A brilliantly moving debut novel from Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, When We Were Birds brings together an immersive writing style and a propulsive story circling around the fluidity of life and death.

From the countryside in a fictional Trinidad, Emmanuel Darwin is forced to start a job working as a gravedigger at a cemetery in the nearby city of Port Angeles. In doing so he is able to care financially for his mother — a strong and loving woman who has been a single mom for most of Darwin's life. But also by making this choice, Darwin risks the estrangement of his dear mother who raised him as a Rastafarian, and as such he is not to look upon a dead body.

Not too far away, at the top of a hill in an old sprawling patchwork of a house, Yejide St. Bernard is facing the nearing death of her mother, a woman who has held back from loving her daughter and who has secrets to divulge before her passing. The St. Bernard women possess the ability to commune with the dead to ease their restlessness, make them feel seen and heard and remembered, and to shepherd them onto the next place.

Death and ghosts fill the air of this novel, and together they play a large part in bringing the two colliding stories together. But, just as the anchor that ties the dead to the living world as ghosts, love forges its own clear path in making and shaping the stories and characters. With the focus on a mother's love at the beginning, the transformation of shifting to romantic love is a steady climb as we feel the apron strings break away. From well before they meet, it's clear Darwin and Yejide are set on a course for their two stories to become one, but nothing Lloyd Banwo writes to make this happen is predictable or safe. There is a building bluster to this novel that feels deeply connected to the St. Bernard women and their ties to storms and nature. While Darwin and Yejide are both trying desperately to figure out their place in this world, they find themselves at odds with what they know and don't know about their ancestral roadmap. The balance Lloyd Banwo achieves here with all these shifting focal points that are themselves simply part of a bigger picture is done through her excellent pacing, her fully-realized characters, and, perhaps most importantly, the style in which she writes When We Were Birds.

Lloyd Banwo brings the narrative force front and center by writing, not just the dialogue with the common vernacular, but also the entirety of the novel in the patois of the Caribbean. The beauty of this decision is the lyrical quality she retains by not forcing the words of the story to fit in the lens of standard English and thus strike out harshly in contrast with the way her characters would speak. Yes, this is a present tense novel, but apparently another aspect of its beauty is that it helps me glide right over my aversion to present tense . . . it's well hidden in the casual, conversational tone. Instead, the gentle rhythms of a common pattern and cadence allow for perfect immersion in her setting and with her creations. Nothing about this seems forced, and, though it was very apparent when I first began reading, I quickly fell into its heartbeat.

Lloyd Banwo has crafted a beautifully written story that is teeming with life.

The first half is slower. When We Were Birds is based in Trinidad and Tobago and pulls from various cultural beliefs of the area. The book is written in Trinidadian English, which at first can be a little hard to get into. Once you get used to it, it’s easy to fly through. The first half was definitely slower: digging into the backstory and cultural beliefs of the two main protagonists. You have a man forced to go against his own beliefs in order to provide for his family. A woman who is forced to step into a matriarchal role which she was never given any guidance on. Both are burdened by their own respective lives and yet they find themselves with a tether between one another. Pulled taut, anchoring each other together and providing the reminder of what life is about. The second half took a turn I didn’t anticipate. I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of the story. I found death was discussed in a way that was entirely unique and brought life to the story.

5 stars

I am grateful to Doubleday Books, Doubleday for sending me an advanced copy of this book for review.

This book was satisfying on so many levels. For this to be a debut novel, even knowing that the author has written multiple shorter works before, I was so impressed. There are many times that I have gone into recent books hoping for a story like this; a story that encompasses the culture, the values, the language, and the people. A story that feels grounded in the Caribbean . Most times I found myself disappointed to find a plot/story that seems to just skim the surface of the West Indian experience, atmosphere, and society. This book was set in Trinidad, and without having to continuously repeat that throughout the story, you never forgot the setting. I also found that the richness and complexity of the characters and how they interacted and how they engaged with society as a whole, was handled expertly.

The main character of this story is a Rastafarian young man. Who now has to go against the beliefs that he has been taught from an early age to find work during difficult economic times. I love how the author really expanded upon how difficult it can be to compromise yourself and your beliefs just to survive, and the effects it has on you and on the people who are closest to you. The story also included a plot that involved conspiracy and organized crime. The author presented our MC as someone who was ignorant of certain things because of his upbringing and previous life experience. I felt this character's discomfort and the moments where he realized that he was in over his head. It made me feel anxious. It made me concerned. These characters felt so real. I am not one for romances or love stories, but I did enjoy how the author presented the relationship between the two main characters. This was a great look at the pressures that are put on young people to make decisions between what is going to be supported by family/society, or what is best for them.

Obeah. Recently, a few authors have written books that feature Obeah to varying levels of success. I enjoyed how this book presented obeah as a magic system, a belief system, but also something that is ingrained in society. People are aware of it, people are cautious of it, but people do not treat it like some sort of giant abnormality or something that is completely new or terrifying. I thought this was well done.

I loved this story and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading some Caribbean literature that is top tier.

Interesting and binding love story that is rooted in not life but death. One, who should not have anything to de with death, works at a cemetery as a gravedigger. Another, whose inheritance is nothing but death, takes on her role after her mother’s passing. Somehow these two managed to come together fall in love and exchange their inheritance and role in this world.

Yejide came to this world, came alive only to pass on dead when the time comes. Darwin, raised by the Rastafarian, could have nothing to do with death. Yet life happened. Darwin needed a job and that job was at the largest cemetery. Yejide got a message from her mother that changed her mission. Finally forced to find that balance between life and death, Yejide and Darwin fell in love to start something matter of life and death for them.

Even though it was a love story after all, the elements that made these characters who they are and hurdles that slowed them down made this story interesting. It was a very fast read, which I didn’t expect. The whole thing could also been set in New Orleans; it’s totally giving me that feeling. So if you are interested in star crossed love stories with bit of magic, here you go!

Written in the cadence of Trinidad or Jamaican speech, the writing so easily drew me into this novel of magical realism. The character of Darwin is so emotionally complete, so real that he captures the reader’s heart. Since the main setting is a cemetery, there are lots of opportunities to reflect on our beliefs surrounding those who have died before us and the role mourning plays in our lives. This is an outstanding and unique first novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC to read and review.

A beautifully written love story about a young man desperate for money must put aside his beliefs and take a job as a gravedigger and a young woman who sees death everywhere.

The cover art attracted me to this debut novel. The dealings of a cemetery, its rituals and customs was an interesting appeal to the story. Darwin, whom found employment in a cemetery piqued my curiosity. The dialect of the region and culture was a little hard to follow. I had to re-read sentences or paragraphs several times to get a clearer understanding.

The dealings of a cemetery, it’s rituals and customs was an interesting appeal to the story. Darwin, whom found employment in a cemetery piqued my curiosity. Darwin and Yejide’s world is not my world. The dialect of the region and culture was a little hard to follow. I had to re-read sentences or paragraphs several times to get a sense of what the author was conveying to get a clearer understanding. I enjoyed the chapters with Darwin and was confused on the Yejide’s chapters. However, as the story unfolded around chapter 20 and the mystery starts to unfold, I became totally immersed in the story and read at a faster pace. Now, the characters working with Darwin shedded their skin revealing who they really are.The author told an awesome story, even though it was a bit of a bumpy ride getting there.

The symbolism that is portrayed within the story is instrumental to the messages the author is striving to convey, showing religion versus spirituality and spirits versus the living. The birds (Corbeaux) circling over the city and in a storm, trees, rain, birds that appear after the rain stops. Darwins' dreadlocks in comparison to the Bible verses and passages of how Samsom slew the Philistines and David and Goliath with a slingshot. The characters stayed with me after I finished the novel, which is any authors goal. Darwin was my favorite character because of his strength to care, and his love for his mother as he faced the challenges and evolved into a better man.

There is a passage in the book where Darwin is reflecting, and it says 'Enid used to tell him a story when he was small, bout how long time it had some Africans who coulda fly. That some of them fly all the way back home to Africa too and leave the plantation behind.' This reminded me of the book, The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales told by Virginia Hamilton. As a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom was parallel to the authors mythical folktales in the tale of the spirits within the house of Morne Marie and Fidelis Cemetery in Port Angeles. The cemetery connects the two main characters in such a dramatic encounter.

Yejide grows up a member of a very special family, who has the ability to fly and to talk to the dead, having an important role in keeping things balanced, but one that Yejide's mother, Petronella, didn't want any part of. Darwin is a Rastafarian who becomes estranged from his mother - and the man he thought he was - when the only job he can get is as a gravedigger. Their stories, connected by the dead in ways they don't realize, eventually become intertwined.

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Banwo, who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and now lives in the UK. The book starts slowly, laying the groundwork of the lore and stories of each of our protagonists, but wow, does the second half really pick up the pace 'til I was impatiently turning pages. If you enjoy magical realism and prose that begs to be read aloud, this is a fantastic book to try.

It took me a long time to read this, not because it's a long read but because it's a very slow-paced book. I had a hard time being invested from more than a chapter at a time, which is read since I can read most books in one sitting.

I liked the setting, I liked the writing, and I liked the characters. At times the events and relationships were too ambiguous. The plot it fine, though the ending feels very rushed.

This is a mythical story of two people on the island of Trinidad who are brought together by their connections to the dead. It was written beautifully, but I did feel it took a bit for the story to get going. The second half was much more engaging and propulsive, and then I almost felt like it ended too soon. I would be interested in reading whatever Banwo writes next.

This is a classic opposites attract story but not in a meet cute sense, but in a sense that is very spiritual, mythical, and also a bit morbid. The love between Yejide and Darwin is almost immediate because they somehow know that they were meant to be. They don’t truly understand the how’s and why’s but they are certain that they should and must be together.

I absolutely loved the way Ayanna Lloyd Banwo wrote this novel. Reading it, I felt immersed in not only the plot of the story but also the setting. I could see, feel, and smell Port Angeles and Morne Marie. I heard the birds and felt the winds from the storm. I felt the emotions of the characters and also their conviction. I could very well see the scenes playing out in my head while reading this and kept thinking how this would translate beautifully to screen.

I also love that there was complicated relationships and that Banwo didn’t try to tie everything together in a bow. The ending did not feel rushed or ridiculous like some fantasy novels tend to be. There was just the right amount of a sense of resolution and gratification because we pretty much know or can imagine what is next for these characters.

This was such a beautiful story. I fell in love with Darwin immediately and was so invested in his story. The speculative element of the story was so effective and well written into the story. The writing style was so lush and really made you feel like you were in Trinidad. It was atmospheric and quietly beautiful in its mythic approach to death, loss, grief, and love.

Beautifully written narrative of a magical version of Trinidad and Tobago, infused with folklore and the history of the island. The rhythm of the prose was very immersive, as were the descriptions of the island. I loved Darwin and just wanted the best for him, despite the constantly difficult circumstances he must face.

This book is largely an attempt at commentary on lineage and life vs death, and I think it succeeds. For someone who is intrigued by narratives featuring those concepts, I think you will love this one. I'm glad I read it.

I was intrigued with the synopsis and reading a book set in Trinidad and Tobago when I picked this up. I like stories of magical realism and learning about new countries and cultures through their stories, which are two things that this book provides. It also provides interesting characters and perspectives, a lush setting, and a lot of discussions around family, history, loyalty, duty, and the dead.

Yejide and Darwin were interesting protagonists in their own right, but I found the book more interesting when they finally came together. Unfortunately, this happened after the fifty percent mark in the book and I would have liked to have seen them come together earlier. Something that I am learning about my reading taste is that I don’t like it when the main characters are separated for such a long time, especially in standalone novels. I want them to get together by the thirty percent mark at the latest, unless there is a particularly good reason for them to remain separated and it isn’t making the pacing drag.

This took awhile for me to get into, but picked up once the characters got together. The beginning had a lot of character building and introspection, but I’m glad that I managed to push through it to get to where Darwin and Yejide met and started to tackle the problems in their lives. Together. Their romance is a bit sudden, but cute, like being struck by lightning. I guess you could also say fated or love at first sight. However, one of my favorite aspects of this book was reading about how they each saw the other and their feelings for the other. I probably could have used more romance, honestly, but that’s not what this book is really about.

Both Yejide and Darwin have to tackle problems related to their family, loyalty, and duty. This brings both of them into contact with the dead and makes Yejide exam her family’s history. This part of the story I kept a little at arms length. I’ve recently suffered a death in my family and this would have hit just too close to home if I had let it. I probably would have enjoyed the messages and these themes more next year or like before last November.

Despite actively not connecting with the themes (yes, this is on me) I loved the setting. The writing was excellent and I could practically smell the rain, hear the bugs, and feel the humidity on my skin as I read this book. I don’t really know anything about Trinidad and Tobago, but I enjoyed looking up information about the different food, the history, and the mix of cultures while I read this book.

Overall, this was a really interesting debut. I can see this being a really popular book club pick. Fans of books with deep themes, magical realism, and lush tropical settings will probably really enjoy this. I’m curious to see where the author goes from here and am looking forward to reading another novel by her in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, Doubleday, and the author for providing me with an eARC of this novel, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. When We Were Birds will be released on March 15, 2022.

"A mythic love story set in Trinidad, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo's radiant debut introduces two unforgettable outsiders brought together by their connection with the dead.

In the old house on a hill, where the city meets the rainforest, Yejide’s mother is dying. She is leaving behind a legacy that now passes to Yejide: one St Bernard woman in every generation has the power to shepherd the city’s souls into the afterlife. But after years of suffering her mother’s neglect and bitterness, Yejide is looking for a way out.

Raised in the countryside by a devout Rastafarian mother, Darwin has always abided by the religious commandment not to interact with death. He has never been to a funeral, much less seen a dead body. But when the only job he can find is grave digging, he must betray the life his mother built for him in order to provide for them both. Newly shorn of his dreadlocks and his past, and determined to prove himself, Darwin finds himself adrift in a city electric with possibility and danger.

Yejide and Darwin will meet inside the gates of Fidelis, an ancient and sprawling cemetery, where the dead lie uneasy in their graves and a reckoning with fate beckons them both. A masterwork of lush imagination and exuberant storytelling, When We Were Birds is a spellbinding and hopeful novel about inheritance, loss, and love's seismic power to heal."

Here for the ancient and sprawling cemetery.

What do family members owe one another? Can traditions be broken? Can religious bonds be bent to accommodate new beginnings? Can family members forgive? And what about love? Can love transcend all obstacles to triumph? These questions and more are asked of the reader through this wonderful novel set in Trinidad in a cemetery where loved ones living and dead commune as Yejide and Emmanuel find one another. When We Were Birds is a beautiful love story that is sure to please and stay with its readers long after the last word is read.

A magical story that is reminiscent of the writing of Zora Neale Hurston with the cadence and language, so beautifully written.
I love the story, the descriptions that are written with glorious metaphors.
I enjoyed learning about Rastafarian culture and the island cultural differences.
The relationships were beautifully written and I especially enjoyed learning of Yejide's past.
Definitely would recommend to others.

When We Were Birds takes a bit to get going, but from the beginning, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s exquisite prose and well-tuned ear for dialogue made me eager to explore the world of this novel. Once Darwin and Yejide met, I couldn’t wait to see where the story would take them, and by the end, I couldn’t put the book down.

I do wish that the story had started moving forward a bit sooner, or that the two protagonists had met earlier. I also would have liked for them to spend more time together, because although I was willing to believe their fairytale connection, it would’ve been even more satisfying to see it develop organically.

I highlighted so many sentences — this is an assured and gorgeous debut voice.

When you finish this book you have to pause to think if you read a book or dreamed a vivid dream as this book has a dreamlike quality to it, This is the debut novel of Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, and if we are lucky, it will not be her last novel. This story takes place in Trinidad and moves back and forth between Darwin, raised as a devout Rastafarian and forbidden from interacting with death and Yejide who comes from a long line of women who help souls into the afterlife. It seems there is no chance these two would ever meet, but Darwin has to take a job in a cemetery to make ends meet, and Yejide needs to take over the "family business" after the death of her mother. These two are drawn together in a story that cannot be denied. I flew through this story and am looking forward to hearing more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, which is full of evaluating the taboos and bonds of religion and culture in order to survive, and to find happiness. The characters are complex, and as their individual strands begin to intertwine in the narrative, the author deftly reveals more and more about them that help the reader understand what has happened already in the novel and what is going on. The writing is beautiful and enticing. This would make for a great book club book.