It was a good book, although it took me a while to get used to the author’s dialect (it’s not a bad thing, but it sort of made me lose a bit of connection with the story at first). My only problem is that the stories ended when I started to want to know more about the characters and hiw their lives would develop after their events. Still, I’d highly recommend it.

The Believers is a powerful debut collection that brings out the hidden strength in people on the margins. Each story offers a glimpse into lives shaped by love, rebellion, family, and identity, with a haunting atmosphere that sticks with you.

I was especially drawn to the story of a family trying to leave their church at a huge personal cost, and the tale of children who discover a mysterious boy with wings in a seaside village. Other stories explore complicated relationships, like lovers tangled in identity politics or a gardener who falls for a wealthy man’s daughter with heartbreaking consequences.

The writing is powerful and beautifully captures the small but significant moments in these characters’ lives. It’s subversive, haunting, and full of tension, making each story linger long after finishing. This is a strong debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from A.K.!

Engrossing short stories about Tobagans set both on the island and in New York. I got so involved with some of the characters, I wanted a whole novel.

In this collection of stories about Trinidadians, both at home and far away, Herman explores religious fundamentalism and the corrupt morals of religious leaders, the exile of a young woman because of her pregnancy, and the cruelty of children and adults alike as they navigate relationships. It's a stark and sober look at how islanders have suffered because of colonial politics, and how toxic masculinity manifests everywhere. A good choice for book clubs.

A.K. Herman’s prose is intriguing, if anything, and it took me a while to get used to it. There’s almost an unhinged quality. The writing had knack for throwing me for a loop every few paragraphs, giving me something to be shocked about in each story.

I also found these stories pretty thought-provoking. The characters aren’t meant to be likable or unlikable; their stories simply tell a very raw, realistic tale of Trinidadian experiences. Overall, I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this collection of short stories!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest rating.

This was a very pleasantly surprising read! The characters really jumped off the page and I really connected with them and their stories. I think my favourite read was Ready for the Revolution. Can’t wait to see what the author does next!

The Believers by AK Herman is a group of short stories written about a part of humanity most don’t get to see and I am glad he is bringing it to the forefront for everyone to enjoy because ultimately we’re all people and people react to things in basically the same ways so to see someone in a position where they want to leave what they believe is a cult type Church because the leader wants their daughter, who they want to be educated, her to marry the youth leader and for many other reasons is interesting and had me reading until the story was over I really enjoyed the one where the girls dad was paying for her boyfriend to go to school in New York and she came to visit that one to me was not only the funniest but very interesting. Then again if you read the summary all the stories are really worth reading. It’s like being a fly on the wall which is my favorite thing to be. There were some things that were surprising to me such as the amount of sex in the book but it was not prolonged and only written about when apropos to the story I really enjoyed these short stories in a highly recommend it I love books written about other places and other people in this certainly fits the bill and then some they had some from Trinidad some from Jamaica but all are worth reading about. #NetGalley,#ARPhillipsPress, #AKHerman, #TheBelievers,

Read Sept. 24 - I'll be reviewing this for the Short Story review column in Mslexia, issue 104. (I'll update once the issue is out.)
Thank you for the ARC!

This collection of stories was an engaging read, packed with dynamic characters and unique perspectives. As with most anthologies, a few stories stood out more than others—“Exile” and “Ready for the Revolution?” were my favorites.
It's hard to believe this is A.K. Herman’s debut; her storytelling is captivating, and I’m excited to see what she comes out with next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for and e-arc in exchange for am honest review!

A thought provoking set of stories told by Trinidadian people. They were all quite different but the thoughts and behaviours were rather similar. I liked the first and last stories the most - church culture and ‘how to behave’ were the forefront of social acceptance and when the characters strayed, shame was prevalent.

It is a book I’d choose for a book club, because I’d like to hear others opinions on it - how they would react to the situations presented in the stories.

I enjoyed it and read through it quite quickly those getting to grips with the patoise was a little challenging at first.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I love stories told from perspectives different than my own, but I struggled with The Believers. I did like how every story was told by someone from Trinidad or Tobego, so there was connection between each tale. And the stories featured, what I would imagine to be scenarios mainly depicting reality in those communities. But I struggled to connect to any of the characters, which I suppose a risk you always take in reading (and writing) short story collections.
Still, I am grateful for the chance to read this proof.

The Believers: Stories by A. K. Herman is a thought-provoking collection that delves deep into the complexities of faith, identity, and human nature. Each story presents a different perspective on belief, whether it's in religion, relationships, or oneself. Herman's writing is sharp, engaging, and layered with emotional depth, making the characters feel real and relatable. The subtle interplay between doubt and conviction weaves through each narrative, leaving readers reflecting long after they turn the last page. A must-read for those who enjoy introspective and character-driven short stories.

This was a very interesting collection of stories filled with with vibrant characters.

As with any collection of stories, one favors some more than others. Personally, “Exile” and “Ready for the Revolution?” had me connecting with the characters and rooting for them the most.

I was surprised to find this is A.K. Herman’s debut. She’s a very compelling author and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for whatever she does next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and A. R. Phillips Press for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

The Believers: Stories” is a compelling collection that delves into the complexities of faith, identity, and human relationships. Each tale in this anthology is a testament to the author’s ability to weave complex narratives that resonate deeply with readers.

Pros:

Diverse Themes: The memories discover a huge variety of subject matters, from non-public religion to societal problems, presenting a rich tapestry of perspectives.
Character Development: The characters are nicely-evolved and multi-dimensional, making it clean for readers to hook up with their struggles and triumphs.
Engaging Writing Style: The creator’s prose is both lyrical and on hand, drawing readers into each tale with no trouble.
Emotional Depth: The stories are emotionally charged, regularly leaving a long-lasting impact at the reader.
Cultural Insights: The collection offers treasured insights into one of a kind cultures and perception systems, fostering a extra knowledge and empathy.
Cons:

Pacing Issues: Some tales may additionally experience sluggish-paced, which may not appeal to all readers.
Complex Narratives: The problematic plotlines can on occasion be difficult to follow, requiring cautious interest.
Heavy Themes: The heavy and frequently somber issues may not be appropriate for readers searching out light-hearted content material.
Overall Impression: “The Believers: Stories” is a idea-scary series that challenges readers to mirror on their own ideals and the arena round them. The creator’s skillful storytelling and deep exploration of human emotions make this e-book a profitable read for people who recognize literary fiction with substance. While the pacing and complexity would possibly pose challenges for some, the emotional intensity and cultural richness of the memories extra than catch up on these minor drawbacks. This series is tremendously encouraged for readers who revel in delving into the intricacies of faith, identification, and human connections.

THE BELIEVERS is a very well-written short story collection. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially "Exile" and "Ready for the Revolution." The use of dialect/vernacular language is easy to get used to, and I appreciated how it added to the texture of the narratives. The author expertly conveyed the longings of the characters, which kept me turning the pages. The stories are well-paced and tightly woven. The themes of society, class, and complicated relationships are handled beautifully.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

A. K. Herman's debut story collection, The Believers: Stories, is a captivating exploration of the lives of people on the periphery. The stories immerse readers in a world where language and culture are intertwined, and the protagonists refuse to conform to societal expectations.

Herman's writing imbues these characters with a power that is often invisible to outsiders, challenging the notion of conformity. The stories stand apart from other collections, showcasing Herman's unique voice and perspective.

The Believers: Stories presents a tapestry of human emotions and societal critiques, making it a compelling read that resonates with contemporary issues while celebrating the richness of diverse narratives.

This was a very fascinating and unique set of short stories which I really enjoyed. Some stories left me wanting more. Each story though, once I started reading I couldn’t stop, I was immediately sucked right into it.

Review published on my blog at: https://jasonfrye.com/2024/08/15/review-of-the-believers-stories-by-a-k-herman/

The Believers is the first published collection from A. K. Herman. The stories envelop the reader in a world where language weds culture, where the protagonist does not conform to modernity in their conduct or moral acts. There’s humanity and appalling behavior, both in violence as found in Love Story No. 8 or in the sex between the pages of the story titled Love.

The stories are set in Tobago or New York City, with some characters hailing from Trinidad. With these characters as focal perspectives, we also live their language. The first two stories, Beginning and The Believers, use the vernacular to place us in the story. At first, it’s jarring to read a line of dialogue like, “Nah, just di-exam-dem and school. And mi want to burn di light-dem wid Pastora. You still work wid her?” But as you grow accustomed to the language, it also brings you closer to the story in a way that using a more modernistic language constructs wouldn’t.

Sex was present in almost all the stories, if not overtly, then through the hormonal actions of some of the characters. All of the sex scenes were vividly done, with Love having the most evocative scenes. But none of them were over the top or too lustful and they never carried on for too long.

The stories paced well and kept the reader’s attention. Even as I struggled with the cultural language in the early stories, I came to expect it in the later ones.

The characters stood out beyond their use of Tobago slang. These were humans in all their oddities and morally ambiguous acts. In the title story, The Believers, we come to know a couple who have a beautiful daughter, of which the story becomes centered even though we never hear from her directly. Mostly we experience the tale from the father’s perspective. The pastor of his church in New York is asking for his daughter to be married to a man in their congregation. This creates a rift between the family and the church that culminates in an evocative scene at the end of the story. As the main character struggles with the burden, we see a multi-faceted approach to religion and how it drives wedges and opens doors in some cases, but asks too much in others.

There are plenty of cultural references and social issues throughout the stories, especially when it comes to class, marriage, and relationships. But none of these themes override the story to the point of exhaustion. Instead, they weave themselves naturally into the characters and their experiences, which are very human and organic.

The stories have a bit of everything: amazing dialogue, captivating descriptions of the setting and people, excellent pacing, and minus a few exceptions, good payoffs at the end of the stories. It’s a short collection, but the meat is there and the bones make these stand apart from other collections. Keep an eye on Herman, as I imagine we’ll see more from them in the future.