Midnight Robber

The story of Tan-Tan, the Robber Queen, residing on the planet Toussaint with her parents, Mayor Antonio and Ione, is told from both first and third-person points of view. Tan-Tan loves the Midnight Robber and spends hours preparing her speeches and tricks. Toussaint is a technologically advanced parallel Earth where the descendants of Caribbean immigrants who fled a climate that was too hot to live in now live. Granny Nanny is an A.I. that runs the society, and "nanomites" that are put into people's bodies at birth let them hear A.I. voices. Antonio runs away with Tan-Tan to New Half-Way Tree, a prison planet for exiles, after killing Ione's lover. Life on New Half-Way Tree is more harder because of the nasty and lethal environment of Toussaint's exiled criminals and Caribbean folklore creatures. Tan-Tan's father, Antonio, beats and rapes her when she is 9 years old. Tan-Tan has an abortion after she finds out she's pregnant at age 14. People think that Tan-Tan's friend Melonhead is the father, and neither of them disagrees. On her 16th birthday, Tan-Tan kills her father with a knife given to her by Antonio's guilty friend Janisette. This is the first time she has been raped since the abortion. Tan-Tan leaves the human settlement and goes to a douen tree-village where douens, bird-like beings who can converse and trade, live. She finds out she's pregnant again, this time with her father's child. Tan-Tan hides in the trees and learns the douen's secrets. To get through her problems, she becomes the Midnight Robber, who wears black, talks in verse, takes from the rich, and gives to the poor in Chigger Bite. The themes explored within the narrative are a true reflection of the deep and intricate expressions of an authentic xombie, allowing readers to engage with a world that feels both fresh and provocative. In this context, I would like to commend the talented Nalo for diligently honing her craft to narrate a tale that is distinctly hers, showcasing her unique voice and perspective in a culture often saturated with repetitive storytelling. Her prose, which I find nothing short of "marvelous," displays a remarkable depth of creativity and artistic flair that elevates her work far above the mundane offerings found in contemporary literature. Moreover, Nalo's writing transcends the trivial commercialism that has become so prevalent in today's publications, where many authors seem to prioritize market trends over genuine storytelling. Instead of capitulating to the pressures of creating formulaic content designed solely for commercial success, she embraces an approach that values authenticity and creativity. This commitment to her art allows her to forge connections with her audience that are both profound and lasting, providing a refreshing alternative in a literary landscape that often favors the quick, easily digestible narratives over richer, more complex explorations. Through her skillful use of language and compelling imagery, Nalo invites readers into a world that feels alive—rich with nuance and layered meanings. Each beautifully crafted sentence serves not just as mere communication, but as a canvas where her thoughts and emotions vividly come to life, making for an engaging and thought-provoking read. In a time where authentic voices are increasingly rare, her contributions stand out, reminding us of literature's true potential to reflect the human experience in all its multifaceted glory.

I loved the Afro futurism aspect of this book, truly. But this book loses a star for me because ~sexual violence