Blackheart Man is set on the island of Chynchin, where main character Veycosi is working to become a singer-storyteller and looking forward to wedding his betrotheds, Thandiwe and Gombey. From the outset, it is clear Veycosi is someone keen to accomplish great things and solve problems his community is facing, but he is far from consistently effective. When the Ymisen arrive – whom Chynchin had previously successfully repelled from their island – Veycosi tries to help, but of course it doesn’t go as planned. 

Hopkinson’s worldbuilding is, as always, incredible. On Chynchin, the economy is decidedly non-capitalist – people give away items they don’t need in ‘generousities’ and the idea of paying someone for work is seen as an insult (‘I assume you are a layabout who must be bribed to do an honest day’s work’); ship’s captain is a role for women and third-sexed folks and marriages are between threes. This is a world where diverse genders and sexualities are for the most part unremarkable, not marginalized. Chynchin’s Caribbean influences are clear – references to obeah, for example, are plentiful – and Hopkinson’s writing in Chynchin dialects, incorporation of myth, and exploration of the role of storytelling in Chynchin all contribute to making this novel a truly immersive read. 

The plot is quite quick. There is a lot going on here. I think there is room for a sequel – if Hopkinson were to write another book in this world, I’d happily pick it up. 

Content warnings: violence, colonization, war, death, murder, child death, medical content (not graphic), sexual assault (not graphically described), blood, injury detail, animal death

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster for providing me with an ARC to review.