OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to lovers of ‘Sankofa’ by Chibundo Onuzo and ‘Fruit of the Lemon’ by Andrea Levy. I understand why Byron had to have his own storyline (because there needed to be some present-day/ forward action) but it felt as if it wasn’t fully integrated into the narrative.

Contributing to this was my feeling that Byron’s present-day storyline was a bit bolted on. It felt like the author had to tie up lots of loose ends but the main story was finished and the reader is already able to guess the conclusion of any unresolved storylines. NOT SO GOOD BITS: The last 100 pages of this book dragged a little as there was a lot of resolution. In particular, I thought the inclusion of a Chinese-Jamaican character was very impactful and added so much to the story. The theme of multi-culturalism and migration worked so well and became a metaphor for the Caribbean itself how the island is characterized by the different colonial and immigrant forces. I really loved how the author gave us a family backstory that was filled with different cultures and continents. GOOD BITS: This debut novel is really impressive due to the numerous different storytelling techniques the author uses. However, the themes of family, love and loyalty, and the elements about queerness, race and multi-culturalism has won this book a place in my heart. On the downside, the present-day storylines were good but not great, and I felt the novel dragged at the end.

I also found the plot really compelling and moreish due to the short chapters and roving points of view which made for great pacing. You know I can’t resist a bit of historical fiction and the setting was absolutely stunning (I can picture it in my mind as if I’ve been there). RATING: I’m giving this novel four stars because I loved the main storyline, which was mostly set in a fictionalized/unnamed Caribbean Island in the 1960’s. Can they piece together Eleanor’s true history and fulfil her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right?” In her recording, Eleanor shares a young woman’s heart-breaking journey from her island home but the story challenges everything the siblings thought they knew about their family. In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children: a family recipe for traditional Caribbean black cake and a voice recording. THE PLOT: ‘Black Cake’ by Charmaine Wilkerson is a multi-generational and multi-cultural family saga with a dual timeline and multiple points of view.

Review of black cake