Reviews

The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson

thebookishaustin's review against another edition

I'm unsure how to rate this. :( 

lsparrow's review against another edition

3.0

there are somethings that I love about this book and the weaving of multiple stories that come from diffenent times and locations - although not my favourite book from this author.

kapsygabby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was not an easy read but it was still a really amazing book! I loved each woman whose perspective we lived with and admired how they navigated their situations and their spunk/spirit. I will definitely check out this authors other work now too!

yeahnaar's review against another edition

reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

A mix of historical fiction and magical realism, I don’t think this book did either genre well. The characters were unlikeable, and there was no real plot which made it hard to put up with the unlikeable characters. It was thematically interesting but the execution was lacking greatly 

sylda's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

carobbooks_15's review against another edition

It didn’t really ever click for me. I really like the story collection Skin Folk but this novel was a slog.

ericahb's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I listened to this book since I could not find a paperback copy. Although it was a great listen, I would have enjoyed reading a physical book better. Some chapters would flip between multiple characters and I would have to rewind back to make sure I didn’t miss anything of importance. That being said, the book was well written and once you were hooked into the stories, you did not want to stop listening.

paracosm's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I quite liked this one. It follows three different story lines of three different black women who are all connected thanks to a water goddess names Ezili. There isn't so much of a plot. 

The narration jumps between timelines, with small sections from the goddess pov. I love any fantasy that involves gods, so I of course enjoyed reading those parts. They managed to make the goddess inhumane enough to be interesting.

All three main characters lead difficult lives. The book never tries to minimize the horrors of what happens to them, but also isn't miserable all the time. I think one of the main objectives of the book is to present the stories of black women that otherwise would have been forgotten or vandalized to aid another narrative.

Mer and Jeanne are the ones who get the most screen time. I wished there were more chapters dedicated to Thais, I quite liked her.

joghansah's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

So much happened

kboogie_2's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0