I really enjoyed this debut novel. I don't think many people know about it, and I wish more did. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

An odd, bittersweet fairy tale. I would not consider this sci fi or fantasy, as categorized on NetGalley.

We are made by history. A pivotal statement within #Ibis, a powerful puzzle piece of a novel which insidiously weaves back and forth through time and place, past and present, following the lives of a group of characters as well as their histories and fates.

This is a DEBUT novel from Justin Haynes - Associate Professor of English at Oglethorpe University - and it's powerful, magical, and heartbreaking. The novel is rife with the supernatural and also the real ghosts of human history -- our dark and diabolical misuse of power, sexuality, greed, and oppression.

And then there's the birds -- as harbingers, mystic presences, and fortune tellers.. The author's colorful use of biodiversity -- mangroves and clearings, water and sand, wildlife -- and the unique language of the characters who "lime" around and find ways to get by from day to day. The violent history of the sugarcane fields, rape, slavery, and dark secrets. The writing is vivid, sometimes funny, often heartbreaking, always engaging.

The Ibis. "That the species was the national bird sickened us a little. What good was it when the source and symbol of island pride stood there and encouraged bad luck from a great height?"

Thank you #netgalley and #theoverlookpress for an advance read of Ibis. I glanced through the limited number of reviews on this platform and felt baffled by what I read. I enjoyed this novel very much - its many messages are important and painfully applicable to today's world.

In comparison to what I read, I feel fortunate for this opportunity to recommend this book highly and confidently. It's not an "easy" read - the book is layered and requires concentration as it does move through time. The "puzzle piece" description in my review refers to the slow reveal of backgrounds - of the primary characters (the group of young men who dominate the island clearing and the main character of Milagros - a young Venezuelan immigrant who has spent much of her childhood under their care and all of her life searching for her estranged mother, Grecia).

The themes of corruption, slavery, immigration, and human trafficking are maddening and integral to the stories of every character. Shifting locations between the fictional island of New Felicity and Venezuela (and even New York), it's a hero's journey on many levels. I loved this novel and CONGRATS to Professor Haynes on his remarkable DEBUT!!!

Ibis is slated for publication❤️2.11.2025

Shout of on the EXCELLENT COVER ART by @_elimock 🖋

I just can't get into the style. Maybe there's something I'm missing or I'm not in the right head space, but this feels like a book I would strongly dnf.

Thank you for the opportunity to review Ibis. I unfortunately was able to finished the book. I ended up DNFing the book at page 14. I DNFed the book as the writing structure was not for me. I found certain sentences to be awkward and unneeded where the were placed. For example on page 1, "It tightened anuses." Overall, I wish I could have finished the book as the synopsis sounded interesting to me but I was unable to push past the writing style to finish.

The book 'Ibis' was an engaging and thought-provoking read that captivated my attention from the very beginning. The authors writing style was Generally clear and concise, but there were moments when the descriptions felt overly detailed and disrupted the overall flow of the story, causing me to lose focus.