Néhémy Dahomey
Seagull Books
6 October 2025
180
eBook - PDF
Historical Fiction
ARC via Edelweiss
Set in 1842, this novel foregrounds a Haiti that is grappling with the weight of an onerous debt imposed by France, forcing its citizens to pay reparations to French colonists in exchange for diplomatic recognition of the first Black republic of the Americas. In the town of Boën, a prosperous notary, Ludovic Possible, decides to take a bold step to secure the future of his community. He opens a schoolhouse where local children can learn both artisanal skills and the essential ability to read and write. For Ludovic, education represents the best chance for the people of Boën to rise above their hardships and build a prosperous future—especially for Aïda, a quiet and enigmatic girl whose mother’s marvelous stories captivate him.
The tranquility of Boën is soon shattered, however, by a series of duels that pit families, neighbors, and even animals against each other. As tensions rise, Ludovic’s vision for a better future is threatened by the escalating violence.
Duels was a short but impactful read. Despite the short page count, I really felt involved in the characters, the place, and the scenarios, with the country's overarching tensions boiling over and mirrored in the issues taking place in the village. The book delved into ideas of race, social hierarchy, gender roles, politics and education. The only minor negative is that, when it ended, I wondered if the author could have done a little more with it. As such, I am giving it 3.5 stars. It's worth a read if you like historical fiction and/or negatives revolving around colonialism.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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