read a text edition.
November 6, 2025
The one review I have read of Fierceland thought the book was about something entirely different from what I thought it was about, and that, I think, is testament to how rich, lush, and multilayed this book is. Musa gives us a sprawling family epic, through the lives of two siblings. And through them, we see the towering image of their complex father, a shifting mother, and an over-the-top aunt. And through these characters, we see the stories of migration, of modernisation in Borneo, of living through 9/11 as a muslim, and the painful, tight bonds of family and how we can choose to keep or cut. All this presents like the forest at the heart of the story, a gorgeous tangle, which the closer you explore the more pattern and detail you see.
September 23, 2025
" Fierceland" by Omar Musa isn't just a novel you read; it's a world you step into. The story follows siblings Roz and Harun as they return to their ancestral home in Malaysian Borneo after their father's death, a journey that’s meant to be about settling his affairs but becomes a profound reckoning with their past and identity. Musa’s narrative is a masterclass in weaving the personal with the political, making a powerful statement about family, land, and the devastating cost of progress.
What immediately grabbed me was Musa's poetic and vivid prose. He paints the rainforest not as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing entity, full of secrets and stories. You can almost feel the humid air and hear the buzz of the insects. This rich, sensory detail serves a larger purpose: it underscores the beauty and fragility of a land under siege. Musa doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of palm oil plantations and the destruction of indigenous homes, but he handles these tough subjects with a poetic grace that is both heartbreaking and essential. This book is a gut-wrenching elegy for a disappearing world and a poignant celebration of the resilience of those fighting to save it.
Beyond the environmental themes, the true heart of this novel lies in the raw, honest portrayal of Roz and Harun’s relationship. Their dynamic is so real—full of unspoken resentments, shared grief, and the complicated love that only siblings can understand. Through their journey, Musa explores the lingering trauma of a fragmented family and the weight of a legacy they never asked for. It made me reflect on my own family’s history and the unwritten stories we all carry. Fierceland is a reminder that healing isn't a linear process; it's about confronting the ghosts of the past to find a way forward.
This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to connect us to both the world and ourselves. It’s an immersive, moving experience that stays with you, forcing you to think about what we inherit, what we choose to protect, and the deep, profound connection between personal histories and the land we call home.
What immediately grabbed me was Musa's poetic and vivid prose. He paints the rainforest not as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing entity, full of secrets and stories. You can almost feel the humid air and hear the buzz of the insects. This rich, sensory detail serves a larger purpose: it underscores the beauty and fragility of a land under siege. Musa doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of palm oil plantations and the destruction of indigenous homes, but he handles these tough subjects with a poetic grace that is both heartbreaking and essential. This book is a gut-wrenching elegy for a disappearing world and a poignant celebration of the resilience of those fighting to save it.
Beyond the environmental themes, the true heart of this novel lies in the raw, honest portrayal of Roz and Harun’s relationship. Their dynamic is so real—full of unspoken resentments, shared grief, and the complicated love that only siblings can understand. Through their journey, Musa explores the lingering trauma of a fragmented family and the weight of a legacy they never asked for. It made me reflect on my own family’s history and the unwritten stories we all carry. Fierceland is a reminder that healing isn't a linear process; it's about confronting the ghosts of the past to find a way forward.
This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to connect us to both the world and ourselves. It’s an immersive, moving experience that stays with you, forcing you to think about what we inherit, what we choose to protect, and the deep, profound connection between personal histories and the land we call home.
November 29, 2025
4.5 🌟
This is a rating born of both emotion and appreciation. A novel set in contemporary (pre covid) kota kinabalu! And post 9/11 muslim existence in the western world!
The descriptions of borneo evoke familiarity and electric aliveness in their precision. The family story was heartbreaking - the relationship between the siblings so choked and full of love and contempt.
Sometimes the prose felt a bit too expository, but i think that is a difficult line to tread. I appreciated the untranslated melayu. Some of the characters remained mysteries - Susan/Jenab, crazy auntie.
Epic in scope, much to chew on - the cursed murrina? The literal hauntings? The 🦉 feathers and abah? - and much to laugh out loud at - the artist manifestos (!!!)
What a novel.
This is a rating born of both emotion and appreciation. A novel set in contemporary (pre covid) kota kinabalu! And post 9/11 muslim existence in the western world!
The descriptions of borneo evoke familiarity and electric aliveness in their precision. The family story was heartbreaking - the relationship between the siblings so choked and full of love and contempt.
Sometimes the prose felt a bit too expository, but i think that is a difficult line to tread. I appreciated the untranslated melayu. Some of the characters remained mysteries - Susan/Jenab, crazy auntie.
Epic in scope, much to chew on - the cursed murrina? The literal hauntings? The 🦉 feathers and abah? - and much to laugh out loud at - the artist manifestos (!!!)
What a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
Brilliant!!!! Love this book so much. It’s beautifully written, and more than engaging. It’s truly captivating with its changing literary and artistic styles, challenging and evolving through strong multidimensional characters and layers of history. This book exceeded my expectations!
September 24, 2025
Fierceland by Omar Musa is one of those rare books that completely takes you by surprise. You think you’re just settling in for just a story but instead, Musa hands you something raw, haunting, and unforgettable. It’s not just a novel you read, it’s one you feel deep in your bones.
The story follows siblings Roz and Harun, who return to their ancestral home in Borneo for their father’s funeral. But this is no simple homecoming. What unfolds is a reckoning with family, with drama, with grief, with the brutal legacy of a father’s empire built on the exploitation of the rainforest and the deep scars of colonialism. Musa doesn’t shy away from the messy stuff: guilt, inherited trauma, and the stories we’re forced to carry whether we want to or not.
And I found the writing just breathtaking. You can tell Musa is talented. Every line hums with rhythm and emotion. The rainforest itself pulses through the book as more than just a setting it becomes a character that breathes, aches, and remembers.
One of the standouts for me was the “Crazy Auntie.” You know that saying about the “madwoman” being the only sane one? That’s her. She’s layered, sharp, and unforgettable exactly the kind of character that lingers long after you’ve finished just like this book!
Fierceland isn’t an easy read, but it’s a necessary one. Bold, layered, and fiercely original, it challenges you to sit with its discomfort and walk away changed. If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t just tell a story but says something this is it.
Huge thanks to @penguinbookssea @chai_n_books and @arii_reads_ for the ARC, and happy publication day to Omar Musa!
The story follows siblings Roz and Harun, who return to their ancestral home in Borneo for their father’s funeral. But this is no simple homecoming. What unfolds is a reckoning with family, with drama, with grief, with the brutal legacy of a father’s empire built on the exploitation of the rainforest and the deep scars of colonialism. Musa doesn’t shy away from the messy stuff: guilt, inherited trauma, and the stories we’re forced to carry whether we want to or not.
And I found the writing just breathtaking. You can tell Musa is talented. Every line hums with rhythm and emotion. The rainforest itself pulses through the book as more than just a setting it becomes a character that breathes, aches, and remembers.
One of the standouts for me was the “Crazy Auntie.” You know that saying about the “madwoman” being the only sane one? That’s her. She’s layered, sharp, and unforgettable exactly the kind of character that lingers long after you’ve finished just like this book!
Fierceland isn’t an easy read, but it’s a necessary one. Bold, layered, and fiercely original, it challenges you to sit with its discomfort and walk away changed. If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t just tell a story but says something this is it.
Huge thanks to @penguinbookssea @chai_n_books and @arii_reads_ for the ARC, and happy publication day to Omar Musa!
September 26, 2025
Fierceland- Omar Musa
What brilliant writing! I couldn’t stop thinking of the story. Once I started, I was hooked on the premise. I won’t stop thinking about it for a while. I could see how the author penned through poetry and Malay slang, that was so unique.
Roz and Harun, the sibling duo, return back to Malaysian Borneo for the funeral of their father, Yusuf, and settle his inheritance. Their father is a powerful palm oil baron. Roz is an artist and lives in Sydney. Harun is a tech entrepreneur in LA. They want to give back what their inherited wealth is. The story unfolds in two timelines weaving through the history of the land Sabah and Malaysian rise.
What I loved the most was the poetic way of describing the story of the destruction of the forest, political history, and land theft. It never hides to speak of the truth. While reading, my mind was telling me that even now people are destroying forests in the name of betterment. One of the endangered species will disappear without a trace. That’s what I felt when reading. I vividly pictured the Borneo forest; it was mesmerizing. I have always dreamt of living in a forest. Crazy auntie, I loved her the most, who never backed off from speaking the truth.
I can’t stop recommending this beauty to everyone who loves the historical genre. But a book that holds us to think, pause and reflect throughout the book. A powerful read that lingers with us forever.
Thank u for sending the ARC copy @penguinbookssea @arii_reads_ @chai_n_books
What brilliant writing! I couldn’t stop thinking of the story. Once I started, I was hooked on the premise. I won’t stop thinking about it for a while. I could see how the author penned through poetry and Malay slang, that was so unique.
Roz and Harun, the sibling duo, return back to Malaysian Borneo for the funeral of their father, Yusuf, and settle his inheritance. Their father is a powerful palm oil baron. Roz is an artist and lives in Sydney. Harun is a tech entrepreneur in LA. They want to give back what their inherited wealth is. The story unfolds in two timelines weaving through the history of the land Sabah and Malaysian rise.
What I loved the most was the poetic way of describing the story of the destruction of the forest, political history, and land theft. It never hides to speak of the truth. While reading, my mind was telling me that even now people are destroying forests in the name of betterment. One of the endangered species will disappear without a trace. That’s what I felt when reading. I vividly pictured the Borneo forest; it was mesmerizing. I have always dreamt of living in a forest. Crazy auntie, I loved her the most, who never backed off from speaking the truth.
I can’t stop recommending this beauty to everyone who loves the historical genre. But a book that holds us to think, pause and reflect throughout the book. A powerful read that lingers with us forever.
Thank u for sending the ARC copy @penguinbookssea @arii_reads_ @chai_n_books
October 23, 2025
In the opening poem which frames this beautiful and luminous novel Musa tells us exactly what this tale is to be about, “Let us dally no more, sayang. Let us name this thing a ghost story-“ yet I didn’t quite believe him. However, with each chapter, the ghostly revealed itself further and further, as Musa explores that which haunts us and what we are haunted by, which are not the same thing at all.
There’s such a love of language and literature found at all points in Fierceland, with Musa blending prose and poetry perfectly to create a story just sings.
I loved the references to Le Guin, digs at Conrad and Crazy Auntie’s name checking of countless artists There’s so many perfect moments in the book, too many to list, but Musa’s thoughts on fractals and humans as the embodiment of these, everyone a microcosm of some larger power struggle, and Rozana’s artwork of carnivorous plants, have to be up there.
I also love the balance this creates with Here Come The Dogs, Musa’s first novel, which was so aggressively masculine. From from the very start of Fierceland, the voice is distinctly feminine, with femininity an ongoing undercurrent. Masculine traded for Feminine. The physical exertion of sports versus the pixels of videogames and coding, concrete for forest. A perfect compliment of novels.
Best paired with the laughter of a Pontianak, a bite of a Macca’s Fillet-O-Fish and a palm oil plantation with fruit ready to be harvested.
There’s such a love of language and literature found at all points in Fierceland, with Musa blending prose and poetry perfectly to create a story just sings.
I loved the references to Le Guin, digs at Conrad and Crazy Auntie’s name checking of countless artists There’s so many perfect moments in the book, too many to list, but Musa’s thoughts on fractals and humans as the embodiment of these, everyone a microcosm of some larger power struggle, and Rozana’s artwork of carnivorous plants, have to be up there.
I also love the balance this creates with Here Come The Dogs, Musa’s first novel, which was so aggressively masculine. From from the very start of Fierceland, the voice is distinctly feminine, with femininity an ongoing undercurrent. Masculine traded for Feminine. The physical exertion of sports versus the pixels of videogames and coding, concrete for forest. A perfect compliment of novels.
Best paired with the laughter of a Pontianak, a bite of a Macca’s Fillet-O-Fish and a palm oil plantation with fruit ready to be harvested.
September 23, 2025
This book screams in volumes your ears may not hear, but your heart will catch!!! Such thoughtful, embedded words are scripted into these pages, pulling you into the lives of Rozana and Harun. A rainforest that stands with patience, witnessing everything. The forest was immersive showcasing mythical creatures, floklores and hidden stories whispering in the air.
Two innocent souls lost their essence to a bead or shall I say, the bead showed them their way. If you’re in the mood for a heart-wrenching read, this one might just tear you apart.
The visuals are cryptic, horrific, yet slanderous. Their POVs feel like diary entries bleeding hearts, confused thoughts, wandering years where they lost touch with themselves.
It touches on such sensitive themes as childhood trauma how it lingers within us, with unresolved emotions creeping like branches, trapping you in the world of owls. Their journey of redemption and breaking silence felt powerful and revolting.
The depth within just a few lines, the emotions they leave you pondering both sides of the coin. Although we never got Joseph’s side, it left me intrigued, wondering what he thought throughout his lifetime.
A meal is perfect when you can distinguish each herb and spice separately. Fierceland felt exactly like that, leaving the essence of each character lingering in your thoughts.
A thought-provoking read, with different sides, different voices, all seeking a soul to flourish within.
Two innocent souls lost their essence to a bead or shall I say, the bead showed them their way. If you’re in the mood for a heart-wrenching read, this one might just tear you apart.
The visuals are cryptic, horrific, yet slanderous. Their POVs feel like diary entries bleeding hearts, confused thoughts, wandering years where they lost touch with themselves.
It touches on such sensitive themes as childhood trauma how it lingers within us, with unresolved emotions creeping like branches, trapping you in the world of owls. Their journey of redemption and breaking silence felt powerful and revolting.
The depth within just a few lines, the emotions they leave you pondering both sides of the coin. Although we never got Joseph’s side, it left me intrigued, wondering what he thought throughout his lifetime.
A meal is perfect when you can distinguish each herb and spice separately. Fierceland felt exactly like that, leaving the essence of each character lingering in your thoughts.
A thought-provoking read, with different sides, different voices, all seeking a soul to flourish within.
December 26, 2025
4.5 stars because I had a slight feeling of dissatisfaction when I finished it, like, wait what just happened, what about A B C etc I did not expect to be as blown away by this book as I was - attended an author event, heard him speak and I’ve heard of his poetry but a book about the Borneo rainforest ? This was a passionate declamation of the need to save our rain forests writing with great lyricism (which I am wary about usually but really worked in this instance) About greed and corruption but also about poverty and desperation. Harun and Rozana are siblings who accompany their ambitious entrepreneurial father down the river to view the giant trees and inadvertently spot one of the locals sabotaging the equipment to prevent them from cutting down the ancient trees for a palm oil plantation. Rozana is young and in awe of her father and tells him what she saw. And the father Yusuf gets his men to beat up this guy Salam so badly that he is incapacitated for many years. It’s no surprise the children are completely screwed up by having experienced this . They are sent to Australia for school where Rozana the artist is high half the time and her gay brother on the other hand tries to be as religious as possible praying 5 times a day and wearing a songkok till 9/11 makes him the brunt of racist bullying. He moves to the USA where he is developing AI to create a virtual forest - the same one his father destroyed. I found this so interesting - the history behind how palm oil came to malaysia from Nigeria, the politics and machinations of the powers that be in malaysia. Omar also used the presence of a bead originating from Italy (a murrina) that has travelled through history through wars and thefts to end up in Salam’s hands where it was eventually stolen and given to Rozana. Its return to Salam’s family at the end of the book was important even if there is no redemption granted by his family. There is a lot of magical realism in this book - the ghosts and owls and the rainforest have voice and agency and represent I surmise the inner turmoil of characters. At the end I hope it means that the siblings have exorcised the ghost of their father Yusuf and the bloody legacy he left them and are on their way to making reparations for his sins. I hated the ending for crazy auntie and their mother jenab/susan as there was no redemptive arc for them but it was realistic I suppose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 25, 2025Two years ago, I had the luxury to read this book in its draft form, but since then Omar Musa has polished the book to its ultimate sheen and sharpness, like a meteorite kris folded and forged over and over into perfection.
Telling the story of siblings Roz and Harun, this is at the same time a family epic, a ghost story, and a magical realism tale. At times, the themes of childhood memories and haunting trauma also reminded me of The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
However, reading this book in 2025 was an entirely different experience. In 2025, this book was an easy read, but tough at the same time.
On one hand, the subject matters are very close to me: as an Indonesian who went to Australia for higher education and work, this Southeast Asian family epic with an Australian perspective simply hit home. With beautiful, flowing prose, this is simply a gorgeous book. The streets of Sydney, where Roz and Harun spent their teenage year, were familiar and vibrant. Even my recent visit to KL resonated a lot with the KL section in this book.
On the other hand, it was an especially tough read because it also hit so close to home. At the moment I was reading this book, my fellow Indonesians in Sumatra were paying the devastating economic and environmental costs thanks to decades of massive deforestation for oil palm plantations and logging. I saw the looming figures of Yusuf bin Mansur from the book on local TVs and news: unapologetic patriarchs, driven by unadulterated greed and bald-faced shamelessness, claimed that everything they had done was done only for the best for the country.
And yet, Fierceland is also a tale of perseverance, how nature as a living force is working for its own vengeance. Drawing a lot of parallels from old school Indonesian horror flicks, Omar Musa played with the ideas of family curse and the spectral figure of pontianak (also known as kuntilanak in Indonesia). Typical of great classic literature, there were recurring imageries, strong, repeating, and almost haunting throughout the book. From the murrina, owls, orchids, to the corpse flower, there is a section of Bornean forest living vividly in my head. Green, eternal, humid, rich, noisy, full of life, unforgiving, remembering, enduring.
Telling the story of siblings Roz and Harun, this is at the same time a family epic, a ghost story, and a magical realism tale. At times, the themes of childhood memories and haunting trauma also reminded me of The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
However, reading this book in 2025 was an entirely different experience. In 2025, this book was an easy read, but tough at the same time.
On one hand, the subject matters are very close to me: as an Indonesian who went to Australia for higher education and work, this Southeast Asian family epic with an Australian perspective simply hit home. With beautiful, flowing prose, this is simply a gorgeous book. The streets of Sydney, where Roz and Harun spent their teenage year, were familiar and vibrant. Even my recent visit to KL resonated a lot with the KL section in this book.
On the other hand, it was an especially tough read because it also hit so close to home. At the moment I was reading this book, my fellow Indonesians in Sumatra were paying the devastating economic and environmental costs thanks to decades of massive deforestation for oil palm plantations and logging. I saw the looming figures of Yusuf bin Mansur from the book on local TVs and news: unapologetic patriarchs, driven by unadulterated greed and bald-faced shamelessness, claimed that everything they had done was done only for the best for the country.
And yet, Fierceland is also a tale of perseverance, how nature as a living force is working for its own vengeance. Drawing a lot of parallels from old school Indonesian horror flicks, Omar Musa played with the ideas of family curse and the spectral figure of pontianak (also known as kuntilanak in Indonesia). Typical of great classic literature, there were recurring imageries, strong, repeating, and almost haunting throughout the book. From the murrina, owls, orchids, to the corpse flower, there is a section of Bornean forest living vividly in my head. Green, eternal, humid, rich, noisy, full of life, unforgiving, remembering, enduring.
September 25, 2025
I picked up Fierceland thinking I wanted an escape. Instead, it hit me straight in the gut.
The novel begins with a forest trip something that should have been simple, playful. But for Roz and Harun, the forest becomes the place where innocence ends. In those shadows, they stumble across something no child should ever see-their father’s secret.
When Their father dies, the siblings face the weight of his inheritance. It is not just money, but wealth built on blood and loss. Yusuf had risen from deep poverty to great power, but the question remains: was his cruelty driven by desperation, or by something darker, a hunger that could never be satisfied?
Yusuf’s story is not just about one man; it mirrors the larger history of colonialism, where forests were stripped bare, indigenous people uprooted, and resources taken for the profit of a few. Their pain becomes a reflection of collective wounds carried across generations.
Amid all this, one character stayed with me. “Crazy Auntie” her portrayal makes me wonder if she is really crazy or Her courage is mistaken for madness, as the book reminds us: “sometimes the madwoman in the village turns out to be the only sane one.”
Roz both fears and admires her aunt, haunted by the possibility of becoming her, by the possibility that clarity means isolation.
Towards the end, Roz and Harun choose to use the inheritance to restore the forest. It is a choice filled with hope but shadowed by impossibility because no amount of money can undo years of destruction. Yet their decision to try becomes its own form of resistance.
The Author Omar Musa’s writing is sharp and lyrical, painting the forest as both beautiful and wounded, alive with memory. The siblings’ grief feels intimate, yet they open onto questions of colonialism, ecological destruction, and the ethics of inheritance.
Bold, layered, unforgettable. Fierceland will unsettle you, move you, and leave you haunted long after the last page.
The novel begins with a forest trip something that should have been simple, playful. But for Roz and Harun, the forest becomes the place where innocence ends. In those shadows, they stumble across something no child should ever see-their father’s secret.
When Their father dies, the siblings face the weight of his inheritance. It is not just money, but wealth built on blood and loss. Yusuf had risen from deep poverty to great power, but the question remains: was his cruelty driven by desperation, or by something darker, a hunger that could never be satisfied?
Yusuf’s story is not just about one man; it mirrors the larger history of colonialism, where forests were stripped bare, indigenous people uprooted, and resources taken for the profit of a few. Their pain becomes a reflection of collective wounds carried across generations.
Amid all this, one character stayed with me. “Crazy Auntie” her portrayal makes me wonder if she is really crazy or Her courage is mistaken for madness, as the book reminds us: “sometimes the madwoman in the village turns out to be the only sane one.”
Roz both fears and admires her aunt, haunted by the possibility of becoming her, by the possibility that clarity means isolation.
Towards the end, Roz and Harun choose to use the inheritance to restore the forest. It is a choice filled with hope but shadowed by impossibility because no amount of money can undo years of destruction. Yet their decision to try becomes its own form of resistance.
The Author Omar Musa’s writing is sharp and lyrical, painting the forest as both beautiful and wounded, alive with memory. The siblings’ grief feels intimate, yet they open onto questions of colonialism, ecological destruction, and the ethics of inheritance.
Bold, layered, unforgettable. Fierceland will unsettle you, move you, and leave you haunted long after the last page.
September 7, 2025
🪨BOOK REVIEW:-
🌳🪨Fierceland by Omar Musa:-
Fierceland is a passionately written tale of loss in the numerous ways in which it presents itself. The book is bold and pressing and possesses a lyrical quality to the writing which creates a sort of light tone to convey the actual message of the book. Nature is always patient with, us greedy humans and it is only our actions that take us down.
This grotesque and vivid novel will leave you feeling a multitude of emotions before the climax completely blows you away and leaves you thinking about it.
🌳🪨BOOK DESCRIPTION:-
After many years abroad, Roz and Harun return to Malaysian Borneo for the funeral of their father Yusuf – and to reckon with their inheritance. A renowned palm-oil baron during Malaysia’s economic rise, Yusuf built the family’s immense wealth by destroying huge tracts of rainforest. What his children know is that he was also responsible for the violent disappearance of a man who stood in his way.
Harun has become a successful tech entrepreneur in Los Angeles, Roz is an artist struggling to stay afloat in Sydney. Now they want to return something their father stole from the forests of their homeland. In their quest for redemption they grapple with the legacy of power and corruption, dreamers and exiles, thugs and zealots. Most dangerous of all, they are haunted – by the ghosts of colonialism, the ghosts of family, the ghosts of language, and the ghosts of the forest itself.
A trailblazing journey across the globe, Fierceland weaves the past and the present into an emotionally powerful family saga that plays out at a mythical scale.
🌳🪨Fierceland by Omar Musa:-
Fierceland is a passionately written tale of loss in the numerous ways in which it presents itself. The book is bold and pressing and possesses a lyrical quality to the writing which creates a sort of light tone to convey the actual message of the book. Nature is always patient with, us greedy humans and it is only our actions that take us down.
This grotesque and vivid novel will leave you feeling a multitude of emotions before the climax completely blows you away and leaves you thinking about it.
🌳🪨BOOK DESCRIPTION:-
After many years abroad, Roz and Harun return to Malaysian Borneo for the funeral of their father Yusuf – and to reckon with their inheritance. A renowned palm-oil baron during Malaysia’s economic rise, Yusuf built the family’s immense wealth by destroying huge tracts of rainforest. What his children know is that he was also responsible for the violent disappearance of a man who stood in his way.
Harun has become a successful tech entrepreneur in Los Angeles, Roz is an artist struggling to stay afloat in Sydney. Now they want to return something their father stole from the forests of their homeland. In their quest for redemption they grapple with the legacy of power and corruption, dreamers and exiles, thugs and zealots. Most dangerous of all, they are haunted – by the ghosts of colonialism, the ghosts of family, the ghosts of language, and the ghosts of the forest itself.
A trailblazing journey across the globe, Fierceland weaves the past and the present into an emotionally powerful family saga that plays out at a mythical scale.
September 8, 2025
Fierceland is a powerful & unforgettable novel by Omar Musa, a Sabahan-Australian author whose voice carries both poetry & fire. Set mostly in the lush, endangered landscapes of Sabah, the story follows Roz & Harun, two siblings grappling with the heavy legacy left behind by their father, a man complicit in crime, land theft, & environmental destruction. As Roz & Harun grow, so does the guilt they carry, witnessing the long-term effects of their father's actions that continue to echo through their lives. Though fiction, the novel reads like truth. Raw, fearless, & incredibly grounded in the realities of Sabah's past & present.
The author doesn't hold back. This book is a brutally honest commentary on political greed, corruption, & the cost of exploitation. From illegal logging to reckless palm oil plantations, it exposes how the hunger for wealth devastated indigenous lands, destroyed animal habitats, & displaced generations. The damage isn't just environmental, it's deeply human. And it's all written with such clarity & lyricism, making the pain feel both intimate & universal. Sabah's beauty is undeniable, but so is the ongoing betrayal it faces.
I truly loved how much heart & urgency this novel conveys. It's an ode to the people who fight quietly for their heritage, & a call for the rest of us to wake up. It reminds us that what we're experiencing now, the floods, the loss, the injustice, is the aftermath of decisions made long ago. But it's not too late. Through Roz & Harun's journey, we're reminded that reckoning is possible, & that healing begins with truth. Fierceland is more than a novel. It's a mirror & a warning. Brilliant. Everyone should read this.
The author doesn't hold back. This book is a brutally honest commentary on political greed, corruption, & the cost of exploitation. From illegal logging to reckless palm oil plantations, it exposes how the hunger for wealth devastated indigenous lands, destroyed animal habitats, & displaced generations. The damage isn't just environmental, it's deeply human. And it's all written with such clarity & lyricism, making the pain feel both intimate & universal. Sabah's beauty is undeniable, but so is the ongoing betrayal it faces.
I truly loved how much heart & urgency this novel conveys. It's an ode to the people who fight quietly for their heritage, & a call for the rest of us to wake up. It reminds us that what we're experiencing now, the floods, the loss, the injustice, is the aftermath of decisions made long ago. But it's not too late. Through Roz & Harun's journey, we're reminded that reckoning is possible, & that healing begins with truth. Fierceland is more than a novel. It's a mirror & a warning. Brilliant. Everyone should read this.
September 27, 2025
I started out thinking that a poem as a way to start a book was impenetrable but of course, it isn’t. If you know Omar’s work, his thoughts come out in many forms, including poetry. And in this case, the forest itself is a character and has a voice, and that voice comes out in verse. Next up: two kids - a sister and a brother. There’s enough thread there for me to hold into, as the kids remind me of myself, my sibling, friends, relatives. So I take the thread and run through jungle, metropolises, history, multiple points of view, wildly divergent levels of privilege and poverty. Through places I know well (Sydney, Australia and its art scene) and places I could hardly ever know (the hard-scrabble life of a man who lost his hearing diving for pearls). Omar writes vastly, epically, and so damn beautifully. Again, there’s that poetry, woven beautifully at sentence level, stitched into the cloth of the novel.
This book saved me from several dull mornings when I tend to endlessly scroll, it fed my brain and heart and outrage, even when it offered counterpoints to its points. I began to read it while waiting for trains. When a gun is finally used, the whole-body shiver I felt was unlike any other from anything else I’ve read.
Fierceland is so dazzling, so intricate that I’m sure I’ll have to read it over and over to better see the woven threads.
This book saved me from several dull mornings when I tend to endlessly scroll, it fed my brain and heart and outrage, even when it offered counterpoints to its points. I began to read it while waiting for trains. When a gun is finally used, the whole-body shiver I felt was unlike any other from anything else I’ve read.
Fierceland is so dazzling, so intricate that I’m sure I’ll have to read it over and over to better see the woven threads.
September 28, 2025
I feel like everyone's ultimate goal in life is to have a place of comfort, a home- be that a place or people, where you can rest with no need to be put together all the time, where you can be a little messy with no judgement, where you can lie down knowing you'll wake up safe. But what if you never find that home or worse- it gets wrested from your lap? That is the dilemma that Omar Musa's Fierceland made me think about. Colonization has shown how quickly people's sense of safety can be taken away and how cruel people can be to subject others to that. But the addiction to power is a poison that can't be treated. The author portrayed that well along with some intense nature symbolism that made my skin crawl and my heart ache.
I've always raved about books that portray the injustices humans have done to Mother Earth and how She seeks revenge on humans. Although the revenge was very subtle, I felt moved and very disturbed by the portrayal of the pain She is going through. There is also this strain of pain that passes through every human in this book. How can humans ever thrive if they treat their environment so poorly? This book is a reminder to correct your ways before it's too late, before you can't take back what you did, before everyone becomes a victim despite their role in the crime.
I've always raved about books that portray the injustices humans have done to Mother Earth and how She seeks revenge on humans. Although the revenge was very subtle, I felt moved and very disturbed by the portrayal of the pain She is going through. There is also this strain of pain that passes through every human in this book. How can humans ever thrive if they treat their environment so poorly? This book is a reminder to correct your ways before it's too late, before you can't take back what you did, before everyone becomes a victim despite their role in the crime.
October 1, 2025
𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑓𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠?
Fierceland by Omar Musa explores exactly that. The story is set in Borneo and follows siblings Roz and Harun, who come back home after their father dies. What they find is way more than family grief. There are secrets, guilt, and the weight of everything their father left behind. He made his fortune through the palm oil business, which destroyed the rainforest, and the book really shows how that damage, along with the history and culture, still affects the present.
The book touches on so many powerful themes like family and relationships, inheritance, and the burden of the past, environmental destruction and human responsibility, identity and cultural heritage, as well as colonial history and how it shapes lives today.
This book is hauntingly beautiful. It's so different from everything else I've read this year, and even though I was busy preparing for my exams, I just couldn't put it down.
The writing is beautiful. Musa makes the forest feel alive, and I loved how he mixed folklore with reality. It makes the whole story feel layered and full of life. It unfolds slowly, but it leaves you thinking about it afterward.
If you like books that are emotional, reflective, and beautifully written, Fierceland is definitely worth picking up.
Fierceland by Omar Musa explores exactly that. The story is set in Borneo and follows siblings Roz and Harun, who come back home after their father dies. What they find is way more than family grief. There are secrets, guilt, and the weight of everything their father left behind. He made his fortune through the palm oil business, which destroyed the rainforest, and the book really shows how that damage, along with the history and culture, still affects the present.
The book touches on so many powerful themes like family and relationships, inheritance, and the burden of the past, environmental destruction and human responsibility, identity and cultural heritage, as well as colonial history and how it shapes lives today.
This book is hauntingly beautiful. It's so different from everything else I've read this year, and even though I was busy preparing for my exams, I just couldn't put it down.
The writing is beautiful. Musa makes the forest feel alive, and I loved how he mixed folklore with reality. It makes the whole story feel layered and full of life. It unfolds slowly, but it leaves you thinking about it afterward.
If you like books that are emotional, reflective, and beautifully written, Fierceland is definitely worth picking up.
September 15, 2025
“Think about all the knowledge that dies when a language dies.”
The book in a nutshell: Two siblings fly back to their home country after their father died, a well known businessman. As they begin to uncover the truth behind how he built his fortune, questions of morality and inheritance take center stage. Will they accept what is left behind, or will they choose to live by a different set of values? That tension shapes the rest of the story.
This book is set in Borneo with a beautiful and lush landscape of the nature. I absolutely loved the descriptions here.
It has simple and relatable writing style. We get to see the story from multiple person’s pov. I absolutely adore the Crazy Auntie character.
This book deals with themes of environmental exploitations, indigenous lives, politics and complicated family dynamics. It was amazingly and intricately woven throughout the novel.
Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel not only to Malaysians, who may find many of its issues strikingly familiar, but also to readers everywhere. The themes explored are urgent and universal, and one can only hope they inspire the kind of change the nation/world desperately needs.
Review copy courtesy of Times Reads.
The book in a nutshell: Two siblings fly back to their home country after their father died, a well known businessman. As they begin to uncover the truth behind how he built his fortune, questions of morality and inheritance take center stage. Will they accept what is left behind, or will they choose to live by a different set of values? That tension shapes the rest of the story.
This book is set in Borneo with a beautiful and lush landscape of the nature. I absolutely loved the descriptions here.
It has simple and relatable writing style. We get to see the story from multiple person’s pov. I absolutely adore the Crazy Auntie character.
This book deals with themes of environmental exploitations, indigenous lives, politics and complicated family dynamics. It was amazingly and intricately woven throughout the novel.
Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel not only to Malaysians, who may find many of its issues strikingly familiar, but also to readers everywhere. The themes explored are urgent and universal, and one can only hope they inspire the kind of change the nation/world desperately needs.
Review copy courtesy of Times Reads.
November 19, 2025
A book that was, probably, a much needed one for the society and definitely for me.
When Rozana and Harun return to their home country for their father's funeral and the interaction about the inheritance just turned many pages, quick and started a brand new story for both of them.
Fierceland, otherwise written simply, harbours complicated emotions within it. It moves back and forth between past and present, and many other characters. The book is also divided into 5 different sections and each blew my mind but the fifth one won my heart. The writing was so good it seems like I was watching every character make their moves.
There was some quotes that were written so beautifully that even though I didn't want to annotate much I had to mark some pages. Also, you would definitely need your Google for this one as there are lines sprinkled in between in the native language and for me it was a fun activity while reading.
I would give this one 4.2 stars because of the writing brilliance, the characters, the atmospheric setting and the smooth flow of the story.
When Rozana and Harun return to their home country for their father's funeral and the interaction about the inheritance just turned many pages, quick and started a brand new story for both of them.
Fierceland, otherwise written simply, harbours complicated emotions within it. It moves back and forth between past and present, and many other characters. The book is also divided into 5 different sections and each blew my mind but the fifth one won my heart. The writing was so good it seems like I was watching every character make their moves.
There was some quotes that were written so beautifully that even though I didn't want to annotate much I had to mark some pages. Also, you would definitely need your Google for this one as there are lines sprinkled in between in the native language and for me it was a fun activity while reading.
I would give this one 4.2 stars because of the writing brilliance, the characters, the atmospheric setting and the smooth flow of the story.
October 8, 2025
Firstly a big NO to the audiobook, listening to the parts with a Malaysian accent were so painful. Her tone was so contrived, pronunciations overextended - who in the world vetted her into getting the gig? This isn’t why I give it 3/5 though.
Anyway, the premise of this novel was excellent. I enjoyed the exploration of intergenerational relationships and family legacy, acclimatising to new cultures, with Malaysian history woven in too. I didn’t enjoy the many different POVs though, it felt really messy and unnecessary. Even a FOREST (yes literal forest) wrote its point of view in a fake whimsical, poetic way. Why? Then a few other random passerby characters had their voices for a few chapters. The jumps almost distracted from the plot itself. I almost wish that the writer kept the POVs to the two siblings, but somehow also convinced that based on his writing style that it wouldn’t be sufficient to capture the whole story.
Anyway, the premise of this novel was excellent. I enjoyed the exploration of intergenerational relationships and family legacy, acclimatising to new cultures, with Malaysian history woven in too. I didn’t enjoy the many different POVs though, it felt really messy and unnecessary. Even a FOREST (yes literal forest) wrote its point of view in a fake whimsical, poetic way. Why? Then a few other random passerby characters had their voices for a few chapters. The jumps almost distracted from the plot itself. I almost wish that the writer kept the POVs to the two siblings, but somehow also convinced that based on his writing style that it wouldn’t be sufficient to capture the whole story.
August 21, 2025
This was a beautifully poetic saga about family, colonisation, environmental destruction, power and much more.
The story is told from several points of view and jumps back and forth between different time frames. All have the backdrop of the big political events happening in Malaysia at the time.
There are interesting syntax choices that really work. For example there is a whole chapter written in a single paragraph, which really conveys the character's state of mind at the time.
Thank you Penguin Random House Australian and NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The story is told from several points of view and jumps back and forth between different time frames. All have the backdrop of the big political events happening in Malaysia at the time.
There are interesting syntax choices that really work. For example there is a whole chapter written in a single paragraph, which really conveys the character's state of mind at the time.
Thank you Penguin Random House Australian and NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 21, 2025
Fierceland is the sort of book that will stay with you forever long after you’ve finished reading it.
It follows two siblings, Roz and Harun who returns to Malaysia Borneo after the death of their father, Yusuf.
Yusuf built his empire in palm oil but at the cost of a lush green forest.
This book isn’t just about one family. It isn’t just about inheritance, it’s about land, memory, trauma, guilt, and the stories that shape who we are.
The characters are messy and complicated which makes the book feel like real. Roz and Harun’s struggles made me reflect on how we all carry our families’ pasts, even when we don’t want to.
Musa’s writing is both powerful and beautiful.
What amazed me the most was how Omar Musa writes the rainforest itself. It doesn’t feel like just a backdrop, it feels alive, breathing, aching and confronting the truth.
Fierceland is not an easy read, but it’s a necessary one, and I think it will stay with me for a long time.
If you like reading books with topics like messy family dynamics, guilt, homeland, trauma and environmental issues then Fierceland by Omar Musa is the perfect book for you.
It follows two siblings, Roz and Harun who returns to Malaysia Borneo after the death of their father, Yusuf.
Yusuf built his empire in palm oil but at the cost of a lush green forest.
This book isn’t just about one family. It isn’t just about inheritance, it’s about land, memory, trauma, guilt, and the stories that shape who we are.
The characters are messy and complicated which makes the book feel like real. Roz and Harun’s struggles made me reflect on how we all carry our families’ pasts, even when we don’t want to.
Musa’s writing is both powerful and beautiful.
What amazed me the most was how Omar Musa writes the rainforest itself. It doesn’t feel like just a backdrop, it feels alive, breathing, aching and confronting the truth.
Fierceland is not an easy read, but it’s a necessary one, and I think it will stay with me for a long time.
If you like reading books with topics like messy family dynamics, guilt, homeland, trauma and environmental issues then Fierceland by Omar Musa is the perfect book for you.
December 15, 2025
I was drawn to Fierceland’s unique story, its moral complexity, and its lyrical experiments with prose. Omar Musa tells the story of Rozana and Harun in different moments in their lives and their ambivalent feelings about their legacy from their dead father who has made his fortune in palm oil. Abstract ideas of colonisation and sustainability become very humanised through Musa’s storytelling. I loved Killernova and was excited to read this one.
With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc copy.
With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc copy.
September 17, 2025
Fierceland is one of those books that makes you stop mid-page and think about your own life. It’s not just about Roz and Harun returning home after their father’s death - it’s about what we inherit from our families, the good and the bad, and how much of it shapes us.
I loved how the forest wasn’t just a setting but felt alive, almost like a character carrying memory and anger. The story mixes family drama, myth, history, and guilt in a way that’s haunting but also strangely beautiful.
It’s the kind of book that lingers after you’ve finished, making you wonder: if you inherited something built on harm, what would you do?
I loved how the forest wasn’t just a setting but felt alive, almost like a character carrying memory and anger. The story mixes family drama, myth, history, and guilt in a way that’s haunting but also strangely beautiful.
It’s the kind of book that lingers after you’ve finished, making you wonder: if you inherited something built on harm, what would you do?
December 10, 2025
PETROFICTION FOR THE WIN!!! I learned alot about being a Bornean malay??? wow
love the poetry in between. love Harun's character 10/10 can relate. his sister is a mess yeah.
i am reminded how brunei has so much history erasure, we dont know much of things pre the 80s so it is nice to see some sort of history lessons from this book.
love the poetry in between. love Harun's character 10/10 can relate. his sister is a mess yeah.
i am reminded how brunei has so much history erasure, we dont know much of things pre the 80s so it is nice to see some sort of history lessons from this book.
December 7, 2025
A wildly expressed story which takes a bit of working out. Set in Sabah, Borneo, and Australia. Main characters are Roz and Harun, sublingual in a very wealthy family. There are issues concerning taking money from parents or making your own way. Something mysterious and menacing lies behind the story, from beginning to end. I enjoyed it, it’s intense, dense, colourful drawn out work.
September 22, 2025
Loved this. One of my top 5 books this year. My wife is from Sarawak and this book really resonated with me. Plus just great writing, characterizations, pacing. Just fabulous. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2025
I’ve been waiting for this book my whole life.
November 24, 2025
A really fantastic read - a gripping storyline, a plot that makes you reflect on the migrant experience to Australia, socio economic inequality, power imbalances and the ongoing impacts of colonialism.
Once I started I couldn’t put it down
Once I started I couldn’t put it down
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