The book takes the readers on a fascinating journey with an intriguing plot, but at times, the direction of the story can be hazy.
The book's premise and unique literary style make it a captivating read that's worth your time making it a great 2024 debut!
I do think this book will become a popular read of the year because the writing is so stellar, poetic, and original.

This book is absolutely breathtaking. I got 50 pages in and pre-ordered.

Ours by Phillip B. Williams is a genre bending epic about a town called Ours created by a mysterious, supernatural being called Saint who frees enslaved people from plantations across the US South.

Williams said he wanted to create mythical foundation for African-Americans. I'm Black british so can't speak on that but what I can say is that if you are part of the Black diaspora there will be something in this masterpiece that connects you too it.

It's magical realism, afro surrealism, fantasy, historical reimagining, romance even science-fiction at times.

The charectors are complex, flawed, love able. They develop and reflect throughout the book. Representation of how beautiful and diverse Blackness is on point too. Gah, I loved this book so much.

I read this in January and it will be on my top 5 list for 2024.

Please never stop writing Phillip. Your voice is so deeply necessary.

Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC and thankyou Pillip B Williams for this once in a lifetime reading experience.

Everyone must read this.

Phillip B. Williams' debut novel is a spellbinding exploration of rebellion, redemption, power, and humanity set against the grim backdrop of America's darkest days.

I enjoyed this alternative world. It was a fascinating exploration and the characters felt true. It’s a long read but definitely worth it, with a strong ending

This is such an ambitious book; telling an alternate and mythic history of black people in the US.
The book asks questions like: how do we know we are free? what happens to us if we can't access our memory? how do we heal from trauma, individually and collectively? what happens if we don't own our grief? and perhaps most importantly, how did we get here?

Phillip B Wiliams is a stunning writer. The prose is lyrical and sharp. The opening chapter of this novel is one of the best I can remember reading in recent years.

I do think the plot requires some patience from the reader. What is promised in the opening chapter does take a while to come to fruition. But on the whole I really recommend it.

This is a great story, depicting freedom and slavery in the town of Ours. It was impactful and delivered a great insight into the characters and the relation to place. If you want an intense novel which explores characters trying to heal from the issues of their past with a hint of the supernatural, read this book.

The good: the exploration of characters which is developed throughout the book. It's setting is interesting and carries you through a lot, with a wonderful depiction of emotion through language shown in the second half of the book.

The not so good: It drags at the beginning a bit. The plot picks up, but you do need to fight through a bit! It is certainly great in the second half, but that push you need to get through the first wee bit made me knock off a star.

Description:
Ours is a town in America founded by escaped slaves, and headed by a woman called Saint, a conjuror who annihilated a bunch of plantations to save them and bring them there. This is an epic which follows a bunch of different people within the town - it's been a long time since I read Middlemarch, but this feels very similar in scope.

Liked:
The characters are beautifully fleshed out and varied - all sympathetic, all flawed, no two alike. The magical elements are evocative and somehow manage to feel very personal, without straying into the realm of superpowers. I enjoyed the intricacies of all the different interpersonal relationships. Some ridiculously beautiful turns of phrase.

Disliked:
Outstays its welcome a bit - felt like it could have been a fair bit shorter. It's part but by no means all of what makes it feel quite wilfully obtuse - other contributing factors include lots of small jumps back and forward in time which may be thematically relevant but result in the reader always feeling somewhat unmoored. The bigger jumps I can get behind, though!

Would absolutely recommend, but take it slow!

Anything Else:
I know this isn’t something I’d need to comment on in an ideal world, but the writing of women in this book felt superb, to me. I would have assumed it was written by a woman.

Frome the very first page, I knew that OURS will be one of the best books of 2024.

This is such an exhilarating read, full of emotions and events, written in precises and poetic prose. Ours is not only the story of that small village outside Saint Louis and its inhabitants but it is also the story of the humankind and its struggles. Willaims has achieved something remarkable in this novel and I cannot wait to see it among many prize lists.