|
| Now | 2023 | Previous | Articles | Road Essays | Road Reviews | Author | Black Authors | Title | Source | Age | Genre | Series | Format | Inclusivity | LGBTA | Portfolio | Artwork | WIP |
|
|
Trouble the Saints: 08/15/20
Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson is set in New York on the cusp of the United States's entry into WWII. Phyllis is an assassin driven by prophetic dreams tied to reading the cards. She wants out of the business and a quiet life with her boyfriend Dev, and their mutual friend, Tamara. This novel has a similar narrative structure to her earlier book, The Summer Prince (2013) but with a vastly different setting. Where one was a futuristic, matriarchal Brazil, this is Harlem and Queens. The first part is told from Phyllis's point of view, the second from Dev's, and the final one from Tamara. Beyond the magical aspect, Trouble the Saints is an examination of institutionalized racism. Phyllis can pass as white, something she uses to her advantage when she's working as an assassin. Dev, can too, to some degree. But together they can't. Their child probably won't be able to. While there are gun and knife fights, it's the difficult decisions the three characters have to make on the personal level is where the most compelling conflict lies. Five stars Comments (0)
1997-2023 Sarah Sammis |
