930: Saturn and The Prince was interesting…
In this episode, I was pleasantly surprised and frustrated by a Sci-Fi Novella…
***Special Thanks to CLASH Books for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review***
Friends, friends, friends.
Welcome back to Teatime Reading where there are books in progress.
My narration journey continues in 2025, so before we get to the review,
I’d appreciate if you check out my works on A03
Sometimes, the best sales pitch for a book is its synopsis. I know, that sounds very obvious, and well, sure.
However, Errick Nunnally’s The Queen of Saturn and the Prince in Exile made me interested with the first part of the synopsis, like so…
A Black nerd coming-of-age novel set in 1970s Boston about a boy who struggles to learn the truth behind his mother’s claims of otherworldly origins in the smoldering aftermath of the Civil Rights era and COINTELPRO's dying breaths.
Sean’s mother, Sojourner, consistently claims otherworldly origins—Saturn, specifically…
From those few sentences, I had to try and get a copy for review and I really enjoyed reading this one.
Sean was an endearing child to follow as he came of age in 1970’s Boston, and for the most part, I liked that the otherworldly origins were kept vague and mysterious while sounding like the types of tall tales that parents tell their children.
The story flowed fairly well, but I quickly realized that this was a very quick, short book at fewer than 200 pages. It had romance and self-discovery and the interweaving of post-Civil-Rights America with an unique otherworldly twist made for a book that left me wanting more, yet understanding that not getting more plot and more pages worked for this story.
I was reminded, somehow of Astrid Lindgren’s book The Brother’s Lionheart. I can’t explain why that connection makes sense to me, but it does. I suspect it has something to do with the ending.
I would like to see more of Sean and his mother Sojourner, but I genuinely do not know if a full fledged sequel would undermine some of this book’s message or not. I’m torn on that front.
The Queen of Saturn and the Prince in Exile was an excellent little story, and I think that I want more from these two characters.
I hope you check it out when it releases later in April.
Until next time, keep your bookmarks close.
Peace, Love, Pages.
Note: As Always, Affiliate Links are here for your convenience at no cost to you. All reading was at my own expense.