Sorrowland is a genre-bending work of Gothic fiction mixed with fantasy and sci-fi. Monsters exist and are more than you think they are, more than we could admit they were. This is a story that pulls you and makes you listen, makes you watch even when you want to turn away...especially when you want to turn away.
The protagonist Vern is totally unforgettable. Nothing will make her stop doing whatever she must to defend and protect her family. One of those rare gems; a character that is not easy to forget long after you have closed the book.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, MCD, and Rivers Solomon for this free arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

One of the most unique and interesting books I've read in a long time. A strange yet appealing mix of science fiction, fantasy, dystopian fiction, and cultural commentary, Vern is a compelling and fascinating character whose journey will thrill you.

This is a really fascinating and beautifully written novel. It took me a while to fully immerse myself in the world and in the writing style, but once I did, it was easy to blow through the rest of the book. Even with how quickly I ended up reading most of it, it's a novel I enjoy more having read it and thinking about it in retrospect than I enjoyed while reading. I was intrigued more than fully in love, but the themes that this novel explores are fascinating. It speaks about the U.S.' history with experimenting on Black bodies, and I also love the discussions of gender identity and sexuality. The sci-fi element is a wonderful slow burn, and it was when that part of the plot really got going that I became more engrossed.

I never enjoy writing a review for a book that I did not enjoy. I also do not enjoy writing a review for a book that I could not wait to finish so I could say I was done with it. While reading this book, I would fill my favorite co-worker in on what I read the previous session. Even she was confused at times when I tried describing what I read. The writing was choppy and a bit all over the place. I often closed the book and really had to spend time to process what I just read and try to figure out where this book was actually going. I could not form a bond with Vern as I read, and the children were not believable. I have four nephews, one of which is the same age as the twins in this story, along with cousins who have children the same age. The twins in this story must have some mystical powers from their mother or something, because I have yet to meet children so young who are able to have such complex thoughts (for that age range) and abilities. The whole book was too far fetched for me. I was excited when I was first approved. I LOVE reading books by new-to-me authors, especially when the book itself is promised to be something different.
Here is what worked for me:
I loved the parts of the story where Vern was in any kind of wooded place. I love the woods and hope to live surrounded by trees some day. I liked how the forest parts of this book were described. I basically love nature. Unfortunately, nothing else worked for my style of reading enjoyment.

I truly appreciate the opportunity this publisher gave me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own, and I always advise someone to try a book rather than simply taking one person's opinion of it.

Rivers Solomon has a gift. She can immerse you in any story she tells as if she’s binding you with a spell. I liked the Deep. I loved Unkindness of Ghosts. But Sorrowland is transformative. Everyone should read this!

Rivers Solomon has a way of portraying harsh life. As in the Deep, they put their main character, Vern, through unthinkable survival mode where she has to protect herself and her two children. When encountering anyone, she must decide who to trust and who to avoid. Escaping the compound was the easy part. Staying away is the battle.

What an interesting book, truly unlike anything ive ever read! A very bizarre, horrific novel that is intertwined with social commentary. The sci-fi, or magical realism - what have you - is really unique. I don't want to get too deep into this because it's a story that should be experienced first-hand!

(Disclaimer: this is not an own voices review, please do read some of those as well!)

It took me a while to read Sorrowland, but that has nothing to do with the book itself. This story follows Vern as she’s 15 year old and pregnant, feeling from a cult and the cult leader Sherman that she’s married to.
With the beautiful writing and thrilling story it is the kind of book you can just fly through. It is partly horror, fantasy, science fiction and political.

This story touches on black slavery, anti-US establishments, sexism, homophobia, gender, sexuality, nature, parenthood, rebellion and how horrible people can get away with many things.
I especially liked the first half of this book. I thought Feral and Howling were especially written super realistically and it was endearing to read about their love of nature.

Vern as a main character is not super likeable but she is very interesting. She doesn’t trust people, she often gets very angry and even aggressive. But realising how young she is and all the things she’s going through that’s completely realistic. And as she is fighting for the people she loves, it’s nice to see her explanation of it.
The other characters were in different ways flawed and complex.

There’s also some strange and super natural elements to this story that I really liked. It was creepy, but also mysterious and made me want to keep reading. The darker parts are connected to partly realistic events. Cainland is a horrible place where Vern was tied to her bed and fed drugs each night. Where she was married off as a child. But a big theme in the book is how things outside Cainland aren’t always better. A lot of times this book is very dark and brutal. (Which is actually why it took me a longer time to read.) The magical elements in this book were extremely original and surreal. I think the weirdness of it all was unnerving even in the moments where it wasn’t directly threatening scary.

I loved the writing in this book. It has a lot of beautiful lines. I also liked how this book discussed reading and books and literacy.

I did think the second half and especially the ending of this book weren’t as good as the beginning. Especially when there was an odd flashback that I didn’t understand the reason for. It felt like the pacing of the book slowed down a lot.

But this book is still really really good. It is one of those I will probably be thinking about for a long time, even after having read it.

This is the very sad and tragic story of a 15-year-old albino black girl, who happens to be pregnant. She decides to run away from the cult she is stuck in, and the story goes from there. As the title itself states, it's very sorrowful. This book has a lot to unpack: police brutality, being blak, being queer, cults, religion, gender identity, motherhood, and so on. It's not my place to discuss any of those matters, but I believe Rivers Solomon treated them respectfully. It was not an easy read, and I didn't love it, but I'm glad I did it anyways.

A book that pushes boundaries I never even thought of. It's a utopian/dystopian story that is at once fierce and yet emotional. The characters are superb. The plot enticing. The story's soul stayed with me even after the pages ended

SORROWLAND is a beautifully written Gothic Sci-Fi Horror story of Vern--a 15-year-old, pregnant, and on the run.

SO FREAKING GOOD.
This is the story of a black child, Vern, who escapes in the middle of the night... however, this escape does not allow her to be free. She gives birth to her babies in the woods,... while the claws of a cult are still there trying to dig their way back in. This story is action packed, fierce, and purposeful.

An engrossing and highly addictive read, this author is a must-read.

I was in the mood for a dark and heavy atmospheric read and boy did this deliver! This is my 3rd book by Solomon and one thing that I have found consistent throughout each read is how thought provoking and poignant each story is. I appreciate each and every theme that was present in this novel, but at times I felt that some themes were not given enough time and reflection. Personally, I thought the first 2/3 of the novel were the strongest and most compelling. The post apocalyptic-esque survival and horror elements wrapped in black and queer themes were spectacular. However, the last 1/3, although compelling, felt a bit rushed and disconnected from the rest of the novel. I feel that I may have not fully understand what was happening and the meaning behind it, but that is okay because I know that this book wasn't necessarily written for me. This definitely has things that worked really well for me and other aspects that didn't, but overall I enjoyed my time with this novel and patiently await what Solomon will write next.

I am not sure what to think about this book. I felt like it had so much promise and was going through all these crazy dark and twisted events. I just never felt like it delivered. I had problems suspending belief where it was needed, such as a 17 yr old giving birth to twins in the woods with someone chasing her and then raising them and feeding all of them with no woodcraft at all. I struggled with some of the characters and what they were doing in the story. Lucy, for example, what was her purpose?
The ending was the kicker that ruined it all for me. It became rushed, and gave all the pat answers that I was hoping it would avoid. I didn't really enjoy this. I had hoped to be blown away based on the previews. Oh well. Next book.

A fantastic story about Vern, who is escaping a cult in the middle of a forest while trying to protect her newborn twins. I enjoyed this book and the twists and turns it took me on. I think it's a book with a good, clear message. The writing style was enjoyable and easy to read while also being poetic. I plan on reading more from this author.

Rivers Solomon’s previous novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts, was a powerful story set on a multi-generation space ship. Now she weaves a tale of magic and racism in the American South. The story begins with a gripping sequence as pregnant Black teen Vern escapes to the woods from an oppressive cult commune. Alone she gives birth to and then raises two very different fraternal twins. From almost the beginning of her exile, she’s hunted by shadowy demons and haunted by ghosts. I confess I found it unbelievable that a girl this young could not only survive delivering twins without help but re-invent survivalism, everything from finding or growing enough food to making her own shelter and clothing. However, the story carried me along, and it turned out I was right about these feats being extraordinary and it was a piece of deliberate awesomeness on the author’s part.

This book has many layers woven together. Seemingly disparate elements, like Vern’s ability to see and later to physically interact with ghosts, are eventually tied together as Vern’s physical and emotional transformation proceeds. The skillfulness of the prose and the dynamic plot momentum gave me enough confidence that the author knew what she was doing, and with each emerging connection, that trust was amply rewarded.

Solomon is a courageous, generous writer who doesn’t shrink from facing painful and difficult material squarely. Vern’s experiences in a Black-supremacist cult and her forays into the larger world are fraught with danger, bigotry, and ugliness. Yet the story never descends into polemics and it’s not solely about racism. There’s a great deal about love and loyalty and friendship, and how these define our humanity.

This book reads like a first draft: unedited, full of needlessly wordy sentences in both the dialogue and descriptive parts. I am surprised because I wanted to love this book: gothic sci-fi/fantasy- what could be better? But it read like over-rated YA commercial fiction. And, when I reached the part on child rape and a mother low-key condoning it whilst saying 'there, there' [paraphrased] to her child, I had to bail.

what a read! what a writer! rivers solomon is incredible, and i can't wait to read all faer work. sorrowland is a stunning book, with a stunning cover. thank you so much for the chance to read it!

Content Warning: Body Horror, Self Harm, Drowning, Racisms, Violence, Mentions of AIDs and Adult/Child Relationships.

Finishing this book, left me feeling empty in a way that is difficult to explain. It was such an oddly fantastical and harrowing journey. Following Vern as she grows into herself is intensely interesting and often times heart wrenching as she tries to be a good mother, and to also come to terms with what she is.

This books reflection of Gender interested me quite a bit, its laissez faire attitude brought me so much joy as someone who does not feel like they fit within the binary. It is something I haven't really seen in other books I've read.

While I enjoyed this book, their was a part where I had to put it down (pause the audiobook) because I had been trying to eat some ice cream, and the depictions of body horror paired with food were not a good pair.
Outside of trying to eat, I did often find the cause of the body horror, to be incredibly intriguing and unique.

Upon completing this book, I was left feeling conflicted. The first half went fast, with me devouring the text, while the second went almost too fast, with Solomon trying to tie up too many loose ends in too little time.

It’s a fantasy inspired by real events in history, atrocious acts against African Americans -Tuskegee for example- that resulted in the inhuman transformation of this book’s narrator. It’s really poignant at times and beautiful especially in the first half where Vern at the age of 15 gives birth and raises her two children in the woods. Overall, it fell short for me, but I’d still like to hear other people’s take on it, as I remain holding a fondness in my heart for Vern and her children, which is a good sign for me when I read a book - that the characters feel three dimensional enough to be missed when the book is done.

I truly enjoyed Solomon’s previous works and appreciated getting to read this early for my review.

Thanks to NetGalley and MCD for the advanced copy,

It's a beautifully written story with some important messages. I love how the author weaves so many layers into their stories. It's an edgy fantasy with sci-fi and history.

The characters were well developed, the author gives voices to the marginalized and 'outliers' of society. Vern is a well rounded character and feels very real. She's complex with many layers and qualities, it's difficult to like her at times but that's part of what makes her so real.

I was very intrigued by the 'hauntings' and Cainland. It's such a unique story and I was really enjoying it but at some point it kind of lost me. I got confused, the plot felt like it got muddled, and the flow was thrown off.