The story of Able God, the young Nigerian man who gets himself mixed up in a crime and flees his home country for a new life in Europe, is a hard and torturous truth of human trafficking, ambition, family, and morality. While the story gets violent at times, this is a must-read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kolawole is a poignant and gripping narrative that delves into the harrowing realities of the global migration crisis. Kolawole, an emerging literary voice, crafts a story that is both heart-wrenching and illuminating, taking readers on a journey from Nigeria to Libya to Italy.

The novel follows the lives of several characters, each driven by the hope of a better future. Kolawole’s storytelling is rich with emotional depth, capturing the desperation, resilience, and humanity of those who embark on perilous journeys in search of safety and opportunity. The characters are vividly drawn, their struggles and triumphs resonating deeply with the reader.

Kolawole’s prose is lyrical and incisive, painting a stark picture of the socio-political and economic forces that compel people to leave their homes. He does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of migration, including the dangers of crossing the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. Yet, amidst the darkness, there are moments of profound beauty and hope, as the characters forge bonds of friendship and solidarity.

The novel explores the failures of the Nigerian class system and the broader implications of global inequality. Kolawole deftly weaves these themes into the narrative, providing a nuanced critique of the systemic issues that drive migration. The story is not just about the physical journey, but also about the emotional and psychological toll it takes on individuals and families.

The Road to the Salt Sea is a timely and important work that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Kolawole’s ability to humanize the migration crisis, while also offering a searing critique of the systems that perpetuate it, makes this novel a must-read. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring quest for a better life.

Samuel Kolawole’s The Road to the Salt Sea is a masterful blend of storytelling and social commentary. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, urging you to reflect on the complexities of migration and the shared humanity that binds us all.

The Road to the Salt Sea was an excellent read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I would read more from this author again.

It is a stunning debut by an up-and-coming writer. The main character Able God goes through hell getting to where he needs to go, and the reader goes with him, seeing things we don't want to know exist. Samuel Kolawole is a writer to watch.

This is an important book but also a hard one to read. Able God, the main character, finds himself on the run from Nigeria due to unfortunate circumstances and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees the only way out is to emigrate to Europe where he can, quite literally, run away from his problems. The book follows his life in Nigeria, his struggles to find employment, compassion for those around him, and then his journey through the Sahara north to the Mediterranean. There's a lot of things that are hard to read -- warnings for all kinds of abuse, torture, enslavement. With all that said, I found some of the pacing of the book to be off. The book starts as Able God is on the run -- we don't know from what yet -- and then sort of goes back in time. It wasn't clear how far we went back into the past and I got a little muddled on the timeline. I felt like some of the end was quite rushed. Once he is close to the Mediterranean, there's quite literally a whole segment of his journey that is glossed over...it's like time skips forward. This book is not light-hearted, but exposes the sad reality for so many.

Book Review: The Road to the Salt Sea
by Samuel Kolawole

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Able God is a working man who is barely subsisting on the meager wages he earns. Able is a hospitality executive at the four-star Hotel Atrium, but he knows he is nothing more than a glorified workhorse. Meanwhile, he smiles his 100 watt toothpaste commercial smile, reads self-help books, practices his chess moves and takes it all in stride. That is until the fateful day when he is on room service duty and encounters a high profile guest and his escort, Akudo. One thing leads to another, and before he can stop to think about what he’s done, he is on the run. Able God accepts a proposal from a charismatic religious leader. A once-in-a-lifetime, trans-Saharan journey, that will lead him out of harms way and bring him to The Promised Land, Europe. Like many migrants before him, he will fall prey to violence, extortion, near starvation and human trafficking.

The Road to the Salt Sea opens with a line attributed to the poet Warsaw Shire, “no one leaves home/ unless home is the mouth of a shark.” I love when an epigraph keenly prefigures the main theme of a novel. The character Able God stands in for the millions of desperate, faceless refugees who flee their homes as a result of violence, political unrest, religious intolerance and more in pursuit of a better/safer life. The Able’s of the world, the dreamers, have bought into prosperity theology, or self determination theory as the path to an easier life. Kolawole is at his best when he forces the reader to witness his hero shed his values and virtues, as he grapples to survive. Begging the question, “how far would you go?” I highly recommend The Road to the Salt Sea to readers who are interested in exploring the complexities of immigration, the plight of refugees and other global issues.

Many thanks to the author @SamuelKolawole, @AmistadBooks and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.

Able God is a disadvantaged Nigerian man struggling with a job with limited prospects. As the oldest son, he is failing his societal (and financial) obligations toward his parents. Despite living a righteous life, he suffers indignations daily and is underappreciated at a job where his labor and humanity are exploited. Bad things happen to good people and Able God is no exception – when doing the right thing, an unfortunate incident at work forces him to panic and flee the country to Europe. Desperation causes him to throw caution to the wind and he reluctantly places trust in a charlatan posing as a “spiritual guide” serving as an employment broker.

What ensues is the classic blueprint for manipulating desperate people seeking a better life. Using the promise of better wages, plentiful work, and safe passage out of Africa, the old and young are coerced to sign unscrupulous contracts and embark on life-threatening treks overland from Nigeria through the Sahara Desert to Tripoli onward through Italy to other parts of Europe. Human traffickers/smugglers strip them of their meager belongings, deny communication to family/friends, and rob them of their money. They are starved, beaten, threatened, extorted, raped/molested, and some are abandoned or killed. Many are forced into slavery in lands where they are sequestered as hostages on work farms without documentation or legal representation.

The novel gave great insight into the circumstances and rationale that force these immigrants into these situations. It also provided the harrowing experiences and horrific conditions that stressed one’s emotional, physical, and spiritual being. Sadly, it offers no solution to human trafficking, but sheds light on the gravity of the trade.

Thanks to the publisher, Amistad, and NetGallery for the opportunity to review.

If you want to know why and how people from countries that in turmoil or who fear for their lives risk everything to travel through deserts and on questionable boats in the sea in search of a better tomorrow, this book is for you. Able God works at the four-star Hotel Atrium in Nigeria. His life is hard, but he strives to do the best he can at his low-paying job catering to wealthier clientele. But things go awry with one of the hotel guests and a sex worker. When Able attempts to assist the sex worker, he sets in motion a devastating set of consequences that has him running for his life. So begins his treacherous journey of escape - through Nigeria, Niger, Libya and on to Malta. Given the nature of the storyline, this is a somber and eye-opening read. It’s gritty, unvarnished and brutal. The reality of the migrant’s journey for a better life and its deadly consequences in many cases is laid bare before us. The stark experiences of Able and his fellow passengers and the descriptive settings of his city and his trans-Saharan migrant journey are well portrayed. I would have liked a smoother finish to the book - I thought it ended quite abruptly. Overall, the book was well written and the storyline kept my interest on a very challenging human issue - a four-star read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This fictitious novel takes us on a harrowing journey from the deserts of Africa to the sea. Abel God works at a ritzy hotel when one night his life changed in an instant. Abel God finds that he needs to run and run fast. As he was already depressed by his life prospects, he joins a group led by the charismatic Ben Ten, who promises to take them to the sea where they can cross into Europe. This seems like the perfect answer to his current dilemma.

But the journey is treacherous for this group as they are plagued with dangerous checkpoints, rationing of food and water, difficult sleeping arrangements, hard labor and the dangers of the African desert. This novel doesn’t hold back on the gritty reality for this group of young men who are looking for a better life. Some will make it and others will not. It is heartbreaking to read but well worth it.

Thank you to @amistadbooks and @netgalley for a digital review copy of this novel.

So well written, this book took me to places I wasn't expecting. With brutal clarity and fascinating characters, I found this to me such a unique read.

Able God is working in a classy hotel, when he comes across a woman needing help. She has done something bad, and now Able is involved. Scared for his safety, he knows he cannot stay, so he needs to make it from Nigeria to Italy, and that journey isn't for the faint of heart. This showcases all of the harrowing moments, the fear, the terror. Able meets some interesting people along the way, some aiming to help, some attempting to keep Able God in his place.

The pacing and the writing of this book worked so incredibly well. There are parts toward the end that are so visceral, so horrific, but each detail lends to the intensity of the story.

I will absolutely be on the look out for more from this author, because I was hooked by this story!

Thank you Netgalley & Amistad Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️

Able God's journey is a powerful and emotional ride that will leave you breathless and heartbroken. After his life is turned upside down, he's forced to flee Nigeria and embark on a perilous journey to Europe, seeking safety and a better life. With nothing but hope and determination, he faces down human traffickers, treacherous landscapes, and the unforgiving sea.

As he navigates the dark underbelly of illegal migration, Able God's story exposes the harsh realities of a world that often seems too cruel and unforgiving. Yet, despite the odds stacked against him, he finds solace in the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope.

This book is a heart-wrenching reminder of the struggles many face in search of a better life. With its raw and unflinching portrayal, it's a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will touch their heart, challenge their assumptions, and stay with them long after the final page is turned.💔

A bold gritty tale about the dark underbelly of illegal migration. Able God is working as a hotel do-it-all executive in Nigeria when he is unwittingly embroiled in an untoward incident. Rather than face the consequences, he chooses to flee Nigeria for Europe through the services of a dubious agent called Ben Ten. So begins his harrowing journey across the merciless Sahara and the equally ruthless Mediterranean Sea. Nowadays there is so much mention of illegal immigrants and refugees once they have arrived at their destination, that the true plight of their situation and journey gets overlooked. This book highlights the perils of taking this route and the horrifying reality that such smuggling seems to have become a sort of organised industry. If you thought slavery and slave trade was a thing of the past this book will open your eyes to some brutal truths of the present. A fantastic debut novel that exposes the refugee situation threadbare in all its gory details. Recommended reading!!
Thank you NetGalley, Amistad Publishing and Samuel Kolawole for the ARC

A tragic incident prompts Able God to flee Nigeria with a group of desperate migrants. This is a beautifully written book about the hardships, danger, and betrayal migrants face.

This book really needs some tension relieving pauses worked in every other chapter or so. The poor main character Abel God, starts out miserable, with so little chance that making better choices can actually make his life at all better, and then things just get worse. And worse. And worse. The story reminded me slightly of The Odyssey and of The Inferno, but the violent/awful adventures are so non-stop that you either desensitize or tune out after a while. So, this book is not for everyone. The writing is otherwise good and the story is interesting as a perspective on illegal immigration we don't often see in such detail.

First, thanks to both NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with Samuel Kolawole’s debut novel.

The Road to the Salt Sea is a raw, real, emotion wrenching account of a migrant’s escape from Nigeria to Italy. The tenuous journey holds the reader on the edge of their seat and one is left grasping the last strands of hope for Able God’s safe passage.

Able God, the novel’s MC is himself a flawed, but authentic Nigerian migrant. Struggling underneath oppressive poverty, the MC is forced to make some difficult moral decisions. Although the decisions were perhaps necessary, I wasn’t able to wholly pull for Able God’s best fortunes. Simply put, Able is of questionable character.

Interestingly, the novel is multi-climatic with terrifying places and villains along the journey. Kolawole’s narrative strength lies in the dialect between characters, which puts the reader in between heated exchanges and life threatening moments.

The novel ends rather abruptly, but the overall pace of the story along with its’ prose was both engaging and intelligent.

Well done on your first novel.

This was a very interesting novel. A thriller at some points, but also an adventure type tale. Highly recommend

An emotional and gut-wrenching read that gives readers a look at what it is like to be a migrant. For most, it is a life lived with fear, violence, and poverty. So it was for Able God, a Nigerian refugee, who found himself caught up in a dangerous scam far from his home.

Well-written and engaging, I was caught up in Able God's life from beginning to end. Despite his rough lifestyle and bad luck, his intelligence and caring attitude toward others drew me to him.

“The Road to the Salt Sea” by Samuel Kóláwole is an impressive new work of contemporary fiction, taking us on one man's migratory journey from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. It is a story of classism, of racism, of the exploitative nature of humanity in a corruptive environment, and then some.

Able God, the protagonist, lives the life of an upstanding but economically disadvantaged citizen in Nigeria, trying to build a better life for himself. What stands out is that he does so in proper, law-abiding ways, much in contrast to the doings of many of his contemporaries.

We soon learn that even a forthright and honest character like Able God is not immune to trouble when an environment of corruption and classism reigns over society. In a moment of humanity, he tries to help a woman who is similarly at the mercy of their classist hierarchy and unexpectedly involves himself in tragedy.

This turn of events prompts him to leave the country as part of a sketchy smuggling operation, and he embarks on a long journey to Europe encountering incident after incident, descending into circumstances increasingly degrading by the hour. Able God silently bemoans the fact that his intention has never been to run after the empty promises that lure other migrants. On the contrary, he has always intended to make it in his own country as a reputable citizen, and yet, he finds himself facing just that same destiny due to bigger forces controlling the region as a whole.

The book reads like a thriller, suspenseful from the outset to the end. If not for its tragic reality, I'd almost describe it as an adventure story - in the worst sense imaginable.

I really liked that the book starts out with one of the key moments that prompt Able God's departure, allowing the reader to dive right into the story, immediately immersed into its gripping realities.

The descriptions are so vivid that I felt deeply invested and along for the ride. I knew it was a good read when I ended up exhausted because it was a bit like I was on this harrowing journey myself.

I savored the descriptions of the harsh environment and how it made the protagonist feel. In particular, the Saharan crossing stood out.

“His skin dried up, as though his pores could no longer produce sweat. He could feel every part of his body itch as his skin crackled in the dry air. Soon the saliva dried up in his mouth, but there was nothing to moisten his tongue or his parched lips. He exhaled hot air, his throat scorching with every breath.”

The emotional toll was extremely realistic and expressive, evoking trauma-related stress and so much more.

“At first, when the lost boy screamed, the echoes in the hollows of the dunes answered him, but eventually, the distance and the engine’s revving drowned out his voice.”

There were a couple of minor distractions from the main story arc - one of them was the drug theme. An entire chapter along the journey was devoted to finding and consuming them, in addition to many shorter descriptions throughout the book. I can see that drugs are part of the many difficulties Nigeria faces, but it felt like the theme wasn't really anchored within the story itself. A similar, though less distracting, thought came up for the repeated mention of soccer. It nevertheless appears to be a good way to describe the hopes and dreams of a young person in Nigeria.

The writing almost reminded me of a young adult novel - the subject matter precludes that category to some degree though. I think it does make the text accessible to many people, which is a huge positive.

The ending felt a little abrupt on first impression, but I soon relished it instead because it's also really powerful. It causes readers to ask themselves questions, and it leads to envisioning Able God's ultimate fate. It forces the reader to face the gruesome reality that many of today's migrants suffer.

I was fascinated by this novel. It's different. It's important. There's really not much out there in terms of literature describing the life and socioeconomic situation of the average Nigerian or sub-Saharan citizen, so this was a highly interesting read that I would love to see much more of.

As a privileged European and American, I'm usually only exposed to the perspective of the countries who absorb the waves of migrants. It means so much to read about the alternative viewpoint because I've been craving it.

Thank you Dr. Kóláwole for this beautiful work of literature.

Thank you Netgalley, Amistad Books, and Harper Collins for the advance reader's copy and the opportunity to write this review. It means the world!

Out July 2, 2024.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s hard to say that you loved a book when it’s such heavy content with deep suffering. But, I did love this book.

I loved the writing style. The words flowed and painted such vivid pictures. I felt that I was there and could see and smell everything as it was being described. In a lot of literary fiction, authors get way too flowery and pretentious with their writing. This writing style was easier to read because it was written in a way that appeals even to people that don’t normally read literary fiction. It’s simple but powerful and says so much.

The characters were well developed and made me feel such a range of emotions. I felt love, hate, pity, frustration, anger (often from the same character)!

I learned a lot from this book. I’m glad I was reading a digital copy because I had to look up a lot of words because I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the clothing names, food, etc. I also thought the map was handy to look back on.

I think this would make a great book club pick. There’s a lot to reflect on and discuss.