Author : Jasmine Holmes
Genre : Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic Horror and Mystery
My rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Brief :
No town is perfect, but East Cobb comes close. It is a wealthy, all Black Free Town untouched by white oppression where ambitious Thea Elliot and her husband plan to make good on their big dreams. Little do they know that the idyllic town teems with ghoulish, walking nightmares that only the women can see.
Marah knows the groanings well. She is one of the carriers, women with the ability to pull traumatic memories from men. Populated by men entirely freed of their pain, East Cobb has flourished, even as the remnants of their memories haunt the town’s women. When an unexpected death drives Marah to discover more about her own power, Thea’s and Marah’s worlds collide. The sisters must confront the rotten core at the heart of East Cobb’s prosperity and choose what and who will survive the reckoning.
My opinion :
From the moment you pick it up, the experience begins. The artwork on this book is absolutely incredible. Once you dive into the pages, the story is intense, powerful, and overwhelming in the best possible way.
Jasmine Holmes tackles deeply sensitive historical topics, but she guides the reader through them with a fiercely strong, confident voice. There is something alive within this narrative that goes far beyond standard fiction. It is raw, real, and touches your heart with a sudden, heavy pang of sadness. The prose is so beautifully crafted that, honestly, it is the only book I have read this year that I can truly call a piece of literature.
“There is something beyond fiction here. It is raw, real, and touches your heart with a sudden pang of sadness.”
The pacing builds beautifully toward a brilliant plot twist. When it hits, it comes like a massive wave washing completely over you. I did not see it coming at all, but the moment it passed, it left behind a profound sense of clarity for the rest of the journey.
What makes the horror elements so utterly devastating is their historical relevance. Because these terrors are rooted in real world history, the fear feels heavy, grounded, and deeply heartbreaking. Yet, what truly anchors the entire book is the characters. I absolutely loved the fact that every single SISTER in this story is given her own background, her own narrative, and her own distinct, powerful voice. No one is left in the shadow of anyone else.
This is the kind of storytelling that lingers in your mind. I know I will be thinking about this book for a very long time to come. I do not have a single negative thing to say about it, which is exactly why it gets a flawless five stars.
If you want a haunting, deeply moving, and masterfully written story, I absolutely recommend picking this up. Jasmine Holmes has truly created a masterpiece.
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