this is mandatory reading—no ifs and or buts. if you have a pulse, you need to read this asap. this is hands down one of the most important books i have ever come across. there is a time and a place for “fourth wing” and a bunch of other booktok books. but right now, you need to put those kinds of books down and educate yourself. ignorance is not cute or aesthetic.

yes, this might be a hard one to read. yes, it’s graphic. yes, it’s painful. but guess what? it’s real and there were millions of people who had personally experienced this violence in a country that spit upon them for centuries, and abused them and their children and their children’s children. the least that everyone can do—in the comfort and safety of their beautiful homes—is to read this book,  meditate on its themes, and discuss with other people. your trending booktok book can wait—it’ll be there when you’re done with this book.