“Most times we can’t change what done to us. But we can fight. I know you know a little something about that, the not giving up part. I know you a fighter ‘cause you still here.”

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The story starts out with Pola on a plantation in Puerto Rico on the night she decides to run. That was a first for me, action at the very beginning of the story is always a win. 

The story follows Pola as she is sold to a sugarcane plantation, one with owners that don’t usually punish their slaves harshly. Though that seems to be a relief, there are many other things that become worries. 

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Pola is met by the healer Rafina, when she arrives. Due to extreme bruises from her previous plantation, she experiences leniency here and eventually makes friends - though the enemies always come first. 

After a while Pola allows the truths that she has pushed aside long ago to settle into her thoughts. The truth that The Mother, Yemaya, from her original Yoruba upbringing has never left her - but has actually answered the prayer she prayed when she ran the first night. 

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The story gives an outlook from Pola’s past, being taken from her village, her journey to the auction block and the trauma she encountered from child birth and dealing with her previous plantation that forced their slaves to breed. 

Seeing Pola change and accept that love is possible was a beautiful thing. Being a slave narrative, this was a very enjoyable read.