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3.5k reviews for:

Sorrowland

Rivers Solomon

4.02 AVERAGE


Our main character, Vern, runs away from a religious extremist compound, gives birth in the woods that would become her and her children’s home, and fights to stay free while her body begins to literally change in unimaginable (and scary?) ways. It’s in conversation with race, queerness, family/motherhood, trauma, freedom (in America), and the ability to just keep going.

I read and loved The Deep by Rivers Solomon, so I was excited to check this one out. I was definitely pleased with this decision. This was such a wild story and I was really invested in it because of the protagonist. She was complicated, loves fiercely but doesn’t know the answer to everything, wants to be left alone but knows thats not how things shake down in the end. I loved the characters, thought the sci-fi bits were fascinating, the plot kept me hooked, and I was in it the whole way through.

Now I’m hoping that I can get to Soloman’s most recent release soon!
challenging dark emotional 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: N/A

3.5/5 stars
adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-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
dark mysterious 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: No

At times this book feels realistic, other times it's ethereal and vague. It's more interesting in the latter.

"I like the woods," she said. "In them the possibilities seem endless"

I feel like it would have been better without a clear explanation. Leave it up to interpretation.
challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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: Complicated

Aaand another 3,5 ✨

Will say a few words more at some point later (maybe probably).
adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced