I tried to read this, but gave up about 1/4 of the way through. It was definitely a DNF for me. I would still read more by the author. However, I just didn't connect with this story.

2/5 Stars

This book has been given a lot of amazing reviews, and I hate to be the person that gives it a lower star rating because I did not enjoy it like others did. "Sorrowland" is beautifully written. Rivers Solomon is a talented writer and I'm happy to have been able to experience their book. There is representation and normalization of many marginalized groups, and it was great to see the way that Solomon dealt with relationships and social issues.

The story just wasn't what I expected. Yes, "Sorrowland" is sci-fi/fantasy horror, it is not these genres in a traditional sense. The 'horror' at times is literal- there is a beast that hunts the main character living in the woods. But the horror is also the cruel treatment and injustice of black people. The sci-fi/fantasy aspect of the story didn't happen till later in the book, and by then I wasn't invested in that part of the story.

The main character, Vern, is not likeable. Vern is not supposed to be likeable, but I couldn't connect with her at all. Her treatment of others stems from the way she has been treated, and it was a wonderful character portrayal of how the way that we have been taught and treated shapes us.

3 stars because I did like parts of the book, it just wasn't something that I loved or would read again.
Thanks to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was my first book by Solomon Rivers, and they have a wonderful way with words that obviously speaks to many. I would read another book by Rivers. :)

Vern fled the Blessed Acres to live alone in the woods two months prior to giving birth to her twins, Howling and Feral. She was 15, and she wasn’t exactly alone. The fiend tracked her from the Black power religious cult and intends to bring her back. The fiend tries to scare Vern into going back by leaving dead animals dressed in baby clothes hanging from the trees.
Vern is changing. Wounds are healing quickly, pain and heat don’t affect her, and hard white growth on her back and getting larger. It is time to leave the safety of the woods with her twins and try to find her childhood friend that also escaped the cult.
As Verns back growth gets larger and almost forms a carapace the fiend gets more aggressive.

There is so much hatred in this book that I almost stopped reading before I got to 10%. Anti white, anti America, religious angst, and the men are all abusive jerks. This is not the escapism I wanted. It did tame down and the story was so unique that I enjoyed the unraveling of this labyrinthian story.

Sorrowland is an exciting, bizarre, and wholly original novel. After reading, you can certainly count me as a Rivers Solomon fan. I can’t wait to go back and read everything they have already published. I can only hope it is all as fascinating and unique as this book!

Immediately pulled in by the writing, I loved the worldbuilding and the characters. I enjoyed the mounting complexity as the story developed in gradual revelations. Vern is a compelling protagonist and between Solomon’s prose and the bizarre plot developments, it’s difficult not to feel engaged in her journey. Speaking of plot developments, this novel had one of the best twists (that I did not see coming) that I have probably ever read? Like put down the book and whisper to myself in shock for several minutes kind of plot twist.

While I rate this a 4.5, I am going to round down rather than up as it hit a bit of a lull in the middle for me and it almost felt at times like the story was “going too big”, so to speak. That being said, I more than enjoyed the novel as a whole and would recommend it to any fan of the sci-fi genre.

Rivers Solomon is one of my favorite authors, so I came into this book with high expectations. Sorrowland starts off strong with its folkloric writing and memorable protagonist but starts to drag about the halfway point as illogical events accumulate. This novel includes some topics that Solomon has written about previously - an intersex, queer, and disabled protagonist; non-penetrative/ non-normative sexualities; nontraditional parenting; community as a balm and threat to the individual; and rebellion against the status quo. The protagonist Vern's defiance and pragmatism reminds me a lot of Aster from Solomon's debut An Unkindness of Ghosts. Vern has a distrust of all authority figures due to her education in Cainland and the abuse of authority that happened there. She's also very self-sufficient. In terms of how this departs from Solomon's previous writing, this includes the most graphic sex scenes that Solomon has written, and the writing might be their simplest. There's a poetry to the simplicity in the beginning, but after a while, there's a lot of telling with it being unclear to the reader how Vern knows certain things (for example, one of Vern's children is having trouble breathing, and without checking she knows that the child's ribs are fractured) which made me feel emotionally detached and like there wasn't much suspense or momentum. It's also unclear what Vern's abilities are and her antagonists, which is important for establishing stakes when they face off. The moments of body horror are phenomenal. I really liked Vern's children Howling and Feral. They have a mix of confidence, freedom, and adaptability that makes their world view very fresh and endearing. Gogo and Vern have an interesting relationship. It's very tense because Vern has been raised to be ashamed of her body and desires, and Gogo hasn't been in a serious relationship before. For people who don't know about the history of medical experimentation and counter-insurgency efforts against Black people in the United States, this could inspire readers to do some research.

Rivers Solomon's "Sorrowland" is unlike any book I've ever read (and I've read many books!). It's not quite fantasy, not quite dystopian fiction, not quite historical fiction -- it's a genre all its own. The story of Vern and how she makes her way in a very strange, surreal but all-too-familiar world is gripping. I was unable to put the book down! Extra points for normalizing diverse representation (PoC and LBGTQ+) !

Vern's story is very moving. This is one of those books that is a struggle to review without giving up too much! Let's see... Very is a very young, black woman who has escaped her life. Shortly after she gets away, she gives birth to twins. Thus begins the journey of the novel.

The writing is beautiful in this novel... although at times I found the twins voices to be a little too mature (if that makes sense). I often found myself caught up in the language that Rivers Solomon chose as it was quite lyrical t times.

If you're interested in magical/supernatural novels, dark stories... you will definitely enjoy this one.

This book was unexpected in the best possible way.

Sorrowland follows Vern, a pregnant Black woman, as she flees an abusive husband and the religious cult he leads and starts a new life in the woods. However, she soon learns that cult she fled is even more powerful than she could possibly imagine.

This book was absolutely captivating. Once I started I could not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone who loved Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Vern is running away, desperate to escape Cainland, a cult-like compound. To make matters worse, she is fifteen and seven months pregnant. Escaping to the woods, where she gives birth and lives with her children for many years, Vern is desperate to stay out of the clutches of the Blessed Acres of Cain, but they don’t want to let her go so easily. As she is forced to face these enemies that she thought were friends, Vern soon discovers that she is not a typical teenager as she goes through a tremendous metamorphosis, a metamorphosis that leads her to the truth about the Blessed Acres of Cain and their unusual beginnings.

Honestly, I was rather disappointed with this novel. I really liked the general idea, but the execution was lacking for me. It seemed as though the narrative was jumpy at times, leaving me lost as to how the characters got where they were and what their various motivations were for their actions. Certain ideas were stretched too far, even for a science fiction/fantasy novel, and some things--events, characters-- that could have been developed more were just glossed over. For the most part I liked the characters; Vern is one tough woman. The ending was a bit of a letdown, especially considering how strong the opening of the novel was. I wanted to like it, but I couldn’t.

Thank you to MDC and NetGalley for providing an electronic advanced copy of Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon, given in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own. Sorrowland will be available May 4th.

I don't know where to begin. This was powerful and moving, but also just a great story. I found myself reading slowly to really enjoy the words and to think as I read of Vern and the experiences described. I loved The Deep, but this is next level. I can see reading it again for sure, and getting something new from it with each reading.

Sorrowland
By. Rivers Solomon
P. 368
Format: eArc
Rating: ****1/2
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I received an e-arc from @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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Rivers Solomon write my favorite book of 2020 - An Unkindness of Ghosts. Sorrowland is very different. Sorrowland is an urban fantasy book about a young individual who grows up in a cult for African Americans and decides to leave. They discover that there is more to the home that they have called home, and that their is more too themselves.

Sorrowland is a story that has a lot to unpack with you read it. The story has never left my mind since I read it. After a while I plan on picking it up and reading it again. The story itself is dark, but buried in that darkness is a sense of hope. It is a fantasy, but it is also very very real.

If this all sounds vague, that is because to say anything about the plot would be to give something away. There is a lot going on, and it will take you a bit to even ground yourself enough to figure out where you are. However, you will not leave the story with everything tied up in a neat little bow. No this is speculative fiction at it’s best, it will leave you thinking about everything.

My favorite and least favorite aspect of the book are the twins. They are my least favorite, because they are written to old. They were not believable. They were as mature in the start of the story at 18 months old as they were at the end when they were five(ish). I get the difficulty of moving along the narration of when there is only one adult and two children, but they were too old too young. However, the twins were also my favorite aspect. The way they were described is brilliant. The way you see them through their mother’s eyes and the way you get glimpses as to how others see them is remarkable. I loved it.

Gosh, what a beautiful story, and such a unique and clear voice. All the characters (including and especially Howling and Feral!) are so well-written, such full and complex people. I think the element that most stood out to me was the incredible marriage of form and content. This book explores ideas of identity and culture, sexuality and connectedness, memory and grief through a vision of magic that comes from nature.

Cainland is a fascinating concept, I really admired the way the author wrote about both its liberatory goals and the trauma of it. In particular, something I really appreciated was that, though the world of the book was a contemporary one, it didn't fall into the some of the trends I've seen a lot of recently where a contemporary or futuristic setting is a utopic one. Vern is Black and queer and disabled and those things are hard to be in this world. Those identities make her vulnerable to violence, and her upbringing in Cainland leaves her with internalized shame about herself and her desires. We get to see her unlearn that shame in some of the most beautiful depictions of sexuality and desire I've ever read.

I think the one place the book lost me was how quickly Vern makes the connection between Cainland, her fungus, the hauntings, Ollie, and the FBI. (Spoilers!) It's not at all unbelievable, but it didn't feel like Vern had enough information at the time to connect the dots. Added to that, it did feel like the end moved a little fast as compared to the pacing of the rest of the book, and we never really found out why the FBI was conducting said experiments (to create human weapons? Subjugate Black separatists?) and what Ollie's real connection was to Cainland. I wanted a little bit more in terms of resolution in that respect. That said, overall, I thought this book was incredibly wonderful, and beautifully written.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I am truly grateful as this is one of my favorite books that I've read so far this year. This book was beautiful, gripping, and so different. What a creative plot that moved quickly and kept my attention the ENTIRE way through.

The characters in this book are so intriguing, and Solomon does an amazing job creating this science fiction world. I can't even pick one character that was my favorite because each one has their own phenomenal addition to this story, but I think I legit have a soft spot for Howling and Feral. They add a lot of levity and grounding to a story based in something out of this world.

There were so many things I did not see coming and I won't list them because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. There's a reason there are so many people talking about this book. What a great sci-fi read.

Sorrowland is a gripping, atmospheric and utterly terrifying read. The reader is thrown straight into the action, and taken on a journey unlike anything I have ever read before. The writing was stunning, both beautiful and unsettling, and the oftentimes disturbing imagery kept me on the edge of my seat. It was creative and inventive, and as well as tackling discussions on race, sexuality and disability, it took so many twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, and once I hit the 25% mark, I couldn’t stop reading. I also loved the diverse cast of characters, who were all incredibly well-developed. Vern, the main character, was complex and flawed but also utterly compelling, and I especially loved seeing her relationship with her children, Feral and Howling. Overall, I absolutely loved this story, and couldn’t ask for anything more. This book will haunt me for a long time.

Content Warnings: death (inclu: animal death, death of a loved one, death of a child, drowning, burning, hanging, gun violence, massacre, dead bodies), self-harm and suicide, religious cult, discrimination (racism, fatphobia, ableism, homophobia and reclaimed use of the ‘d’ word, transphobia - all challenged), torture, blood and gore, child abuse, alcoholic parent, rape of a child, drugging and medical experimentation, chronic pain, hallucinations, childbirth, consensual sexual content, mention of intimate partner abuse

Shadow of Sorrows is a genre-bending interesting mix, that's for sure. The premise is wonderful, however I found the tone of the narration made it very hard for me to get into the story. Unfortunately this book was not for me, That being said, I will definitely keep my eye on the author as I sense major potential in the wonder of story-telling.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy for my honest review.

I found this really hard to get into and had to push myself to read it. Unfortunately this was not for me, having said that please give it a go, you might like it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Rivers Solomon is an incredible writer, let's start with that. The dense, phenomenal writing packs a real punch and they manage to craft their story in such a way that it makes it hard to put the book down at all. "Sorrowland" is a deeply fascinating and intense, sometimes disturbing piece of art with an intriguing and complex protagonist. Vern is unique, wild, blurring the lines between beast and human as she transforms into something, someone much more. The story is exciting but also touches on important both contemporary and historical issues of race, of colonialism and slavery, of sexuality and gender and much more. This book is a reckoning that the reader won't forget for a long time.

Still, at times the story seemed to lose itself, especially later on. At times I felt like Solomon wanted to make certain points that deviated from the story as such, leading to some scenes that almost seemed gratuitous. The end left me a little confused, too, concerning the way - to stay unspoilery - the world and people in power react to what they witnessed at Cainland. In general I found the first half of the book incredibly intriguing but the second half didn't manage to keep the promises of the first half's quality.

Despite these flaws this is a more than solid read that leaves a lasting impression. It's a 3,5 stars read for me personally, rounded up to 4.

An astonishing, genre-defying story. Beautiful writing, and fascinating characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think I loved this. This was strange, horrifying and gruesome at times, but it was also hauntingly beautiful. We follow Vern as she escapes the religious compound she grew up in and gives birth to twins. With people still trying to find her, she tries her best to protect her children and deal with these strange changes happening to her physically and mentally.

The writing was amazing; poetic and atmospheric. The story took many different turns, and did not go where I anticipated, which is part of the reasons why I enjoyed this so much. I've read a quote where Rivers Solomon wanted to write within the "literary tradition that problematizes who and who isn’t branded the monster". (Tor.com), and they definitely succeeded. This is a gothic fiction novel that expertly questions who we label monsters in our society.

So good. Seriously. I was all in from page one.

A young girl escapes from the cult she was brought up in and runs away into the woods... pregnant... with twins. This girl not only has to learn to fend for herself and her babies, while hiding, but also her past, her memories, her attackers AND her strange metamorphosis.

Don’t worry. It’s not just another creepy thriller (it’s a “genre-bending work of Gothic fiction”!). It’s thoughtful. We grow with this girl and her children, we learn, discover, love and suffer with her. We follow her on her frightening and beautiful journey.

It’s the good stuff.

Special thanks to MCD; Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for this ARC.
#Sorrowland #NetGalley