Jesmyn Ward has become one of my favorite writers over the years. Her writing is so unique and powerful, and I always feel like it’s a privilege to see what she’s crafted on the page. “Let Us Descend” is no exception. It’s intense and heartbreaking but also hauntingly beautiful and hopeful.

The novel is written from the point-of-view of Annis, a young enslaved woman in the American South whose life is filled with one horror after another. When she’s sold to another enslaver, she begins a painful journey that leads her to communicate with the gods. This blend of fantasy and mysticism is where Ward’s writing truly shines. Not only does she incorporate the utter heartlessness of slavery in a realistic way, she also blends in the supernatural in a manner that feels both inspired and essential.

I was also blown away by Ward’s characterization. Every character in this novel feels distinct with a particular way of speaking and emoting – this makes the reader feel even more invested in their individual fates. Annis and each of the characters that help her along her journey are fighters – and their spirits seem to lift off the page (no matter how much they’ve been abused and mistreated). There is no way to truly understand how dehumanizing it was to be an enslaved person, but Ward’s characters help us better grasp what that experience might have been like.

This is the third novel I’ve read by Ward, but by no means will it be my last. She’s truly one of the most gifted writers of our time.

5 stars

*Free ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*