BLOG TOUR: Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning eras and generations, it tells of the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healing woman; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother's footsteps as a midwife; and their master's daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women and their community come to a head at the beginning of a war and at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear and a spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom.

Magnificently written, brilliantly researched, richly imagined, Conjure Women moves back and forth in time to tell the haunting story of Rue, Varina, and May Belle, their passions and friendships, and the lengths they will go to save themselves and those they love.

Publisher: 4th Estate

Pages: 416

Conjure Women is a fantastic debut from Afia Atakora. I was so impressed with her writing style, it is rich and vivid, you quickly become immersed in the story she is telling.
Three women dominate the story, Miss May Belle, her daughter Rue and their master's daughter Varina. The book follows these three before and after the Civil War, we see them during the last years of slavery and the first precarious years of freedom.
Miss May Belle is what is known as a Conjure Woman, she is known in the community for her healing and midwifery skills, when she dies, her daughter Rue takes over. Rue delivers a baby born within its caul and people are scared and superstitious. When others begin to fall ill, they blame it on the new child and start to believe that Rue may be a witch. Rue's skills that had been so valued suddenly become something that others fear.
Varina is the daughter of the plantation owner, even though her father is the master, she and Rue grew up together. They have a strange dynamic, Rue is one of the few that can understand Varina and actually gives her the attention  and companionship that she craves.
I thought that Atakora showed how vulnerable people were after being freed as slaves, although it should be a time of celebration, they are exploited and preyed upon by other groups. Religion plays a big part in this and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.
Conjure Women does not sugar coat this time period, Atakora shows the brutality and tensions on the plantation and the way in which the world was changing. It was fascinating to see how people's attitudes changed towards Rue, mainly out of fear. She is in a very vulnerable position and all she has done is try to help others.
I can highly recommend Conjure Women, Afia Atakora has written a debut that will have many talking.

Many thanks to 4th Estate for sending me a review copy and inviting me on the blog tour.