Thank you to bibliolifestyle & amistadbooks for the gifted copy.

Born during the Great Depression, Benjamin Lee is tormented by his ancestors' stolen future while manning tobacco fields. His son Junior tries to escape the curse where the post-Korean War GI Bill promises prosperity. Then comes Lottie Rebecca Lee, Junior's daughter and the reincarnation of Mother Spirit, who didn't survive enslavement's post-traumatic stress violence, and who must stitch back the fractured love in the Lee family.

Following three generations of a Black family in the South, TRINITY examines the dynamic between "holy" father (Benjamin), son (Junior), and spirit (Lottie), and the importance of preserving our ancestor's stories. The first half of the book is told from the men's perspectives, while the last half focuses more on Lottie's POV, which drew me in more.

The exploration of generational trauma and the detrimental effects of unresolved grief on especially women and children is the focal point of TRINITY, and this analysis reminds me of THE LOVE SONGS of W. E. B. DuBois (Honorée Fanonne Jeffers). However, I feel the book lacks accountability for the men who propagate violence. And the women in the book often bear the wrath of the men while assuming caretaking roles—this angle reminds me of MEMPHIS (Tara M. Stringfellow).

At its core, TRINITY is a daring novel honoring all that Black girls and women carry and a celebration of their power to love, heal & forgive.