Book Review: Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

Shelly's Book Corner received a review copy from Amazon Vine, Random House and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.

Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife; and their master’s daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women and their community come to a head at the beginning of a war and at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear and a spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom.

Magnificently written, brilliantly researched, richly imagined, Conjure Women moves back and forth in time to tell the haunting story of Rue, Varina, and May Belle, their passions and friendships, and the lengths they will go to save themselves and those they love.

Review

So I am not really a fan of historical fiction novels but the cover and blurb made me want to check this story out. This story was told in slavery time and freedom time and both parts were hard to read. I thank God I was born when I was because I wouldn’t have lasted as a slave.

Certain parts in this book were heartbreaking and depressing. The slaves endured so much and had no choice but to keep on going. Then when they are finally granted their freedom, they are still slaves to the old way and don’t know how to be free which also saddened me.

This book is on the long side but at no point was I bored with the story. The author grabbed my attention from the beginning and never let go. The description to detail was so vivid and I felt like I was in the story and saw everything unfold as I read. This was a well written and thought provoking debut novel by Afia Atakora and I can’t wait to read what they write next.