A review by readbyjennifer
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

2.75

This novel, which aimed to tackle important themes of family, trauma, class, perspective, race, power and corruption, held promise but ended up falling short. 

• The scope of the novel was perhaps too broad, with too many ideas and subplots that ultimately lacked the desired depth. 
• The pacing of the novel suffered, with days being shown and then years skipped. The final chapters seemed disconnected from to the majority of the book that had come before it. 
• The plot meandered and was difficult to grasp; it took until perhaps 2/3 of the way through the book before I came to see what the book was perhaps attempting to achieve. 
• The choice of two narratives was crucial, but I wonder if it could've been handled differently. The urge to keep turning the page in Part 2 fizzled, as many of the plot points in Selasi's re-telling had already been revealed by Akorfa in Part 1.

The concept of two girls from one family, living the same life and experiencing it so differently, was fantastic. I would've preferred if the novel had maintained the focus on Akorfa and Selasi, and enabled them to overcome their differences and traumas to reconnect in a more organic and heartfelt way.