Khalia Moreau’s He Burns by the River is a haunting and poetic tale of love, loss, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of a small, atmospheric riverside town, the novel follows a protagonist wrestling with secrets and a past that won’t stay buried. Moreau’s lyrical prose paints vivid, emotional landscapes, capturing both the beauty and brutality of human connection. This poignant and deeply resonant story lingers long after the final page, making it a must-read for fans of literary fiction.

I really enjoyed the unique storytelling of this book. I felt fully immersed into the culture of Trinidad, and found myself connecting with the characters. My disclaimer is that the writing style is very unique, and takes some getting used to, but once you get into the flow this story takes you on quite a ride. The connection between competing brothers, and what they go through together when one falls “cursed” is truly wild to behold. There are an odd jumps that can be tricky to follow at times, but things pick back up quickly to ground you.

Wow. I really love books centered around brothers. Their dynamic was definitely a complex one - I mean, it IS a Cain and Abel retelling - with difficult emotions brimming from both boys. But overall, the story really was centered around the love and care they have for each other, which I adore.

I also loved that this was set in Trinidad and full of it's culture. It absolutely immersed me in the setting and I was living for it.

One area that I struggled with was the pacing. It felt very stop and go in a way that we'd have an incredible and intense scene, then the brakes would be pumped by backstory. But overall, I had a really good time with this story and these brothers.

He Burns by the River by Khalia Moreau is such a good book. I couldn't put this book down for a bit. So so good. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.