PositiveThe New York Times Book ReviewWhile the book begins slowly, it picks up halfway through, when Sudan’s complexities are realized through the stories of those living in the compound, and the author’s rich imagination comes to life ... The book portrays the cyclical nature of violence and the psychological scars it leaves on ordinary people from all sides, highlighting how life persists despite the damage ... The author attempts to paint Alex here as an accidental hero, but a hero nonetheless. Thankfully, the novel is more affecting when it offers vivid accounts of what it feels like to live in a border area trapped between two warring factions. The prose can be expository at times, but the stories of civilians in the grip of uncertainty make for a haunting account and a daring debut.