Nisi Shawl's debut novel is stunning. Full-stop. 
 "To Octavia, who knew this day would come." 
 Through the frame of an alternate outcome for what today is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nisi Shawl confronts us with the parts of ourselves and our society that we least want to see. Assumed superiority (racial, religious, class, etc.) is brought to light in every corner, and the reader cannot hide from the spotlight. 
 The relationships, for the most part, are handled well. They're complicated, and messy, but they don't detract from the main storyline. (And that's a trick more people need to learn). The timeskips mean that the reader doesn't get too good a look at developmental details, but the broad strokes are clear. 
 I love her voice. You don't see this tone taken with fiction as often anymore (or if you do, it's not in the books I normally read), but it's such a breath of fresh air. No, this isn't a particularly "cinematic" sort of book, but it's wonderful all the same. Each chapter is a sort of vignette, and the book draws the reader steadily through the years of change to it's conclusion. The reader does have to pay attention, or risk missing important details. 
 (On that note, I do wish I'd had more time to read this, but it has to go back to the library tonight. *shrug* There will be other days to reread, I suppose.) 
 If I have one hesitation, it's that the strongly paranormal aspect of the Bah-Sangah religion, as set against the apparently impotent (and largely Protestant) Christianity of the new arrivals, was discomfiting. (view spoiler)[Particularly the Preacher's apostasy and subsequent powers in the service of the local god Loango (hide spoiler)]. As a narrative device, it works wonders. It's yet another mirror, and I have to applaud it. On the other hand, as a woman of faith, it's hard for me to read.