A review by starrysteph
Ghostroots by 'Pemi Aguda

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Ghostroots is a riveting collection of stories that will creep up and haunt you. 

What a blend! One story masterfully flowed into the next, and while there were some central themes around ancestry & innate identity & community responsibility, each piece had a weight of its own. 

What are we willing to carve out of ourselves? What do we owe for our past crimes - or the crimes of our ancestors? How much of us lives on in our children, and then in their children? 

Many stories centered around women or girls and how much ownership and freedom they have. Some are trapped in cycles, some question where their mothers end and they begin, and some will do anything to feel something.

And the setting was so rich. A slightly shifted version of Lagos, layered on top of cityscapes that feel familiar. At what point do we become part of our community? How much must we serve it? 

It’s a strange journey, and many of the arcs are left open-ended. These were subtly (but powerfully) disturbing reads! Some transfixed me more than others, but overall this was an excellent read that tickled my imagination and left me a bit frightened. 

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think “Masquerade Season” will be tucked up into my ribcage for a long while. 

CW: murder, death (child), animal cruelty/death, body horror, confinement, kidnapping, car accident, abandonment, pregnancy, abuse, self harm, infidelity, pedophilia, rape, incest

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(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)