No One Will Save Us by Julie L. Brown is a bold, imaginative blend of historical fiction and fantasy that reimagines destiny, bravery, and resistance with stunning emotional depth. At its heart, it’s a tale of a princess-warrior who steps far beyond the borders of her home to confront an unthinkable horror—the rise of the transatlantic slave trade—and the result is both haunting and hopeful.

Princess Chibuike, or Chi, is a character you root for from the very beginning. Her introduction as a curious, fearless girl exploring the lush forests of Kana sets the stage for a story where the land itself feels alive, steeped in ancestral strength and feminine power. The Queendom of Kana, ruled by fierce and free women, is richly drawn—there’s a palpable reverence for nature, tradition, and sisterhood. Brown’s descriptions of the queendom’s culture and customs ground the reader in a world that feels as real as any historical kingdom, even as it holds the mythic energy of a legend passed down through generations.

But the novel doesn’t stay rooted in this idyllic world for long. The shift to the brutal realities of 1619 Jamestown is jarring—in the best way. When Chi and her warriors embark on their mission to find their missing people, the journey across the ocean becomes a metaphor for Chi’s transformation. She’s not just traveling to a new land; she’s stepping into the unknown and confronting the unimaginable. Her confrontation with the pale-skinned men of Jamestown is written with unflinching honesty. Brown doesn’t sanitize the horror of the era—the human cost of colonization and enslavement weighs heavy in the narrative, but it’s balanced by Chi’s resolve to fight for justice.

The relationships in the story are another strength. Chi’s bond with her fellow warriors, especially the close ties of friendship and loyalty, adds emotional weight to the mission. The loss of her childhood friend drives her, but it’s the love she carries for her people and her homeland that elevates her quest. Chi’s internal struggle—reconciling the warrior she’s become with the girl who once dreamed of destiny—feels raw and real.

The only place where the novel falters slightly is in its pacing. The buildup to the final confrontation slows a bit in the middle, with sections that linger a little too long on reflection rather than action. However, the payoff is worth it. The climax is gripping, filled with moments of both heartbreak and triumph that leave you breathless.

At 4 stars, No One Will Save Us is a powerful, beautifully written story about reclaiming agency in the face of historical devastation. It asks hard questions about survival, sacrifice, and destiny and never offers easy answers. Julie L. Brown’s narrative voice is lyrical and poignant, weaving history and myth into something unforgettable. This is more than just a novel—it’s a reimagining of what could have been and a tribute to the resilience of those who refused to be erased. Chi’s journey will stay with you long after the final page.

In 1619, Princess Chibuike leads a band of female warriors from the fictional West African queendom of Kana across the Atlantic Ocean on a commandeered Portuguese slaving ship. The warriors land in the British colony of Virginia, free the enslaved people in Jamestown, and ally with the Powhatan tribes to kill or drive out all of the white British men. They then establish Port Comfort as a haven for enslaved people in the colonies and return to uproot (some forms of) inequity in Kana.

There is a lot to recommend this alternate history of the Atlantic slave trade, and I knew from about page 3 that it wasn't going to work for me. Unfortunately, there's no way to access a sample chapter before requesting a book on NetGalley. I had to stick it out. Now I'm left to try to write the review this book deserves even though it was a real slog for me.

Julie L. Brown has an MFA, and on the line level, her writing is unimpeachable if not particularly pretty. Though this is an adult novel, her voice is YA breezy. She manages to depict the horrors of slavery and war in a way that neither trivializes them nor interrupts that breezy style. It's a very readable book.

Unfortunately, that readability comes at a cost. There is a <i>lot</i> that happens in this book, and getting through them at the pace Brown has set leaves little room for characters to develop or even face particularly challenging obstacles. The relationships are all one note. As a result, none of the events land with any resonance. Main characters died and I kind of shrugged. Our scrappy heroes defeated 60 British warships and I checked what % of the book I had left to get through.

It's so frustrating, because like I said, Brown is a good writer and that premise is incredible. If she had fleshed this out into a 3-book YA trilogy, it could have easily been a 4- or 5-star read. Let me see the characters fall on their faces and pick themselves back up. Explain to me why Kana has such incredible warriors despite not having been at war with anyone in a generation. Give me more banter! Brown's banter is so charming, but it's squeezed in around the edges of boring battles that feel less dangerous than crossing an empty street in the middle of the day.

The other thing that I really object to is the way the Powhatan characters are used in this novel. They really only exist to rescue the Kanaian warriors, teach them how to ride horses, and then get tragically massacred. Literally one character survives the massacre, but his only purpose is to serve as a love interest for one of the main characters and to summon other nameless, faceless Powhatans to join the Kanaians in their battles against the British and then benevolently bestow Point Comfort upon them. He might as well be a magic sword.

I don't think I'll be reading more by Julie L. Brown.

I really enjoyed the alternative history element to this, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall world going on. The characters were everything that I wanted and was engaged with the overall concept of this. Julie L. Brown wrote this well and I wanted to read more in this world and author.

A refreshing view on a time in history that was incredibly troubling. This book shows the strength and purpose of women who work together to achieve their goals. thoroughly enjoyed this book.