Everyone has been buzzing about this book and I can see why! It's so well-written and evocative - I can't wait to read more from this author.

'...Fair don’t always mean good. Exchange don’t always mean peace. Power don’t always mean free.’ –Petronella

When We Were Birds is a story of transformation, legacy, and family inheritance that not only uses the lush flora and fauna of Trinidad but also our shared history that is rooted in story, belief, and culture.

The relationships here are complicated and as we get to know each character, their experiences heighten our connection and reaction.

Beneath a facade of simple existence, Lloyd Banwo layers a complex and intricate story of death and how it weaves through a community, how it appears and is experienced by individuals.

It is proof of her prowess that we are pulled so effortlessly into the tale of Yejide and Darwin, that we so instantly form a connection to them and their unique individual expression and situation. Trailing them both is the duty that binds them to family, the yearning to find their own way no matter the difficulty, no matter the danger.

Simply woven with terrific effect.

It is not hard to become immersed in a story of death and the closeness of spirits to our physical existence when you've grown up with a mother who has had encounters with the passing souls of her brother, sister, and nephew. Our mother has always held the belief that loved ones can reach out from the beyond with messages for the ones they are leaving and so do we.

A fantastic modern gothic. I love it. It’s set between a Trinidadian grave yard and a house in hills as two characters are drawn together. It was beautifully written and I liked the ending. Read it!

I enjoyed reading this tale of two lonely hearts who meet and bond over their connection with the graveyard. The dialect added to the flavour of the story and I liked reading it this way. The story is predominantly character led and although I liked the characters this isn't my usual choice of book as I prefer a more story led approach. An interesting alternative that I would recommend especially for anyone who enjoys character led stories.

Darwin has just moved to the Trinidadian city of Port Angeles, leaving behind his mother and the Rastafarian faith he was brought up in - for the only employment he can find is digging graves and tending to Fidelis cemetery grounds; a job no Rastafarian would agree to do. Despite his misgivings, his work turns out to be pleasanter than expected - caring for the grave plots, attempting to sooth the bereaved - until he discovers the predatory behaviour of his fellow workers.
Above the city, in an old house which remains standing far longer than it should, live Yejide and her extended family. Through her maternal line, Yejide has inherited a strange obligation - to care for the dead. to talk to them and calm their spirits; a power which family tradition attributes to their descent from the 'corbeau', huge black birds which fly east at sunset with the souls of the dead.
Unsurprisingly Darwin and Yejide, even before they meet, are drawn together, their destinies intertwined, one supplying something which the other lacks.
Told from their alternating points of view, not in first person but still with the rhythm and cadence of Trinidadian speech, When We Were Birds is about family (its secrets and obligations) and destiny (and trying to avoid it). It's a wonderful mix of the mundane and the fantastical, full of the sights and sounds of its setting, and the hopes and fears of two very different young people. Magical realism at its best. Surprisingly it's a debut novel, so the author is definitely one to watch out for.

There are lots to enjoy in this book: a really wonderful dialectal narrative voice; a rich mythology and its rituals. Banwo writes the relationships between family members/so-close-they're-basically-family members really well; they're complicated, nuanced and interesting. I did feel a bit like the set up/conceit of the novel was stronger than its execution - or maybe I wanted to see more of it, get more of the mythology of the women descended from birds, of the man who abandons his religion to provide for his mother. I'm not a fan of instant-love relationships, Romeo and Juliet-style fated to be and head over heels in love-love, so while I loved reading about Darwin and Yejide individually, I wasn't too invested in their relationship.
Overall, worth a read, especially for some wonderful images early on in the book.

A fabulously unique love story set in Trinidad featuring a Rastafarian grave digger and a woman whose maternal family line is descended from ancient parrots. The Corbeaux (or vultures) are obligated to perform the sacred duty of standing “at the border between the living and the dead” to assist the souls of the dead to settle in peace. The narrative is written in a Trinidadian dialect which adds to the atmosphere especially if listening to the superb audiobook. Personally I would have liked to see a bit more of the supernatural and bird mythology side, however as it stands the book is more appealing to a wider audience and I’m more than happy with that.
Superb.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
A mixture of myth, magic the afterlife and it’s link to the living are combined in this book.
A fascinating story it’s only drawback for me personally was the language. Written for authenticity I struggled but I’m sure that’s possibly just me.
It still remains an enjoyable read.

The dead of Fidelis are unhappy and only Darwin and Yejide can appease their anger and their pain.

When Emmanuel Darwin finally reaches the front of the line in the job centre, he is ready to accept anything. Even if being a grave digger at Fidelis means cutting his hair and turning his back on his mother’s teachings about the dead. They need money and he needs his independence and he hopes that she will come around eventually. He doesn’t realise that the job will take more than just his hair and gain him more than just his independence.

Women in Yejide’s family live between two worlds, with one foot in the living and one with the dead. Ever since her aunt died, her mother has been slowly inching closer to the dead. When she finally lays down her burden it is up to Yejide to lift it back up again and to fix the negligence that her mother’s grief made way for.

Written in a distinctive dialect, the narrative voice took me a little while to adjust to each time I picked up the book. However, it was hugely effective in the way that it rooted me firmly into the setting of the book and added an extra depth of authenticity to the characters. I imagine that readers who are familiar with this dialect in their own lives would find it very relatable in a way that might enhance their reading experience. Furthermore, there were many cultural aspects of this book which were not familiar to me, but each one was explained in a way that felt perfectly natural to the narrative and which made for an enlightening and immersive read.

The supernatural element in this book is both subtle and obvious. It overshadows every aspect of Yejide’s life yet the extent of the power is not truly visible except in small snatches which seem almost more like hallucinations than real events. In contrast, Darwin is a very pragmatic character with no experience of the supernatural. Yet, other than one moment of questioning, he is not surprised or cowed by its presence and takes it in such easy stride that the reader is almost tricked into thinking these elements are part of normal life.

An air of mystery and anticipation runs as a thread throughout the slow-building narrative in a way that pulls you consistently forwards and towards the satisfying ending.

the author's prose is clearly lovely but i just didn't connect with the characters. still it was imaginative and i liked the storytelling in general!

Very unique and interesting story. Firstly - it is written in Trinidadian vernacular (not sure whether to describe it as Patois or Creole), which whilst understandable, took some getting used to. I also suspect some of the small nuanes/local concepts may have gone over my head, but it was no less enjoyable - the prose is beautifully done and almost lyrical in certain areas.

The story is about Yejide and Darwin who have different yet interlocking relationships with death and come together when her mother dies. There are some supernatural elements to it but I was more caught up in the character development of our MCs. Yejide goes from dealign with the grief and relief from the death of her neglectful mother, and also trying to understand how she fits within the lexicon of her family legacy as the Corbeaux. Darwin has just moved to the big city and is trying to not get in over his head with the fast lifestyle and the uncomfortable things he is pressured to do to earn money. 

I really enjoyed the world building, the family dynamics and the character development. The plot/action is almost a secondary aspect for me - which is weird as I always need a plot. I felt really immersed in the story - I could feel the heat, imagine the smells and had a vivid image of the places. It is a short book but with an enjoyable density to it. Definitely highly recommended.

A magical novel of death and destiny, When We Were Birds is a beautiful, absorbing read.

We follow two young Trinidadians who are struggling to find their place in a modern world in which the faith of their families feels stifling.

Darwin has to cut off his hair and his Rastafarian roots to get a job in Port Angeles as a grave digger, when there are simply no other jobs around and his mother is struggling to put food on the table. Yejide’s mother is dying and once she’s gone the responsibility for the peaceful passing of souls into the afterlife, will be Yejide’s alone.

Both stories revolve around the central graveyard in Port Angeles. Something there is not quite right.

A wonderfully magically real mix of modernity, belief and myth, When We Were Birds is a rich and compelling read bound to capture the hearts of many readers.

I was sent a copy of When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo to read and review by NetGalley. At first I found this novel a little tricky to get into as it is written in a mild form of patois but not an out and out compelling style such as Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God which compels you to read in a particular way, so my mind was confused as to how to actually ‘read’, which I realize is a bit difficult to explain! After a while my mind just seemed to accept the style without having to read in an accent as such, and from then on I loved it! I got really involved with the characters which were all well drawn and believable and the author really gave you a sense of place. There were many things that I learned throughout this book and many more to think about and consider going forward. A truly immersive story that is ultimately about love and hope. Read and enjoy!

I loved the premise of this book but unfortunately this book wasn't for me.
The story is set in Trinidad. It alternates between two different POV. Darwin has recently taken a job as a grave digger despite it going against his religion (and his mother's wishes) because contact with the dead isn't allowed.
Yejide is mourning the death of her mother (despite a very difficult relationship.) The two meet at Yejide's mother's funeral and a relationship begins.
I liked the way this story was written in a Trinidan dialect although it did take a while to get used to. For me, I found the story quite slow to build however. It
was too character driven with very little plot so I'm afraid it didn't hold my interest.

Yejide is waiting for her mother to die. Darwin has left his home and faith to become a gravedigger in the city.
This is their story - a tale of life and death.
The storytelling is wonderful and the lyrical prose dances and sings from the page. The characters are vividly drawn and there is much atmospheric detail which brings their worlds to life. The magical mixture of the real and spirit worlds is a joy.
I loved it, devouring it in one sitting. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. It also has a beautiful cover.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All views are my own.

When We Were Birds is marketed as ‘a mythic love story’ which is set in Trinidad, featuring Yehide and Darwin. Yehide has just lost her mother, with whom she didn’t have a great relationship, but after her death, finds that she has inherited the burden of accompanying dying souls to their afterlife. Darwin, who Yehide meets at her mother’s funeral, is a recently appointed gravedigger - a job he took purely for the money. However, this goes against the rules of his Rastafarian religion, which bans contact with the dead, and as such, he’s been rejected by his mother. Darwin finds himself alone and in over his head for the first time. Yehide is the ying to Darwin’s yang - they rescue and complete each other.

I feel like this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I think going by the blurb, I expected the supernatural aspect, the contact with the dead, and ghosts etc to be a bit more…maybe spooky? I really really loved the premise. I loved the setting, which reminded me of a New Orleans cemetery, and I loved that it was written in a colloquial Trinidadian dialect. It was probably a little too slowly paced over the books that I would usually read. Beautifully written though.

I requested a galley of this book after hearing about it in the Penguin podcast and due to my interest in reading more Caribbean authors. It did not disappoint.
The story follows Yejide, a young woman who, at the beginning of the story is waiting for her cold, indifferent mother's imminent death, and Darwin, a rasta man who needs to leave home and work as a grave digger in a cemetery to support himself and his old mother.
I really liked the way it was written -- in a Trinidadian accent (and this would be great as an audiobook!). It didn't take long at all to get used to it, and I found it very comforting.
Although the book did not feel slow, towards the end of it I caught myself thinking that all the "action" happens in the last 15-20% of the book, and before that it felt like there had been a very long setup. On second thought, lots of things happened the rest of the book as well, leading to this big action sequence. Although I am not a big fan of ghost stories, I really enjoyed this book, maybe precisely because of the pacing of the book, where we have a long time to get acquainted with the characters and understand what's happening between the lines.

I really recommend this book, and will be reading anything the author gives us next.

This is an honest review based on an advanced copy of the book. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

When Darwin takes a job as a gravedigger in Port Angeles, he must leave behind his faith and his mother and try to make it on his own in unfamiliar surroundings. When Yejide's mother dies and leaves behind a legacy and responsibility she has not been preapred for, she must decide if she is willing to take up the mantle. Darwin amd Yejide's paths are inexplicably intertwined in a story of ancient magic, grief and hope.

This book was so beautifully written, the prose is entirely unique. So much so to be honest that it did take me a little while to get accustomed to, but once I did it was so immersive, so lyrical, so so beautiful.
I really fell in love with these characters and watching their journeys unfold and gradually come together. Their relationships and interactions not only with each other but with everyone in their lives were so rich and layered, they were really brought to life.
The magic in this story was woven seamlessly into the fabric of it. Lloyd Banwo draws you into the vivid and lively city of Port Angeles, making you feel so rooted in the real world while blending in the more supernatural elements, it all could be happening around you. I really enjoy that sort of magical realism done so well.
Where this book fell down slightly for me was the pacing. The first half to two thirds of the book could have been considerably shorter and it would have worked just as well. Then, the final few chapters felt slightly rushed. After all the build up to these characters meeting it was all over very quickly.

Overall though, a beautiful and enjoyable read and I would definitely love to see more from this author-her writing style is just stunning.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

A mesmerising book. Forget the day and sink in to another world, the world of Emmanuel; trying to live his life well in hard times. Employment is hard to come by and he has to support his Mother and the only job he is offered will break his Mother's heart and test his faith. His new working life introduces him to the world of the dead; he fears and is in awe of them. But the only thing he should fear is the living and the corruption surrounding them. In his new role worlds become blurred, the line between spirits and reality is crossed, he loves and nearly dies.......only to find he is exactly where he should be. A gorgeous book that steals the reader away. The heat, dust, storms, rain, smoke, mirages - all become real. I simply loved it.

Very eye catching cover. Banwo's writing is stunning and addictive. The writing is exceptionally clever and the reader ends up caring deeply about what will happen to the characters. Like in a bookclub when the discussion stalls because everyone loves the book, there is not much more that I can say beyond BUY THIS BOOK. I can't recommend it highly enough.