Reviews with content warning for Racism - Nightbloom

The novel follows cousins Akorfa and Selasi growing up in Ghana. Aforka’s parents are wealthy and committed to providing her with the very best education on her way to becoming a doctor. Selasi is not afforded the same privilege and is made to feel indebted to Akorfa’s family when they offer any help or support. The cousins’ experiences and memories of their childhood are entirely different, driving their friendship apart when they most need each other.

Akorfa’s perspective opens the novel, taking on an introductory tone that left me wondering when and how the novel was going to progress. But with the switch to Selasi’s perspective, the contradictions between the two took the novel in a new direction.

In reflection, Akorfa’s privilege and entitlement afforded her an untroubled childhood which she assumed was merely an introduction preceding the charmed life she was going to live.

The susceptibility of childhood memories to misunderstanding and ignorance, coupled with their influence in adulthood, made it difficult to ‘side’ with either cousin. The conflict between their relatives and who was entitled to a share of the family wealth only complicated their relationship. Throughout the novel, trauma and pain were revealed as the cause for many of the female character’s actions, alongside a fear of the dependent and therefore precarious position their society put them in and the importance of reputation and public opinion. Where the novel excelled, was in coupling judgement and blame with understanding, and highlighting complicity side-by-side with harm.

Government corruption and societal failure in Ghana was contrasted with the same in America – embracing classism, wealth inequality and patriarchy. The novel portrayed a multitude or racist encounters and microaggressions, and then different responses to them, from calling them out and pushing back to staying silent and hoping that hard work and access to other kinds of privilege (education, wealth, respectability) will protect you. Again, the novel was understanding as to why it’s characters were responding in such different ways.

Despite their differences, Akorfa and Selasi’s relationship was the thread running through this novel and I loved the way it was prioritised, even if it was often painful. The ending was both satisfying and realistic, but I would still love to revisit these characters in a sequel.

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