Harare Voices and Beyond

by Andrew Chatora

Harare Voices and Beyond takes us on a journey through the dark recesses of the human psyche.

- Sue Quainton, Bicester, United Kingdom


Harare Voices and Beyond

A drunken confession exposes a dark family secret. Rhys appears to have it all. A white Zimbabwean living in affluent Borrowdale Brooke area he gets involved in a freak traffic accident. Therein unfolds a confession which unleashes a cathartic chain of events in the family’s hitherto well-choreographed life, a family whose lived experience becomes microcosmic and an eye opener to Zimbabwe’s seemingly closed, forgotten, white minority community.

Through offering a rare insight into lives of the white community in post-independent Zimbabwe, Harare Voices and Beyond explores the dynamics of love, money, family feuds, identity politics, false philanthropy, and respectability inter-alia. Two families’ lives are inexorably linked in this fast-paced narrative which not only traverses multiple locations, but also juxtaposes the seedy underbelly of Harare with the leafy northern suburbs, and little-known Marina Thompson from UK Durham University all appear linked in a drama-infused finale that will shock and numb the reader.

Genres: Fiction, Africa

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2023

About the author

Andrew Chatora writes novels, short stories, literary essays and hails from Zimbabwe. His writing explores multifarious themes of belonging, identity politics, blackness, migration, multi-cultural relationships, citizenship and nationhood. His books include Diaspora Dreams, a National Arts Merit Award nominee, Where the Heart Is, Harare Voices and Beyond and his debut short story collection: Inside Harare Alcatraz and Other Short Stories, released in February 2024. Harare Voices and Beyond was awarded The 2024 Anthem Silver Award for championing diversity, equity and inclusion.

He lives in Bicester, England where he teaches English and Media Studies.

Stay connected with Andrew via an Author Follow on his social media platforms.

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited when I saw this book and was able to get a copy. I really enjoy getting to read stories from places I haven’t been and get a glimpse into cultures I have never experienced. This book definitely painted what felt like a brutally honest picture of Zimbabwe and some of the struggles the people there have and I really liked that. I thought that the characters weren’t developed quite enough and I found it very confusing to figure out who was talking when. It took me a while to understand that all of the characters perspectives we saw related to the initial two prisoners sharing their experiences of how they ended up in the Zimbabwean prison they were in. I mostly understand where all of the pieces fit by the end, but I thought that with a little structure the story could have been so much more clear while still capturing the culture as well as it did.

[Jax · Rating 2 out of 5]

On its website, inspirational and faith publisher Kharis Publishing says it is committed to publishing the message that is on potential writers’ hearts, the ones that only they have seen. In attempting to understand the contents of this book it helps to assume, although we do not know, that the author is doing just that. Mr. Chatora was born in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, but now lives in England. In this book, he examines socio-economic issues particularly as they relate to exploitation, corruption, politicization of the judiciary and law enforcement, economic decline, and xenophobia, among other things.

The author appears to be well informed with a clearly articulated message. The story is told through dialogue, wherein characters discuss the issues under review. This creates a bolder statement as they are immersed in the experience or suffer from government policy, corruption, or exploitation. But conventions must be followed for dialogue to meet its carrying potential, and they are absent. This impacts reader investment and the overall reading experience. Examples would be the point of view change in each chapter coupled with the lack of speech tags. More problematic is the lack of individuation among the characters’ voices. The tone and diction reflect an educated speaker who communicates formally and employs an elevated vocabulary. This style suits Nhamo and Helen, but few others. Without vernacular, verbal shorthand among intimates, and street slang when appropriate, the dialogue is stilted. It simply doesn’t feel authentic or spontaneous.

The rating simply reflects technical shortcomings, but this will not be a barrier to many readers, so that needs to be clearly stated. Getting this story out is an admirable undertaking.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ebook.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this novel 3.5 stars. I enjoy books like this that are raw, a little dark and gritty. I also often seek stories that are from another part of the country that is different from where I live. The writing and descriptions took me right into Zimbabwe. This broken family was fascinating to me even during some disturbing situations. I would like to have given It another star but there were several chapters in which I didn't know who was telling their story. It was hard to hear some of the characters voices and there are many so I was lost a few times. This unfortunately interrupted the story for me. The multiple characters give a good overall view of the story and family, so I'm glad that It was included but would have liked a more specific title at the beginning of the chapters. Overall It is a very interesting story and clearly showcases the ugly side of our world.

A special thank you to BookishFirst for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Eli Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful slice of life novel!

A wonderful slice of life novel imbued with profound messages. Made a lasting impression on me, long after I had finished reading the book.

[Grittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookish First and Kharis Publishing for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CW: child abuse, domestic violence, incest

A drunken confession condemns a son and his mother, who live in the affluent Borrowdale Brooke area as minority white Zimbabweans. Marina Thompson is another inmate at the prison where they are being held, whose life is also linked to the son, Rhys. This novel offers a rare insight into this minority community and explores the dark criminal underworld as well as how they got there.

This book is written with so many different characters and their voices. It is not a linear sequence of events, but you can start tying it all together as you read on. I struggled a bit with the language, but nothing a quick google didn't fix. It definitely has heavier topics, so definitely not a feel good type of book. I felt more shocked than anything. It definitely exposes a part of Zimbabwe that I didn't know about.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harrowing, but important read!
It’s not an easy book to read at times and that is in no way criticism. Harare Voices and Beyond will stay with me for a long time.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. Even though some parts we difficult because of the struggles of the Zimbabwe community.

The author has a unique way of showing pain and unfolding hidden secrets for the reader. The characters are well delivered and even painful to get it close to.

Overall I totally enjoyed this book, and even though it showed the dark side of of life, it did in a way that is important for people to understand.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharon Dene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a lot of interesting twists and turns out it was like a love story End a mystery. Beginning of the book The mother and daughter were both In jail.. The book takes off from there and there is a trial because somebody was murdered. They They talk about the Sam bonway And how the lamb was taken from the white people. It's very interesting how this woman named Maria was involved in a lot of crazy stuff.. She had a lot of friends and Had a very good friend who's working certain better Her. Sophia had a very interesting background as well this was her mother. Mother want to England and so did Maria. She ran a man named mark in London. He was very abusive to her and people tried to tell her to get away from him Mark had a lot of shady deals like drugs and sex trafficking. Marie didn't really understand all this in the beginning but she realized at the end she had to walk away her friends kept telling her to do this. The chapters in the book would tell what was going on and somehow they were related to the chapter before him A lot of people were in limbo because it wasn't English colony at 1 time but the peopl Could not go back because it was under a new government. It was interesting how they were trying to move forward in this country but it was very difficult. At the end of the book there's a lot of surprises and this will really will shock you I was

[P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fascinating novel. The prose is arresting and the storytelling is excellent. Harare Voices distills some of the problems in Zimbabwe carefully and accurately. I recommend this gem unreservedly.

[Rae | My Cousin’s Book Club]

DNF @ 18%... the writing style just isn't for me. It's like the story is being told to me instead of just laying it out from the character's POV. And there were a few characters that started to get a little confusing on what was actually happening in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kharis Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pita Kamuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book which captures the challenges of both white and black Zimbabweans in regard to the controversial land reforms. Their day yo day lives and mental health struggles.

[Kai Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating glimpse into the complex and contradictory lives of both white and black Zimbabweans...full of personality and pockets of humour. The writing is ferocious with the story acting as a microcosm of a deeper, devastating journey that many must take to survive...Chatora's writing is stunning, sensational, acerbic and political. I would go back to this book again, for multiple readings just so I savour the beautiful prose.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars! The cultural representation of this story was so well-written and interesting. As someone who has never been to Zimbabwe, the author made the site feel real and 3-dimensional to me. The story had an important message to share and I felt like I learned so much. I appreciated following the feud, twists, and turns of the book. Overall, would recommend reading it and will read further books by this author. I especially appreciated the divergence between the privilege of white and black Zimbabweans and the voices of the characters pulled me in and kept me following the story. I do think at times it felt like the political agenda of the story was a little strong and pulled away from some of the authenticity of the characters. I was impressed with the descriptions and the amount of education that was able to be provided in a fictional story.

[Ashley : bostieslovebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A white Zimbabwean family in post-independence Zimbabwe is turned upside down when a dark secret comes to light.

HARARE VOICES & BEYOND explores a multitude of topics including family, money, identity, love, substance abuse, mental health, and politics. The timeline is nonlinear and the narration of each chapter jumps around between different characters, sometimes switching within a chapter. It wasn’t clear at the start of all chapters who the narrator was, making it quite confusing at times to figure out who was speaking. I had to reread many sections because of this. I found the dialogue awkward in that most characters had the same sort of highly educated feel to their voices, despite being from different backgrounds and living different lives. It seemed odd and added to the difficulty in determining who was speaking. Unfortunately, these things impacted the book negatively overall for me. If these hadn’t been issues, the story would have been much stronger as the premise was definitely interesting and there were a lot of thought-provoking questions asked throughout. I liked that this was set in the post-independence period of Zimbabwe as that’s not a time that I’ve read much about. The ending was shocking. I’d recommend giving HARARE VOICES & BEYOND a try to anyone who finds the synopsis intriguing. I would be interested in reading other work by the author.

Thank you to Kharis Publishing and Andrew Chatora for the giveaway copy.

[Nicola Day · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 18%

This book was so complicated to follow. The perspective switching in various chapters made no sense because you didn't have a clue who was speaking sometimes until part way through the chapter. If they even had chapter sub-headings with character names, the reader would know if it was staying with the same person or changing. 
I also think the chapter from the female character's perspective early on felt wildly unrealistic. I especially noted the line "my long fingers stroking the inner crevices between my supple thighs." It just felt like a man writing what he wishes a woman would think. 

I wanted to enjoy this because I love reading about different places and situations that I'm unfamilia  with and the first chapter setting up the prison and waiting for the results was promising but after things started changing perspective it completely lost me. When I no longer actively want to read a book and it feels like work, that's when I know I should DNF so unfortunately that's what I have done here. 

I received a digital copy of this book for free as a prize in a Storygraph giveaway. 

[Pamela Shepard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about modern Zimbabwe history in this book! Loved the vibrant tension created by reading the sounds of “voices” in each chapter. Many characters woven to create layers of issues related to the aftermath of land reforms in the 1980s and the hurts caused by xenophobia. These are universal experiences, given colonialism around the world, and the author has shown how some unique Zimbabweans have dealt with these issues (in the case of this book, the underbelly of society). A bit hard to read due to the graphic descriptions of sexual and psychological abuse between characters, but if you like true-grit, that will be no problem for you. I loved the sound of the languages, both English and Shona (I believe), that the author used to convey feelings of the characters. A quick read because the chapters are short and there is not much scenery description; fast-paced because it´s mostly dialogue. The character arcs were not quite clear - some characters entered and exited the story without rhyme or reason, otherwise, a Good Read!

[Emily Garratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has left me kind of speechless. I think the author did a great job addressing the lives of black and white Zimbabweans experiencing corruption. I couldn’t put it down, but it also didn’t follow a flow that made this an easy read. The plot felt choppy and the dialogue kind of made me feel like I was reading the script of a soap opera… but still, I couldn’t put it down!! For some readers, I think the dialogue between characters would have been a big issue because the flow of conversations felt scripted and unnatural considering their different “positions in life” - every character talking like they’re a PHD candidate, but instead are involved in the under ground drug world, drug users or participating in corrupt governmental politics. I do have to say the ending made my eyes bulge out of my head. Absolutely shocking!

[Rudo D M Manyere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this third book by the author. A glimpse into the lives of white Zimbabweans and their struggles in a country that is built on corruption. We see the ripple effect of the land reform affect Julian, a young white Zimbabwean man who loses his father, wife and children due to the reform act.

He spirals out of control and ends up depending abusing drugs. In this book we see the drug world from different points of views in the syndicate, from the supplier to the consumer in this case, Julian.

Marred with different important topics, i would say Harare Voices and Beyond is my favourite thus far from the author.

[Bookworm1701 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly can't say that I knew a lot about Zimbabwe before reading this book. That being said, the author did such a good job explaining the locations, the culture, and the people that I felt like I was actually there. It was a very moving insight into the common struggles of Zimbabweans. It was a little dark at times due to the nature of those struggles, but overall it was a compelling read.

[David Chasumba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this dystopian crime novel about the crime underworld and debauchery in Harare. I couldn't put down the thrilling novel because I wanted to know what happens next. Andrew took time to research the context and setting of his novel. His characters are well rounded. He took his characters out to the pub to really get to know them well. The two twist ending were well crafted. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to other readers.

[Jacqueline Nyathi]

Dnf at 20%.

While parts of the story were interesting up to this point, I found the white characters flat, and unconvincing. I kept wondering why they were even white; it didn't seem realistic, or bring anything to the story. Similarly, I found the (multiple, up to this point) sex and sexual abuse scenes either gratuitous, or poorly handled. The treatment of female characters felt very sexist to me.

My main gripe, however, was the writing style, and the way language was used. Although I am familiar with this in Zimbabwean writing, for this novel it felt unnatural and stilted.

I would like to read more from this author, because I believe they have many more stories in them.

Thank you for the ARC.

[Raymond Damba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harare Voices and Beyond typifies Andrew Chatora at his most enthralling and, yet immersive best. Through the interior monologue of his characters, Chatora hilariously depicts the macabre existence of both black and white people in post-colonial Zimbabwe. His portrayal of the necessary (to redress the colonial iniquities) but chaotic land reform program in Zimbabwe will strike a serious chord with the reader. A must read novel!

[Nancy Mkudu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writer writes in a way that speaks to real life issues and the ills of society as we know it today, things like drug and substance abuse, child sexual abuse, and corruption. He goes on to pinpoint the reasons it is sometimes difficult to solve or get rid of these crimes, the fact that in some cases it involves people at the top of the police force and government.
A worthy read which is very pertinent to the times we live in today. Thank you Andrew Chatora👏👏

[Jeneane Vanderhoof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Chatora presents a layered look on Zimbabwe's turbulent 2000s, from the perspective of the super-rich and/ or wildly corrupt to the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. Harare Voices and Beyond tells the stories of the predator, the prey and everyone else in-between.

"'Go home white man!' I hear that everywhere. Of course, I am white. Of course, you are black…. But can’t we see that we are trapped together by a sad history. Can't it be negotiated amicably now that we agree that we fought each other for too long? Can't a dignified way be found?” This powerful line from protagonist Julian pretty much sums up a key thematic strand in Harare Voices and Beyond: race relations in post-independence Zimbabwe. Released on February 27 this year, Chatora's third novel gets to the heart of the problems of a country where many are separated by color. Formerly at arms, two races share a history that has been hurtful to many, if not almost all.

When I was twelve, I saw the movie, Sarafina, morph from a likable film with Whoopi Goldberg in it, to uncomfortable truth about the world I lived in. As I came of age in America, I did not need a VHS movie, however singular, to show me the grim reality of racial discrimination. While Harare Voices and Beyond is not about South Africa or the U.S, it illustrates much of what happens when race separates people.

In the late 19th century, the British settled into the area now known as Zimbabwe. The white minority ruled Rhodesia until 1980 when they lost power to African liberation movements. The characters in Harare Voices and Beyond, both black and white, show what living in the country is for them in the new epoch. A line that sticks out is, "I sometimes think that 1980 failed to bring together black and white." As the book continues, readers see that the line is really more of an understatement.

Chatora presents Zimbabwe using several characters who are living through crisis. Throughout the book, the chapters switch back and forth between these characters. It could be Jim, the white man who one night loses his purchased and documented property to purported "war vets", in reality young men pressed into serving “the party’s national service." They work under the racist stimulus of Mugabe’s rhetoric: "We were told to strike fear and terror in the hearts of our enemies, the white men, so they return to themselves, their forefather’s land."

In the end, these young men, who have brutalized landowners helping leaders take back the land, learn all they had been told to be subterfuge, to protect the leaders from their own issues and interests. And all they had been instructed in the name of rank and country will now affect them for the rest of their lives, turning them to the same drug escape the fallen white man finds
himself in. Ironically, both classes have become victims who will end up with nothing.

Julian a white Zimbabwean, who becomes one of the addicts, turns to substance abuse after his family loses their Mazowe family home, stolen under the guise of political retribution. His hopes for a family, wife, fatherhood, any claim to clean living, are dashed. Dejected and despondent, he remarks: “We white people in Africa have to repay what history had offered us. What can I say? What can I see?” And herein lies the problem, how do you repay for the past? Do you give up the life you have based on what those who previously lived did to others, with the same color skin, did before you? How can you pay for the actions of others, really? Is it fair to ask anyone to do that?’’

There is nothing to it but to escape onto the streets of Harare and whatever you get there. And this becomes the reality for almost all the men in this book. For many, it even means unwanted relations (some are paid for same sex acts they would rather not perform) mostly with drugs but not so much controlled by the substance as they are by the people who deliver them. These are the men with power, the few who seem to be getting everything they want, by taking everything from the backs of others.

To take advantage of a situation like this, so precarious, so unanswerable, is demonic. But then no one seems to know what to do, there are people who find power and exert this control to take everything for themselves, rather than look for any kind of real solution. They cry out, “Revolution” (or whatever gets the people riled up), all the while stuffing their pockets, these few men who have found might, for a moment.

When it comes to drug addiction, a problem central in the book with, I went back and forth with my thoughts. While it is hard to listen to an addict rationalize their behavior – there are always falsehoods in their statements – I realized further into the book, this would not always be the case. All the while we call it a “disease” but want to villainize the addict, just never looking in the mirror ourselves. Harare Voices and Beyond's politics of empathy concern people who start regular and lose it all.

While one of the characters, murder victim Julian, blames his addiction on many things outside himself, the realities of his life are very hard to live with. And you can’t help but empathize when you get to a point in the book where he has an argument with his brother Rhys (later charged with his murder, along with his mother Doris), and we learn that Rhys is part of a sex ring. The worst thing about his involvement in this is that, as a part of this ring, he is not being hurt himself in any way, actually, taking advantage and hurting others for his own benefit.

Harare Voices and Beyond gets me to a point where I say to myself, "No one has the right to really judge another's actions." Because, when it comes right down to it, while Julian easily lends himself to judgement for hurting himself, his brother, still holding on to his dignity, is hurting others for his own profit. When you judge the two, it turns out not to be what it seemed.

In taking the land back to reverse the ill gains of the white settlers, the new elite does not help the whole population, but wealth is stolen for a few individuals. The shouts for the white man to go home, as Chatora captures them, have an ironic dimension. Some families have been around more than a hundred years now and have nowhere else they can claim. The country is their home too. It is never casual how people define the word “home” when they do not want someone to be there.

What happens in Zimbabwe is essentially stripping one race of control and putting in a detached elite who makes no real change, just more damage. The whole aspect of change the author presents here is a facade where those who can, now take what they want, and do what they want, different people just walking on the backs of others.

Harare Voices and Beyond is an enlightened piece of literature, significantly beyond what we are currently reading about race relations. Finally, a book comes in which all points of view are shared, where the question is presented, “What do we do to rehabilitate race relations?"

What is the solution to this problem of race relations? I don’t know. And, we don’t see the solution in the book. And, as of yet, I don't think there is one. But we all must agree that a solution will not come in violence and anger for the things of the past. While I am a sour person when it comes to forgiveness, I see it as the only solution here. That the past must be forgiven, that the new black elite has to be more able and more broadly inclined than the self-interested white minority for the good of the whole population.

Harare Voices and Beyond is a must read, if only for the knowledge gained. You don’t have to like it and even though I did, I have realized it has ignited polarized views from readers depending on how individuals view the diverse subjects Chatora tackles in the book. But that is testament to a stellar contribution for a book to generate global debate, conversation and discussion.

[Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anchored in themes of family dynamics, land restoration, crystal meth ill-effects, mental health and trauma, Harare Voices and Beyond interrogates Zimbabwe's contested land reform policy through both the eyes of white and black Zimbabweans.

In a journey of self-discovery, Chatora's characters are in a metaphorical quest for identity, love and freedom, be it from the political system or their personal demons. And this is a recurrent thread, through characters such as Julian the white lad, 'gone rogue,' sisi Maria and M'koma Eddy's voices, the two black help. Marina Thompson's arc is also instructive in highlighting the depraved depths to which some women brave it out to save face in dysfunctional, abusive relationships. The author manages to successfully show the nuances involved in this, that it's not always for economic and survival reasons that some women stay put in such difficult relationships.

An insightful read overall.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harare Voices and Beyond delves into the racial politics and turmoil that consumes life in Zimbabwe. It explores the drug addiction, abuse, grief, and loss that festers due to the political chaos that influences a majority of the characters’ life’s and decisions.
I felt like the characters in this story were used more as a vehicle to present the authors opinions about certain issues that face Zimbabwe or the world at large, than as people who have thoughts and feelings. There would be long conversations between characters that sounded more like a political debate than an actual touching conversation. Like when Julian talks about his drug addiction as a product of the political climate, since he is unable to get a job. But the emotional impact of the loss of his wife and father aren’t used as much except to further blame the government. So it seems like the characters are just spouting politics instead of basing their actions in emotions. This also happens when Marina talks about her abusive relationship with Mark to her book club. And all the women talk about how they would reprimand their sons for that behavior, or that she should just leave. But the emotional factor of being dependent on him, scared to leave him, and maybe even still a little in love with him aren’t really addressed during their conversation, and if they are they just ignore it.
I also found some of the chapters confusing because it would switch between characters’ POV without always putting the name of the character at the top of the chapter so that you would know who is telling the story now. So you would think you were reading the mom’s story, Doris, POV but then you’d actually be in Rhys’ POV.
I think this book would be a good fit for you if you like experiencing parts of other cultures. I don’t think you should read it if talks of abuse or drug use or self harm will trigger you.
I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hilary Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating exploration of citizenship, race and identity told with elegance and forensic care. Delving into the perception of nationhood from a myriad of perspectives, Chatora takes his readers to a contemporary post-colonial era where increasingly, identity is becoming convoluted.
It can also be read as a critique on modern day race relations in post-colonial Africa, especially as the book shines a light on white Zimbabweans caught up in the land reform melee, against a backdrop of a country which seeks to ''disown'' them. This is as much a story about the chasm between pre and post independence aspirations as it is about racial identity. What I took away from the book was how the language and discussions around race, respectability and belonging were spot on. What an ending! I completely loved it. A solid 5 stars!

[Ivanna Tummy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Intelligent and Insightful Novel!
I initially struggled to get into the book, courtesy of it's out of sequence narrative structure style- which is haphazard. Then there were also numerous flashback scenes to contend with. But the penny dropped in the end! The author skilfully ties all the loose ends in the denouement section of the book, especially the gut wrenching revelations in relation to both Marina and Rhys. It's a clever technique that the author employs a dual narrative in which the story is being recounted mainly by two inmates from prison.

For me, the breathtaking ending was the aha moment! I got it. That's the point of the book. It's supposed to be difficult. It's supposed to be confusing! For is that not in sync with the dark subject matter the author is dealing with here: the wider ramifications of crystal meth consumption, domestic violence, child abuse and incest? These are difficult subjects, but the author handles them quite well. I look foward to other books by this author.

[Corey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, Bookish First and Kharis Publishing, for my advanced readers' copy of Harare Voices.

I really enjoyed the first two chapters of this book that were provided in the first look, and I was thrilled to win a copy. The story's premise was unlike any I have read before, and I was very interested in discovering a part of the world rarely explored in literature. The perspectives shared in the first pages fascinated me.

I was looking forward to following their story, but once I got beyond those opening chapters, I was lost, and the plot seemed just as lost as me. There were too many characters to keep up with, and the events that surrounded them seemed inconsequential at best. I stopped reading and have not picked up the book since. Maybe Andrew Chatora brings the story back and pulls it all together in a satisfying way by the end of the book, but he has to get me there first. He failed to do so, and this book was unfortunately lost on me.

[Josiej · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad DNFing an arc, but sometimes you just have to admit defeat. This book just felt like a chore. Part of that is because I read it as an ebook and did not like the format but mostly it was the writing style.
I just feel like I didn't get what I signed up for. The cover was gorgeous and the summary was intriguing. The talent of the publisher and marketer far outstripped that of the the author, who could not grasp the concept of "show don't tell." The book couldn't pick a genre but didn't blend them successfully and just felt very disjointed. The characters were flat, although admittedly they may have some hidden depths that I did not have the patience to read to.
I may try rereading this when I can't sleep. I can't imagine who would actually enjoy this book. I might recommend to friends who read boring books because it makes them feel intellectual. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Thanks to Bookish First for the arc in exchange for an honest review.