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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Little to no character development midway through. The panning between four characters doesn’t leave the reader enough time to care about their problems. Prose walls flat.
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel, set in the fictional town of Diggs, North Carolina, centers around four Black siblings who are in the midst of a battle to prevent their 200-acre family property from being taken over by a law firm. Known to the Solomon family as The Kingdom, it was established by their great great grandfather. It was farmed and lived on by their family for 230 years. When their beloved patriarch, King Solomon, passes away, chaos ensues. There is no will nor deed for the property, no legal protection. It is known as an heir property.
Told from their individual points of view, King’s four grown children could not be more different. There is palpable tension between the siblings as they try to unite against a common enemy, the lawyers who are after their land. Each of the siblings feels the weight of their father‘s lofty expectations. Tokey takes on the roll of peacemaker. Attorney Cece is hiding from her poor professional decisions and would prefer to see the property sold. Junior’s wife knows about Simon, his gay lover. Mance recently learned that his infant son is deaf and he is trying mightily to stay out of prison.
Collectively, they are either the perpetrators or victims of blackmail, embezzlement, theft, adultery, or deception. But balancing these out are some wonderful grace notes of forgiveness, understanding, and a hard-earned willingness to come together for the greater good. Watching each of them navigate their own paths to redemption makes this a family saga well worth reading.
Told from their individual points of view, King’s four grown children could not be more different. There is palpable tension between the siblings as they try to unite against a common enemy, the lawyers who are after their land. Each of the siblings feels the weight of their father‘s lofty expectations. Tokey takes on the roll of peacemaker. Attorney Cece is hiding from her poor professional decisions and would prefer to see the property sold. Junior’s wife knows about Simon, his gay lover. Mance recently learned that his infant son is deaf and he is trying mightily to stay out of prison.
Collectively, they are either the perpetrators or victims of blackmail, embezzlement, theft, adultery, or deception. But balancing these out are some wonderful grace notes of forgiveness, understanding, and a hard-earned willingness to come together for the greater good. Watching each of them navigate their own paths to redemption makes this a family saga well worth reading.
emotional
reflective
tense
This was a great book. I was a little worried at first with all the different perspectives, but it worked well getting to know each one of the four siblings, their secrets and wishes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Chapters were way too long and I feel like I felt most of the first chapter a bit confused about what was going on.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great read. The characters were well developed and diverse. Family trauma and drama will either bring this family together or break them apart.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
The struggles of a family fighting to save their inherited land from a company trying to evict then and build a resort in their house after their father dies. The story starts with many disturbing scenes with the struggle each of the adult judges have gotten themselves into
The end is good and empowering but the story is hard to stomach at times, I almost quit a few times but did preserve and the end was worth it, for me.
Well written and developed characters but very upsetting what they're going through.. From blackmailed forced sex to small penis's vomiting sperm on the office floor to homophobia as a husband cheats on his wife with his long term boyfriend while staying in the closet to a deaf child being mistreated
Yet it is historically relevant and accurate and speaks to give issues in racism and homophobia, abuse of power from blackmail, Managers, corporations and more
So if you can stomach the rebuilding things that happen in the story or tells a harsh but necessary story.
The end is good and empowering but the story is hard to stomach at times, I almost quit a few times but did preserve and the end was worth it, for me.
Well written and developed characters but very upsetting what they're going through.. From blackmailed forced sex to small penis's vomiting sperm on the office floor to homophobia as a husband cheats on his wife with his long term boyfriend while staying in the closet to a deaf child being mistreated
Yet it is historically relevant and accurate and speaks to give issues in racism and homophobia, abuse of power from blackmail, Managers, corporations and more
So if you can stomach the rebuilding things that happen in the story or tells a harsh but necessary story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation