She Rises by Dorianne Ashe

A bold take on time-slip fiction that shines with timely insight, She Rises by Dorianne Ashe is a family drama that stretches across the centuries, presenting a fearless reflection of America’s lingering ghosts.

When Georgia is inexplicably invited to the reading of the will of a reclusive real estate titan, it redirects the course of her life overnight, and infuriates some very powerful people. With her precocious daughter Violet, Georgia explores her new estate and meets her new neighbors, before being mysteriously hurled into an enslaved past by those who would prefer to rewrite history, rather than face it. Aided by a cadre of legendary abolitionists and freedom fighters, Georgia and Vi fight for their freedom and make the hard sacrifices to find their way back home.

The mother-daughter relationship at the heart of this story is nuanced and inspiring – the epitome of an unshakable bond – while the thematic explorations and hard-hitting stretches of prose are seamlessly woven into a rich tapestry of character study, plot progression, and searing social critique. The story can be slowed down by unnecessary procedural detail, while also rushing through more impactful moments, but the core narrative is powerful and moving.

Reinforcing the vital necessity of unfiltered history and our responsibility to fight against injustice, this astute, emotionally layered, and well-researched novel is an important read, particularly in a contemporary era when so many want to ignore the past.

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