The Scent of Burnt Flowers is about a couple on the run, reading this brought Ghana to life for me. All of its business, it’s people, and it’s culture. This book kept me on the edge of my seat all the way until the last chapter. There was no real ending, I was unsure what happened to all the characters. I felt like the suspense was built up for no ending. Other than that the book was a good and easy read. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, and bringing Ghanaian history to me in a fictional way that leads me to do my own research on it. ( )

Steeped in the history and mythology of postcolonial West Africa at the intersection of the civil rights movement in America, this gripping and ambitious debut merges political intrigue, magical encounters, and forbidden romance in an epic collision of morality and power.

The story takes place alternating from 1935-1965 from Mississippi, Philadelphia, Baton Rouge Louisiana and Accra reflecting from the past to the present events.

I love the reference to Green Book (also known as the Negro motorist’s bible. It cataloged all Negro-owned and Negro-friendly restaurants, hotels, and gas stations that were safe to patronize), as Melvin and Bernadette drove from Philadelphia to Alabama during the civil rights movement to volunteer at the Alabama State University branch of SNCC, where they helped train nonviolent student protesters.

I have heard repeatedly and recently the fruition of black mermaids from the nearly 12.5 million enslaved Africans, about 1.8 million of whom died on the Middle Passage of the transatlantic slave trade. This human cargo, which usually numbered several hundred people per vessel, many escaped by jumping overboard committed suicide in this way, so did some crew members. Yes, mermaids are mythological creatures, but their African origins are real. People who were lost to the water could become water spirits.

Chapter 6 turned the story into a fantasy, mystical tale, and again in chapter twelve where The SSV, also known as the Shapeshifters Vanguard, was a secret army sworn to protect President Nkrumah. The novel ends with a singular fate that was intertwined from the beginning. I loved how the author infused real life, historical people and facts within the story, and the alternating flashbacks interspersed throughout the novel. This was a great read!

#TheScentofBurntFlowers #NetGalley ( )

The Scent of Burnt Flowers: A Novel, Blitz Bazawule, author; Dion Graham, narrator
This very talented author has written a short novel about many things that cause unnecessary tragedies, still today. It takes place in the mid 1960’s, and Illustrates how injustice, racism, secrecy, jealousy, selfishness, greed, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, hasty decisions, law enforcement or lack thereof, crime, poor planning, vengeance, violence, superstition and rushing to judgment, among many other issues, cause chaos. As he weaves the story, he uses the history of America and West Africa, the politics of the times, and the nature of the beast to create the whole cloth.
Melvin and Bernadette were engaged to be married, and now she is an accessory to his crime. He committed murder in the parking lot of Otto’s Diner, on December 26th, 1965, changing their plans for the future. This is a time in America’s history, that ushered in a period of racial unrest and political assassinations. Melvin convinces Bernadette that she must run away with him. He is certain that they will not find the justice and freedom they deserve, that they will not be believed, with the justice system in the United States. So, instead of planning their wedding, they flee to Ghana, where his former best friend is President Nkrumah. Mel saved his life during World War II. He believes that Kwame Nkrumah will protect them.
FBI Agent Hughes, whose real last name is Paulowski, is hot on their trail and is determined to follow them out of the country, without permission to travel, he disobeys his orders and flies to Ghana. He is obsessed with capturing them. Many of his contacts are unscrupulous. He is unaware of a plot to overthrow the government and gets caught in the web of deception. Each of the characters meet a variety of people, all of whom seem to have an ulterior motive. Everyone has secrets, everyone tells lies, and everyone seems willing to betray someone for a price.
The story seems to roll out in fits and bursts, going back and forth in time, with a rhythm that possibly is not unlike the rap the author is famous for. At times, I was at a loss, not knowing the history of Ghana, but after doing some research, I discovered that the unrest and rebellion in the country were based on facts and the very real-life leader, Kwame Nkrumah, “The President for Life” of Ghana, who was eventually overthrown and lived in exile in Guinea.
Magical realism, anthropomorphism, mythology and magic are infused throughout the story. A blind woman is a photographer. Flowers and mist, smoke and fire, bloom from the clairvoyance of a guitar as the famous musician, Kwesi Kwayson plays and his music inspires revolution. A flock of birds rescues Kwame Nkrumah, when there is an attempt on his life. Vengeance and foolhardiness drives many of the characters. Humans have magical powers and can turn into animals and aliens, as well. The implication that rogue American agents plot to overthrow governments does not paint a pretty picture.
The novel is unusual in its presentation with fact and fiction mingling together, but the problems it raises and uncovers are very real and worthy of discussion and investigation. ( )

Title: The Scent of Burnt Flowers
Author: Blitz Bazawule
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Scent of Burnt Flowers" by Blitz Bazawule

My Assessment:

'The Scent of Burnt Flowers' was an exciting story that one must keep up with because it goes back and forth in many of its scenes. The story is presented with mythical creatures and events that will leave one thinking a lot about what is going on in the story. We find the story is combined with a triangle love story [Melvin, Bernadette, and Kwesi], chasing fugitives by an agent [FBI Agent Huges] that didn't obey what he was told to do by his authorities, and by the end of the story terrible things happened to them through devastation. I will stop here and say this author puts together quite a read that you will have to pick up 'The Scent of Burnt Flowers' to see how this played so well in how this story will come together. Somewhat by the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )