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The Road to the Salt Sea
As wrenching and luminous as Omar El Akkad’s What Strange Paradise and Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West, a searing exploration of the global migration crisis that moves from Nigeria to Libya to Italy, from an exciting new literary voice.
Able God works for low pay at a four-star hotel where he must flash his “toothpaste-white smile” for wealthy guests. When not tending to the hotel’s overprivileged clientele, he muses over self-help books and draws life lessons from the game of chess.
But Able’s ordinary life is upended when an early morning room service order leads him to interfere with Akudo, a sex worker involved with a powerful but dangerous hotel guest. Suddenly caught in a web of violence, guilt, and fear, Able must run to save himself—a journey that leads him into the desert with a group of drug-addled migrants, headed by a charismatic religious leader calling himself Ben Ten. The travelers’ dream of reaching Europe and a new life in a better place is shattered when they fall prey to human traffickers, suffer starvation, and find themselves on the precipice of death, fighting for their lives and their freedom.
As Able God moves into the treacherous unknown, his consciousness becomes focused on survival and the foundations of his beliefs—his ideas about betterment and salvation—are forever altered. Suspenseful, incisive, and illuminating, The Road to the Salt Sea is a story of family, fate, religion, survival, the failures of the Nigerian class system, and what often happens to those who seek their fortunes elsewhere.
Able God works for low pay at a four-star hotel where he must flash his “toothpaste-white smile” for wealthy guests. When not tending to the hotel’s overprivileged clientele, he muses over self-help books and draws life lessons from the game of chess.
But Able’s ordinary life is upended when an early morning room service order leads him to interfere with Akudo, a sex worker involved with a powerful but dangerous hotel guest. Suddenly caught in a web of violence, guilt, and fear, Able must run to save himself—a journey that leads him into the desert with a group of drug-addled migrants, headed by a charismatic religious leader calling himself Ben Ten. The travelers’ dream of reaching Europe and a new life in a better place is shattered when they fall prey to human traffickers, suffer starvation, and find themselves on the precipice of death, fighting for their lives and their freedom.
As Able God moves into the treacherous unknown, his consciousness becomes focused on survival and the foundations of his beliefs—his ideas about betterment and salvation—are forever altered. Suspenseful, incisive, and illuminating, The Road to the Salt Sea is a story of family, fate, religion, survival, the failures of the Nigerian class system, and what often happens to those who seek their fortunes elsewhere.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2024
About the author
Samuel Kolawole
1 book26 followers Samuel Kọ́láwọlé was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. His debut novel, The Road to the Salt Sea, won the 2025 Whiting Award for Fiction, was a finalist for the International Book Awards, was longlisted for the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize, and is currently a finalist for the 2025 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel.
Other honors for his work include being a finalist for the Caine Prize for African Writing, the Graywolf Press Africa Prize, and the UK's The First Novel Prize.
He studied at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing with distinction from Rhodes University, South Africa; is a graduate of the MFA in Writing and Publishing at Vermont College of Fine Arts; and earned his PhD in English and Creative Writing from Georgia State University.
He teaches fiction writing full-time as an assistant professor of English and African studies at Pennsylvania State University. He recently joined the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers as a faculty member.
Other honors for his work include being a finalist for the Caine Prize for African Writing, the Graywolf Press Africa Prize, and the UK's The First Novel Prize.
He studied at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing with distinction from Rhodes University, South Africa; is a graduate of the MFA in Writing and Publishing at Vermont College of Fine Arts; and earned his PhD in English and Creative Writing from Georgia State University.
He teaches fiction writing full-time as an assistant professor of English and African studies at Pennsylvania State University. He recently joined the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers as a faculty member.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 17, 2025
If you want to know why and how people from countries that live in turmoil or who fear for their lives risk everything to travel through deserts and on questionable boats in the sea in search of a better tomorrow, this book is for you. Able God works at the four-star Hotel Atrium in Nigeria. His life is hard, but he strives to do the best he can at his low-paying job catering to wealthier clientele. But things go awry with one of the hotel guests and a sex worker. When Able attempts to assist the sex worker, he sets in motion a devastating set of consequences that has him running for his life. So begins his treacherous journey of escape - through Nigeria, Niger, Libya and on to Malta. Given the nature of the storyline, this is a somber and eye-opening read. It’s gritty, unvarnished and brutal. The reality of the migrant’s journey for a better life and its deadly consequences in many cases is laid bare before us. The stark experiences of Able and his fellow passengers and the descriptive settings of his city and his trans-Saharan migrant journey are well portrayed. I would have liked a smoother finish to the book - I thought it ended quite abruptly. Overall, the book was well written and the storyline kept my interest on a very challenging human issue - a four-star read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 2, 2024
A bold gritty tale about the dark underbelly of illegal migration. Able God is working as a hotel do-it-all executive in Nigeria when he is unwittingly embroiled in an untoward incident. Rather than face the consequences, he chooses to flee Nigeria for Europe through the services of a dubious agent called Ben Ten. So begins his harrowing journey across the merciless Sahara and the equally ruthless Mediterranean Sea. Nowadays there is so much mention of illegal immigrants and refugees once they have arrived at their destination, that the true plight of their situation and journey and experience from their point of view gets overlooked. This book highlights the perils of taking this route, the underlying desperation that compels them to do so and the horrifying reality that such smuggling seems to have become a sort of organised industry. If you thought slavery and slave trade was a thing of the past this book will open your eyes to some brutal truths of the present. A fantastic debut novel that exposes the refugee situation threadbare in all its gory details. Recommended reading!!
I read this side by side with Nadine Gordimer's The conservationist. It was disheartening to note how the decades may have passed but human attitudes of exploiting the poor and underprivileged have either remained unchanged or gotten even worse with the passage of time.
Thank you NetGalley @netgalley, Amistad @amistadbooks and Samuel Kolawale for the ARC
I read this side by side with Nadine Gordimer's The conservationist. It was disheartening to note how the decades may have passed but human attitudes of exploiting the poor and underprivileged have either remained unchanged or gotten even worse with the passage of time.
Thank you NetGalley @netgalley, Amistad @amistadbooks and Samuel Kolawale for the ARC
February 3, 2024
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard to say that you loved a book when it’s such heavy content with deep suffering. But, I did love this book.
I loved the writing style. The words flowed and painted such vivid pictures. I felt that I was there and could see and smell everything as it was being described. In a lot of literary fiction, authors get way too flowery and pretentious with their writing. This writing style was easier to read because it was written in a way that appeals even to people that don’t normally read literary fiction. It’s simple but powerful and says so much.
The characters were well developed and made me feel such a range of emotions. I felt love, hate, pity, frustration, anger (often from the same character)!
I learned a lot from this book. I’m glad I was reading a digital copy because I had to look up a lot of words because I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the clothing names, food, etc. I also thought the map was handy to look back on.
I think this would make a great book club pick. There’s a lot to reflect on and discuss.
It’s hard to say that you loved a book when it’s such heavy content with deep suffering. But, I did love this book.
I loved the writing style. The words flowed and painted such vivid pictures. I felt that I was there and could see and smell everything as it was being described. In a lot of literary fiction, authors get way too flowery and pretentious with their writing. This writing style was easier to read because it was written in a way that appeals even to people that don’t normally read literary fiction. It’s simple but powerful and says so much.
The characters were well developed and made me feel such a range of emotions. I felt love, hate, pity, frustration, anger (often from the same character)!
I learned a lot from this book. I’m glad I was reading a digital copy because I had to look up a lot of words because I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the clothing names, food, etc. I also thought the map was handy to look back on.
I think this would make a great book club pick. There’s a lot to reflect on and discuss.
July 31, 2024
Able God is a disadvantaged Nigerian man struggling with a job with limited prospects. As the oldest son, he is failing his societal (and financial) obligations toward his parents. Despite living a righteous life, he suffers indignations daily and is underappreciated at a job where his labor and humanity are exploited. Bad things happen to good people and Able God is no exception – when doing the right thing, an unfortunate incident at work forces him to panic and flee the country to Europe. Desperation causes him to throw caution to the wind and he reluctantly places trust in a charlatan posing as a “spiritual guide” serving as an employment broker.
What ensues is the classic blueprint for manipulating desperate people seeking a better life. Using the promise of better wages, plentiful work, and safe passage out of Africa, the old and young are coerced to sign unscrupulous contracts and embark on life-threatening treks overland from Nigeria through the Sahara Desert to Tripoli onward through Italy to other parts of Europe. Human traffickers/smugglers strip them of their meager belongings, deny communication to family/friends, and rob them of their money. They are starved, beaten, threatened, extorted, raped/molested, and some are abandoned or killed. Many are forced into slavery in lands where they are sequestered as hostages on work farms without documentation or legal representation.
The novel gave great insight into the circumstances and rationale that force these immigrants into these situations. It also provided the harrowing experiences and horrific conditions that stressed one’s emotional, physical, and spiritual being. Sadly, it offers no solution to human trafficking, but sheds light on the gravity of the trade.
Thanks to the publisher, Amistad, and NetGallery for the opportunity to review.
What ensues is the classic blueprint for manipulating desperate people seeking a better life. Using the promise of better wages, plentiful work, and safe passage out of Africa, the old and young are coerced to sign unscrupulous contracts and embark on life-threatening treks overland from Nigeria through the Sahara Desert to Tripoli onward through Italy to other parts of Europe. Human traffickers/smugglers strip them of their meager belongings, deny communication to family/friends, and rob them of their money. They are starved, beaten, threatened, extorted, raped/molested, and some are abandoned or killed. Many are forced into slavery in lands where they are sequestered as hostages on work farms without documentation or legal representation.
The novel gave great insight into the circumstances and rationale that force these immigrants into these situations. It also provided the harrowing experiences and horrific conditions that stressed one’s emotional, physical, and spiritual being. Sadly, it offers no solution to human trafficking, but sheds light on the gravity of the trade.
Thanks to the publisher, Amistad, and NetGallery for the opportunity to review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
A harrowing journey of a young Nigerian man Able who makes his way through Niger Republic, the Sahel and Sahara Desert, trafficking and slavery in Libya to reach Europe across the Mediterranean Sea. Questions of morals and dignity become unimportant in the face of cruel violence and torture. While this novel is fictional, the stories it tells lines up with the accounts of Sub-Saharan refugees and asylum seekers. The EU is knowingly funding Libyan coastguards to funnel these desperate people back into detention camps and slavery.
3.75 ⭐️
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/pre...
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/08/a...
Content Warnings: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Rape and Sexual assault
3.75 ⭐️
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/pre...
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/08/a...
Content Warnings: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Rape and Sexual assault
July 19, 2024
This is a harsh, bleak novel about a young Nigerian man named Able God, forced to migrate north through the Sahara to the Mediterranean. The journey is perilous all the way, with some time spent in a horrible forced labor camp. Able God’s plight is partly due to conditions in Nigeria, as well as bad luck and poor decisions. Able God’s family was prosperous and he is anxious about disappointing and worrying them.
Able God is an interesting character, flawed but he has virtues. He tries to help others sometimes even while struggling for his own survival. He encounters a number of deceptive, violent, exploitative people along the way.
This novel is very well written and compelling.
Able God is an interesting character, flawed but he has virtues. He tries to help others sometimes even while struggling for his own survival. He encounters a number of deceptive, violent, exploitative people along the way.
This novel is very well written and compelling.
December 7, 2025
DNF. This debut novel has gotten much praise, but it’s not for me. A hard read, dark and unrelentingly dreary.
March 4, 2025
This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be. It definitely highlighted the struggle of escaping one's country, but I don't feel like it was incredibly effective at doing so. The first half of the book was very meandering, I feel that could have been shorter and the journey focused on more.
February 2, 2025
I feel like this is a reverse fiction if "The road to the country" By Chigozie
February 19, 2025
The imagery was vivid and the desperation of the characters moving, but the middle/ending lacked structure in a big way. I was confused on how Akudo disappeared initially and then how Able knew the guy who trafficked him to Tripoli. Either I misread key sentences or the reasoning was simply absent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
*3.5 stars!
CAWPILE: 6.93/10.00
CAWPILE: 6.93/10.00
September 25, 2025
Such a devastating story but definitely worth reading. I’ve read quite a few migration stories, but this was unique and engaging.
August 6, 2024
Book Review: The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kolawole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Able God is a working man who is barely subsisting on the meager wages he earns. Able is a hospitality executive at the four-star Hotel Atrium, but he knows he is nothing more than a glorified workhorse. Meanwhile, he smiles his 100 watt toothpaste commercial smile, reads self-help books, practices his chess moves and takes it all in stride. That is until the fateful day when he is on room service duty and encounters a high profile guest and his escort, Akudo. One thing leads to another, and before he can stop to think about what he’s done, he is on the run. Able God accepts a proposal from a charismatic religious leader. A once-in-a-lifetime, trans-Saharan journey, that will lead him out of harms way and bring him to The Promised Land, Europe. Like many migrants before him, he will fall prey to violence, extortion, near starvation and human trafficking.
The Road to the Salt Sea opens with a line attributed to the poet Warsaw Shire, “no one leaves home/ unless home is the mouth of a shark.” I love when an epigraph keenly prefigures the main theme of a novel. The character Able God stands in for the millions of desperate, faceless refugees who flee their homes as a result of violence, political unrest, religious intolerance and more in pursuit of a better/safer life. The Able’s of the world, the dreamers, have bought into prosperity theology, or self determination theory as the path to an easier life. Kolawole is at his best when he forces the reader to witness his hero shed his values and virtues, as he grapples to survive. Begging the question, “how far would you go?” I highly recommend The Road to the Salt Sea to readers who are interested in exploring the complexities of immigration, the plight of refugees and other global issues.
Many thanks to the author @SamuelKolawole, @AmistadBooks and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Able God is a working man who is barely subsisting on the meager wages he earns. Able is a hospitality executive at the four-star Hotel Atrium, but he knows he is nothing more than a glorified workhorse. Meanwhile, he smiles his 100 watt toothpaste commercial smile, reads self-help books, practices his chess moves and takes it all in stride. That is until the fateful day when he is on room service duty and encounters a high profile guest and his escort, Akudo. One thing leads to another, and before he can stop to think about what he’s done, he is on the run. Able God accepts a proposal from a charismatic religious leader. A once-in-a-lifetime, trans-Saharan journey, that will lead him out of harms way and bring him to The Promised Land, Europe. Like many migrants before him, he will fall prey to violence, extortion, near starvation and human trafficking.
The Road to the Salt Sea opens with a line attributed to the poet Warsaw Shire, “no one leaves home/ unless home is the mouth of a shark.” I love when an epigraph keenly prefigures the main theme of a novel. The character Able God stands in for the millions of desperate, faceless refugees who flee their homes as a result of violence, political unrest, religious intolerance and more in pursuit of a better/safer life. The Able’s of the world, the dreamers, have bought into prosperity theology, or self determination theory as the path to an easier life. Kolawole is at his best when he forces the reader to witness his hero shed his values and virtues, as he grapples to survive. Begging the question, “how far would you go?” I highly recommend The Road to the Salt Sea to readers who are interested in exploring the complexities of immigration, the plight of refugees and other global issues.
Many thanks to the author @SamuelKolawole, @AmistadBooks and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2025
The author is a talented writer, especially at descriptions of places. And there are lots of places described in this novel. The Road of the title wanders from Nigeria to Libya and eventually to Malta. I have qualms about the plot choices he made, that the actions of the main character, Able God, are inconsistent and unbelievable and that the awful things that he experienced could be recovered from so quickly. There is a torture porn feel to some sections, that is disquieting. I know that people do awful things to each other, but things just don’t hang together right in too many instances here.
July 2, 2024
Able God's journey is a powerful and emotional ride that will leave you breathless and heartbroken. After his life is turned upside down, he's forced to flee Nigeria and embark on a perilous journey to Europe, seeking safety and a better life. With nothing but hope and determination, he faces down human traffickers, treacherous landscapes, and the unforgiving sea.
As he navigates the dark underbelly of illegal migration, Able God's story exposes the harsh realities of a world that often seems too cruel and unforgiving. Yet, despite the odds stacked against him, he finds solace in the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope.
This book is a heart-wrenching reminder of the struggles many face in search of a better life. With its raw and unflinching portrayal, it's a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will touch their heart, challenge their assumptions, and stay with them long after the final page is turned.💔
As he navigates the dark underbelly of illegal migration, Able God's story exposes the harsh realities of a world that often seems too cruel and unforgiving. Yet, despite the odds stacked against him, he finds solace in the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope.
This book is a heart-wrenching reminder of the struggles many face in search of a better life. With its raw and unflinching portrayal, it's a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will touch their heart, challenge their assumptions, and stay with them long after the final page is turned.💔
January 2, 2025
I’m glad this book was written and that I read it, but I also found it distractingly flawed at times. I’ve seen the Africa to Europe migration covered in the news and documentaries but had never encountered it in fiction. Seeing it in all its brutal detail from the fictional perspective of a migrant was powerful and affecting. More stories like this need to be told. At the same time, I found the prose to be uneven—gorgeous at times, dull at others—and the actions and motivations of the protagonist often perplexing and hard to understand. For that reason, he never felt like a fully realized character to me, which was disappointing. Still, it’s a book that will stick with me for a long time, I predict.
September 14, 2024
3.5. This was beautifully horrific. Genuinely hard to read a lot of the time. An eye opener for sure of what immigrants face. It felt hopeless and dark but as it should! I struggled with the writing style being a little too hard to follow. It felt jumpy and like bits were left out. I’d have to go back to make sure I didn’t miss something. I would have rather this book been longer and taken its time.
October 31, 2024
kinda simple ngl. but interesting ending and reminds you things could always be harder.
i’m not okay but im gon be alright -earl sweatshirt 🙂↕️
i’m not okay but im gon be alright -earl sweatshirt 🙂↕️
March 6, 2026
Reading Experience: 3
Core Topic: 4
The soul crushing job Able God takes to pay his bills while he waits on opportunities has become a matter of routine. His nature and the quality of his performance makes him prone to collecting insights about the guests. Little can he anticipate the skill this will prove to be.
One of these, a young sex worker caught in the clutches of a brutish regular at the hotel, captivates him. He goes out of his way trying to be a part of her orbit. How could he know that doing so would lead the trajectory of his own life to fly off in unimaginable directions. Will he land on solid feet or fall prey to the dangers, greed, and terror along the way?
"The Road to the Salt Sea" is a book that rips at my conscience. First and foremost we need to have the horror of migration, human trafficking, the power struggles and inequalities that cause it, and the exploitation of the venerable talked about. It shouldn't just be a footnote in news reports about sunken boats and immigration claims. This book tries to put the reader in the shoes and show the gritty, horrible, truth behind all of it. For that reason alone this is a very important topic and book.
My problem is that if never quite worked for me as a novel. A large chunk of the beginning is focused on Able God's domestic every day life. While not lavish, and monotonous from his perspective, Able God still hopeful that he could get by on his own merits. This is not to say anyone shouldn't deserve a better life than he had or the opportunity to change that. But assuming this book is also meant to reach the heart of readers who aren't aware of the conditions there's no work to show that the justice system and community is excessively unbalanced beyond normal class factors. It makes his sudden choice to flee rather abrupt.
This moment was not just a slow start to the meat of the novel. It marked the huge red flag that cleaved sympathy I had from him. For the remainder of the story I wrestled with not ever wishing any of these atrocities on anyone and thinking Able God only had himself to blame.
He chose to respond to a situation without any coercion. He abandoned someone in a far more precarious situation than him. No attempt to even see they have a chance at safety, survival, if the people he fears are as dangerous as he presumes. Not only does he leave them, he actively wishes harm on them.
How am I supposed to trust in all the subsequent thoughts and choices that are meant to show -really- he is SUCH an empathetic person? He may be. I can even feel bad, despite the awkward inclusion of this other subplot, that there was such a differential treatment between him and his brother as he grew up. That he had to give up some dreams and he was expected to support his family. He was also treated with a lot of kindness and twice the luck as those whose lives he touched. And the moment I started to soften he'd have a stray thought that reminded me of what he had done. Where I should have been breaking apart at these cruelties, my disgust of the character created distance.
To the very end I was irritated. I understand that people make hard decisions for survival. I don't blame him for some of his actions once he was trapped. I can't imagine the terror and hopelessness that can settle in to people going through this. But there was something at the conclusion about his attitude that didn't seem as much hope as borderline arrogant confidence.
I understand you have to hold onto a dream, but the concern feels more after thought than sincere. Forget repenting his thoughts and actions regarding what spurred all of this. I wish all immigrants find safety, inclusion at their destinations, and their dreams realized. But there was only relief, not joy. The book likely is supposed to feel heavy. Not for the reasons it was for me.
Core Topic: 4
The soul crushing job Able God takes to pay his bills while he waits on opportunities has become a matter of routine. His nature and the quality of his performance makes him prone to collecting insights about the guests. Little can he anticipate the skill this will prove to be.
One of these, a young sex worker caught in the clutches of a brutish regular at the hotel, captivates him. He goes out of his way trying to be a part of her orbit. How could he know that doing so would lead the trajectory of his own life to fly off in unimaginable directions. Will he land on solid feet or fall prey to the dangers, greed, and terror along the way?
"The Road to the Salt Sea" is a book that rips at my conscience. First and foremost we need to have the horror of migration, human trafficking, the power struggles and inequalities that cause it, and the exploitation of the venerable talked about. It shouldn't just be a footnote in news reports about sunken boats and immigration claims. This book tries to put the reader in the shoes and show the gritty, horrible, truth behind all of it. For that reason alone this is a very important topic and book.
My problem is that if never quite worked for me as a novel. A large chunk of the beginning is focused on Able God's domestic every day life. While not lavish, and monotonous from his perspective, Able God still hopeful that he could get by on his own merits. This is not to say anyone shouldn't deserve a better life than he had or the opportunity to change that. But assuming this book is also meant to reach the heart of readers who aren't aware of the conditions there's no work to show that the justice system and community is excessively unbalanced beyond normal class factors. It makes his sudden choice to flee rather abrupt.
This moment was not just a slow start to the meat of the novel. It marked the huge red flag that cleaved sympathy I had from him. For the remainder of the story I wrestled with not ever wishing any of these atrocities on anyone and thinking Able God only had himself to blame.
He chose to respond to a situation without any coercion. He abandoned someone in a far more precarious situation than him. No attempt to even see they have a chance at safety, survival, if the people he fears are as dangerous as he presumes. Not only does he leave them, he actively wishes harm on them.
How am I supposed to trust in all the subsequent thoughts and choices that are meant to show -really- he is SUCH an empathetic person? He may be. I can even feel bad, despite the awkward inclusion of this other subplot, that there was such a differential treatment between him and his brother as he grew up. That he had to give up some dreams and he was expected to support his family. He was also treated with a lot of kindness and twice the luck as those whose lives he touched. And the moment I started to soften he'd have a stray thought that reminded me of what he had done. Where I should have been breaking apart at these cruelties, my disgust of the character created distance.
To the very end I was irritated. I understand that people make hard decisions for survival. I don't blame him for some of his actions once he was trapped. I can't imagine the terror and hopelessness that can settle in to people going through this. But there was something at the conclusion about his attitude that didn't seem as much hope as borderline arrogant confidence.
I understand you have to hold onto a dream, but the concern feels more after thought than sincere. Forget repenting his thoughts and actions regarding what spurred all of this. I wish all immigrants find safety, inclusion at their destinations, and their dreams realized. But there was only relief, not joy. The book likely is supposed to feel heavy. Not for the reasons it was for me.
December 25, 2025
This book is an important and well needed piece of literature which sheds light on the arduous path commonly taken by sub-saharan Africans on their way to Europe in search of a better life.
The themes of this book include betrayal, disappointment, murder, death, addiction, depression, deep despair, starvation, torture, failure and the fear thereof, economic woes, war, racism, colorism, and anxiety. All of these things tie into each other, and are emblematic of the extraordinary path which is familiar to many in the global South, unfortunately.
My problem with this book is not that it tries too hard to capture all of the aforementioned. Instead, I think that the author unfortunately has too many characters, some of whom sporadically appear after not being mentioned for several chapters, and who we are supposed to feel connected to. My actual issue stems from the decision that Able God made in the beginning of the book; to stalk Akudo. The author provided no context as to why this man who worked at the hotel would suddenly become enraptured with this sex worker who just so happened to live near to him and who never says a word to him until she is in a fight with her highest paying customer. The whole scenario is a bit strange to say the least. And we are never given any context as to why she may have done what she did except for his supposed treatment of her, though that couldn’t have been the first time? Idk, it was strange. Then, we had to sit through Able God becoming a drug addict. I wish for the reader’s sake that those friendships would have already been formed, so that us readers did not have to sit through the formation of his friendship rooted in addiction. I think if we had come in where he was already dependent on drugs, the trauma-bonded friendships would have been easier to understand. Likewise, I wish we came in at a point where Morufu was already a dear friend of Able Gods. Why? Because it was difficult to understand him outside of him being a character with a limp and dreams of playing football. And it didn’t help that the author referred to them as boys. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that Morufu was a grown man with a wife and kids.
This is not to say that there weren’t good characters. Patricia was a favorite of mine. Her storyline, however, just vanished, and the last I remember reading about her is that she was separated from the boys. The story line of the quiet boy was also very painful to read, as we know he died in the Sahara nameless and unidentified. A body and dream gone with the dessert wind. I’m gonna be honest, the Pepe character needed more development. He was introduced once and then showed up again after the incident with Morufu which was sad. Likewise, Gaddafi was also an underdeveloped character.
Able God himself seemed a “nice guy” though we later learned his character included surviving as best he could, even if it meant doing the unthinkable.
I know these are quite nit-picky, but they really contributed to the book being less than what it could’ve been. I think less characters and backstory and more grit would have benefited the author. We could have learned about the backstory as the book went on and that would have illuminated the story and provided context where necessary.
At times, the writing also felt cumbersome, sometimes less is more.
Overall, this was a solid debut novel. I am happy that it ended with a glimmer of hope at the end. I really enjoyed the actual story that was told, and cannot underscore the importance of it enough. I just had a few moments that kept it from perfect for me.
The themes of this book include betrayal, disappointment, murder, death, addiction, depression, deep despair, starvation, torture, failure and the fear thereof, economic woes, war, racism, colorism, and anxiety. All of these things tie into each other, and are emblematic of the extraordinary path which is familiar to many in the global South, unfortunately.
My problem with this book is not that it tries too hard to capture all of the aforementioned. Instead, I think that the author unfortunately has too many characters, some of whom sporadically appear after not being mentioned for several chapters, and who we are supposed to feel connected to. My actual issue stems from the decision that Able God made in the beginning of the book; to stalk Akudo. The author provided no context as to why this man who worked at the hotel would suddenly become enraptured with this sex worker who just so happened to live near to him and who never says a word to him until she is in a fight with her highest paying customer. The whole scenario is a bit strange to say the least. And we are never given any context as to why she may have done what she did except for his supposed treatment of her, though that couldn’t have been the first time? Idk, it was strange. Then, we had to sit through Able God becoming a drug addict. I wish for the reader’s sake that those friendships would have already been formed, so that us readers did not have to sit through the formation of his friendship rooted in addiction. I think if we had come in where he was already dependent on drugs, the trauma-bonded friendships would have been easier to understand. Likewise, I wish we came in at a point where Morufu was already a dear friend of Able Gods. Why? Because it was difficult to understand him outside of him being a character with a limp and dreams of playing football. And it didn’t help that the author referred to them as boys. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that Morufu was a grown man with a wife and kids.
This is not to say that there weren’t good characters. Patricia was a favorite of mine. Her storyline, however, just vanished, and the last I remember reading about her is that she was separated from the boys. The story line of the quiet boy was also very painful to read, as we know he died in the Sahara nameless and unidentified. A body and dream gone with the dessert wind. I’m gonna be honest, the Pepe character needed more development. He was introduced once and then showed up again after the incident with Morufu which was sad. Likewise, Gaddafi was also an underdeveloped character.
Able God himself seemed a “nice guy” though we later learned his character included surviving as best he could, even if it meant doing the unthinkable.
I know these are quite nit-picky, but they really contributed to the book being less than what it could’ve been. I think less characters and backstory and more grit would have benefited the author. We could have learned about the backstory as the book went on and that would have illuminated the story and provided context where necessary.
At times, the writing also felt cumbersome, sometimes less is more.
Overall, this was a solid debut novel. I am happy that it ended with a glimmer of hope at the end. I really enjoyed the actual story that was told, and cannot underscore the importance of it enough. I just had a few moments that kept it from perfect for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
We need someone to write the epic of today’s modern migrant experience. We in the comfortable West need to get the story of the too-often hopeless; we need it not just for their sake but for our own. In a moment when Donald Trump and his MAGA are ascendant, we need a story that we cannot ignore.
This isn’t quite that. It has its moments, and there’s a lot to think about. There are scenes that resonate, and the larger story of a man who, because of bad luck, finds himself forced to leave his native Nigeria for a perilous passage to Europe.
But, as a novel, it’s not quite a masterpiece.
During one stretch, a powerful set of scenes when Able God is crossing the desert in a rickety truck, I kept thinking of the short story I heard my friend, the talented Iheoma Nwachukwu read last month. His story (from his excellent collection Japa and Other Stories) more successfully captures the drama and despair of being nameless in the face of such shrunken hope. When one of his migrants falls off a truck, it somehow stings more than when a young boy falls of the one with Able God.
I found myself thinking in those moments of Woody Guthrie’s great anthem, “Deportees,” of the way he so skillfully reflects on the idea that the victims are nameless, leading to his refrain, “Goodbye to my Juan, adios my Maria…”
That’s a winding way of saying that I admire this but wish it were something more, that it could make indelible what, here, feels exploratory.
The scene I refer to really does work at one point. When Able God contemplates the dead boy, lying nameless in the desert, it hurts. It just somehow hurts a bit less than in Iheoma’s or Woody Guthrie’s work.
What does set this apart from other is its attempt at saga.
We begin with a necessary but cliched scene. Able God takes to a high-class prostitute at the ritzy hotel where he works. He tries to rescue her. And a powerful criminal/gangster gets killed. That indignity sets him on the run, and he experiences the trauma of migration and modern-day slavery.
In other words, he knows the highs and lows of the migrant experience, and there’s power in that.
At the same time, there’s an episodic quality that keeps this from building as I hope it would. For instance, we don’t have much to do with the woman who sets the whole story in motion.
I’m glad Kolawole has written this, and I’m glad I’ve read it. I hope someone, Iheoma perhaps, picks up where this solid work ends. We need this story, and fine as this is, we need it even better. I will call this 3.5 stars, but I can’t recommend it with the enthusiasm I wish I could.
This isn’t quite that. It has its moments, and there’s a lot to think about. There are scenes that resonate, and the larger story of a man who, because of bad luck, finds himself forced to leave his native Nigeria for a perilous passage to Europe.
But, as a novel, it’s not quite a masterpiece.
During one stretch, a powerful set of scenes when Able God is crossing the desert in a rickety truck, I kept thinking of the short story I heard my friend, the talented Iheoma Nwachukwu read last month. His story (from his excellent collection Japa and Other Stories) more successfully captures the drama and despair of being nameless in the face of such shrunken hope. When one of his migrants falls off a truck, it somehow stings more than when a young boy falls of the one with Able God.
I found myself thinking in those moments of Woody Guthrie’s great anthem, “Deportees,” of the way he so skillfully reflects on the idea that the victims are nameless, leading to his refrain, “Goodbye to my Juan, adios my Maria…”
That’s a winding way of saying that I admire this but wish it were something more, that it could make indelible what, here, feels exploratory.
The scene I refer to really does work at one point. When Able God contemplates the dead boy, lying nameless in the desert, it hurts. It just somehow hurts a bit less than in Iheoma’s or Woody Guthrie’s work.
What does set this apart from other is its attempt at saga.
We begin with a necessary but cliched scene. Able God takes to a high-class prostitute at the ritzy hotel where he works. He tries to rescue her. And a powerful criminal/gangster gets killed. That indignity sets him on the run, and he experiences the trauma of migration and modern-day slavery.
In other words, he knows the highs and lows of the migrant experience, and there’s power in that.
At the same time, there’s an episodic quality that keeps this from building as I hope it would. For instance, we don’t have much to do with the woman who sets the whole story in motion.
I’m glad Kolawole has written this, and I’m glad I’ve read it. I hope someone, Iheoma perhaps, picks up where this solid work ends. We need this story, and fine as this is, we need it even better. I will call this 3.5 stars, but I can’t recommend it with the enthusiasm I wish I could.
October 6, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kolawole is a poignant and gripping narrative that delves into the harrowing realities of the global migration crisis. Kolawole, an emerging literary voice, crafts a story that is both heart-wrenching and illuminating, taking readers on a journey from Nigeria to Libya to Italy.
The novel follows the lives of several characters, each driven by the hope of a better future. Kolawole’s storytelling is rich with emotional depth, capturing the desperation, resilience, and humanity of those who embark on perilous journeys in search of safety and opportunity. The characters are vividly drawn, their struggles and triumphs resonating deeply with the reader.
Kolawole’s prose is lyrical and incisive, painting a stark picture of the socio-political and economic forces that compel people to leave their homes. He does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of migration, including the dangers of crossing the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. Yet, amidst the darkness, there are moments of profound beauty and hope, as the characters forge bonds of friendship and solidarity.
The novel explores the failures of the Nigerian class system and the broader implications of global inequality. Kolawole deftly weaves these themes into the narrative, providing a nuanced critique of the systemic issues that drive migration. The story is not just about the physical journey, but also about the emotional and psychological toll it takes on individuals and families.
The Road to the Salt Sea is a timely and important work that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Kolawole’s ability to humanize the migration crisis, while also offering a searing critique of the systems that perpetuate it, makes this novel a must-read. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring quest for a better life.
Samuel Kolawole’s The Road to the Salt Sea is a masterful blend of storytelling and social commentary. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, urging you to reflect on the complexities of migration and the shared humanity that binds us all.
The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kolawole is a poignant and gripping narrative that delves into the harrowing realities of the global migration crisis. Kolawole, an emerging literary voice, crafts a story that is both heart-wrenching and illuminating, taking readers on a journey from Nigeria to Libya to Italy.
The novel follows the lives of several characters, each driven by the hope of a better future. Kolawole’s storytelling is rich with emotional depth, capturing the desperation, resilience, and humanity of those who embark on perilous journeys in search of safety and opportunity. The characters are vividly drawn, their struggles and triumphs resonating deeply with the reader.
Kolawole’s prose is lyrical and incisive, painting a stark picture of the socio-political and economic forces that compel people to leave their homes. He does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of migration, including the dangers of crossing the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. Yet, amidst the darkness, there are moments of profound beauty and hope, as the characters forge bonds of friendship and solidarity.
The novel explores the failures of the Nigerian class system and the broader implications of global inequality. Kolawole deftly weaves these themes into the narrative, providing a nuanced critique of the systemic issues that drive migration. The story is not just about the physical journey, but also about the emotional and psychological toll it takes on individuals and families.
The Road to the Salt Sea is a timely and important work that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Kolawole’s ability to humanize the migration crisis, while also offering a searing critique of the systems that perpetuate it, makes this novel a must-read. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring quest for a better life.
Samuel Kolawole’s The Road to the Salt Sea is a masterful blend of storytelling and social commentary. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, urging you to reflect on the complexities of migration and the shared humanity that binds us all.
September 5, 2025
*Not necessarily any plot spoliers but I do talk about the ending of the book*
The Road to the Salt Sea provided me with an intensely detailed, horrifyingly vivid, and passionately human tale of a Nigerian migrant who flees his home and his life after making a series of fateful decisions. Able God, the main character of the novel, is deeply flawed. So flawed, in fact, that I was still coming to grips with his actions, as was he, even on the last page of the book. The circumstances that he places himself in lead almost directly to his problems in the future, only those problems are exacerbated tremendously by the society and world he lives in. His only hope is escape, as is the case for countless people in the real world searching for asylum and safety elsewhere.
The story traverses vast geographic terrain, with intensely vivid descriptions of each place that Able God encounters and moves through, and it is populated with a small but impressive cast of detailed characters. The emotions that the novel elicits are gut-wrenching and confusing, but, as with the people who sacrifice everything for the chance at a better life, hope is never lost.
I would give this novel 3.5 stars because I very much enjoyed reading it. The writing was superb; the plot was inviting and unfolded beautifully, depsite its terrible nature, and the characters were lively and realistic. The actions of the main character, however, and his inherent flaws, were unappealing to me at times, and the ending provided me with a sense of confusion and slight disappoinment at his thoughts and feelings. I felt that despite the hell he had traversed, he remained nearly as confused as he was before.
Though, I can also see how the ending might provide a sense of commitment in contrast to the way Able God teeters back and forth on his thoughts and feelings throughout the book. My feelings on the closing lines of the book come from a subjective disappointment in what is said rather than an objective feeling of openness or incompleteness in the resolution.
The Road to the Salt Sea provided me with an intensely detailed, horrifyingly vivid, and passionately human tale of a Nigerian migrant who flees his home and his life after making a series of fateful decisions. Able God, the main character of the novel, is deeply flawed. So flawed, in fact, that I was still coming to grips with his actions, as was he, even on the last page of the book. The circumstances that he places himself in lead almost directly to his problems in the future, only those problems are exacerbated tremendously by the society and world he lives in. His only hope is escape, as is the case for countless people in the real world searching for asylum and safety elsewhere.
The story traverses vast geographic terrain, with intensely vivid descriptions of each place that Able God encounters and moves through, and it is populated with a small but impressive cast of detailed characters. The emotions that the novel elicits are gut-wrenching and confusing, but, as with the people who sacrifice everything for the chance at a better life, hope is never lost.
I would give this novel 3.5 stars because I very much enjoyed reading it. The writing was superb; the plot was inviting and unfolded beautifully, depsite its terrible nature, and the characters were lively and realistic. The actions of the main character, however, and his inherent flaws, were unappealing to me at times, and the ending provided me with a sense of confusion and slight disappoinment at his thoughts and feelings. I felt that despite the hell he had traversed, he remained nearly as confused as he was before.
Though, I can also see how the ending might provide a sense of commitment in contrast to the way Able God teeters back and forth on his thoughts and feelings throughout the book. My feelings on the closing lines of the book come from a subjective disappointment in what is said rather than an objective feeling of openness or incompleteness in the resolution.
March 13, 2025
Able God works for low pay at a four-star hotel where he must flash his “toothpaste-white smile” for wealthy guests. When not tending to the hotel’s overprivileged clientele, he muses over self-help books and draws life lessons from the game of chess.
But Able’s ordinary life is upended when an early morning room service order leads him to interfere with Akudo, a sex worker involved with a powerful but dangerous hotel guest. Suddenly caught in a web of violence, guilt, and fear, Able must run to save himself—a journey that leads him into the desert with a group of drug-addled migrants, headed by a charismatic religious leader calling himself Ben Ten. The travelers’ dream of reaching Europe and a new life in a better place is shattered when they fall prey to human traffickers, suffer starvation, and find themselves on the precipice of death, fighting for their lives and their freedom.
As Able God moves into the treacherous unknown, his consciousness becomes focused on survival and the foundations of his beliefs—his ideas about betterment and salvation—are forever altered. Suspenseful, incisive, and illuminating, The Road to the Salt Sea is a story of family, fate, religion, survival, the failures of the Nigerian class system, and what often happens to those who seek their fortunes elsewhere.
I know this book is fiction, but this migration from Africa to Libya to Italy is one that is constantly happening. The cruelty and inhumanity that migrants go through is heart rending. The weak are preyed upon and taken advantage of and the rich and powerful either use them or turn their backs on them. Corruption from top to bottom. I loved the narrator of this book, it felt authentic and drew you in to the story. I wish the ending was more satisfying, but I will write my own ending for Able God.
But Able’s ordinary life is upended when an early morning room service order leads him to interfere with Akudo, a sex worker involved with a powerful but dangerous hotel guest. Suddenly caught in a web of violence, guilt, and fear, Able must run to save himself—a journey that leads him into the desert with a group of drug-addled migrants, headed by a charismatic religious leader calling himself Ben Ten. The travelers’ dream of reaching Europe and a new life in a better place is shattered when they fall prey to human traffickers, suffer starvation, and find themselves on the precipice of death, fighting for their lives and their freedom.
As Able God moves into the treacherous unknown, his consciousness becomes focused on survival and the foundations of his beliefs—his ideas about betterment and salvation—are forever altered. Suspenseful, incisive, and illuminating, The Road to the Salt Sea is a story of family, fate, religion, survival, the failures of the Nigerian class system, and what often happens to those who seek their fortunes elsewhere.
I know this book is fiction, but this migration from Africa to Libya to Italy is one that is constantly happening. The cruelty and inhumanity that migrants go through is heart rending. The weak are preyed upon and taken advantage of and the rich and powerful either use them or turn their backs on them. Corruption from top to bottom. I loved the narrator of this book, it felt authentic and drew you in to the story. I wish the ending was more satisfying, but I will write my own ending for Able God.
January 28, 2025
3.5 stars. Devastating, haunting, and tragic. The Road to the Salt Sea throws light on Nigerian migrants and refugees and the impossible and dangerous journey they often take in seeking a better life. This is a hard read, but I'm glad I read this book for the content, and parts of the writing are beautiful. However, pieces of the plot are jerky, and some portions of the timeline are difficult to follow. The ending was abrupt and unpolished, which, while perhaps intentional because of the ever unknown future many migrants face, left the book feeling unfinished. The lack of relationship that Able God had with, really, anybody, also made me feel emotionally distant from him. In another book with a similar story, I would have been in tears numerous times throughout the book. Yet despite the tragedy and horrors that occur, I felt slightly numbed to the events because of the disconnection I felt to all of the characters. Able God is clearly a person who feels conflicted in his life, and this shows throughout the book, with some actions he takes feeling honorable and hopeful and generous to others, alongside other actions that are nearly as despicable as those of the slave traders. Perhaps this is also intentional, to evoke the struggle between right and wrong when your life is at risk. None of us may know how we would respond to any of the situations that Able God finds himself in until we are in it, and to write this internal struggle into his character is probably more realistic than most of us want fiction to be.
October 27, 2025
Incredibly descriptive , gut wrenchingly detailed and heartbreaking . The story is told starting at the end , and then backtracking to the beginning, which is a preferred method of storytelling for me. It starts with a bang, gets right to the point and the reader is left to piece together the puzzle with the clues the author provides in the beginning . The author does an incredible job creating characters that you actually care for and wish well , despite the treacherous journey they embark upon. Gruesome would be an understatement if describing the torture and conditions these individuals faced. Very powerful storytelling that gives readers insight into what individuals who make this journey must endure . Every time I attempted to console myself with the thought that the book “wasn’t real” I remembered that although the characters depicted are fabricated, this journey is very real and Real people have suffered what Kolawole details . Major themes presented include , man vs nature, man vs man, man vs self. Religion is listed , but I didn’t find a book about religion. Yes it’s mentioned and relevant to the places on their journey , however I wouldn’t say it was a major focus of the story so much as occasionally and appropriately included no more or less than other elements related to the human trafficking route . Difficult to read emotionally , but very compelling . Trigger warning for SA, murder, torture. If you can handle it , it’s a great story with a hopeful (NOT happy fairytale) ending .
April 3, 2026
This book was heavy.
It’s a story about migration; illegal migration, crossing the desert, and everything that comes with that kind of journey. And honestly, every time I hear stories like this, it’s always hard to process because they’re usually told from a survivor’s perspective. You’re forced to imagine what people went through, and you can’t help but feel the weight of it.
I’ve heard about how brutal this journey is, but reading it in this form felt different. It felt like I was there with the character. I could picture the hunger, the fear, the trauma, the pain… everything. And it was a lot.
One thing that stayed with me while reading is how people carry such big dreams, yet so many of them will never get the chance to birth those dreams. This book made me think about how easily life can change; how one decision or circumstance can completely derail someone’s future.
The MMC’s story especially frustrated me because I genuinely feel like a lot of what happened was avoidable. His obsession with Akudo was disturbing, and I couldn’t fully understand it.
Another thing that stood out was the racism and colourism portrayed in the book. I’ve always been aware of the tension that can exist between North Africans and other Africans, but seeing it written so blatantly was infuriating. The way some characters were treated — spoken to like they were dirty or less human — was disgusting. It made me think deeply about racism within Africa, and how damaging it is for us to be fighting each other when there are already enough external forces working against us.
The book also highlights the harsh truth that many people would not choose this kind of migration if their home countries had better systems and living conditions. A lot of people don’t migrate illegally because they want to, they do it because they feel like they’ve run out of options. And along the way, many fall into trafficking, abuse, assault, and unimaginable brutality.
Overall, this was a riveting and heartbreaking read. It pulled me in from the beginning, and I would definitely recommend it.
It’s a story about migration; illegal migration, crossing the desert, and everything that comes with that kind of journey. And honestly, every time I hear stories like this, it’s always hard to process because they’re usually told from a survivor’s perspective. You’re forced to imagine what people went through, and you can’t help but feel the weight of it.
I’ve heard about how brutal this journey is, but reading it in this form felt different. It felt like I was there with the character. I could picture the hunger, the fear, the trauma, the pain… everything. And it was a lot.
One thing that stayed with me while reading is how people carry such big dreams, yet so many of them will never get the chance to birth those dreams. This book made me think about how easily life can change; how one decision or circumstance can completely derail someone’s future.
The MMC’s story especially frustrated me because I genuinely feel like a lot of what happened was avoidable. His obsession with Akudo was disturbing, and I couldn’t fully understand it.
Another thing that stood out was the racism and colourism portrayed in the book. I’ve always been aware of the tension that can exist between North Africans and other Africans, but seeing it written so blatantly was infuriating. The way some characters were treated — spoken to like they were dirty or less human — was disgusting. It made me think deeply about racism within Africa, and how damaging it is for us to be fighting each other when there are already enough external forces working against us.
The book also highlights the harsh truth that many people would not choose this kind of migration if their home countries had better systems and living conditions. A lot of people don’t migrate illegally because they want to, they do it because they feel like they’ve run out of options. And along the way, many fall into trafficking, abuse, assault, and unimaginable brutality.
Overall, this was a riveting and heartbreaking read. It pulled me in from the beginning, and I would definitely recommend it.
January 21, 2026
I picked up this book and dropped because I wasn’t vibing with it at the time. I read it recently and it’s one of my best books of the year. Let’s get into the synopsis.
This book follows Able God, who works a low-paying job in a hotel, and has self-help books and a game of chess as his companion. His life took a turn when he encountered Akudo, a sex worker, and a very important guest in the hotel, getting himself into a tangle of violence. He runs away to save his life, and himself and other acquaintances take the journey of traveling through the Sahara Desert for a better life.
I admire how the book began slowly, providing the premise for the trajectory of brutality and violence that the main character encounters in order to save his life. There’re factors that facilitate one to leave their country of origin, from violence poverty to greener pastures, and in Able God’s case, it is in his quest to save his life.
More importantly, this book highlights the themes of survival, family pressure, death, illegal migration, human trafficking, dehumanization, and the consequences of the Nigerian class system.
It’s one of the remarkable but heartbreaking books that talks about what it means to leave the country through the Sahara Desert. It’s beautiful but brutal, and I highly recommend it.
This book follows Able God, who works a low-paying job in a hotel, and has self-help books and a game of chess as his companion. His life took a turn when he encountered Akudo, a sex worker, and a very important guest in the hotel, getting himself into a tangle of violence. He runs away to save his life, and himself and other acquaintances take the journey of traveling through the Sahara Desert for a better life.
I admire how the book began slowly, providing the premise for the trajectory of brutality and violence that the main character encounters in order to save his life. There’re factors that facilitate one to leave their country of origin, from violence poverty to greener pastures, and in Able God’s case, it is in his quest to save his life.
More importantly, this book highlights the themes of survival, family pressure, death, illegal migration, human trafficking, dehumanization, and the consequences of the Nigerian class system.
It’s one of the remarkable but heartbreaking books that talks about what it means to leave the country through the Sahara Desert. It’s beautiful but brutal, and I highly recommend it.
April 9, 2026
Great book, but I personally do not enjoy reading about human suffering. FUCK DO THEY SUFFER! This book also falls into that “man-falls-in-love-with-a-sex-worker-and-tries-to-save-her-but-he-only-knows-her-from-afar” trope. It helped get the book going but then she’s forgotten about for virtually the rest of the book. Only to pop up at the end and it be too loosely wrapped up. He has revelations about how he shouldn’t have gotten involved with her then has the gaul to claim her as family at the end? Okay. Leave her ALONE! Able god proves to be quite a selfish character; helpful only when he wants to be and not necessarily when he needs to be. It’s understandable he has to do what he has to do to survive. But if you’re out you’re out, if you’re in you’re in. You cannot leave in between and Able God tries to do that throughout this whole read.
Gut wrenching to know this is a reality for many, brings a solem awareness to that experience. The stripping go humanity, the lengths people will go to find better for themselves. The things they are willing to do or give up.
Beautiful, 3 stars because humans are already constantly suffering, hate reading about it. And Able God got on my last nerves, glad he made it.
Gut wrenching to know this is a reality for many, brings a solem awareness to that experience. The stripping go humanity, the lengths people will go to find better for themselves. The things they are willing to do or give up.
Beautiful, 3 stars because humans are already constantly suffering, hate reading about it. And Able God got on my last nerves, glad he made it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2024
First, thanks to both NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with Samuel Kolawole’s debut novel.
The Road to the Salt Sea is a raw, real, emotion wrenching account of a migrant’s escape from Nigeria to Italy. The tenuous journey holds the reader on the edge of their seat and one is left grasping the last strands of hope for Able God’s safe passage.
Able God, the novel’s MC is himself a flawed, but authentic Nigerian migrant. Struggling underneath oppressive poverty, the MC is forced to make some difficult moral decisions. Although the decisions were perhaps necessary, I wasn’t able to wholly pull for Able God’s best fortunes. Simply put, Able is of questionable character.
Interestingly, the novel is multi-climatic with terrifying places and villains along the journey. Kolawole’s narrative strength lies in the dialect between characters, which puts the reader in between heated exchanges and life threatening moments.
The novel ends rather abruptly, but the overall pace of the story along with its’ prose was both engaging and intelligent.
Well done on your first novel.
The Road to the Salt Sea is a raw, real, emotion wrenching account of a migrant’s escape from Nigeria to Italy. The tenuous journey holds the reader on the edge of their seat and one is left grasping the last strands of hope for Able God’s safe passage.
Able God, the novel’s MC is himself a flawed, but authentic Nigerian migrant. Struggling underneath oppressive poverty, the MC is forced to make some difficult moral decisions. Although the decisions were perhaps necessary, I wasn’t able to wholly pull for Able God’s best fortunes. Simply put, Able is of questionable character.
Interestingly, the novel is multi-climatic with terrifying places and villains along the journey. Kolawole’s narrative strength lies in the dialect between characters, which puts the reader in between heated exchanges and life threatening moments.
The novel ends rather abruptly, but the overall pace of the story along with its’ prose was both engaging and intelligent.
Well done on your first novel.
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