A review by kimveach
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is literary fiction, with a lot trying to be covered in one book.  It was too much for me, though I loved the story of the three main characters, Arthur, Narin, and Zaleekah.  I could have done without Water as a character and a little less mythology, but it wouldn't have been literary fiction.  I'm glad I read this book and learned about the Yazidi people, but returning to my usual reading will be a relief.  This would be a terrific choice for those who love literary fiction, especially one tied to science and the Middle East.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic