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The Whispering Jacarandas
Not yet published
Expected 28 Aug 26The Whispering Jacarandas is a haunting debut that unfolds in the charged aftermath of Zimbabwe’s independence. In the leafy suburb of Belvedere, sisters Zaynah and Amira grow up within the shelter of a close-knit Indian community, until one night of violence shatters their childhood and drives an unspoken rift between them.
As the sisters navigate adolescence under the shadow of silence, their paths diverge: one drawn inward into secrecy, the other seeking escape in rebellion. Against a backdrop of political upheaval and simmering racial tensions, they must confront the weight of trauma, the fragility of identity, and the unbreakable, yet fractured, threads of sisterhood.
Lyrical and devastating, The Whispering Jacarandas evokes the beauty and resilience of its namesake blooms while exploring how love, loyalty, and the search for belonging endure in even the harshest of landscapes.
'How could a root forget her flowers? How strong and beautiful they were. Like jacaranda trees they could survive and bloom wherever they were planted.'
As the sisters navigate adolescence under the shadow of silence, their paths diverge: one drawn inward into secrecy, the other seeking escape in rebellion. Against a backdrop of political upheaval and simmering racial tensions, they must confront the weight of trauma, the fragility of identity, and the unbreakable, yet fractured, threads of sisterhood.
Lyrical and devastating, The Whispering Jacarandas evokes the beauty and resilience of its namesake blooms while exploring how love, loyalty, and the search for belonging endure in even the harshest of landscapes.
'How could a root forget her flowers? How strong and beautiful they were. Like jacaranda trees they could survive and bloom wherever they were planted.'
Paperback
Expected publication August 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Whispering Jacarandas is a beautifully written debut that quietly broke my heart.
Set in post-independence Zimbabwe, the novel follows sisters Zaynah and Amira, whose lives are forever shaped by one devastating event and the silence that follows. Rather than focusing on a single moment of tragedy, Zahira Dayal explores how trauma echoes through years of unspoken words, fractured relationships, and the impossible weight of family expectations.
What I loved most was the prose. It is lyrical, poetic, and deeply atmospheric, giving even the heaviest moments a haunting kind of softness. Every page felt immersive, drawing me into the sisters’ world while allowing the emotions to unfold with quiet intensity.
The emotional heart of the novel lies in the relationship between Zaynah and Amira. Watching them carry the same wound in completely different ways was heartbreaking. One is consumed by guilt, the other by anger, and the growing distance between them becomes just as devastating as the event that first tore them apart.
What stayed with me long after I finished was the way the book examines family loyalty and the damage that comes from choosing reputation over truth. It is an honest portrayal of inherited pain, silence, and the lasting consequences of what remains unsaid.
A haunting, tender, and beautifully written novel about sisterhood, grief, and the stories families choose to protect.
Thank you to Zahira Dayal for writing such a moving story, and to Fly on the Wall Press for kindly sending me an ARC/proof copy.
Set in post-independence Zimbabwe, the novel follows sisters Zaynah and Amira, whose lives are forever shaped by one devastating event and the silence that follows. Rather than focusing on a single moment of tragedy, Zahira Dayal explores how trauma echoes through years of unspoken words, fractured relationships, and the impossible weight of family expectations.
What I loved most was the prose. It is lyrical, poetic, and deeply atmospheric, giving even the heaviest moments a haunting kind of softness. Every page felt immersive, drawing me into the sisters’ world while allowing the emotions to unfold with quiet intensity.
The emotional heart of the novel lies in the relationship between Zaynah and Amira. Watching them carry the same wound in completely different ways was heartbreaking. One is consumed by guilt, the other by anger, and the growing distance between them becomes just as devastating as the event that first tore them apart.
What stayed with me long after I finished was the way the book examines family loyalty and the damage that comes from choosing reputation over truth. It is an honest portrayal of inherited pain, silence, and the lasting consequences of what remains unsaid.
A haunting, tender, and beautifully written novel about sisterhood, grief, and the stories families choose to protect.
Thank you to Zahira Dayal for writing such a moving story, and to Fly on the Wall Press for kindly sending me an ARC/proof copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
From reading the blurb, I had really high hopes for this book. I expected something along the lines of Adichie's 'Half of a Yellow Sun' or Owour's 'Dust' but was sadly disappointed. The blurb made it sound as if there would be a lot on the politics of post-independence Zimbabwe. These are definitely mentioned, but only superficially. It feels like the book happens to be set in post--independence Zimbabwe, as the backdrop does not contribute anything significant to the narrative.
Contrary to expectations, the trauma that the two sisters, Amira and Zaynaah, live through, takes centre stage. There is no room for other topics in the narrative, as this overshadows everything else. From very early on in the book, it becomes clear what the trauma is that the sisters lived through. From then on, it follows their journey to adulthood. At times, the narrative felt rambling and there was no real direction for the plot.
Having said that, the writing is beautiful and evocative, which is why I kept reading.
The writing did however feel a bit clunky and too instructional at times. Just to give one example, without spoilers: At one point, Aunt Nabeela is described as follows:
"She had developed a nervous habit of washing her hands every few minutes, so the skin on her hands had become dry and scaly." It is at this point fairly obvious to the reader why she would be doing this, but the narrator goes on to say in the next sentence: "Like Lady Macbeth, she washed off dirt nobody else could see." This is just one example of jarring elements in the narrative - at no point before or after is Shakespeare mentioned, and there is also no indication that Zaynaah, from whose perspective this chapter is written, would be aware of Macbeth and use this as her frame of reference.
So, all in all, while the writing for the most part is beautiful, the narrative could have been polished a bit more. I also think the reader can be trusted to infer certain points in the narrative, and they don't need explaining as much.
I would still recommend reading the book, but don't expect too much on Zimbabwean politics and history -I would describe it as a coming of age novel of two very different sisters.
Contrary to expectations, the trauma that the two sisters, Amira and Zaynaah, live through, takes centre stage. There is no room for other topics in the narrative, as this overshadows everything else. From very early on in the book, it becomes clear what the trauma is that the sisters lived through. From then on, it follows their journey to adulthood. At times, the narrative felt rambling and there was no real direction for the plot.
Having said that, the writing is beautiful and evocative, which is why I kept reading.
The writing did however feel a bit clunky and too instructional at times. Just to give one example, without spoilers: At one point, Aunt Nabeela is described as follows:
"She had developed a nervous habit of washing her hands every few minutes, so the skin on her hands had become dry and scaly." It is at this point fairly obvious to the reader why she would be doing this, but the narrator goes on to say in the next sentence: "Like Lady Macbeth, she washed off dirt nobody else could see." This is just one example of jarring elements in the narrative - at no point before or after is Shakespeare mentioned, and there is also no indication that Zaynaah, from whose perspective this chapter is written, would be aware of Macbeth and use this as her frame of reference.
So, all in all, while the writing for the most part is beautiful, the narrative could have been polished a bit more. I also think the reader can be trusted to infer certain points in the narrative, and they don't need explaining as much.
I would still recommend reading the book, but don't expect too much on Zimbabwean politics and history -I would describe it as a coming of age novel of two very different sisters.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a moving and thought-provoking read. Zaynah and Amira were both beautifully written, believable characters, and I became completely invested in their story. Their lives were shaped so profoundly by the horrific experiences they endured during childhood, and I found the way the author explored the long-lasting impact of trauma particularly powerful. It was heartbreaking to see how the events of their childhood continued to affect their relationships, choices and lives as they grew older. I found myself thinking about Zaynah and Amira long after putting the book down.
I also really enjoyed the setting. I haven’t read a book set in Zimbabwe before, so it was fascinating to experience the country through the story.
Overall this was a beautifully written story about trauma, resilience and family relationships.
I also really enjoyed the setting. I haven’t read a book set in Zimbabwe before, so it was fascinating to experience the country through the story.
Overall this was a beautifully written story about trauma, resilience and family relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Whispering Jacarandas explores the bond between sisters and how it can become fractured. It’s a heartbreaking story set within the Indian community in Zimbabwe.
The writing is beautiful and the novel will stay with you after reading.
Thank you for the proof.
Publishing 28th August.
The writing is beautiful and the novel will stay with you after reading.
Thank you for the proof.
Publishing 28th August.
August 23, 2026
A beautifully written read!!
August 24, 2026
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews