Zeal by Morgan Jerkins is a beautifully crafted historical fiction novel perfect for folks who loved the film Sinners and/or want to understand how our past as Black Americans affects our lives in the present.

At its core, this is a multi-generation story about love. We have Ardelia and Oliver who just got engaged in 2019 but struggle to hold onto one another as the stress of wedding planning AND Oliver's work at the hospital becomes overwhelming. We also follow the lives of Tirzah and Harrison, a couple separated by the Civil War and subsequent white violence, who's unfulfilled life-long yearning (or zeal, lol) for one another casts a shadow over their descendent's lives for generations.

As I listened to the audiobook, I couldn't help but marvel at Jerkins's clear-eyed approach to telling these stories as well as her dedication to in-depth research! It made me want to look up places like Nicodemus, Kansas and learn more about Black American migration. I hope it does the same for everyone who reads Zeal!

This is the first novel I've read that depicts life during the coronavirus outbreak in the United States and I feel like Jerkins did a fantastic job of capturing how terrifying an traumatizing those first two years of the pandemic were. Some authors have chosen not to include it in their works for various reasons that I totally understand but as much as Zeal is about love, it's also about healing wounds. As some know, we cannot heal a wound without inspecting it to prevent further infection.
I hope more people read this novel and take care while doing so. Morgan Jerkins deserves her flowers!

Morgan Jerkins continues to show her talent for storytelling in this postbellum historical fiction set in the South and Midwest. Zeal is a beautifully-told multi-generational epic about two lovers broken up by the Civil War and each of their descendants. This book is for the lovers of Southern Fiction and Domestic Fiction. The release is extremely timely with the release of the blockbuster hit Sinners. Great complimentary read if Ryan Coogler's latest movie has you wanting more.

ZEAL by @_morganjerkins is everything I love about historical fiction. The story is absolutely breathtaking from start to finish. The characters (!!!), the dual timelines, the depth of research, the rich storytelling—I was captivated by every damn word! I especially loved the dual timelines and haven’t stopped thinking about these characters since. Without a doubt, this will be one of my top reads of 2025!⁣
⁣
If ZEAL isn’t on your TBR yet, I highly recommend adding it. Preorder now—you won’t regret it! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy. ⁣
⁣
Given the time period (1865), there are definite trigger warnings, and Morgan does not shy away from the hard realities. Her delivery is immaculate.

I loved most of this book but was disappointed with the ending. The author tackled a lot in weaving together this multigenerational story, and despite the audiobook’s 13-hour length, the conclusion felt rushed. I also struggled to keep track of all the characters introduced near the end and weren't developed well. However, I would still recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.