Before I get into the juicy bits, let’s start by saying “thanks” to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book before publication.
And now what you’re really here for: was this a good book?
The answer, yes…and no.
I did like this book! Cadwell Turnbull is a fantastic writer, so much so that I immediately added his other book, The Lesson, to my TBR. I liked the characters, which is really important to me, because not liking the characters is one of my least favorite things to have happen while reading—except for in some circumstances where the character is one you’re not supposed to like, like Humbert Humbert. The problem is when someone writes a character with the intention that readers will like them, but it doesn’t work. This was not one of those circumstances. I also really liked the concept: monsters were real the whole time, and you didn’t even know until a literal werewolf transforms on live television. I also really liked the resonating idea throughout the book of “no gods, no monsters,” and watching the characters wrestle first with the realization that while gods and monsters do exist, the meaning behind the mantra of “none above, none below” holds true.
So you may be thinking, “Abi, it sounds like you just enjoyed this book, why did you say it wasn’t good?” And I’d say, “well I did say it was good, I just also said it was a little bit not good.” So for the little bit that was not good.
I was confused about what was happening for 80% of the book. Now that I’ve had some time away, I think I’ve wrapped my head around the general plot points, but as they were happening, I found myself flipping back pages to reread sections because I’m going, “wait a minute, that doesn’t make sense.” And the point of view really threw me for a loop too because it’s first person omniscient, which is pretty atypical and a little off-putting, right? And at first I didn’t realize that’s what it was going to be so then when suddenly there was an “I,” I was like “hold up,” and then had to reread that chapter. And sometimes I’d get so caught up in the third-person narrative that I’d forget about the first-person narrator until they reinserted themselves into the story left me going “oh, shit, yeah. There’s an omniscient observer here.” And then I’d reread that part to see if remembering that someone was watching it changed the way I read it. (It did. It made everything vaguely unsettling, and also has left me feeling a little uncomfortable in my own life. Is someone watching me right now and reading my mind? God, I hope not.)
Anyway, I think I’ve gone on long enough for this book review so here’s who I recommend it for:
* People who like fantasy creatures in our world
* People who like pointed political commentary with a side of dragons
* People who don’t mind having to reread sections because timelines can be confusing
* People who are smarter than me and so don’t have to reread when timelines are confusing
And finally
* People who want to feel vaguely unsettled for a week after reading because they start wondering whether 1) there really are monsters living among us and 2) someone is narrating their life right. now.

This is, most definitely, a must read.

Monsters are real! What the hell are we gon' do now?
I didn't know what to expect from this story, but it delivered everything I liked and more. There's monsters, every type you could possibly imagine, from werewolves to... dragons? There's eldritch terrors picked right from Lovecraft's imaginarium, there's secret societies, time and space travel, and a mysterious narrator.

It's an absolute page turner. A completely diverse cast of characters, LGBT+ and race-wise, that's gonna make you want to know more about every single one of them. Sometimes a fantasy book, sometimes a thriller one, many times a horror. And it all happens seaminglessly. The prose is great, much like a literary fiction.

The audiobook is amazing, but i wouldn't recommend reading it only on audio just because the story is very complex, with a web of characters that might be hard to follow just on audio. I listened to another book with the same narrator, Lovely War, and he also did a wonderful job there. Dion Graham puts an emotive tone to every chapter, elevating the reading experience.

I'm so so happy it's the first in a series because i NEED the next books. I feel like this one just showed me the tip of the iceberg and I'm so excited to see what else is there in the universe Cadwell Turnbull created.

I received an advance copy of this book through netgaalley to review and here are my thoughts.

Off the bat, I am bias because I am a Virgin Islander and therefore any book that has characters that reflect my homeland well…I’m going to like. That being said this book had some hard to get over flaws. Mainly, the transition between character point of view (and there are a lot of characters) is very choppy. It took several pages for me to sometimes realize whose story/ point of view I was reading. Second flaw was the sheer amount of characters introduced at one time. I had to make notes to keep track. We were sometimes introduce to a character and I wouldn’t read about them again for another 10 chapters.

I will say I love the descriptive writing. Turnbull made me see the images and the scenarios he wrote as if they were right infront of me. While I wasn’t invested in all of the characters, the ones I was invested with had me crying, stressing and cheering for them.

Overall, if you like a really complex fantasy novel then you’ll like this. I gave it 3 1/2 stars and am looking forward to the sequel.

Have you ever stopped and thought how the world would react if one day images of real "monsters" living among us were leaked and viralized? Cadwell Turnbull certainly asked himself this question and, as a consequence, he gives us his second urban fantasy work, “No Gods, No Monsters”, after his debut with "The Lesson".

It all begins with the horrible news that a young man has been brutally murdered in a police chase in Boston. Laina, devastated by the death of her brother, sets out to find the truth behind this event, to the point of letting the world know that monsters are real, live among us and now looking for ways to protect themselves from people out of the shadows.

Reading this book is like looking into the fragments of a broken mirror; they all belong to a whole, but individually they do not reflect the same thing or in the same way. That's the charm this story has and, in some way, that's what have kept me glued to its pages. The fact that the narrative shifts from one character's perspective to another in different time spaces takes it a bit away from the idea of a novel, getting closer to a compilation of small stories that string together gradually till reaching the climax. On the other hand, this was a problem for me when trying to gain affection for the characters, which in most cases was not possible and, perhaps, that is the main reason why I can't give it a higher score. Still, Turnbull manages to convey the feeling of meeting an old friend every time a character reappears at another point of the story.

Secret societies, science, anarchy, mystery, power of the people, a dash of gore and an ACAB message are some of the things that fill this book with appeal.

The book might seem complex, but Turnbull uses a very simple and light writing style, which facilitates the flow and understanding of the events, without missing the opportunity to provide lyricism and beauty to the narrative. On the other hand, I must confess that I found the changes from third person to first person frustrating at first, but it was just a matter of getting used to it.

This is not the type of story I usually consume, but the wide range of diversity and the great representation of collectives in the main characters kept me reading regardless. Of the things I was most pleasantly surprised by is the author's use of nonbinary pronouns that, at least I, find for the first time in a book. In addition, Turnbull focuses on a large number of issues that affect society and threaten the safety of millions of people so I highly recommend this book to all those activists who can see reality reflected in this, as well as to all those who are looking for a book to finish their reading slump or simply to enjoy an addictive story in crescendo.

Keep in mind that this is just the beginning of this ambitious and promising story. Personally, I will be watching for the release of the second book! I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the ARC of this book!!!!

Content warning: death by police officer, discrimination-based violence, guns, drug abuse, drug addiction, cannibalism, suicide

This book has everything. It’s got shifters, conspiracy theories, communities coming together, families falling apart, time skips, parallel universes, and the meaning of truth in light of things incomprehensible. Turnbull delivers another genre masterwork that this time blends literary fiction with urban fantasy, where werewolves and weredogs exist alongside humans, some of which want to ascend to godhood.

With heart-wrenching prose and deft navigation of several POVs, No Gods, No Monsters is a wild ride that I didn’t want to end.

This book is high octane chaos from start to finish. It flows with the ferocity of a river. It starts with a shooting and escalates to frightening reveals about the very literal monsters among us. Turnbull balances so many characters, each with their own stakes and desires, twisting towards a climax where it all begins making sense. I found myself dropping my jaw at the layers and levels of emotion woven throughout. It hits hard with both the heaviness of its social commentary and the terrifying wonder of its fantastical elements.

What really resonated with me was the way Turnbull has his characters navigate so many different types of grief is particularly effective. It’s mirrored particularly well in the story of Cory, whose life falls apart due to drug addiction, and a college professor who falls into the literal Order of the Golden Dawn. They navigate threads of losses both temporary and permanent, but when things go off the rails in each storyline, there are ripple effects to the experiences of the other characters. There’s never a moment in the narrative where any character’s arc feels separate from the overall narrative around fighting against what feels like relentless oppression and stunning breaks in reality.

Definitely a must-read for those who love shifters in their stories and those seeking a more literary bend in their speculative fiction.

Holy wow, this was such a fun read! Initially, I felt like I was lost, because of being bounced around to other characters. But there's a logic there! There are all these wonderful vignettes of sorts that tie back to this main point. I loved the mention of Golden Dawn, I loved all these nods to real and fantasy. I truly cannot wait for book two!

3.5 stars

No Gods, No Monsters was a creative page-turner that left me with more questions than answers.

Laina’s world was turned upside down when she learned that her estranged brother was killed by a police officer, but a mysterious video tape made the situation even more complicated. In the video, Laina’s brother was a werewolf. Laina leaked the video to the media and the world was forced to deal with the ugly truth: monsters were real, and they could be our neighbors.

Told from various perspectives, Turnbull explored what it meant to be a monster and the human response to monsters who wanted peace and recognition. Turnbull’s storytelling was unique and No Gods, No Monsters made for an addictive read. The characters were complex with an impressive range of gender identities and sexualities. As the first book in a series, the author did some impressive set-up for future books; however, I wish there was some payoff in the first book. I left book one feeling a bit frustrated that all I had were more questions.

No Gods, No Monsters was an impressive take at examining what makes someone a monster with characters that will stick with the reader.

4.5 stars. I'm thrumming with excitement. I love when I finish a book and my mind won't shut up about it; my brain keeps spinning with ideas and theories and turning over all the cutting, delicious, insightful things this had to say. This book landed at the perfect intersections for me; fantasy, folklore, mystery, queerness. It's dense, but told in the perfect way, so I never felt overwhelmed, just eager for every new reveal.

Monsters are real, and the world is about to find out just how real they are. We're following a diverse cast of characters: a woman who just lost her brother to police violence, her bookstore owning husband, a little boy who's a pawn in ways he doesn't understand, a conspiracy theorist professor, an invisible woman, and several varied shifters. They each have their part to play in the story that unfolds, as the reality of monsters is brought to light in the world. The thread that ties them all together and the way it's revealed is one of the cleverest, coolest things I've ever read; I loved it so much. I can be really picky about POV in books, and all I can say without giving away too much is that I loved the hell out of the way this was told. The story does take some time to find its legs, and the beginning chapters where the reader is in the dark were confusing in a few ways. But never in a frustrating way; I devoured this, and just wanted to know everything about this world. The writing was so sublime; raw and heavy, always packing a punch, but never overwrought or over the top. There are a few scenes and images from this book that keep coming back to me; they were so striking and vivid. In a couple scenes I felt like I was being held by the face and being made to LOOK. I loved it.

I'll probably never stop yelling about how I love seeing dialect used in books, no matter how small or casual; especially when it's a Caribbean dialect. I adored the way USVI culture and folklore played a part in this world, amongst all the other cultural influences that were evident. I especially loved it when it came to the monsters. One of my favourite folklore characters has a role here; I suspected who/what she was from the moment she appeared (so to speak) on page, and I was delighted with pretty much everything she did and said and the type of part she played. I also loved the casual diversity of this; we've got a mostly black and brown cast, and there's all the queer characters, the trans and nonbinary characters, the polyamory. This also talks about activism in a way that clearly calls to mind recent events, but in a far less clumsy way than I've seen other recent books try to do it. It felt firmly rooted in Turnbull's world, but also relatable.

This was just such a satisfying read; giving a voice to monsters and marginalised people. It's been a while since I've been this excited to start a new fantasy series; particularly one that isn't even done yet. But this was absolutely gorgeous, really powerful, and I can't wait to see what's next for these characters and this world.

Content warnings: police violence, gore, death, child abuse, domestic violence.

This is a whirlwind of a book that I think was just not for me.

The story follows Laina and her journey after the death of her brother Lincoln at the hands of the police. From there, a sprawling tale ensues branching off into multiple different narratives. That's where the largest problem of this book lies. There is so many narratives that it is so hard to keep up with it and especially having it on Kindle proved a challenge because I couldn't flip back through masses of chapters to find out who this character or what thread does this connect to. Perhaps in the physical form, I may have been better just so I could flip back for reference but on Kindle I found it almost impossible.

Character-wise I really only found Ridley interesting (and that's only because he's asexual like myself.) The others really suffered from the sporadic narratives thus I never had any connection to their stories.

Yet, saying that, the writing is immaculate. Even if I had no idea what's going on, the writing is beautiful and so effective that it makes it such a pleasure to read. Exquisite, effective storytelling exploring ideas of power, protest, and broken family relationships that makes me very interested in Turnbull's other works because he is so damn talented!

This is a book I was determined not to lose hope for and the writing alone was enough to sustain my interest. As for everything else, it passed in a blur. This is a book that will envelope other people and repel others but definitely worth a shot even if you're on the fence about it. Just sadly this time, I couldn't find my way in and that left me with a longing for something more that it couldn't give.

From one of Cadwell Turnbull's interviews with Lightspeed Magazine, he describes his upcoming book as "modern retelling of the civil rights movement of the ’60s and ’70s, but with monsters." Indeed, the title No Gods No Monsters derives from an anarchist slogan "No gods, no masters" meant to be a "call against discrimination and hierarchy," as explained in the climactic protest at the book's finale. No Gods No Monsters opens with a horrifically common occurrence in the United States, the shooting of an unarmed black man by police and his sister Laina is informed. In the midst of her grief, she is mysteriously handed a video of the events which show her brother and others turning into wolves.

Ambitious, with multiple threads of polyphonic stories, this sprawling novel defies neat categorization - urban fantasy, speculative fiction, science fiction, social commentary. We readers are dipped into the lives and stories of diverse individuals and families including:
- Puerto Rican lesbian female Rebecca also a werewolf, Laina's lover
- guy returned to his home island of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, his brother Cory Turner died
- Ridley coop bookstore owner asexual trans biracial (half white, half black)
- Monsters: Dragon rescued by Order of Asha, Melku (also from St Thomas) - tech mage, Sonya- invisible, Cassie/Cassandra - seer, sight mage, Damsel - witch, Yuni, Sarah - werewolf
- 2 orders of monsters, rogue ones, unknown organization forcing them into open
- Sociologist Karuna Flood born in Nepal raised and adopted by Irish parents adopted, went missing
- Sondra, senator running again for reelection, from St Thomas, Sondra monster, sister Sonya is a souyoucant (bloodsucking supernatural being from Caribbean folklore), Sondra's parents are werewolves who adopted Sonya
- Hugh Everett quantum physicist who discovers a new wave theory, neglects his family with devastating consequences
- Henry who falls into a cult Golden Dawn from loneliness after divorce

At first, the stories seem disparate, we are dripped backstories across timelines and geography but slowly the interconnections and common themes emerge. I love that the author gives space for the stories to breathe and for readers to reach realizations. One of the refrains is "So it fucking goes" - shitty things happen, is it derived from Vonnegut's famous 'So it goes?" There's drug addictions, racial injustice, spousal physical abuse, family inability to accept LGBT members, suicide, lung cancer from second-hand smoke of smoking spouses, PTSD in military. Close family and friends wonder in regret and self-recrimination whether they could have done more to help, to reach out, made a different decision in the crossroads of fate and time. This is where the concept of multiverses and alternate outcomes, alternate selves pops up with regularity. I felt that the theory of quantum mechanics that sets up this concept a little thin and basic. Also although the stories tried to be empathetic to everyone's pain and trauma, I thought in the subset story of Cory and his ex-wife Keren, his side was given too much emphasis, over-explained vs Keren's terror, I didn't think she had anything to apologize for.

The term 'monsters' is deliberately provocative, because if we treat beings different from us monstrously, what does that turn us humans into? With the release of the video of werewolves that is subsequently altered, there is the Fracture, those who acknowledge the existence of them and those who deny it. Fear, paranoia and desire for destruction of the other pervades; even those who know the 'monsters' personally hesitate to support their cause publicly for fear of their safety.

I really enjoyed the range of No Gods, No Monsters. From a peanut growing coop (and the fascinating method of plant reproduction underground geocarpy) to the flavors of St Thomas (rum, obeah, souyoucant, hurricane, struggle to gain statehood status, iguanas, working at the local Kmart, local slang pahnah) to the SF elements (teleportation, mysterious omniscient fractal sea entity with first person narration, tracker soul worms, memory wipes, particle physics) to the abilities of the different 'monsters,' it's complex and action-packed. But beyond the thriller elements are hard pointed questions of prejudice, allyship, inequality, justice.

No Gods, No Monsters will be released on September 7th, 2021 by publisher Blackstone Publishing. Will definitely be reading book 2 of the Convergence Saga when it comes out!

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was so looking forward to reading this book, the title alone had me intrigued. But I found the story to be disjointed and I just didn't connect with it. Such a shame, but not for me I am afraid.

An intriguing story with a strong premise. The characters are realistic, at turns loveable and not. It did feel a little disconnected at times, where there was just too much in the plot... but overall? A really fantastic read.

No Gods, No Monsters is a stunning novel made up of a series of interconnected short stories in a world where monsters lurk underneath the surface. It's a daring and complex story that masterfully ties together disjointed threads to create a wonderful tapestry of loss, disenfranchisement, and solidarity. As someone who often struggles with fragmented storylines, I was surprised with just how gripping I found this book - it's one to keep an eye on for fantasy, horror, and literary lovers.

Laina receives news that her brother has been fatally shot by the police. What originally seems like a case of police brutality turns into something stranger. Monsters are real. This collection of short stories with reoccurring characters and narrative threads explores monstrous communities and the humans who live alongside them. Disturbing tales of secret societies. A werewolf pack dealing with loss and threatened into silence. Monsters that have hidden for centuries start to make themselves known. Hate crimes soar, protests erupt both for and against the monsters. Even in the face of the truth, many people refuse to acknowledge their existence.



Cadwell Turnbull has made some brilliantly daring and complex narrative decisions with No Gods, No Monsters. The fragmented storytelling creates a collection of short stories expertly tied together with reoccurring characters and narrative progression. The slow unravelling of interconnectedness requires the reader to pay deep attention to the text. As someone who finds it difficult to remember names, I occasionally felt lost, but with a bit of effort, the brilliance of this book shone through.

This book features a semi-omniscient narrator who watches the story unfold through the eyes of the cast. The narrator's character comes to light later in the book. His story is profoundly human, reflecting the themes of loss and social commentary that are present through the novel.

No Gods, No Monsters has an enormous cast of characters, but it manages to handle them in a deeply personal and poignant way. Cadwell Turnbull is incredibly talented at creating short scenes that are emotionally impactful, creating an instant connection between the reader and specific characters. Although we only get to see snapshots of their lives, the various forms of loss and injustice within these pages are instantly recognisable.

Monstrosity is tackled as a form of marginalisation in this book. The narrative was a heavily political social commentary on disenfranchisement, solidarity, and liberation. The theme of monsters being linked to marginalisation is one I particularly enjoy. What is a monster if not something rejected by society due to its perceived danger to our values? Even the title of the book 'No Gods, No Monsters' is a play on a popular anarchist slogan 'No Gods, No Masters'. In its original form, it was a call for no human being to be above the other - an anti-hierarchical message. In the book, the chant 'No Gods, No Monsters' is used to mean no one is above anyone else, and no one is below. I loved the discussions of political organising, the hesitancy of humans to stand in solidarity with monsters even if it is hypocritical of them not to.

This book is a must-read for fans of powerful, haunting books that play with narration in a bold new way. It's a fantastic read for those who are looking for a combination of horror, fantasy, and literary genres used to create an experimental, gripping social commentary on disenfranchisement, activism, loss, and solidarity.

The first book in a series is usually the weakest of the bunch, as it aims to introduce readers to the world, characters, and premise, but not this book! "No Gods, No Monsters" starts off The Covergence Saga with a bang and holds your attention throughout its pages. I loved the characters, the premise, the darkness, and everything about this book. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull is exactly what I was looking for. My favorite part of this book was the fast-paced story. I was hooked by the premise alone. It was such a joy to have been approved for No Gods, No Monsters. Monsters and humans are indistinguishable, and I am amazed at the way it talks about crime and police brutality. Due to my own identity as a minority, I thought that was well placed within this narrative. It seems plausible that it would appear as such, but it turns out it is quite different (at least in some ways). This novel echoes No God, No Monsters' line, "Everything is connected." This theme remains true throughout the story. The story begins with a bang and ends with one. I thought this was one of the more engaging Netgalley reads I have experienced. A really great read!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this great advanced ebook!

No Gods, No Monsters is a fantastic supernatural story! Turnbull’s writing style is one of the best!
Beautiful dialogue, real character growth coming out to the world. This is one story y'all will not want to miss!
This is a fascinating narrative perspective, and fast-paced plot, kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. It will suck you right in!

I can't wait for the next one
Thank you again for this awesome book!

2.5/5 Stars

This was not the book for me. I honestly picked this book up and put it back down way too many times. I just could not get invested in the story at all. I really wanted to enjoy this book but I just couldn't feel connected to any of the characters. I think that there is something here and for sure can see why someone would enjoy it. This just unfortunatly not for me.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cadwell Turnbull’s debut novel The Lesson won the Neukom Institute Literary Arts award for a speculative fiction debut novel, and his short fiction has been included in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018 and The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2019. His second novel, No Gods, No Monsters, marks the beginning of a larger project for him: a series that Turnbull is calling The Convergence Saga. I have some suspicions about what the significance of that series name might be, but that would be getting into spoilery territory. What I can say is that the book details the aftermath of society learning of the existence of beings who might loosely be called monsters—werewolves and the like.

The biggest strength of this story is its complexity. Turnbull refuses simplistic categories for his characters. There are more than two sides, and all of them include both humans and monsters. Also, the monsters are just as divided as the humans are about how to respond to the public’s new awareness of their existence. Some factions want to cover up the revelation, out of fear that widespread knowledge of monsters’ existence will lead to them being manipulated by governments or persecuted by bigots. Others feel like this is an opportunity to come out of the closet and claim an equal place in society. Some belong to other marginalized groups—one character is trans and another nonbinary, and several are Black—and seek to build solidarity with others who have been subject to oppression or cultural erasure.

Of course, the very term “monsters” is fraught in this context. It’s the one used in the narration throughout the book and by many of the characters, including some who are monsters. But as one might guess from the title of the book, characters participating in a demonstration that forms the novel’s climax insist that those with magical abilities are neither gods nor monsters—neither superior nor inferior to ordinary humans. This is very much a story of people reaching out to each other, building solidarity, and trying to navigate a place for themselves in the world. All of this makes it a very timely and very powerful book, and I look forward to seeing the Convergence Saga continue.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. I’m a huge science fiction fan and really enjoy urban fantasy in particular, so based on the synopsis I figured this would be right up my alley. Honestly, after getting an advanced copy of No Gods, No Monsters, I have been left completely conflicted on how I feel about this story.

To start this is a series, and I could not find any indication of how many books will be in this saga. No Gods, No Monsters is essentially just setting up the rest of the series for future installments.

There are a ton of characters in this book and the narration switches between characters almost too much in my opinion. I had a significant time trying to keep track of who was who, and how they tied to others. The first half of the book for the most part is character background and I had a hard time staying interested or even understanding where the ‘fantasy’ came into the story. I’m still not sure I understand everyone’s role in the story so far. There is also a first person voice character, that we don’t even realize is there until closer to the end of the story. While I liked the character depicts individually and felt they were all fairly complex, the jumping between them and their timelines left me confused.

The world building itself I enjoyed. The way Turnbull was able to depict social injustices by depicting them with the Monsters in this world, was fantastic. Nobody can say that Turnbull isn’t an imaginative author, realistically his writing is what saved this from being a two star read, but the lack of direction and answers really hindered my ability to grasp and enjoy this story.

Ultimately, this book is a lot. There are tons of moving pieces and while the writing itself is done well this story is written for a very specific audience. The interwoven storylines, lack of a clear understanding of what is going on, and is less a blend of horror/fantasy than I thought it would be. I’m currently undecided if I will want to read the second book in the series, but I also have so many questions that I need answers to.

If you enjoy speculative fiction, or well developed characters with a hidden plot line, than this might be the right story for you. Otherwise you’ll find it hard to wait 200 to get to ‘the action’.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | ★★★

No Gods, No Monsters comes out September 7, 2021. Huge thank you to Blackstone Publishing for my advanced copy for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof_books.

I find this very long novel about the revelation of monsters' existence to be quite disjointed. It bounces between different characters and locations, and, while are eventually connected, it is hard to keep a narrative in order.
I was drawn to the premise of monsters being "outed" and the world's reaction, I found the book very hard to get through.