A bold and beautiful epic full with a plethora of amazing characters, all coming together in a fictional town called Ours. This book certainly is a commitment, and had I seen it in a bookstore, I might've balked just because of its volume, but I'm glad I didn't. The language of the author is wonderfully poetic as well, and reading this novel was a real pleasure.

What an incredible journey of magical realism mixed with an epic saga of darkness and mystery! You can certainly tell that Williams is a poet as his prose is so carefully considered and magnetic. I loved this novel and felt the textures, heat and humidity as well as the scent of the trees and outdoor settings. A truly remarkable story that pulls you in and keeps you mesmerised. Do not be put off by the length of this novel as the pages will keep turning themselves.

Damn this was a big book. I wasn't expecting it!! set in the mid 19th century in nowhereland, USA, this was a really thought provoking, slightly supernatural story about a conjurer. The question is if it is moral to conjure the village and if they truly have their own freedom etc and this book was a brilliant metaphor. Really good to get the cogs turning in the brain, I really enjoyed this one

I am bamboozled. This will probably end up on my favorite of 2024 because it was simply amazing. For some, it might be too long, I didn't think it was. The author takes a lot of time and care exploring their characters (and there are a lot so that also takes some time), their emotions, pasts, lives, etc. It is a complex read but not difficult, more like an onion with many different layers to peel. I can only recommend this novel, it is truly a gem and deserves more recognition from both the public and literary critics.

I really tried to get into this one but it just didn't pull at me enough to stay invested enough to finish it. I think it's definitely a good book but I'm not the audience.

received this ARC from NetGalley and Granta publications in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book is follows the inhabitants of a town called Ours; this town has free slaves and their descendants. These slaves have been liberated from plantations by Saint and her silent companion. To give them somewhere to live safely, Saint uses conjure to hide Ours from those who would wish them harm. I found that this book was written beautifully but at the same time it was quite verbose and a little difficult to get through as it follows too many characters (that play no role in the overall plot). I feel that the story would have been easier to follow if it was centred around key characters and their backstories were given earlier in the book in order to understand their motivations. This would have made for a more emotional reading experience. Overall, a challenging read.

The book takes the readers on a fascinating journey with an intriguing plot, but at times, the direction of the story can be hazy.
The book's premise and unique literary style make it a captivating read that's worth your time making it a great 2024 debut!
I do think this book will become a popular read of the year because the writing is so stellar, poetic, and original.

This book is absolutely breathtaking. I got 50 pages in and pre-ordered.

Ours by Phillip B. Williams is a genre bending epic about a town called Ours created by a mysterious, supernatural being called Saint who frees enslaved people from plantations across the US South.

Williams said he wanted to create mythical foundation for African-Americans. I'm Black british so can't speak on that but what I can say is that if you are part of the Black diaspora there will be something in this masterpiece that connects you too it.

It's magical realism, afro surrealism, fantasy, historical reimagining, romance even science-fiction at times.

The charectors are complex, flawed, love able. They develop and reflect throughout the book. Representation of how beautiful and diverse Blackness is on point too. Gah, I loved this book so much.

I read this in January and it will be on my top 5 list for 2024.

Please never stop writing Phillip. Your voice is so deeply necessary.

Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC and thankyou Pillip B Williams for this once in a lifetime reading experience.

Everyone must read this.

Phillip B. Williams' debut novel is a spellbinding exploration of rebellion, redemption, power, and humanity set against the grim backdrop of America's darkest days.

I enjoyed this alternative world. It was a fascinating exploration and the characters felt true. It’s a long read but definitely worth it, with a strong ending

This is such an ambitious book; telling an alternate and mythic history of black people in the US.
The book asks questions like: how do we know we are free? what happens to us if we can't access our memory? how do we heal from trauma, individually and collectively? what happens if we don't own our grief? and perhaps most importantly, how did we get here?

Phillip B Wiliams is a stunning writer. The prose is lyrical and sharp. The opening chapter of this novel is one of the best I can remember reading in recent years.

I do think the plot requires some patience from the reader. What is promised in the opening chapter does take a while to come to fruition. But on the whole I really recommend it.

This is a great story, depicting freedom and slavery in the town of Ours. It was impactful and delivered a great insight into the characters and the relation to place. If you want an intense novel which explores characters trying to heal from the issues of their past with a hint of the supernatural, read this book.

The good: the exploration of characters which is developed throughout the book. It's setting is interesting and carries you through a lot, with a wonderful depiction of emotion through language shown in the second half of the book.

The not so good: It drags at the beginning a bit. The plot picks up, but you do need to fight through a bit! It is certainly great in the second half, but that push you need to get through the first wee bit made me knock off a star.

Description:
Ours is a town in America founded by escaped slaves, and headed by a woman called Saint, a conjuror who annihilated a bunch of plantations to save them and bring them there. This is an epic which follows a bunch of different people within the town - it's been a long time since I read Middlemarch, but this feels very similar in scope.

Liked:
The characters are beautifully fleshed out and varied - all sympathetic, all flawed, no two alike. The magical elements are evocative and somehow manage to feel very personal, without straying into the realm of superpowers. I enjoyed the intricacies of all the different interpersonal relationships. Some ridiculously beautiful turns of phrase.

Disliked:
Outstays its welcome a bit - felt like it could have been a fair bit shorter. It's part but by no means all of what makes it feel quite wilfully obtuse - other contributing factors include lots of small jumps back and forward in time which may be thematically relevant but result in the reader always feeling somewhat unmoored. The bigger jumps I can get behind, though!

Would absolutely recommend, but take it slow!

Anything Else:
I know this isn’t something I’d need to comment on in an ideal world, but the writing of women in this book felt superb, to me. I would have assumed it was written by a woman.

Frome the very first page, I knew that OURS will be one of the best books of 2024.

This is such an exhilarating read, full of emotions and events, written in precises and poetic prose. Ours is not only the story of that small village outside Saint Louis and its inhabitants but it is also the story of the humankind and its struggles. Willaims has achieved something remarkable in this novel and I cannot wait to see it among many prize lists.