This is so incredibly well written. I love when I’m shocked by a debut.
I’d never read anything about the Syrian civil war, so this was incredibly eye opening and informative. I think it’s incredibly needed right now. Media literacy is at an all time low, we’re facing the dismantling of our government in the United States. It’s all incredibly important.

Such a sad yet beautiful story that captures both the strength and the unimaginable suffering experienced during the conflict in Syria. Set in the war-torn city of Raqqa, this is a powerful account of love, loss and the unbreakable spirit of women fighting for their autonomy. Nooda, an intrepid journalist, and her daughter Layal, a young woman with hopes for a better future, face impossible choices as their family is torn apart by war.

The writing is vivid and deeply moving, painting a haunting picture of the horrors of conflict while honouring the courage and resilience of women. This book lingers long after the final page, a poignant reminder of the cost of war and the enduring fight for justice. It was a privilege to read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Thank you to Kim Dempster and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is a debut novel and is excellent, whilst being harrowing, emotionally charged and thought provoking. I was hooked from the start, and became quickly invested in the main characters, mother and daughter Nooda and Layal. The Handmaid’s Tale kept springing to mind due to the parallels between the women’s terrible life experiences under a fundamentalist religious and military regime. I know this is a story, but it feels very genuine, and with Kim Dempster’s background I am sure it has a true basis in the sad reality for many women in this world. Sadly I know many of the experiences directly relating to living in a war torn country are being fully experienced by many thousands of people right now.
Although this is a really hard read at times, with some awful sections and some heart stopping ones, there are also inspiring moments too and I highly recommend this book to others.

The Color of Mourning by Kim Dempster is a must read.
This powerful novel is both emotional and empowering, shedding light on the horrors of war and the oppression of women through its compelling main characters.
The book had a profound impact on me, and it's astonishing that it's a debut novel as the writing is impressive.
A truly moving and unforgettable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon KDP for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It's interesting that Kim Dempster's powerful novel about the civil war in Syria is listed as historical fiction since the novel ends in 2017, when our main characters, a mother and daughter arrive at O'Hare airport and see Trump and Pence's photos on the wall. The Assad Regime finally ended in December 2024, yet the violence and instability remain today, with refugees starving and unable to safely relocate. Dempster's novel gives readers and intimate portrayal of how, in particular, the lives of women have been so harshly, and how they have been viewed as commodities to their oppressors. The novel begins with a father, a doctor, who didn't try to relocate their family when there seemed to be a safe opening for escape, and he is removed from the home, and their college-aged son's campus that was destroyed by missiles, becomes the "man of the house," and finds it impossible to find work to feed his family. Their mother, a journalist, risks her life by keeping her cell phone so she can report to the rest of the world the horrors that are happening, and their young daughter is forced to marry an oppressor. It's a fast-paced novel filled with the horrors of war.

I read once that the hellscapes presented in dystopian novels like Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Divergent weren’t far off from things that actually happened to black and brown bodies in history.

This book, and its deeply traumatic truths, bears witness to that.

It’s our job, as pasty folk, not to look away.

While fiction, The Colour of Mourning weaves together three all-too-real stories of fear and heartbreak and inequality.

I can’t say I loved the story, but I loved the writing, the characters, and the themes of family, endurance, hope, and ending (THE ENDING!) was perfection.

Also: Why doesn’t the author have more of a back catalogue? Ridiculous! lol

An excellent read.
Layal and her loved ones go through the worst a human can experience.
The rest is in the book. Please read it.
Close to 5 stars.
Plot 5/5
Characterisation 4/5
Themes 5/5
Prose 4/5

Thank you for allowing me to read this beautifully written story. I fell in love with the female characters and the courage that they portrayed.

“The Color Of Mourning” by Kim Dempster, is a 292-page fiction book released in February of this year, and the author’s first independently published novel. The paperback has ISBN 979-8310256422 and costs $12.00. 

Inspired by women, Kim Dempster, an intrepid explorer of the Middle East, lives in Iran. This story takes place in the war-torn city of Raqqa, Syria, and centers on Layal Wassef, who is offered a full scholarship to study at the London School of Economics. Her brother Tarek is, however, part of a democracy group, which puts the entire family at risk. As Islamic rebels attack the city, Layal’s doctor father is abducted, and lives and properties are lost. No one allows her access to books or technology. Layal wishes to leave Syria earlier when she has the chance.

However, her situation raises baffling questions. How will she cope with life in such tough times? Will Layal and her family be safe? Will her dreams come true? 

One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the symbolism of the protagonist Layal. She is a symbol of the confines, suffering, and agony of femininity, the life of being a Middle Eastern has been burdened upon her. A witness to the destruction caused by the world’s largest terrorist organization, Layal is a living testament of true resilience and, coupled with her educational interest in International Affairs, makes her worthy of a bright future of being an ambassador of child rights. Her sacrificing her education for the comfort of child marriage, however, takes away her remaining sense of dignity and freedom, leaving her unseen, unheard, and enslaved by society.  

She is, however, lucky to have Nooda, Johanna, and a few other resilient women who share common goals with her. Their black mourning outfits symbolize their ordeal in Syria, which fits the narrative and makes it more realistic. As Layal said to Bejan and her fellow women, after they narrowly avoided persecution and crossed the Syrian border, “You are modern-day Amazons.”

I do not have any negative views in the book. It offers an insight into the oppression faced by Middle Eastern women, the bond of strength and unity among those resisting the oppression, as well as the constant fight for freedom and equality. I find this book insightful and educational, with subtle morals that the readers would appreciate.

I did not find any typographical mistakes or errors. Because of this, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this novel to female readers interested in fiction, history, and war stories. It serves as a beacon to notify of the resilience of feminine characters across the toughest parts of the world and the need for women’s rights to be respected.