A review by kellyreyna
Solitaria: A Novel by Eliana Alves Cruz

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

2.5

Originally published in 2022, Solitária will be released in English this August. I was fortunate to receive an advance reader copy from Astra Publishing House via Net Galley.  

This powerful novel follows Mabel and her mother, Eunice—two Black Brazilian women working as domestic servants for a wealthy family. Spending two decades within the confines of the luxurious estate known as the Golden Plate, both women slowly come to realize the importance of pivoting toward a future defined by their own interests. 

Mabel grows up in the shadow of servitude but eventually breaks away to become a doctor—though not without first witnessing how fragile and unjust life can be, especially for those without power.
Eunice, unaware of her daughter’s internal shift, continues to serve the family loyally, believing that playing by their rules will protect her. But the novel quietly reveals the danger of that comfort—especially in a country where the legacy of slavery is still painfully fresh, and the wealthy continue to feel entitled to the lives and labor of those beneath them.

Through both Mabel and Eunice, we witness a slow, courageous awakening—a journey toward justice, resistance, and reclaiming their agency. Their growing awareness is shaped not only by their experiences within the household, but by their relationships with other laborers in the building.

The structure of the book is particularly striking: the first section is told from Mabel’s perspective, the second from Eunice’s, and the third from the point of view of the objects and spaces that surround them—rooms that have borne silent witness to their lives. Despite its relatively short length, Solitaria covers a great deal of ground—though sometimes not quite enough. The final chapters felt rushed, wrapping things up faster than expected. Characters introduced early on reappear in later sections, but their returns can feel overly deliberate. And despite being about race and class in Brazil, it doesn’t seem like the commentary exceeds that of what we would see in a soap opera. 

I found myself wishing we had more time with Eunice’s mother instead of the romantic threads introduced for both Mabel and Eunice. And while some characters weren’t meant to be central, others like Camila, the wealthy family’s daughter (and frankly, the spawn of the devil) felt underdeveloped, especially given their significance.

There were moments where the translation didn’t quite flow, some passages felt slightly off, but overall, Solitária is a moving and thought-provoking fictitious exploration of class, race, and the enduring legacy of colonialism in Brazil. It’s a reminder of how quietly radical it can be to change the direction of your life and reclaim your voice. 
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