This story is told in a combination of typical narrative but mostly a heavy dose of folktale epic. Don't expect much in the way of character growth, because that's not the purpose of the book. However, the gorgeous writing and dense worldbuilding carried me through and still made me invest in the characters. I loved the mythic hyperbole and how well balanced it was to seem absurd at times but still make sense in the context of the story. ( )

There is a lot to this book. At the heart of the story is Count Ashenafi; his daughter Aster and the society they live in. Aster is unusual and is cloistered away by her father. When she falls in love with one of her guards (a family slave) trouble follows. In the late 18th century Ethiopia was a mess of feuding warlords; religious conflict and the serfs and slaves were questioning the status quo. Mezlekia takes all this and creates an epic of forbidden love; civil conflict; touches of the supernatural and good story telling. I really enjoyed this book, I liked the characters and the setting. Sometimes the story seems a bit sprawling but overall a good read. ( )

This is an amazing book, and perhaps the least well known African masterwork ever done. Hyperbole aside, it is at once a fable, cosmology, thriller, romance, allegory, and war novel. The author describes it as being "set in the period from 1750 to the late 1800's" in what is modern-day Ethiopia. It tells the tale of Gudu, a slave-cum-erstwhile-hero who leads a campaign, the love-of-his-life and noblewoman Aster, Aster's father Duke Ashenafi, and many other colorful characters. The plot migrates from family life and conflict, to intrigue, class warfare, and finally a series of raids and war. The plot is bejeweled with unexpected turns, despicable characters, noble purity, inventions, class struggle and much more. Why this book is not recognized for its quality is a mystery. ( )