Sorrowland opens suddenly, with Vern, a young teen, giving birth to twins in a forest while in the midst of fleeing from her home and the fiend who is after her. 

Vern’s journey is filled with the unexpected, a surprise behind every corner. As she strives to find a life for herself and her children, her body starts changing in unimaginable ways. And no matter how hard she may try to fight it, her past follows her. The story progresses and we learn about the home she is so desperately trying to get away from- Cainland, a cult riddled with abuse, disguised as a safe haven (and liberation) for Black folx. But, as Vern searches for freedom, she finds more questions leading straight back to Cainland.

This genre-bending novel is my first taste of Rivers Solomon’s work. The story is exciting and intriguing, intertwining traces of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and gothic. The backstory for the plot is relevant to our own past and present. Solomon has created an alternate world preceded by our true history of racism and sexism. One of my favourite aspects of Sorrowland is the inclusive set of characters written with consideration and sensitivity. There is no alienation or overembellishment of social identities (2S, lesbian, Black, Indigenous, low socioeconomic status, etc).

The only thing I didn’t like is the development of the twins. To me, they weren’t believable. Their speech and vocabulary are inconsistent and their abilities are unrealistic (intuition, physical skills, etc). Of course, there are many make-believe elements within the book, but I wasn’t convinced by the twins.

This book really surprised me with the many elements it has within it. The author's writing style is nothing short of genious, and I appreciate the many inclusive traits for the characters. There was so much representation here, all of which I aplaud the author for.
The novel opens with Vern, who is a 15 year old pregnant runaway who is escaping her cult-like compound. We see her handle this with extreme bravery and resiliance throughout the entirety of the novel.. There are many fantastical, horror and sci-fi elements as well as religious themes throughout this story. I have never read anything like it! I was gripped from page one, but the pacing fell off around the halfway point. The story took a turn and I am not quite sure the setup for it was there. I felt ripped from one story into an action-packed and generally confusing one. I did fall completely in love with the twins, especially Howling, who we saw a lot more from than Feral. I do believe I will continue to pick up books by this author in the future, with hopes for a better ending.


*Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Sorrowland opens with our protagonist, Vern Fields, out in the woods giving birth to twins all by her lonesome. Yeah, that’s an opening that will grab your attention.

If that were not enough, there is a malevolence — Vern calls it the Fiend — in these woods that harrows Vern and taunts her with offerings of baby-symbolic death: constant dead animals with accompanying baby accessories.

What we learn of Vern in the first half of the book is downright horrifying. She is a 15 year-old Black albino, very visually impaired, and raised in (and escaped from) a Black-centric compound/cult/commune known as the Blessed Acres of Cain.

I hate reviewing books where I feel like any little bit of detail I give could give away a major plot surprise, and Sorrowland is definitely this kind of story. There are minutiae galore, but, in an amazing display of story organization, Mx. Solomon has a wonderful little path for each and every one of them. The “everything in its right place” person in me adores this.

Ok, back to Vern. Over the next few years, Vern raises her two children — Howling and Feral — in the wild woods with zero human contact aside from the continued harrowing by the Fiend. Howling and Feral grow bigger and become more wily and rambunctious in their free environment, but Vern senses that she is going through some changes.

All the while, she is in constant fear of being discovered by someone who will drag her and her children back to the Blessed Acres of Cain. Back to the horrors of Ascensions, daily “vitamin” shots, and general tyranny under the gaze of her husband who is the leader of this commune.

And that’s it! That’s all I’m letting you know. Just let me tell you that shit definitely escalates from there.

I’ll be brutally honest, when I started it, I wasn’t really in the right headspace to appreciate the nuance of how this story was setting up. It wasn’t until I realized that there was a much bigger tale here than one of just mere survival that I was totally missing. Mx. Solomon deftly sets up a grim tableau and then proceeds to stack piece after piece upon the stage in a slow build of mystery, intrigue and mild horror until it seems that no outcome will be remotely acceptable in the “happy ending” category.

For me, Sorrowland is a story about the myriad aspects and facets of self-reliance. Never before have I experienced a character that so defines the concept of “grey area” in personality and actions as Vern Fields. I often found myself shaking my head at her sheer obstinance, but, as I began to realize that Vern only trusted Vern (and sometimes not even that), her methodical approach in a fuzzy world was what she equates with survival.

Don’t even get me started on electricity food.

My eyeball rolling meter peaked out over the top with Sorrowland. What is my eyeball-o-meter? When eyeball rolling is used instead of actual dialogue or emotions. The twins roll their eyeballs, the cook at Auntie's rolls his eyeballs, major characters and minor characters roll their eyeballs. I started to roll my eyeballs at all the eyeball rolling. (I have a smirk-o-meter, too. Although there were some smirks in Sorrowland, it wasn't near as bad as the eyeball rolling.)

I wanted to like this, but for an action/adventure story it so often dragged for me. Perhaps it can be tightened up before publication. I like description, especially if it moves the story along, but if the description is dragging down an action scene, get rid of it. It only slows things down. For instance, a character steals a car from a strip mall and they make their escape. But all the stores and restaurants in the strip mall are listed. Why? That has nothing to do with the theft or escape. It only slows the action down. We know what strip malls look like, we don't need to know what's in one if it has nothing to do with the plot. Oh, another place was when the protagonist stopped at a rundown motel. There are three pages of the motel owner and her daughter bickering at each other. They are minor characters but three pages are given over to their bickering.

This could be a much better book with better editing. There's some fat that can be trimmed. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC of Sorrowland.

The was a spectacular genre-bending novel, it while having sci-fi fantasy elements, executed more on the character of Vern and her babies. We got to see a thematic masterpiece, on finding oneself, trauma, survival and motherhood. There were scenes where i too was panicking along with Vern, regarding her children and this just goes to how great the writing itself was. One highlight for me was the getting to know Vern’s voice and her perceptions on a lot of topics including, gender and sexuality and how she comes to term with how she see things inspite of what she was brainwashed to think.

As for the element if sci-fi fantasy, it remained just that, an element, it wasn’t a plot beyond Vern but rather something that has happened to her and this story is how she’s dealing with it. Its a very character driven story and while I appreciate that, the lack of apparent plot kept me bored at times.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with an arc in exchange of an honest review.

This is a weird one to review.

First, I must say that Rivers Solomon is a remarkably talented writer and <i>Sorrowland</i> demonstrates an intense and original imagination.

Unfortunately, after a strong beginning, I felt that the story suffered and became somewhat muddled as it veered off on some bizarre tangents. Still, it's a pretty cool tale, even if it did get on my nerves a bit (perhaps that was the intention).

I enjoyed Solomon's writing enough to give their other work a peek, even if this particular book didn't exactly knock my socks off.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux for giving me access to an ARC of this wonderful novel via NetGalley.

Rating: 4.2/5 ⭐

Synopsis: Vern is a black woman who is albino. She has grown up on a commune called Cainland, but due to the abuse and strict relious practices at the commune she decides to flee. Vern gives birth in the woods while running away. She must protect her kin from the threat of being found and killed by the people of Cainland. The reader will follow Vern on her journey through womanhood, romance, and self-discovery.

What I loved: This book was mind blowing! I've never read anything like it before. From what the commune stands for, to the fantasy/sci-fi aspects of this book, it will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I have nothing negative to say about this book. Sorrowland was written by a person of color, and about people of color. There is also LGBTQA+ representation in the novel.

Sorrowland is expected to be published May 4, 2021. If you are a lover of sci-fi, or want to read a book that will keep you intrigued from the beginning, definitely purchase a copy of this book.

#sorrowland #lgbtqa #scifi #scienefiction #newbooks #netgalley #reading #read #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookblog #riverssolomon #pocauthor #poccharacters

3.5 stars. interesting concept, very well written, amazing imagery throughout the whole book that really brings you into the story, however I definitely had a hard time getting through it and didn't form any lasting connections to the characters. I especially wish there was more attention paid to Howling and Feral, because after they left the woods they really didn't serve much purpose to the plot, nor were their characters thoroughly explored and developed.

The intricacy of this novel has taken away the words I could formulate to write this review. The only part of me left at the end of Sorrowland was a savage passion the author had stirred up. Nothing will prepare you for the beautiful nightmare endured during this reading.

Usually, an escape from a place you knew was cultish means a reintroduction into society. But for 15-year-old Vern, she escapes a black power semi-religious cult, immediately gives birth to twins in the forest, and then remains living in the woods to raise them. Untrusting, skeptical, and wild, Vern and her children decide life is better without people and systems to influence you.

The best part about this book was the twins, in my opinion. Their questions and exploration of life that Rivers Solomon wrote into their story was a joy to read. The honesty in their relationship with their mom was raw and interesting.

However, as the book progressed, the sci-fi element was completely missing until the last third of the book. Vern's "condition" with her visions was frightful and intriguing, but the physical changes she went through did not feel rooted in much of anything. Perhaps I needed more backstory of the cult compound for that progress to make more sense to me.

As a huge fantasy reader, I just wasn't pulled in.

This book contains the magic that very few authors can accomplish. It’s genre bending to say the least but it almost feels like 2 stories in one. The book starts out one way and totally changes into a whole new genre. Sorrowland is harrowing, poignant, raw, honest, lyrical, ferocious, profound, visceral, and pure magic.

Sorrowland made its way onto my list of 2021’s must reads and is definitely my favorite book of February. Vern is such an unforgettable character and I know this story will be one that stays with me for a long time. I loved the diversity of the characters. This book represents African Americans, indigenous, lgbtq, and persons with disabilities. The overwhelming message this book presents is the loss and abuse of black bodies in the United States, historically and present.

It has been such a privilege to read Sorrowland. I cannot wait to read more books by Rivers Solomon.

Many many thanks to the publisher, Rivers Solomon, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I only read the first 20%, but as a mother of a young child I was so distressed by the way the main character casually neglects her babies and the way horrible violence against babies is casually mentioned that I did not want to continue subjecting myself to it. I'd recommend adding content to the description that this is a key theme of the first part of the book, because I would have never picked up this book if I knew, and I doubt I'm the only one who will feel this way.

This book's characters and plot hooked me from the start. Harkening to a long history where governments and people in power have manipulated, abused, and controlled various populations, Sorrowland takes a unique twist to deal with the reality of living as a Black American. While the world is predominantly akin to ours, there is a level of sci-fi incorporated into one element of the book - think: science experiment gone awry. I really enjoyed the gender bending and fluidity that were baked in - particularly with the twins - with subtlety that caused me to pause and reflect on all the biases and assumptions that inform our views of others. The writing was beautiful.

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. It was definitely different. It centers around Vern who escapes from a cult and gives birth to twins in the woods intending to never go back and give her children a different life. Vern quickly learns she can never really escape the cult and what it has done to her body. Very well written and a lot to take in.

3 stars from me means I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. Despite that, I have found that this book has really stayed with me. It's intensely thought provoking and covers a gamut of themes, including racism, sexism, homophobia, human rights and more. Not only that, but what seems to start as a survivalist story of a young girl escaping a cult, then spins into horror and science fiction. Throughout it all the main character deals with self acceptance and both mental and physical healing.
Rivers Solomon definitely offers us a new voice with shades of Margaret Atwood and Stephen King.

Will be coming back to this one as the cover is great, the premise is super intriguing and I'm really excited to give it a read, but I don't have the focus for it right now. Not a DNF, just a not-for-now.

Spoiler free review! This book is simply amazing. I love the world building and the way the author really brings out the characters. I would definitely recommend this book!

I'm struggling to find the words to describe this ambitious, beautiful and haunting novel that twists, turns, and morphs as it continues.

Sorrowland opens with Vern's escape from the cult-like compound, Cainland, into the forest. Vern, fifteen years old, is pregnant and delivers her children in the wilderness, remaining in the woods until the children are four years old. The first section of the book details the family's life in the forest and provides a bit of a backstory into Vern's relationship with others at Cainland, including her best friend, Lucy, who had previously escaped from the compound, and Reverend Sherman, Vern's abusive husband and the leader of the cult. The story then turns from there are Vern tries to understand the formation of Cainland and its purpose.

Sorrowland explores so many themes, it would be impossible to detail each and do them justice in a review. Most poignantly, Sorrowland discusses relationships and how those relationships are formed and impact our lives down the road too. The book also discusses the treatment of Black individuals at the hands of others and the government. I particularly enjoyed the book's handle of gender/sex and sexuality and motherhood.

I loved the representation in the book, especially of those who are typically marginalized, including an albino Black woman, Indigenous women, and lesbians/non-binary individuals. Vern, Lucy, Gogo, and Ollie are all complex characters, with flaws and traumas. Vern's character trajectory is particularly compelling and it is beautiful to see her develop and come into her own. Her children are also so strong and wise beyond their years.

The writing of this book flows and the prose is beautiful. Rivers Solomon's writing is lyrical, and I look forward to picking up another of their books.

The only reason I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because sci-fi horror is not my typical speed and it took me a little bit of time to fully understand what was happening in the book.

Sorrowland is a dystopian tale with a strong dose of Annihilation and a smidgen of Alien.

A young woman, Vern, flees from a Black supremacist compound and gives birth to twins. One is albino, like her, and the other is not. She is plagued by strange ‘hauntings’ or hallucinations. She fights for the survival of not only herself but of that for her children as well. It is difficult when one is Albino with poor vision and sensitive skin.

And there is the Fiend to contend with. A nefarious watcher with a strange creature at its bidding.

As the story goes along, we learn more about the compound Vern escaped from, “Cainland”. Its residents are worshippers of the God of Cain, under the guidance of Revered Sherman, who has positioned himself to be young Vern’s husband. But why would he want an Albino as a wife? As I know from tales of Africa, Albinos are hunted for shamanistic rituals and their body parts sold as aphrodisiacs. Could that be the reason he wants Vern?

As Vern leaves her humble home in the woods with her two wild children in tow, she discovers the lies and hypocrisy of Cainland and Reverend Sherman. What appears as a safe haven for those of African origin, might be ruled by people no better than those whom they preach against and hate.

An Albino in a black community feels just as out of place as an Albino in the white world. But not everything is black or white, good or evil. There are in-betweens where misfits can find a place to belong.

This is an amazingly hypnotizing story of a disadvantaged woman who finds truth and love as she works to expose Cainland’s unnatural secrets and save those she loves.

I would highly recommend this book to lovers of Annihilation and anything weird.

Unfortunately, this was DNF for me. I feel like the author used a thesaurus a bit too much in this one.