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9 days and 17:58:29
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Black Gold
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 17:58:29
10 copies available
U.S. only
A young model is catapulted from her life in Jamaica to the international world of high fashion in this tender, powerful novel about the distance one woman must travel to find out what it means to be truly free—by the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of Patsy and Here Comes the Sun.
Nestled within Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, Cherry Village has belonged for generations to the Maroons—freed slaves descended from Faye’s ancestor, the legendary Grandy Henrietta. But Faye’s restless nature and independence have always marked her as different, and she dreams of a life beyond the rural coffee-farming community that follows the old ways. When Faye’s mother is forced to sell their ancestral land after falling ill, Faye worries she will be trapped forever.
A chance meeting with a modeling scout offers Faye the opportunity to save her family and pursue the freedom she craves. Her career will take her on a whirlwind journey of luxury and excess, love and adventure, as well as greed and deception. But her success will challenge everything she thought she knew about herself, forcing her to confront a legacy of pain, resilience, and survival that began generations before.
A story of land and river, myth and history, unbreakable hope and generational resilience, interwoven with Jamaican folklore and featuring an unforgettable heroine, Black Gold further establishes Nicole Dennis-Benn as one of the most dynamic voices in contemporary fiction.
Nestled within Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, Cherry Village has belonged for generations to the Maroons—freed slaves descended from Faye’s ancestor, the legendary Grandy Henrietta. But Faye’s restless nature and independence have always marked her as different, and she dreams of a life beyond the rural coffee-farming community that follows the old ways. When Faye’s mother is forced to sell their ancestral land after falling ill, Faye worries she will be trapped forever.
A chance meeting with a modeling scout offers Faye the opportunity to save her family and pursue the freedom she craves. Her career will take her on a whirlwind journey of luxury and excess, love and adventure, as well as greed and deception. But her success will challenge everything she thought she knew about herself, forcing her to confront a legacy of pain, resilience, and survival that began generations before.
A story of land and river, myth and history, unbreakable hope and generational resilience, interwoven with Jamaican folklore and featuring an unforgettable heroine, Black Gold further establishes Nicole Dennis-Benn as one of the most dynamic voices in contemporary fiction.
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 12, 2027
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nicole Dennis-Benn delivers an incredibly raw and uncompromising story in Black Gold. Set against the vivid, immersive backdrop of Jamaican coffee farms in the Blue Mountains, the novel follows a young woman on a fierce quest to protect her family’s ancestral land and preserve her history.
What begins as a battle for her roots quickly transforms into a grueling, deeply moving journey of self-discovery. Dennis-Benn masterfully explores the dark theme of manipulation, showing how easily a blossoming flower can be controlled and stifled by those with power.
What I Loved:
Unflinching Realism: This story doesn’t shy away from hard truths and harsh realities. The author portrays the emotional and systemic weights of inheritance with brutal, poetic honesty.
Atmospheric Setting: The Jamaican landscape and the culture of the coffee-farming community are woven beautifully into the narrative, making the setting feel like a living character.
Complex Character Growth: Watching the protagonist navigate psychological control while trying to claim her own agency was both painful and deeply empowering.
Black Gold is a brilliant testament to generational resilience and a must-read for anyone who loves rich, character-driven literary fiction. It is a haunting reminder of the lengths we will go to protect our history.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 / 5 stars)
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
What begins as a battle for her roots quickly transforms into a grueling, deeply moving journey of self-discovery. Dennis-Benn masterfully explores the dark theme of manipulation, showing how easily a blossoming flower can be controlled and stifled by those with power.
What I Loved:
Unflinching Realism: This story doesn’t shy away from hard truths and harsh realities. The author portrays the emotional and systemic weights of inheritance with brutal, poetic honesty.
Atmospheric Setting: The Jamaican landscape and the culture of the coffee-farming community are woven beautifully into the narrative, making the setting feel like a living character.
Complex Character Growth: Watching the protagonist navigate psychological control while trying to claim her own agency was both painful and deeply empowering.
Black Gold is a brilliant testament to generational resilience and a must-read for anyone who loves rich, character-driven literary fiction. It is a haunting reminder of the lengths we will go to protect our history.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 / 5 stars)
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review