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The Twelfth House
The vengeful spirit of an unborn child draws her father from the Bight of Biafra onto a slave ship bound for the harshly colonized Caribbean island of Dominica in this lush historical novel infused with magical realism and rooted in West African mythology for readers of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer and River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer.
Etta is an ogbanje, an unborn soul trapped in a cycle of conception and death in the wombs of one family. A gifted siren in the twelfth house of the zodiac—the house of secrets, of dreams, and of death—her voice unleashes ethereal songs that consume listeners with fear. Her desperate desire to live compels her father, Bako, into the hands of his captors of the coast of 18th-century Benin and carries him on a harrowing journey across the Atlantic to enslavement on a sugarcane plantation in Dominica.
Bako’s defiant spirit—and Etta’s fervent wish to be born—soon lead him to escape into the mountains. There, he has a fateful encounter with the Kalinaga woman named Mary who will ensure Etta’s birth into the mortal world. But the child Etta bears physical scars of her many spiritual deaths, bringing her father to suspect the truth of his daughter’s origins. As the landowners and tradesmen who enslave Etta’s people feel her wrath and inflame rebellion, Bako fears it is the rebellion within which is the gravest.
Etta is an ogbanje, an unborn soul trapped in a cycle of conception and death in the wombs of one family. A gifted siren in the twelfth house of the zodiac—the house of secrets, of dreams, and of death—her voice unleashes ethereal songs that consume listeners with fear. Her desperate desire to live compels her father, Bako, into the hands of his captors of the coast of 18th-century Benin and carries him on a harrowing journey across the Atlantic to enslavement on a sugarcane plantation in Dominica.
Bako’s defiant spirit—and Etta’s fervent wish to be born—soon lead him to escape into the mountains. There, he has a fateful encounter with the Kalinaga woman named Mary who will ensure Etta’s birth into the mortal world. But the child Etta bears physical scars of her many spiritual deaths, bringing her father to suspect the truth of his daughter’s origins. As the landowners and tradesmen who enslave Etta’s people feel her wrath and inflame rebellion, Bako fears it is the rebellion within which is the gravest.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Robert de la Chevotiere
3 books69 followersRobert de la Chevotiere is a short story writer, novelist and award winning poet. He has been a public school teacher for nearly 20 years. Originally from the Caribbean Island of Dominica, he spent equal parts of his childhood in Guadeloupe and in Bermuda. He now resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m sad to give the rating I am, even though 3 stars is still a good book, because I truly loved the story. I just found the structure very difficult.
Starting with the positive, the way Chevotière blends history and spiritual beliefs, from both the enslaved on Dominica and from the Kalinago, is excellent. It brings a different lens to the transatlantic slave trade and the eradication of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, since many of the stories that make it to a broader audience focus on the USA or Canadian perspective rather than our Caribbean siblings. You can tell in the writing that Chevotière has intimate knowledge he wants more readers to reckon with and understand.
There are tough moments in this book, but they’re necessary to show the realities of the island during this period and to push the character’s motivations forward. There’s also several moments of strong magical realism — glowing trees, an Ogbanje that manages to be born, the Queen Mother seer — which all round out the story well.
But I just wish the book was structured differently. I’ll just highlight what I struggled with most. For me, the flashbacks and background chapters feel out of order. What I mean is that it’s almost like elements of the story were introduced out of order. How I wrote it in my notes was “this won’t make sense when I go to write my review, but the flashbacks don’t feel like flashbacks, instead they feel like ‘reverse cyclical measures’”. I don’t quite know what I meant, but yet those words do sum up my memory well.
Original notes from July 20
I read a NetGalley ARC, full review to come. As a quick bite while you wait, I really enjoyed the story but I struggled a lot with how it is structured/organized.
I’m sad to give the rating I am, even though 3 stars is still a good book, because I truly loved the story. I just found the structure very difficult.
Starting with the positive, the way Chevotière blends history and spiritual beliefs, from both the enslaved on Dominica and from the Kalinago, is excellent. It brings a different lens to the transatlantic slave trade and the eradication of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, since many of the stories that make it to a broader audience focus on the USA or Canadian perspective rather than our Caribbean siblings. You can tell in the writing that Chevotière has intimate knowledge he wants more readers to reckon with and understand.
There are tough moments in this book, but they’re necessary to show the realities of the island during this period and to push the character’s motivations forward. There’s also several moments of strong magical realism — glowing trees, an Ogbanje that manages to be born, the Queen Mother seer — which all round out the story well.
But I just wish the book was structured differently. I’ll just highlight what I struggled with most. For me, the flashbacks and background chapters feel out of order. What I mean is that it’s almost like elements of the story were introduced out of order. How I wrote it in my notes was “this won’t make sense when I go to write my review, but the flashbacks don’t feel like flashbacks, instead they feel like ‘reverse cyclical measures’”. I don’t quite know what I meant, but yet those words do sum up my memory well.
Original notes from July 20
I read a NetGalley ARC, full review to come. As a quick bite while you wait, I really enjoyed the story but I struggled a lot with how it is structured/organized.
August 23, 2026
This advanced copy courtesy of NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy of Robert de La Chevotiere’s novel Twelfth House in exchange for an honest review. My words are my own.
This was an absolutely electrifying book. Both a captivating and historically necessary novel about the interlocking African and Maroon communities pre and post abolition in Dominica, and how Dahomey culture influenced them. The primary voice in the novel and its narrator is the Ogbanje - the stillborn twin of the main character who is later reborn as his daughter. Ogbanje in Dahomey mythology were infants who “continuously dies in their mother’s womb, thereby haunting her like a memory” (96). They were left in the forest unburied as a way of releasing the bad omen. However, the spirit of the original Ogbanje in the book speaks, sings, haunts, revolts and rejoices with the enslaved people until she evolves into a living person who does that as well. The book shifts time periods and settings, mostly taking place on the Blackwell plantation in the late 1700’s-early 1800’s, the Dahomey tribe in West Africa in the early 1700’s and the mixed African (former slaves) and Kalinga (indigenous islander) community on Hilltop in Dominica in the mid 1800’s.
I would suggest that the secondary main character is the tamarind tree - fixed in the center of the Blackwell estate it is the scene of horrific events for the enslaved people and later violent acts of revolution involving the plantation owners. It is not only spiritually significant for the community but becomes the ultimate literal form of liberation for the enslaved. It induces fear in William Blackwell, the plantation owner, and is the vessel by which the Ogbanje communicates. She says, “and yes, trees do have souls. They carry spirits and voices and songs. They whisper, they shout, sometimes they laugh. But that tree has suffered the cries, pain, and tears of many men and women, mostly my country folk. That tree is indeed haunted, not by mere ghosts, but by something much more powerful - the memory of their existence” (71). In this way the tamarind tree becomes linked to all the other characters in the novel and is eventually a signifier for resilience and righteous avenging.
Using the ghost of the Ogbanje allows the author to narrate both joy and pain, to speak for individuals and the collective, but most provocatively it allowed characters to avoid being labeled as enslaved. Rather than refer to the main character’s name adopted from Blackwell, the character is referred to as “my father”. Naming signifies belonging, recognition and identity; the main character initially eludes those things and in doing so, is not signified to the reader as enslaved. The only person or place he belongs to is his Dahomey people so we connect him to his culture and the narrator. This spectacular authorial technique allows him to preserve his original identity through linguistic anonymity. In the same way the Ogbanje is a stand in for her father’s voice, she is also a surrogate voice for all the enslaved, endangered or those who have been silenced.
The narrative of this book is excruciating and gorgeous. It is one of the most powerful fusions of historical and speculative fiction I have read. It is dark in its portrayal of violence and just as raw in its visualizations of hope. The author writes, “there is a star in the sky for each one of you. And among those stars, there is a house that belongs to you…it is the twelfth house in the sky” (149). Not only do all the spirits of the people live in the trees, but everyone has a home in the stars. I would highly recommend this book to most audiences, especially those interested in Caribbean literature, speculative fiction, and histories of the Black Atlantic. I was incredibly moved by this piece and I think it is a critical historical narrative for all readers.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy of Robert de La Chevotiere’s novel Twelfth House in exchange for an honest review. My words are my own.
This was an absolutely electrifying book. Both a captivating and historically necessary novel about the interlocking African and Maroon communities pre and post abolition in Dominica, and how Dahomey culture influenced them. The primary voice in the novel and its narrator is the Ogbanje - the stillborn twin of the main character who is later reborn as his daughter. Ogbanje in Dahomey mythology were infants who “continuously dies in their mother’s womb, thereby haunting her like a memory” (96). They were left in the forest unburied as a way of releasing the bad omen. However, the spirit of the original Ogbanje in the book speaks, sings, haunts, revolts and rejoices with the enslaved people until she evolves into a living person who does that as well. The book shifts time periods and settings, mostly taking place on the Blackwell plantation in the late 1700’s-early 1800’s, the Dahomey tribe in West Africa in the early 1700’s and the mixed African (former slaves) and Kalinga (indigenous islander) community on Hilltop in Dominica in the mid 1800’s.
I would suggest that the secondary main character is the tamarind tree - fixed in the center of the Blackwell estate it is the scene of horrific events for the enslaved people and later violent acts of revolution involving the plantation owners. It is not only spiritually significant for the community but becomes the ultimate literal form of liberation for the enslaved. It induces fear in William Blackwell, the plantation owner, and is the vessel by which the Ogbanje communicates. She says, “and yes, trees do have souls. They carry spirits and voices and songs. They whisper, they shout, sometimes they laugh. But that tree has suffered the cries, pain, and tears of many men and women, mostly my country folk. That tree is indeed haunted, not by mere ghosts, but by something much more powerful - the memory of their existence” (71). In this way the tamarind tree becomes linked to all the other characters in the novel and is eventually a signifier for resilience and righteous avenging.
Using the ghost of the Ogbanje allows the author to narrate both joy and pain, to speak for individuals and the collective, but most provocatively it allowed characters to avoid being labeled as enslaved. Rather than refer to the main character’s name adopted from Blackwell, the character is referred to as “my father”. Naming signifies belonging, recognition and identity; the main character initially eludes those things and in doing so, is not signified to the reader as enslaved. The only person or place he belongs to is his Dahomey people so we connect him to his culture and the narrator. This spectacular authorial technique allows him to preserve his original identity through linguistic anonymity. In the same way the Ogbanje is a stand in for her father’s voice, she is also a surrogate voice for all the enslaved, endangered or those who have been silenced.
The narrative of this book is excruciating and gorgeous. It is one of the most powerful fusions of historical and speculative fiction I have read. It is dark in its portrayal of violence and just as raw in its visualizations of hope. The author writes, “there is a star in the sky for each one of you. And among those stars, there is a house that belongs to you…it is the twelfth house in the sky” (149). Not only do all the spirits of the people live in the trees, but everyone has a home in the stars. I would highly recommend this book to most audiences, especially those interested in Caribbean literature, speculative fiction, and histories of the Black Atlantic. I was incredibly moved by this piece and I think it is a critical historical narrative for all readers.
August 13, 2026
The Twelfth House is a harsh, thoughtful and deeply reflective historical novel about the value of human life, told through interconnected stories that move across generations, cultures and time.
At the centre of the novel is Etta, an unborn child who repeatedly attempts to enter the world, referring to one of the central characters simply as “father”. Her unusual perspective gives the story an emotional richness while allowing the novel to explore birth, death, reincarnation and the cyclical nature of existence.
Much of the book is brutal. We encounter enslaved people treated as property, unwanted children abandoned to die, violence, colonialism and the many different ways human beings decide that some lives matter less than others. Yet the brutality never felt gratuitous or overly graphic. Instead, it is simply ever-present — an uncomfortable reality of the worlds these characters inhabit.
What prevents the novel from becoming overwhelming are the glimmers of humanity within it: friendship, loyalty, tenderness and care, particularly between those who have very little power themselves. The characters remain psychologically believable throughout, and their choices feel consistent with who they are and the circumstances in which they live.
I particularly loved the way historical fiction, tradition, West African mythology and magical realism are woven together. The supernatural elements never feel overdone or out of place. If anything, one of the book’s most striking ideas is that the supernatural is not what we should fear. My favourite line was: “Evil only exists in the heart of men.” It encapsulates so much of what the novel explores.
The story moves between different generations and historical periods, sometimes quite abruptly. I listened to the audiobook, and this was my only real criticism: it was occasionally difficult to recognise immediately that the narrative had moved forwards or backwards in time. I suspect visual chapter breaks or headings may make this easier in print. The narration itself was so natural and well suited to the story that I barely noticed it as a performance, which is perhaps the best compliment I can give it.
By the end, the apparently disparate lives and stories reinforce the interconnectedness and cyclical nature of all beings. Birth, death, memory, ancestry and human cruelty repeat and echo through one another, and the novel ultimately feels much more concerned with connection than with providing a neat conventional explanation for every thread.
This is not a comforting historical novel, and I certainly didn’t enjoy it because it gave me warm and fuzzy feelings. I enjoyed it because it was compelling, credible and thought-provoking. It left me sad, reflective, and thinking about the ways humans have assigned value to one another’s lives throughout history.
A powerful and beautifully constructed read.
At the centre of the novel is Etta, an unborn child who repeatedly attempts to enter the world, referring to one of the central characters simply as “father”. Her unusual perspective gives the story an emotional richness while allowing the novel to explore birth, death, reincarnation and the cyclical nature of existence.
Much of the book is brutal. We encounter enslaved people treated as property, unwanted children abandoned to die, violence, colonialism and the many different ways human beings decide that some lives matter less than others. Yet the brutality never felt gratuitous or overly graphic. Instead, it is simply ever-present — an uncomfortable reality of the worlds these characters inhabit.
What prevents the novel from becoming overwhelming are the glimmers of humanity within it: friendship, loyalty, tenderness and care, particularly between those who have very little power themselves. The characters remain psychologically believable throughout, and their choices feel consistent with who they are and the circumstances in which they live.
I particularly loved the way historical fiction, tradition, West African mythology and magical realism are woven together. The supernatural elements never feel overdone or out of place. If anything, one of the book’s most striking ideas is that the supernatural is not what we should fear. My favourite line was: “Evil only exists in the heart of men.” It encapsulates so much of what the novel explores.
The story moves between different generations and historical periods, sometimes quite abruptly. I listened to the audiobook, and this was my only real criticism: it was occasionally difficult to recognise immediately that the narrative had moved forwards or backwards in time. I suspect visual chapter breaks or headings may make this easier in print. The narration itself was so natural and well suited to the story that I barely noticed it as a performance, which is perhaps the best compliment I can give it.
By the end, the apparently disparate lives and stories reinforce the interconnectedness and cyclical nature of all beings. Birth, death, memory, ancestry and human cruelty repeat and echo through one another, and the novel ultimately feels much more concerned with connection than with providing a neat conventional explanation for every thread.
This is not a comforting historical novel, and I certainly didn’t enjoy it because it gave me warm and fuzzy feelings. I enjoyed it because it was compelling, credible and thought-provoking. It left me sad, reflective, and thinking about the ways humans have assigned value to one another’s lives throughout history.
A powerful and beautifully constructed read.
September 9, 2026
🎧 Audiobook from NetGalley
This book was so unique. It reminds me of like when you watch a movie and they show you everybody’s perspective and although you can’t see it at first it’s creating the big picture from outside in. Some parts I was confused and then layer things became more clear. This book deserves a reread as well as a book club discussion. There was so much to unpack here, so much that I wasn’t ready to feel. So much anger and hatred in these pages, as well as so much release. I think I went through every emotion reading this book. And just when I thought it would turn in one direction it went a different way. What a roller coaster of literature, the writing was so beautiful and thought provoking. I cant wait to read more from this author. And the cover is stunning might I add, the black blue skin the shine Chefs kiss to who ever did that.
This book was so unique. It reminds me of like when you watch a movie and they show you everybody’s perspective and although you can’t see it at first it’s creating the big picture from outside in. Some parts I was confused and then layer things became more clear. This book deserves a reread as well as a book club discussion. There was so much to unpack here, so much that I wasn’t ready to feel. So much anger and hatred in these pages, as well as so much release. I think I went through every emotion reading this book. And just when I thought it would turn in one direction it went a different way. What a roller coaster of literature, the writing was so beautiful and thought provoking. I cant wait to read more from this author. And the cover is stunning might I add, the black blue skin the shine Chefs kiss to who ever did that.
August 27, 2026
I'm really torn on this. The premise is extremely interesting, especially as someone new to West African mythology. My problem is all of the jumping around in time, it made it difficult for me to feel attached to the story itself. This is one that'll be super hit or miss for people, but I'd still recommend checking it out if you're fine with wonky timelines.
August 17, 2026
This is a challenging read for both structural and subject reasons. But it is also an incredibly rewarding and thoughtful book. Though it employs non-linear structure, moving back-and-forth between multiple characters and times it tells one overall connected story. And while it depicts and depicts frequently the torture, abuse and violence, sexual and otherwise that were a constant threat of the slave trade those depictions do not feel gratuitous or exploitative. The weaving of Afro Caribbean legend and culture throughout the story serve as significant strengths in the story.
September 2, 2026
A read that will have you enthralled on multiple levels. From the eagerness to know what will happen next or just to know how or if the plot will take a turn. You have hope for the MCs in the story. Multiple points of views that provide so much depth to the story which keeps you going cause you have to know how the story continues and ends. My first read from Robert de la Chevotiere and I enjoyed it so much. It exceeded my expectations for sure.
Thank you NetGalley and Kingston Publishing for the opportunity to advance read this wonderful story.
Thank you NetGalley and Kingston Publishing for the opportunity to advance read this wonderful story.
August 27, 2026
The Twelfth House is powerfully gritty; moving in a way I've not felt in some time. Rather than making the brutality and injustice of slavery the primary focus of the story, where the reader may grow desensitized out of self preservation, Chevotiere has written a fascinating, multi-generational, multi-continent story about people being people - with horrific dehumanizing violence sprinkled in casually, emphasizing it's inevitable and routine nature, making it all the the more impactful.
The back and forth time jumps were perfect. There's just something about learning a character's fate before learning about them; no matter what you learn, Death's specter is already hanging over their head, creating such a bittersweet pain when you're finally introduced to their backstory. At some point I realized I needed to write out the timeline in sequential order, just to fully appreciate the span in which everything was happening, and while it didn't change the horrors we're introduced to, it increased the urgency in which everything was happening - a reminder of how little time was between one injustice and the next, fanning the flames of unrest.
Despite the time and location changing almost every chapter, it was impossible not to grow close to several people. Bako, Jeremiah, Medicine-John, and Malachi were as phenomenal as they were different. Even William's wickedness parted momentarily to allow glimpses of the man, rather than the devil. That being said, most every character brought something to the story, except Etta. Maybe it was her misdirected desire for revenge, or the dashed expectations of her being some formidable adversary, but I found her lacking when considering the book's description. However, there's a vast wealth of magical and poetic imagery that may have just landed wrong for me and I missed whatever grandeur she brought to the table.
I enjoyed this immensely, though "enjoyed" may not be quite the word I'm looking for. The prose was beautiful, though a bit lofty at times, and the characters were easy to become invested in. The violence, though horrific, was never dwelled upon as if it were meant to entertain. I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy through NetGalley.
The back and forth time jumps were perfect. There's just something about learning a character's fate before learning about them; no matter what you learn, Death's specter is already hanging over their head, creating such a bittersweet pain when you're finally introduced to their backstory. At some point I realized I needed to write out the timeline in sequential order, just to fully appreciate the span in which everything was happening, and while it didn't change the horrors we're introduced to, it increased the urgency in which everything was happening - a reminder of how little time was between one injustice and the next, fanning the flames of unrest.
Despite the time and location changing almost every chapter, it was impossible not to grow close to several people. Bako, Jeremiah, Medicine-John, and Malachi were as phenomenal as they were different. Even William's wickedness parted momentarily to allow glimpses of the man, rather than the devil. That being said, most every character brought something to the story, except Etta. Maybe it was her misdirected desire for revenge, or the dashed expectations of her being some formidable adversary, but I found her lacking when considering the book's description. However, there's a vast wealth of magical and poetic imagery that may have just landed wrong for me and I missed whatever grandeur she brought to the table.
I enjoyed this immensely, though "enjoyed" may not be quite the word I'm looking for. The prose was beautiful, though a bit lofty at times, and the characters were easy to become invested in. The violence, though horrific, was never dwelled upon as if it were meant to entertain. I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy through NetGalley.
September 8, 2026
Robert de la Chevotiere's The Twelfth House is a stunning work of magical realism and historical fiction steeped in mythology, symbolism, and raw humanity.
Our narrator, Etta, is essentially a ghost. She is an ogbanje, trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. After enduring many of these cycles, Etta is determined to live. From the spirit world, she follows the man who will be become her father to ensure that she is brought into existence.
Etta’s father, Bako, is forced onto a slave ship and brought to colonial Dominica. This is where our story begins. Sort of. There are a ton of time jumps. Many reviewers have expressed that the structure of the novel was challenging for them. I felt very much the opposite. For me, the structure was integral to my enjoyment of the story. These sort of “reverse flashbacks” felt intentional and symbolic. I’m not sure that I fully understand their meaning and will refrain from postulating about it here to avoid spoilers, but it is one of many qualities that makes this book incredibly “re-readable.” There is so much to think about here and it’s just not possible to uncover it all in a single reading. Similarly, it has inspired me to learn more about the mythology and history upon which the book is based.
I listened to the audiobook and loved it. I don’t doubt that I would have loved it just as much (if not more) had I read it with my eyeballs instead. When I am ready to reread it, I will most likely go for the eyeball version for easier annotating/lingering/pondering. I will say that, for me, the audiobook was the right starting point, mostly due to my need for assistance with pronunciation.
Read this book if you love lyrical prose, multi-layered metaphors, and stories that will stay with you for a lifetime. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Our narrator, Etta, is essentially a ghost. She is an ogbanje, trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. After enduring many of these cycles, Etta is determined to live. From the spirit world, she follows the man who will be become her father to ensure that she is brought into existence.
Etta’s father, Bako, is forced onto a slave ship and brought to colonial Dominica. This is where our story begins. Sort of. There are a ton of time jumps. Many reviewers have expressed that the structure of the novel was challenging for them. I felt very much the opposite. For me, the structure was integral to my enjoyment of the story. These sort of “reverse flashbacks” felt intentional and symbolic. I’m not sure that I fully understand their meaning and will refrain from postulating about it here to avoid spoilers, but it is one of many qualities that makes this book incredibly “re-readable.” There is so much to think about here and it’s just not possible to uncover it all in a single reading. Similarly, it has inspired me to learn more about the mythology and history upon which the book is based.
I listened to the audiobook and loved it. I don’t doubt that I would have loved it just as much (if not more) had I read it with my eyeballs instead. When I am ready to reread it, I will most likely go for the eyeball version for easier annotating/lingering/pondering. I will say that, for me, the audiobook was the right starting point, mostly due to my need for assistance with pronunciation.
Read this book if you love lyrical prose, multi-layered metaphors, and stories that will stay with you for a lifetime. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2026
The setting of this book--after Haiti's independence-- is very atmospheric, and the history (although not a huge focus) is taught through story. Infused with mythology, the story is told from first person of a seer/ Queen Mother/ Ogbanje which is a very interesting perspective. The plot unfolds bit by bit. The timeline jumps back and forth, and usually this is hard to follow in an audiobook, but it was not hard at all to track. There aren't a ton of characters to remember so that made it easier.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I thought it a perfect blend of magical realism and historical fiction. It is set on a plantation and the characters are enslaved people and enslavers, so check trigger warnings before starting. Some themes are difficult, but true to history.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I thought it a perfect blend of magical realism and historical fiction. It is set on a plantation and the characters are enslaved people and enslavers, so check trigger warnings before starting. Some themes are difficult, but true to history.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
August 17, 2026
With such a strong introduction containing brutality, hidden puppet strings, and world building, I knew I was in for a crazy story. There is beautiful dialogue showing the beauty of Dominica and its rich history along with magical realism. My biggest opposition in this book is telling it in nonlinear format as the time jumps cause me to be taken out of the story and have to remember who each character was and their importance. If you like non-traditional fantasy and historical fiction, you will enjoy the work of Robert de la Chevotière.
🎧 Audiobook Narration: This was a good performance. Marie-Françoise Theodore is a delight to listen to and introduce us to this mythological world.
Rating: 4 stars
🎧 Audiobook Narration: This was a good performance. Marie-Françoise Theodore is a delight to listen to and introduce us to this mythological world.
Rating: 4 stars
September 1, 2026
This has an amazing concept. My complaint (and it may be reader issue) the jumping time-lines. I really want to try again and physically read it. I think the audio was just throwing me. The author did an amazing job of pulling me in to the actual story. The cover is beautiful and is what initial drew me in as I don't usually read synopsis'. In the end, I would (have) recommend it and I definitely plan on getting my hands on a physical copy
September 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to listen to this.
This story relays an important part of history told with a beautiful and fascinating magical twist that lead to an incredibly unique narration style.
It is a tough read, as so many stories that relay these horrors are.
But ultimately it is a story rooted in magic, tradition, hope, strength and most significantly faith.
It was brilliantly atmospheric and transporting and overall was enthralling.
This story relays an important part of history told with a beautiful and fascinating magical twist that lead to an incredibly unique narration style.
It is a tough read, as so many stories that relay these horrors are.
But ultimately it is a story rooted in magic, tradition, hope, strength and most significantly faith.
It was brilliantly atmospheric and transporting and overall was enthralling.
August 18, 2026
Arc - read (audiobook)
It was quite a captivating story about surviving such awful period. Hate how people were/are treated so poorly for simply being different. What initially drew my attention was the cover but the story really touched me. Loved the narrator and the writing style of the author. Will definitely read more of this author in the future. In my opinion it is a must read.
It was quite a captivating story about surviving such awful period. Hate how people were/are treated so poorly for simply being different. What initially drew my attention was the cover but the story really touched me. Loved the narrator and the writing style of the author. Will definitely read more of this author in the future. In my opinion it is a must read.
August 16, 2026
This is a hell of a book, in that it centers an unborn spirit's desperate desire to be born back into the physical world that she compels her eventual father to be captured by slavers and sold across the ocean. This blends the horrors of plantation life with Afrofuturism, and jumps rapidly between various eras. There's some absolutely fantastic imagery here, and some villains you count down until you get to see their violent deaths. Highly recommended fall read.
August 11, 2026
4⭐️, Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!!
I think this is the first book I’ve read in a longggg time that’s based on the Caribbean slave trade, particularly what happened in the Dominica. This was a dual timeline story, switching between different ethnic groups, how they were captured and the rebellion. It is told via Etta, who is an ogbanje, an unborn spirit who cycles through many different lives in one family.
While this is fiction, this was really informative from a slaves first-person view on the French Revolution. The amount of unnecessary death in this book really shows how cruel slave owners were.
I think this is the first book I’ve read in a longggg time that’s based on the Caribbean slave trade, particularly what happened in the Dominica. This was a dual timeline story, switching between different ethnic groups, how they were captured and the rebellion. It is told via Etta, who is an ogbanje, an unborn spirit who cycles through many different lives in one family.
While this is fiction, this was really informative from a slaves first-person view on the French Revolution. The amount of unnecessary death in this book really shows how cruel slave owners were.
August 25, 2026
Robert de la Chevotière has just released his second adult novel, The Twelfth House. Set mainly between the 1770s and 1830s in Dominica, this book gives voice to the people stolen from their home in Dahomey (in present-day Benin) and enslaved by a cruel white man in the Caribbean. But an unborn soul is witness to all, waiting until she will be born and able to help her people in freedom. It’s an ambitious work of magical realism rooted in a historical context.
What I Liked:
- West African mythology. The main narrator of The Twelfth House is Etta, an ogbanje. She’s the unborn twin of another character, and her soul is trapped until she is finally born into a living body. There’s a strong theme of rebirth and fates tied together. There are also queen mothers, seers, glowing tamarind trees, and beliefs in who or what can feel pain, see, and remember.
- Zodiac. Related to rebirth, this book also focuses on what goes on in the twelfth house of the zodiac. In astrology, the twelfth house rules the subconscious mind, dreams, and transcendence. It’s naturally associated with Pisces and Neptune. I loved how this book weaves in the deeper themes of astrology, and specifically this final part of the birth chart, and how it all relates to the events that take place on the page.
- Revenge and justice. The white characters are unspeakably cruel to the Black characters, especially in the context of slavery. Though not gratuitous, this novel still doesn’t hide the horrors committed against those enslaved, from inhumane punishment to rape to murder. Upon escaping and achieving freedom, some characters seek vengeance. This ushers in a cycle of revenge, but at what point must it all end?
What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Disjointed storytelling. The Twelfth House bounces between several timelines, places, and characters, mainly in the 1700s and 1800s in Dahomey (now Benin) and Dominica (previously called Wai’tukubuli). However, some chapters reach farther back in time, abruptly going to 894, 1394, or the 1490s, including one chapter set in Spain. It’s a kaleidoscopic look at a far-reaching lineage, but it felt scattered to me. I had a hard time understanding why chapters were presented when and how they were. Ultimately, it made for a disconnect and I wasn’t able to become as emotionally invested in the characters as a result.
Audiobook:
Marie-Françoise Theodore narrates The Twelfth House. Her voice is serene, even when the story is more intense, gently drawing the listener in. It makes for a book that is easy to listen to, despite the complex storytelling.
Final Thoughts
The Twelfth House is a powerful book for people who enjoy West African mythology, themes of revenge and rebirth, and stories of enslaved peoples attaining freedom. I struggled with the narrative structure of this novel, but I can appreciate what the author was aiming for, and believe this book will find its audience.
Special thanks to Kensington, RBmedia, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
What I Liked:
- West African mythology. The main narrator of The Twelfth House is Etta, an ogbanje. She’s the unborn twin of another character, and her soul is trapped until she is finally born into a living body. There’s a strong theme of rebirth and fates tied together. There are also queen mothers, seers, glowing tamarind trees, and beliefs in who or what can feel pain, see, and remember.
- Zodiac. Related to rebirth, this book also focuses on what goes on in the twelfth house of the zodiac. In astrology, the twelfth house rules the subconscious mind, dreams, and transcendence. It’s naturally associated with Pisces and Neptune. I loved how this book weaves in the deeper themes of astrology, and specifically this final part of the birth chart, and how it all relates to the events that take place on the page.
- Revenge and justice. The white characters are unspeakably cruel to the Black characters, especially in the context of slavery. Though not gratuitous, this novel still doesn’t hide the horrors committed against those enslaved, from inhumane punishment to rape to murder. Upon escaping and achieving freedom, some characters seek vengeance. This ushers in a cycle of revenge, but at what point must it all end?
What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Disjointed storytelling. The Twelfth House bounces between several timelines, places, and characters, mainly in the 1700s and 1800s in Dahomey (now Benin) and Dominica (previously called Wai’tukubuli). However, some chapters reach farther back in time, abruptly going to 894, 1394, or the 1490s, including one chapter set in Spain. It’s a kaleidoscopic look at a far-reaching lineage, but it felt scattered to me. I had a hard time understanding why chapters were presented when and how they were. Ultimately, it made for a disconnect and I wasn’t able to become as emotionally invested in the characters as a result.
Audiobook:
Marie-Françoise Theodore narrates The Twelfth House. Her voice is serene, even when the story is more intense, gently drawing the listener in. It makes for a book that is easy to listen to, despite the complex storytelling.
Final Thoughts
The Twelfth House is a powerful book for people who enjoy West African mythology, themes of revenge and rebirth, and stories of enslaved peoples attaining freedom. I struggled with the narrative structure of this novel, but I can appreciate what the author was aiming for, and believe this book will find its audience.
Special thanks to Kensington, RBmedia, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing (Erewhon Books) for the advanced reader copy.
I will always happily reach for and read a book that brings in ideas of mysticism and folklore from different cultures. In this case the believes of West African heritage. The author writes an important story, telling the experiences of enslaved people in the Caribbean islands, and particularly lesser known islands, Dominica in this case. He highlights the African rebellions that took place and the indigenious Kalinago settlements that were and had been established before the French and British colonizers took over. All of this was information I was unaware of and glad to now recognize.
He shows the brutality of enslavers, the way in which colonizers sought to dehumanized those they enslaved. He writes these characters in a way that, at least for me, gives no room for someone to argue 'well they had their own struggles, etc." And I appreciate that - we need stories that show a person willing to own, enslave, and brutalize another human without nuance. Because I don't believe they are owed that. So I credit Robert for this - William and his family were horrible people.
Where I struggled: the story felt disjointed in that I had a hard time with the timeline jumps, something I typically enjoy. I found myself wishing that there was a bit more organization to the jumps, it felt as if some of the chapters were just randomly shuffled in and I found myself pulling out of the story as I had to figure out who the characters were, their connection to the main characters, and so on.
I also wanted a little more from Etta - for a being who was an ogbanje and in the synopsis highlighted as one seeking revenge, there were aspects of the storyline that felt a bit deflated. I think the book could have benefited from being a little bit longer. I was left a bit wanting as the story felt as if it abruptly ended.
All in all - this is a story worth sharing and telling. For those who like Jesmyn Ward's work - I think this would be a good pick. It also gives a little bit of Burn Down Master's House vibe when describing some of the rebellion taking place on the plantation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ . 5️⃣0️⃣
ALC Review
A historical fiction filled with African mysticism mixed with deep Caribbean presence.
To start off, this is an extremely brutal and graphic story about slavery, poverty and abusive men in power. However, the story telling is powerful and deeply enriched with deep lore from West Africa and transplanted on Dominica. The plot is well written and the story behind it is about anger, revenge and rebellion.
The main story centers around a siren of the Twelfth House and her desire to live in the mortal realm. This desire drives a young man named Bako into slavery across the Atlantic Ocean to the small island of Dominica. Here he is persistent to find a way to escape, and there he will give the siren what she demands — life. But he soon finds out her real nature, and with the growing threat of landowners enslaving her people, there are signs that it will get worse.
This was a deeply rich and detailed historical account that really dives into detailed and almost, graphic scenes. While some of the brutality is not explicitly written, the anger and deep resentment is very much alive in the words. The entire book was not from a perspective of one person, but multiple, switching between past and present. The author did a stunning job making the listener aware of the depravity of slavery and the inhumane attitudes of those around them. The deep lore of West African heritage mixed with the Caribbean culture was stunning. The characters were very present, just not on the page, but in the moment telling their experiences through the author’s voice.
The audiobook narrator is phenomenal, giving such vibrancy and life into each character. The sense of loss, anger, betrayal and the ability to switch to a different style was incredible.
My only gripes are on the switching of point of views which made it difficult to follow on audio. I do believe it would be easier to see and understand by reading and seeing the switching.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this advanced listeners copy.
ALC Review
A historical fiction filled with African mysticism mixed with deep Caribbean presence.
To start off, this is an extremely brutal and graphic story about slavery, poverty and abusive men in power. However, the story telling is powerful and deeply enriched with deep lore from West Africa and transplanted on Dominica. The plot is well written and the story behind it is about anger, revenge and rebellion.
The main story centers around a siren of the Twelfth House and her desire to live in the mortal realm. This desire drives a young man named Bako into slavery across the Atlantic Ocean to the small island of Dominica. Here he is persistent to find a way to escape, and there he will give the siren what she demands — life. But he soon finds out her real nature, and with the growing threat of landowners enslaving her people, there are signs that it will get worse.
This was a deeply rich and detailed historical account that really dives into detailed and almost, graphic scenes. While some of the brutality is not explicitly written, the anger and deep resentment is very much alive in the words. The entire book was not from a perspective of one person, but multiple, switching between past and present. The author did a stunning job making the listener aware of the depravity of slavery and the inhumane attitudes of those around them. The deep lore of West African heritage mixed with the Caribbean culture was stunning. The characters were very present, just not on the page, but in the moment telling their experiences through the author’s voice.
The audiobook narrator is phenomenal, giving such vibrancy and life into each character. The sense of loss, anger, betrayal and the ability to switch to a different style was incredible.
My only gripes are on the switching of point of views which made it difficult to follow on audio. I do believe it would be easier to see and understand by reading and seeing the switching.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this advanced listeners copy.
August 17, 2026
I had such high hopes for The Twelfth House by Robert de la Chevotiere. African folklore combined with magical realism AND historical fiction? Umm, YES! This sounded like it was made for me.
I started this one on audio but quickly added the eARC into the mix because I kept finding my mind wandering. Once I started reading along while listening, I was much more engaged.
One thing I really appreciated was how Chevotiere used this story to introduce me to pieces of Caribbean history that were certainly NOT covered in any of my history classes. I love when historical fiction sends me down a rabbit hole wanting to learn more about the real history behind the story, and there was plenty here that did exactly that.
But unfortunately, that wasn’t quite enough to overcome some of my issues with the novel.
Usually, I don’t mind a story that jumps through time—in fact, I tend to love them—but the shifts here sometimes made the story feel disjointed rather than interconnected. I found myself having to reorient myself instead of feeling like each period was building upon the last.
And then there’s our girl Etta, an ogbanje. I needed MORE from her! She’s such an interesting character with an equally fascinating mythology surrounding her, but I never felt like I got to know her as deeply as I wanted to. A little more character development—and honestly, maybe a longer book that gave Etta and the different timelines more room to breathe—could have made a big difference for me.
Overall, this was a decent read with a premise and historical foundation that I found much more compelling than the execution. The audiobook narration was just okay for me, and I definitely connected with the story more once I paired the audio with the words on the page. But that last part might just be a me problem.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for both the eARC and advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Release Date: August 25, 2026
I started this one on audio but quickly added the eARC into the mix because I kept finding my mind wandering. Once I started reading along while listening, I was much more engaged.
One thing I really appreciated was how Chevotiere used this story to introduce me to pieces of Caribbean history that were certainly NOT covered in any of my history classes. I love when historical fiction sends me down a rabbit hole wanting to learn more about the real history behind the story, and there was plenty here that did exactly that.
But unfortunately, that wasn’t quite enough to overcome some of my issues with the novel.
Usually, I don’t mind a story that jumps through time—in fact, I tend to love them—but the shifts here sometimes made the story feel disjointed rather than interconnected. I found myself having to reorient myself instead of feeling like each period was building upon the last.
And then there’s our girl Etta, an ogbanje. I needed MORE from her! She’s such an interesting character with an equally fascinating mythology surrounding her, but I never felt like I got to know her as deeply as I wanted to. A little more character development—and honestly, maybe a longer book that gave Etta and the different timelines more room to breathe—could have made a big difference for me.
Overall, this was a decent read with a premise and historical foundation that I found much more compelling than the execution. The audiobook narration was just okay for me, and I definitely connected with the story more once I paired the audio with the words on the page. But that last part might just be a me problem.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for both the eARC and advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Twelfth House by Robert de la Chevotiere explores the brutal realities of enslavement on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica. The novel illuminates a history that was largely unfamiliar to me, highlighting the island’s early Kalinago (native) inhabitants, and the subsequent French and then British colonizers who arrived and brought enslaved Africans to labor on farms and coffee plantations.
Chevotiere’s writing is beautiful, weaving colonial history with West African mythology in a way that is both lyrical and haunting. His depictions of the violent, inhumane treatment of enslaved people, many captured in Dahomey (modern-day Benin), are difficult to read but essential to the narrative. I appreciated his honest, unflinching portrayal of slavery in the West Indies, as well as his frank acknowledgment of Dahomey’s role in the Atlantic Slave Trade, where prisoners of war were sold to European traders in exchange for firearms, gunpowder, and other “trinkets.” The early chapters read like a beautifully written, if harrowing, history text.
Unfortunately, the latter third of the book felt disjointed. Time shifts and narrative pivots didn’t fully anchor to the central storyline. The novel begins with a clear, grounded account of British settlement after wresting Dominica from the French, but later transitions into magical realism and Dahomeyan folklore that, while intriguing, felt randomly integrated. These precolonial stories might have been more effective at the beginning of the novel rather than the end. The non linear structure ultimately undermines the book’s otherwise strong storytelling.
I’m giving The Twelfth House 3.5 stars for its powerful storytelling, but its serious organizational issues undermined the overall reader experience.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for an advanced listener copy of this novel. Marie-Françoise Theodore’s narration was excellent.
Chevotiere’s writing is beautiful, weaving colonial history with West African mythology in a way that is both lyrical and haunting. His depictions of the violent, inhumane treatment of enslaved people, many captured in Dahomey (modern-day Benin), are difficult to read but essential to the narrative. I appreciated his honest, unflinching portrayal of slavery in the West Indies, as well as his frank acknowledgment of Dahomey’s role in the Atlantic Slave Trade, where prisoners of war were sold to European traders in exchange for firearms, gunpowder, and other “trinkets.” The early chapters read like a beautifully written, if harrowing, history text.
Unfortunately, the latter third of the book felt disjointed. Time shifts and narrative pivots didn’t fully anchor to the central storyline. The novel begins with a clear, grounded account of British settlement after wresting Dominica from the French, but later transitions into magical realism and Dahomeyan folklore that, while intriguing, felt randomly integrated. These precolonial stories might have been more effective at the beginning of the novel rather than the end. The non linear structure ultimately undermines the book’s otherwise strong storytelling.
I’m giving The Twelfth House 3.5 stars for its powerful storytelling, but its serious organizational issues undermined the overall reader experience.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for an advanced listener copy of this novel. Marie-Françoise Theodore’s narration was excellent.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novel is written from the perspective of an ogbanje - a spirit in traditional Igbo beliefs, that is doomed to a cycle of birth and rebirth, either dying as a stillborn or young child, tormenting the chosen family with loss. In this story, the ogbanje is desperate to live, and to seek revenge for her treatment in past lives. She tricks her future father into being captured and brought to Dominica in the 18th century as an enslaved man. There her father meets her future mother and she is finally conceived and born alive, and given the chance for her revenge - but is revenge truly what this spirit needs?
This is a very brutal and complex novel. It's hard to even categorize it into a genre. It has a strong aspect of historical fiction, exploring slavery and revolt in 18th century Caribbean. It also has strong aspects of horror and magical realism and science fiction.
It switches throughout time quite a bit and can be a bit complicated to follow, at least through the audiobook. I also found the narration a bit bland and lacking. I would say the perspective it is written in has a bit of a detached, ethereal, science fiction feel to it that maybe isn't conducive to the audiobook format (for my tastes at least). I would like to re-read this in physical form because there were a few aspects I got confused about and it was harder to go back and figure it out through the audiobook.
Overall I think this was a extremely unique read, and I'm very glad I read it. It is not an easy read, but it is not supposed to be. It is graphic and heartbreaking and real. A great exploration of traditions, how they can unite us and how they can harm us.
4 stars, would like to see if my rating changes once I read the physical book!
Thank you @netgalley for the ALC
Publishing August 25, 2026
This is a very brutal and complex novel. It's hard to even categorize it into a genre. It has a strong aspect of historical fiction, exploring slavery and revolt in 18th century Caribbean. It also has strong aspects of horror and magical realism and science fiction.
It switches throughout time quite a bit and can be a bit complicated to follow, at least through the audiobook. I also found the narration a bit bland and lacking. I would say the perspective it is written in has a bit of a detached, ethereal, science fiction feel to it that maybe isn't conducive to the audiobook format (for my tastes at least). I would like to re-read this in physical form because there were a few aspects I got confused about and it was harder to go back and figure it out through the audiobook.
Overall I think this was a extremely unique read, and I'm very glad I read it. It is not an easy read, but it is not supposed to be. It is graphic and heartbreaking and real. A great exploration of traditions, how they can unite us and how they can harm us.
4 stars, would like to see if my rating changes once I read the physical book!
Thank you @netgalley for the ALC
Publishing August 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was very confusing because of the multiple POV changes and the time jump every chapter. It felt like how my mind would be if I woke up from a dream and I tried my best to remember what transpired in it. I did like the prose and I think it had a very decent style of writing that managed to capture the emotions of all the narrators. I wish the time jumps didn’t feel so abrupt and sudden even though it happened every chapter, since it made me feel disconnected quite a bit from the events unless I went back to check if I followed the timeline correctly.
I understand that the interconnectedness of everything and everyone was being highlighted, but it felt so convoluted or all over the place that I ended up lost in the pages (and not in a good way). I also didn’t like reading William’s POV because I did not care for the suffering of a white man, nor did I care if, in the grand scheme of things, he is also reliving a history where he has made the same decisions and lived similarly, never atoning and learning from his sins. I was pretty skeptical about the “we all suffer” initial theme because I did not want to see his “humanity” or sympathize with him in any way (not that I did).
This book was an okay read, although I could’ve wished for a different ending. I think it would also be better if the story were longer so it could expound more on who Etta is since we only know of her 60% into the story when she’s been an omnipresent figure all throughout. She seemed to be everywhere but at the same time nowhere at all.
I thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read the ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review!
Publishing date: August 25, 2026
I understand that the interconnectedness of everything and everyone was being highlighted, but it felt so convoluted or all over the place that I ended up lost in the pages (and not in a good way). I also didn’t like reading William’s POV because I did not care for the suffering of a white man, nor did I care if, in the grand scheme of things, he is also reliving a history where he has made the same decisions and lived similarly, never atoning and learning from his sins. I was pretty skeptical about the “we all suffer” initial theme because I did not want to see his “humanity” or sympathize with him in any way (not that I did).
This book was an okay read, although I could’ve wished for a different ending. I think it would also be better if the story were longer so it could expound more on who Etta is since we only know of her 60% into the story when she’s been an omnipresent figure all throughout. She seemed to be everywhere but at the same time nowhere at all.
I thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read the ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review!
Publishing date: August 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Twelfth House historical fiction is woven with magical realism and rooted in West African mythology. The novel also brings the concept of unborn soul which needs to be born in a specific place and time to fulfill its mission.
This novel begins at two places, and then merges at one – colonized Caribbean island of Dominica.
England, 1773: William Blackwell and his friend Aldyne, both with wives, are to set sail for the New World. There is a moral difference between two good friends. William likes the idea of free African labor, and Aldyne opposes slavery.
Etta is the vengeful unborn soul who draws her father into the hands of his captors of the coast of Benin, West Africa. The slave ship carries him to sugar plantation in Dominica.
The father becomes one of the slaves of William on his plantation of coffee and sugarcane. There, many challenges arise, including his friendship with his best friend.
When African rebellion erupts, the father encounters a Kalinago woman with whom he has the child – Etta.
This novel is challenging with constant time-line shifting. It moves forward a bit, and then keeps bringing backstories. The most challenging part is when someone is no longer alive, and it still keeps going back with backstories.
Overall, it is an incredibly well-written and spellbinding story. As the author states, this story was channeled to him – concept of mysticism. To write such story, subject-wise and time-line-wise, is highly applaud-able.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This novel begins at two places, and then merges at one – colonized Caribbean island of Dominica.
England, 1773: William Blackwell and his friend Aldyne, both with wives, are to set sail for the New World. There is a moral difference between two good friends. William likes the idea of free African labor, and Aldyne opposes slavery.
Etta is the vengeful unborn soul who draws her father into the hands of his captors of the coast of Benin, West Africa. The slave ship carries him to sugar plantation in Dominica.
The father becomes one of the slaves of William on his plantation of coffee and sugarcane. There, many challenges arise, including his friendship with his best friend.
When African rebellion erupts, the father encounters a Kalinago woman with whom he has the child – Etta.
This novel is challenging with constant time-line shifting. It moves forward a bit, and then keeps bringing backstories. The most challenging part is when someone is no longer alive, and it still keeps going back with backstories.
Overall, it is an incredibly well-written and spellbinding story. As the author states, this story was channeled to him – concept of mysticism. To write such story, subject-wise and time-line-wise, is highly applaud-able.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2026
This was an interesting read/listen, that fell flat in its final chapters. I’m always a sucker for books inspired by real-world mythologies and folklore, so I have had this book on my radar for quite a while.
The story initially follows Bako, who is abducted from his homeland in Africa and sold into slavery on the Carribean island of Dominica. However, it is not told from his perspective, but from his (as of yet unborn) daughter Etta’s. Every so often, a chapter-long vignette from the past will interrupt the ‘present-day’ timeline, which can occasionally be a bit disorienting, but I really enjoyed the sort of ethereal vibe it brought to the story.
All in all I did mostly enjoy this book and was certain I would rate it 4 stars for the longest time. However, the ending absolutely did not work for me. Really my main complaint is about the murder of the piece of shit slave owner. There are numerous times where someone almost kills him, but doesn’t because they acted in a way that made no logical sense to me. The main character deaths at the end felt cheapened because they did not need to happen, had the characters acted sensibly? Maybe I am missing some big symbolism or something, but it just made the whole story feel… pointless.
Tropes and such:
- Afro-Carribean fantasy
- concepts from West-African (Igbo) mythology
- set on 19th century Dominica
- involves the Atlantic slave trade (i.e. depressing and infuriating a lot of the time)
- Afro-Indigenous narrator character
- great audiobook narration
-----
Thank you to Recorded Books for the ALC
The story initially follows Bako, who is abducted from his homeland in Africa and sold into slavery on the Carribean island of Dominica. However, it is not told from his perspective, but from his (as of yet unborn) daughter Etta’s. Every so often, a chapter-long vignette from the past will interrupt the ‘present-day’ timeline, which can occasionally be a bit disorienting, but I really enjoyed the sort of ethereal vibe it brought to the story.
All in all I did mostly enjoy this book and was certain I would rate it 4 stars for the longest time. However, the ending absolutely did not work for me. Really my main complaint is about the murder of the piece of shit slave owner. There are numerous times where someone almost kills him, but doesn’t because they acted in a way that made no logical sense to me. The main character deaths at the end felt cheapened because they did not need to happen, had the characters acted sensibly? Maybe I am missing some big symbolism or something, but it just made the whole story feel… pointless.
Tropes and such:
- Afro-Carribean fantasy
- concepts from West-African (Igbo) mythology
- set on 19th century Dominica
- involves the Atlantic slave trade (i.e. depressing and infuriating a lot of the time)
- Afro-Indigenous narrator character
- great audiobook narration
-----
Thank you to Recorded Books for the ALC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. Their performance carried the emotional weight of the historical setting and helped make the folklore feel vivid, especially during the more atmospheric or intense moments. I also appreciated that the book centers history and traditions connected to Dominica, colonization, and enslavement since these subjects and perspectives are not nearly as often explored in historical fiction. The blend of folklore and history gave the story a distinct identity. That said, I found the structure of the story confusing at times. I had trouble following how some of the threads, perspectives, and supernatural elements connected, which made it harder for me to stay fully immersed. A more linear timeline would have been better. But I also think readers who already have more familiarity with the folklore and cultural context being referenced may get more out of it than I did. Overall, I’m glad I listened to it and appreciated the care behind the narrator’s performance and the historical themes the book chose to explore. However, it was not a story I would likely revisit. I would give it three stars, though I can see myself rating it higher if I had entered it with more background knowledge of the folklore presented.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. Their performance carried the emotional weight of the historical setting and helped make the folklore feel vivid, especially during the more atmospheric or intense moments. I also appreciated that the book centers history and traditions connected to Dominica, colonization, and enslavement since these subjects and perspectives are not nearly as often explored in historical fiction. The blend of folklore and history gave the story a distinct identity. That said, I found the structure of the story confusing at times. I had trouble following how some of the threads, perspectives, and supernatural elements connected, which made it harder for me to stay fully immersed. A more linear timeline would have been better. But I also think readers who already have more familiarity with the folklore and cultural context being referenced may get more out of it than I did. Overall, I’m glad I listened to it and appreciated the care behind the narrator’s performance and the historical themes the book chose to explore. However, it was not a story I would likely revisit. I would give it three stars, though I can see myself rating it higher if I had entered it with more background knowledge of the folklore presented.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Twelfth House is a heartfelt novel about humanity, enslaved people, African mythology, history and magical realism.
The story is told through the voice of Etta, an unborn soul. She narrates the life of Bako from the moment he is captured and throughout his life as an enslaved man. We also follow William Blackwell and his move to the Caribbean Islands in search of riches for the ambitious British Empire.
What transpires once William arrives at Dominica is nothing but pain, grief and mutilation at the hands of William and future sons. As the enslaved people produce coffee and sugarcane, William turns into the evil demon he always was. Told through the voice of Etta we meet so many important and friendly characters that make the harshness of the book much more ingestible. Malachai was a character I enjoyed so much. He suffered, survived and fought back. Jeremiah and Medicine-John were such important characters to me because they represented the past and showed that no matter how well behaved you were or complacent, the evil master's greed was never satiated. The magical stories told in between the chapters was what helped heal the soul and gave hope. The tamarind tree will forever stay with me. "Mother, I see you. Queen Mother, I am grateful."
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
The story is told through the voice of Etta, an unborn soul. She narrates the life of Bako from the moment he is captured and throughout his life as an enslaved man. We also follow William Blackwell and his move to the Caribbean Islands in search of riches for the ambitious British Empire.
What transpires once William arrives at Dominica is nothing but pain, grief and mutilation at the hands of William and future sons. As the enslaved people produce coffee and sugarcane, William turns into the evil demon he always was. Told through the voice of Etta we meet so many important and friendly characters that make the harshness of the book much more ingestible. Malachai was a character I enjoyed so much. He suffered, survived and fought back. Jeremiah and Medicine-John were such important characters to me because they represented the past and showed that no matter how well behaved you were or complacent, the evil master's greed was never satiated. The magical stories told in between the chapters was what helped heal the soul and gave hope. The tamarind tree will forever stay with me. "Mother, I see you. Queen Mother, I am grateful."
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Twelfth House is a magical realism tale interwoven with African mythology depicting the lives of slaves living on the Caribbean island of Dominica.
This story spans several generations/timelines and becomes confusing rather quickly. There are many characters and several sub plots with magic that becomes hard to navigate.
Reading about slavery is always difficult. I cannot stand the passages where there is abuse and there is a lot of it. Sexual and physical to name the two most prominent. Sexual abuse permeates throughout this story in tragedy after tragedy while being the building blocks of the plot also.
The author has done incredible research into the history of Dominica which I previously did not know about. This island is known for its natural beauty, hundred of rivers, and native Kalinago people, who are also present and hold prominence in the book.
The magic was very nuanced and confusing. I wasn’t sure what magic was happening when it was happening and then was sort of thrust into it and was so confused. I think there may have been too many magical pieces for me to pick up on or something.
This story spans several generations/timelines and becomes confusing rather quickly. There are many characters and several sub plots with magic that becomes hard to navigate.
Reading about slavery is always difficult. I cannot stand the passages where there is abuse and there is a lot of it. Sexual and physical to name the two most prominent. Sexual abuse permeates throughout this story in tragedy after tragedy while being the building blocks of the plot also.
The author has done incredible research into the history of Dominica which I previously did not know about. This island is known for its natural beauty, hundred of rivers, and native Kalinago people, who are also present and hold prominence in the book.
The magic was very nuanced and confusing. I wasn’t sure what magic was happening when it was happening and then was sort of thrust into it and was so confused. I think there may have been too many magical pieces for me to pick up on or something.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Twelfth House is a historical fiction novel with magical realism woven in that covers events relating to enslaved people in Dominica. The novel has different POVs from different timelines and as a result can be incredibly confusing to follow especially when listened to as there are no clear indications of when a time-jump has happened. I did listen to this novel and I suspect that played a role in my confusion as I don’t find it as easy to flip back over sections I don’t quite understand when in that format.
I found the narration felt a bit stiff at times, but I may just not get on with the narrators cadence. The dialogue was very engaging though with the characters feeling distinct and authentic.
Due to the subject matter and themes this novel can be challenging to get through because the events are so dark. The depictions of violence are essential though to show the reality for enslaved people during the period. I could also tell the author had put a lot of research into this novel. There is a lot of information in here about particular events so I learned a lot, which I’m grateful for.
I received an ALC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I found the narration felt a bit stiff at times, but I may just not get on with the narrators cadence. The dialogue was very engaging though with the characters feeling distinct and authentic.
Due to the subject matter and themes this novel can be challenging to get through because the events are so dark. The depictions of violence are essential though to show the reality for enslaved people during the period. I could also tell the author had put a lot of research into this novel. There is a lot of information in here about particular events so I learned a lot, which I’m grateful for.
I received an ALC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
August 19, 2026
I enjoy historical fiction with magical elements, but this one fell short.
I can definitely see the potential for this one, but the way the author strung all the aspects of the story together was incredibly confusing and disjointed. It jumps between omniscient POVs AND between past and present so much that it was hard for me to figure out where and when I was in the timeline and who was who.
I also feel like the magical elements could have been explained more (i.e. Etta’s powers, the Twelfth House, the obganje)
I can appreciate the research and time that went into this book, but I have to be honest: if it weren’t an ARC, I would have DNFd very early on simply because of the way it was set up.
I would have loved to read this same story in a more organized format.
♥️ I really loved learning about the interactions between the Marooners (people who escaped slavery and fled into the mountains) and the Kalinago (indigenous) people in Dominica in the 17-1800s. I hadn’t heard that part of history before!
Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the ALC.
I can definitely see the potential for this one, but the way the author strung all the aspects of the story together was incredibly confusing and disjointed. It jumps between omniscient POVs AND between past and present so much that it was hard for me to figure out where and when I was in the timeline and who was who.
I also feel like the magical elements could have been explained more (i.e. Etta’s powers, the Twelfth House, the obganje)
I can appreciate the research and time that went into this book, but I have to be honest: if it weren’t an ARC, I would have DNFd very early on simply because of the way it was set up.
I would have loved to read this same story in a more organized format.
♥️ I really loved learning about the interactions between the Marooners (people who escaped slavery and fled into the mountains) and the Kalinago (indigenous) people in Dominica in the 17-1800s. I hadn’t heard that part of history before!
Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the ALC.
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