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Sasha Knight
A coming-of-age novel, alternating between past and present and shifting back and forth from Jamaica and the United States, SASHA KNIGHT picks apart the puzzle left behind when 11-year-old Sasha disappears. Everyone seems convinced she has simply run away. On the days when he can’t hear her, Matthew believes it too.
Portraying the perils of toxic masculinity and the damaging effects of emotional trauma. Touching on religion and the deep-seated class and colour divide in Jamaican society, this is a genre-bending mashup that shakes the senses and tears at the heart.
Portraying the perils of toxic masculinity and the damaging effects of emotional trauma. Touching on religion and the deep-seated class and colour divide in Jamaican society, this is a genre-bending mashup that shakes the senses and tears at the heart.
271 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2022
I didn't really know what to expect with this read, and wow did it surprise me.
Whilst the thread of this book is trying to find Sasha, the authors brings in so many themes along the way. Its dark, daring, surprising and astonishing all wrapped up into one man's hunt for his childhood friend.
This definitely went to places that I never expected it to. The storytelling is rich and captivating. It took me a while to adjust to how the speech is written out, but once unlocked, I felt even more immersed in this world and was grateful for it.
Matthew is a superb lead character, raw, honest and flawed.
June 21, 2022
Ok I don't even know how to review this book. Set in Jamaica, the story follows Matthew Archer throughout his life after his best friend Sasha goes missing.
Guys this book is full of trauma and pulls all the punches right up to the very end.
There is just so much to unpack here. The culture in Jamaica in the 70s and 80s, the parent child relationship, friendship, class divides, religion, toxic masculinity, homophobia, this book has it all in under 300 pages. Oh and a lot of sexual assualt so take that into account if you need to.
Let me tell you, I like heavy reads but this one weighed on me and I could barely read more than 50 pages a day. And the ending!!!
I loved that it showed how emotional trauma you experience as a child impacts your life well into adulthood. I liked that the main character was definitely flawed but still able to draw you into the story. I absolutely loved how much he loves Sasha and never gave up on her.
I liked the element of mystery. Matthew is such an unreliable narrator and half the time I had no clue what was going to happen next!
Sean Godfrey writes so wonderfully and this is a brilliant debut. The Jamaican patois, whilst tricky at times for me to understand, was perfect to make the story feel atmospheric. I hope this one doesn't fly too far under the radar and gets the attention it deserves!
Guys this book is full of trauma and pulls all the punches right up to the very end.
There is just so much to unpack here. The culture in Jamaica in the 70s and 80s, the parent child relationship, friendship, class divides, religion, toxic masculinity, homophobia, this book has it all in under 300 pages. Oh and a lot of sexual assualt so take that into account if you need to.
Let me tell you, I like heavy reads but this one weighed on me and I could barely read more than 50 pages a day. And the ending!!!
I loved that it showed how emotional trauma you experience as a child impacts your life well into adulthood. I liked that the main character was definitely flawed but still able to draw you into the story. I absolutely loved how much he loves Sasha and never gave up on her.
I liked the element of mystery. Matthew is such an unreliable narrator and half the time I had no clue what was going to happen next!
Sean Godfrey writes so wonderfully and this is a brilliant debut. The Jamaican patois, whilst tricky at times for me to understand, was perfect to make the story feel atmospheric. I hope this one doesn't fly too far under the radar and gets the attention it deserves!
April 12, 2022
Firstly, I would like to thank Own It London for reaching out and gifting me a ARC for an honest review.
Admittedly this isn't a book I would normal read which is something I'm looking to improve in 2022! This book focuses on a boy/man called Matthew Archer that we follow through childhood right into adulthood. The setting switches between Jamaica and the United States. I found it such an educational experience reading about this authors take on Jamaican society in the late 70/80s with all its similarities and differences to other cultures including my own. I found it interesting to learn about the discrimination in small communities surrounding religion and class and of course gender. Not being a religious person myself I didn't know about the inner religious divides.
The main focus of this book is Matthew's friendship with Sasha Knight as a child before she went missing and how this has haunted him throughout his life. As the reader we go on a journey with Matthew trying to figure out what happened to his best friend which had such a huge impact on him. I really enjoyed reading this book and found it was such a quick read that I always wanted to get back to! This book touches on so many important topics: Homophobia, racism, gender inequality, sexual assault, to name a few. Matthew is a real and raw character that isn't perfect in the slightest. The author explores how toxic masculinity has shaped so many of the characters including the MC Matthew. I find it so refreshing for a male author to write about such important topics that effect men from the very beginning of their lives.
The only reason this wasn't a five star review for me was I didn't find the section of the book nearer the end where we focus on Matthew's adulthood as engaging as the rest of the book. I can see why it was done and how it added to the overall story but it just wasn't a section I favoured. This book is due to release in Spring 2022 and I really recommend it and believe it is going to be very successful on its release.
Amy x
Admittedly this isn't a book I would normal read which is something I'm looking to improve in 2022! This book focuses on a boy/man called Matthew Archer that we follow through childhood right into adulthood. The setting switches between Jamaica and the United States. I found it such an educational experience reading about this authors take on Jamaican society in the late 70/80s with all its similarities and differences to other cultures including my own. I found it interesting to learn about the discrimination in small communities surrounding religion and class and of course gender. Not being a religious person myself I didn't know about the inner religious divides.
The main focus of this book is Matthew's friendship with Sasha Knight as a child before she went missing and how this has haunted him throughout his life. As the reader we go on a journey with Matthew trying to figure out what happened to his best friend which had such a huge impact on him. I really enjoyed reading this book and found it was such a quick read that I always wanted to get back to! This book touches on so many important topics: Homophobia, racism, gender inequality, sexual assault, to name a few. Matthew is a real and raw character that isn't perfect in the slightest. The author explores how toxic masculinity has shaped so many of the characters including the MC Matthew. I find it so refreshing for a male author to write about such important topics that effect men from the very beginning of their lives.
The only reason this wasn't a five star review for me was I didn't find the section of the book nearer the end where we focus on Matthew's adulthood as engaging as the rest of the book. I can see why it was done and how it added to the overall story but it just wasn't a section I favoured. This book is due to release in Spring 2022 and I really recommend it and believe it is going to be very successful on its release.
Amy x
July 16, 2023
Fiction Winner of the Rubery Prize 2023
This is an emotionally charged and visceral story set mostly in late twentieth century Jamaica. The narrator, Matthew, is a Seventh Day Adventist with a zealous mother and an absent father. As a child he finds companionship with the free spirited Sasha, whose mysterious disappearance becomes an obsession which threatens to consume him. She's a well constructed character, and Godfrey does a good job of keeping her in view as the past continually haunts the present. She's such an endearing presence that we feel her loss as much as he does, and the mystery becomes a very effective driver for the plot. The novel has a powerful vernacular feel, and the scenes in Jamaica are particularly vivid and immersive. They are also shocking - Matthew's world is governed by religious cant and violence, both at the social and domestic level. The church is marred by hypocrisy, and parental discipline feels like little more than socially sanctioned child abuse. Whilst offering an engaging account of Jamaica's vibrancy and natural beauty, the book exposes a toxic underbelly that’s as appalling as it is riveting. The novel succeeds brilliantly.
This is an emotionally charged and visceral story set mostly in late twentieth century Jamaica. The narrator, Matthew, is a Seventh Day Adventist with a zealous mother and an absent father. As a child he finds companionship with the free spirited Sasha, whose mysterious disappearance becomes an obsession which threatens to consume him. She's a well constructed character, and Godfrey does a good job of keeping her in view as the past continually haunts the present. She's such an endearing presence that we feel her loss as much as he does, and the mystery becomes a very effective driver for the plot. The novel has a powerful vernacular feel, and the scenes in Jamaica are particularly vivid and immersive. They are also shocking - Matthew's world is governed by religious cant and violence, both at the social and domestic level. The church is marred by hypocrisy, and parental discipline feels like little more than socially sanctioned child abuse. Whilst offering an engaging account of Jamaica's vibrancy and natural beauty, the book exposes a toxic underbelly that’s as appalling as it is riveting. The novel succeeds brilliantly.
February 16, 2025
Why aren't more people talking about this book!? It's a great read, exploring important themes, alongside mystery and suspense that leaves you in deep contemplation.
July 6, 2022
What beautifully haunting book!
I want to say thank you to Own It London for sending me not one but two copies of this book after the naughty post office stole my first copy.
The book explores growing up in Jamaica in the 70s and 80s, a simple tale of growing up is usually filled with deep emotions and themes. But Sasha Knight explores thematic issues like parentification, religion, and homophobia.
Our narrator presents a gritty perspective which does contain sexual assault (TW) so that is something to take in mind when reading this book. Matthew is haunted throughout his life by the thoughts of what happened to his childhood friend Sasha Knight. You can experience how this shapes his character throughout provides a different perspective to what we the reader would see.
Overall, whilst this book is not something I would usually read I did thoroughly enjoy it and it did leave me shook after finishing.
I want to say thank you to Own It London for sending me not one but two copies of this book after the naughty post office stole my first copy.
The book explores growing up in Jamaica in the 70s and 80s, a simple tale of growing up is usually filled with deep emotions and themes. But Sasha Knight explores thematic issues like parentification, religion, and homophobia.
Our narrator presents a gritty perspective which does contain sexual assault (TW) so that is something to take in mind when reading this book. Matthew is haunted throughout his life by the thoughts of what happened to his childhood friend Sasha Knight. You can experience how this shapes his character throughout provides a different perspective to what we the reader would see.
Overall, whilst this book is not something I would usually read I did thoroughly enjoy it and it did leave me shook after finishing.
January 27, 2025
I read this book rather quickly because I could barely pause. I’m in awe of author’s ability/skill to write this novel in under 300 pages!!!
I love the voice of Matthew & Sasha…I don’t want to spoil the story but it’s heavy & at times light. I laughed and mostly held my breath while reading because I had a feeling what was coming.
Set in Jamaica, religion ( Adventist), culture, parenting, trauma, etc
I felt all the feelings and this is one I won’t forget.
I can’t wait for his next book!
I love the voice of Matthew & Sasha…I don’t want to spoil the story but it’s heavy & at times light. I laughed and mostly held my breath while reading because I had a feeling what was coming.
Set in Jamaica, religion ( Adventist), culture, parenting, trauma, etc
I felt all the feelings and this is one I won’t forget.
I can’t wait for his next book!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews