3.5 stars rounded down. There's always something in the way Rivers Solomon writes their characters and creates atmospheric feelings that I really treasure. The Deep and An Unkindness of Ghosts, while I might forget the exact plot lines and whatnots, I won't forget the way the story and its characters gave me. Sorrowland is another one that has an imprint. Yet it also suffers from the same setbacks like in the above mentioned books - I became disoriented in the middle or 2/3 part and impatient towards the ending until I feel like wanting it to be over asap and reached a conclusion and revelations and all, which might or might not have been too satisfying. I could not really pinpoint why, but it would have something to do with the plot and the writing. Yet, I truly, really, deeply enjoyed the first half of this book. It was magnificent and emotionally aesthetic.

Sorrowland was wild. We start off by meeting Vern who is a 15yo with albanism who escapes a compound that is supposed to be an ideal community where black people can live away from white people and the oppression that comes along with that. However, there are bizarre rules and very cult-like behavior that make Vern flee into the woods heavily pregnant. After living in the woods for years, Vern and her children are forced into modern society to escape something that is chasing them. Can't say much more than that without spoilers.

Firstly, I loved the first and last third of this book. The middle sagged a bit as I didnt really care about the relationship developing.

This book would be perfect for fans of Annihilation as there is a super natural/ sci fi aspect of this book that involves body horror. A lot of things are not fully explained in this book so if you need answers, this might frustrate you. It did me at times. I wish we had been given more concrete explantations of what was going on and why. It felt a little bit muddled to me.

There is a lot of gender fluidity in this story which was great but also kind of confusing to me. Ex. One of the characters, Ollie, is referred to as both "she" and "he" at different points but Vern indicates she only likes women. That choice was confusing to me because I wasn't sure why the character was not just referred to as "they" instead. I also assumed Vern was a woman but other reviewers have inferred she is intersex. Those little things bothered me for clarity sake but I know it was intentional. It just wasnt sure what the intention was if that makes sense.

I really enjoyed the horror aspects of this book and what it had to say about the things that white people and governments get away with especially against black people. I just wanted more concrete answers but thats more a me thing than the book. I hope theres a sequel because that ending was crazy.

TW: cults, killing of animals, body horror, murder, racism, general violence

Rivers Solomon really has a way with truly messing with your emotions. Read this book in a day and now I’ll spend the next day just thinking about it. This haunting, unapologetic story will leave you at the edge of your seat. A story filled with rage and challenges that bury itself in your heart as it digs into race, sexuality, gender, religion, mental health, motherhood and so much more. Solomon is a master at making you feel everything at once.

This book probably won’t be for everyone but I’ll still highly recommend it.

DNF at the 40% mark. This one was just too weird for me. Not just the content, but the tone and the central character. I wanted to find Vern sympathetic, as she finds herself in a truly terrible situation, but various decisions she made drove me absolutely crazy. Honestly, her decision-making is why I finally gave up on the book. It just wasn't for me, unfortunately. I will not be rating/reviewing on Goodreads or my blog, as I did not finish it.

I don't really know how to describe this book. It sort of defies being assigned just one genre. It covers such a broad spectrum of topics, from race in America, gender and sexuality, abuses of all sorts, the super natural, the government's use of Black bodies for science experiments without their consent. It has a lot going on. For the first 10% of the book I felt like I hated it and would never finish it. Then for the next 25% I was somehow drawn to keep reading even though I still hadn't decided if I liked it. Then when the second part of the book began I finally got on board, but I felt the third part kind of went off the rails for me a bit, introducing new characters unnecessarily who I did not care about, as if there wasn't enough plot going on! But overall it was a daring masterpiece of weirdness and uniqueness. I'm glad I read it, it will definitely stick with me. It isn't the sort of book I will recommend for everyone, but for some, it will be special and while maybe not Enjoyable, definitely engaging.

It is truly phenomenal to see the progressive style that Rivers Solomon has grown into with this third novel. Not for the faint of heart, this is a bold, visceral, and unapologetic story of resiliency. We follow Vern's story after her escape from a compound as a pregnant teenager, as she unravels the true nature of the cult and her origins while raising two formidable children. Weaving elements of conspiracy, social justice, queer love, fantasy, and noir, Sorrowland is a incredible piece of imaginative fiction.

Every time I thought I knew where this was headed next it surprised me! It’s kind of everything all at once in a great way - really creative sci-fi, historical fiction, a super rich queer love story, pretty consistently actually scary horror. A complete adventure that left me with just one major unanswered question: LESTER HOLT???

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book fairly early into the story due to triggering content, so I can't review. I'm so sorry! Rating 5 stars as to not mess up the average rating.

TW: Gore, Body Horror, Graphic Sex, Violence, Racism, Homophobia, Consent. There is a lot in this book that can make it hard to read, but overall I think most are handled well.

I'm a little bit torn about this one. I went into it on the back of having loved An Unkindness of Ghosts, so was expecting great things. And there were some actually great things to talk about, and we will, but overall...well, let's get to the review.

Sorrowland is the story of Vern, a runaway from a cult like community called Cainland. Cainland, or The Blessed Acres of Cain, is, or was, a community made up of black people who have decided to move away from the mainstream America, becoming more isolationist in response to racial inequities. Overtime strange things have occurred in Cainland, and as the story progresses, we find out that things were not as they seemed. But the simplest point is that Vern ran away from an oppressive abusive system.

I admit, I'm struggling to break this down. It's a complex story of so many different things, and I do wonder if some of the genre trappings were just unfamiliar to me; it's a blend of horror, thriller, specfic and more, and plot wise I never seemed to be in sync with how things progressed. We spend the first half meandering from here to there, a few flashbacks fleshing out Vern's past, but it's this low energy story which I really did like. There's this haunted atmosphere to everything with Vern seeing things that aren't there, and having harrowing experiences. And that atmosphere felt so on point.

The last third however felt like it undid all those good feelings for me. The slow pace we had been traveling about as is ramped up, and things quickly skip from one genre to another. From a plot perspective, I’m not sure that any of the choices really made much sense to me, with many of them leaving me scratching my head as to their inclusion (The sex scene, and the mother’s story being the two most egregious). Part of me can understand some in the narrative of racism and persecution that has plagued BIPOC throughout American history, but for the most part it just felt like several separate ideas crammed into too few pages.

I’ll end my review here, I feel I’m too close to just waffling on about the many aspects of the end that I did not like. If we are to judge a book by it’s destination, I probably would have rated this lower. However, the first half did hit enough right notes to me that I’m still going with a higher rating for it. The relationships during this point all feel good and solid, and the atmosphere worked well. I’m not sure I’d recommend this to anyone as ending’s are important, but your milage may vary.

(I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.)

Sorrowland is a raw, thought provoking story centered around a character that many will relate to on different levels. Rivers Soloman has created a complete world within this story that had so many deep moments throughout. There were several instances that made me stop and think about my own personal life experiences, as well as current happenings in the world. I loved the scifi-ish feel the story had at times, while also having roots to make it believable. I also loved the deep ties this story had to nature and the mystery of knowing yourself as your beliefs, body, and mind change as you grow. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

I loved the language in this book. I was a little confused at first by some of the language used but after a few chapters it all made sense and I realized that Vern used some different language for things because she was raised in a cult The scenery and the craziness of Vern's life was portrayed in a beautiful way and her struggle seemed to make her work harder for freedom instead of giving up and it makes her powerful. I haven't read anything else by Rivers Soloman but after reading this book I plan too.

Sorrowland is a tour-de-force of a novel, running through an uncountable number of different genres and styles, all of which are pulled off with a great deal of skill and care from author Rivers Solomon. There’s no way to be able to adequately describe this book because it would take as long, if not longer, than the book itself. The story could be described as a sort of coming-of-age novel for the main character, Vern, as she attempts to survive the many obstacles that are trying to do her harm while also protecting her children. This is an incredible book, and for fans of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy I would not hesitate to recommend it. I cannot wait to read more of Solomon’s work.

When we meet fifteen year old cult-escape Vern she is giving birth to twins, alone in a forest. She is a partially-sighted black albino fleeing abuse from her cult leader husband, and she is also being hunted down by a stranger she calls 'the fiend' who leaves mutilated animals decorated with baby clothing for her to find.

This is not, strictly, an 'ordinary' beginning in itself - and yet things get a lot more surreal. That's what this book does beautifully - mixes the incredibly real with the incredibly surreal. Vern's struggle for survival in the woods, trying to raise her children and later leaving the woods and trying to navigate the world with children who have only ever known the ways of the wild, is a very real and grounded tale, and yet the surreal creeps in as we learn that something is wrong with Vern's body - that the 'hauntings' she has been experiencing (usually rather grim hallucinations) are actually happening, that her body is physically changing and she is gaining some preternatural strengths.

Sorrowland is a gripping read. It is oftentimes gory and uncomfortable yet compelling, and filled with revelations. The characters are fascinating, Vern herself is not necessarily 'likable' and is always internalising her inability to empathize and connect. Seeing her try to grow through her later relationships with Bridget and Gogo was really powerful.

The book speaks on so many issues, racism, sexuality and gender identity, disability, parenting, learning to love in a world that has only shown you hate, fighting against power and corruption. What's more Solomon manages to pull together an outlandish narrative that shouldn't work, and not only does but will keep surprising you at every turn.

<b> I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

DNF at 14%</b>


I usually am not one to DNF books, but this was not for me. For a Sci-Fi book, it starts off with little to no science fiction references. To me the beginning is all gothic fiction with a hint of horror, which is totally fine, but not how the book was mainly marketed. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a Sci-Fi fantasy of a mother struggling to escape from a cult and being on the run. I was thinking it would have a bit of <i>The Fifth Wave</i> vibes to it. This is not at all how it begins. If this is also your expectations, this book is likely not for you.

<b> Trigger Warnings in first 14%- dead child, death of an animal, animal cruelty, sexual assault, domestic abuse, adult-minor relationship, </b>

DNF @ 20%
It started out okay and I was kinda interested to find out about all the hauntings, Cainland etc., but the plot was dragged so much that it was so boring to read.

“O, what a thing to be reduced to your truest nature, to be once more a dog whimpering in the night, clinging to battle-worn pups, the vessel of your body transformed into a tunnel for viscera.”

I love Rivers Solomon. There is something so poignant and aching about every word they write. I feel sometimes like I’m reading words that were bled onto the page, that Rivers Solomons pen had been filled with blood instead of ink. Every word they write has power to it. Their words take up space in the most magnificent way.

Sorrowland follows Vern, who was raised in a commune called Cainland. Escaping while pregnant, she gives birth to twins in the woods, and the story follows how she grapples with the secrets of where she came from and who she is.

The last book I read from Rivers Solomon was The Deep, and Sorrowland takes a lot of the themes that The Deep introduced and presents them with more time to discuss it. The discussions and themes of intergenerational trauma and individualism vs. community are less on the forefront as they were in The Deep, but I think this is Sorrowland’s greatest success. Rivers Solomon does not write so that you will have an easy read, but so that you will live within the characters and ask yourself very real questions about the world around you. I love the way Rivers Solomon’s themes are woven into every word.

Sorrowland grabs you by the throat and pulls you in, keeping you in suspsense until the last word. It’s an adventure, a visceral survival experience that puts you in the perspective of the central character and allows you to feel all Vern’s anxieties, fears, and ultimately, triumphs.

Frankly, I can’t encapsulate just how impactful this book was with mere words. You’ll simply have to read it yourself.

I received a free e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[This review will be posted on my blog on Friday 14 May 2021]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

This is one of those books that is hard to like. You may be looking at my star rating and asking yourself 'then why on earth would she give it such a high rating?' Well, that's what I'm going to discuss in this review.

So firstly, what is Sorrowland about? It is the story about Vern, a Black pregnant teenage girl with albinism fleeing from her much older husband, and The Blessed Acres of Cain, the cult he leads. She escapes into the woods, gives birth to twins, Howling and Feral, and raises them as best she can, knowing they are always under threat. As the boys grow older, and Vern's own body begins to change, she sets off in search of her childhood friend, and answers.

Sorrowland straddles a few different genres, and defies easy classification. Sci-fi/dystopian/fantasy/horror/gothic/myster/thriller. It's got a bit of everything. Add to the fact that it is deeply rooted in real-world history (and the present), it is an absolute marvel to behold, because it manages to pull it off successfully, and seamlessly.

The atmosphere was haunting and the stakes were high. Sorrowland is one of those books that make you feel uncomfortable, unnerved, and off-balance the entire time. You’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop. You're wondering what is going to happen next. Every word is chosen with precision and care to achieve the greatest possible effect, and to pack the greatest emotional punch. For reasons I cannot fully explain, this is a story had me going back to it again and again, because I just had to know what was going to happen to Vern and her children, and what had already happened to her in the past, in Cainland.

The characters have so much depth. And you cannot turn away. A lot of the time, when I read fiction, I find myself slipping into the main character's position, which is easy if they've had an easy life. With Vern, this was not the case. I struggled to inhabit her world. It was hard, but it was worth it, because Vern is so real. She's doing the best she can in the circumstances she finds herself in. And that is what resonated with me. I loved her because she was so raw, and defiant, and vulnerable. I can honestly say I haven't read a book with a character as realistic and with as much emotional depth as Vern. I also loved those boys of hers. There was a single chapter narrated in third person from Howling's point of view. I liked it, but it seemed like a very strange one-off. I would have liked more, honestly.

When trying to decide what to write about the plot, I am drawing a blank. I am not sure what to say without spoiling the book. So all I will say is this: the first half is very much about setup - the pacing is fairly slow and steady to begin with, focusing on the life Vern builds for herself and her children in the woods. That in itself is actually quite fascinating. The other part is Vern's recollections of her life at Cainland, a Black religious cult led by her husband Sherman. The second half is more plot driven, with Vern venturing away from the woods to find her childhood friend, whom she thinks might be able to help her find answers to questions she has about Cainland, and what is happening to her body. This part is faster paced, and has ample plot twists and developments. It is also more sci-fi/fantasy than the first half.
I wasn't completely sold on the ending, but I didn't vehemently dislike it either. I think that it is going to be quite divisive among readers, especially after reading other reviews.

The world of Sorrowland was very similar to ours in terms of history and society. I found Cainland itself to be morbidly fascinating, especially as a good portion of the novel is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries surrounding Cainland, its founding, and development. I won't go into much detail, but I also enjoyed the scientific elements Solomon has weaved into the story. I found those particularly satisfying, because I like my science fiction to be rooted in scientific fact, as it makes it more believable.

I always end my reviews with a brief note about the themes, and there were plenty: gender, race, identity, sexuality, religion, misogyny, motherhood, mental health, and human experimentation. I admit, it sounds like there's a lot going on, but it is absolutely done with finesse, and not like a brick to the face. This is a brilliant social and political commentary, and a necessary interrogation of what it means to be Black, a woman, a mother, disabled, physically different, intersex, and homosexual in a world where these aspects of identity are not valued or accepted, and are actively policed and degraded.

In a nutshell, Sorrowland is a tour de force. It's a phenomenally well-crafted novel, with hard hitting themes, and a diverse and inclusive cast. It reminds me a little of The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey in some superficial respects, so it might appeal to fans of that book, but in my opinion, Sorrowland is on a whole other level to any other book I've read.

Content warnings (note that this is not an exhaustive list):
Death, childbirth, blood, gun violence, homophobia, racism, non-consensual human experimentation, self harm, gore, animal killings, psychological torture, cult, alcohol abuse, brainwashing, child abuse, drug abuse, drowning, suicide, murder, cannibalism (sort of)

Representation:
Black intersex lesbian? woman with albinism, nystagmus, and vision impairment
Indigenous trans woman

A very fun read about a young girl, Vern, who escapes a religious cult and comes into her own as a woman, a mother, and something else entirely. I couldn't put this down. Great lesbian and trans rep, heavy anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist undertones. The first half of the story was fantastic: Vern raising her feral twins in the woods, completely reliant on the land. The second half was still entertaining, but some parts did have me laughing out loud at the absurdity (that motel sex scene). The ending was also a bit of a let down considering the rest of the book. Overall though, definitely enjoyed this and would not hesitate to recommend it to any weird fiction fans.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon is a mix of sci-fi and gothic horror with great importance. This is an incredible story with a fantastic protagonist. It is a story of cruelty and injustice but also of love, strength and forgiveness. It shows us that we can come to our full potential and change when we need it the most.

Heavily pregnant and on the run, Vern has escaped the clutches of the cultish religious compound of her childhood and finds solace in the woods. But the compound isn't ready to let her go, so she becomes a hunted woman. Forced to fight back against the very people who raised her, Vern is confronted with a violent metamorphosis that begs the question: what is a monster? A person? A place? A community? A system?

Mind bending with a sharp look at the way belief and oppression have shaped America.

Thank you to NetGalley and FSG for advance access to this title!