Scan barcode
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book delves into all these aspects of life on the island, as shown through the eyes of Akal, a disgraced Indian policeman exiled to Fiji. He doesn’t feel connected to the coolies (the workers) despite their both being Indian. As a higher caste person, he can’t - or won’t - see how similar they are.
Akal is tasked with finding a missing coolie but it turns out to be a more far-reaching case than he first thought. This is where we learn the complicated relationship between Fiji, India, and England. We see the casual racism of the white Europeans for anyone darker, the lack of respect for a policeman who, as an Indian, has “no right” to investigate his white “betters.” This grates on Akal every time but he has to bite his tongue and pretend the racism doesn’t bother him.
There’s a wonderful friendship between Akal (Indian), a fellow policeman (Fijian), and a doctor (Englishman). It illustrates how racial prejudice is something learned, not something inherent. To hear the three laughing together mitigates a tiny bit of the awfulness that has come before.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity
sayhar13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity
uranaishi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, War, and Deportation
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Grief, and Alcohol
meganpbennett's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to SOHO Crime for the book.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Minor: Infertility, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
crystalisreading's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
librarianjennifer's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Classism