This is one of the best, if not the best book I have read so far this year. Bold statement I know, but The Incarnations by Susan Barker is worth the praise. So why did I like it? There are so many reasons why, I have to put them in bullet form:

• It’s got a bunch of mini, well-told, and well-developed stories within the main narrative
• The numerous characters are colorful, flawed, and so interesting to read about
• Many of the situations are painfully emotional, and very well written without being melodramatic
• There is a deep-seeded mystery being developed between each plot line that ends in a satisfying way
• It’s an incredibly unique story, and considering the thousands of books being published each year, this is no small feat!

When you read the amount of books I do, you develop a deep respect and reverence for a book that is truly ‘different’. “Oh, a story about an enigmatic young woman, I’ve been dying to read one of these” said no one ever. Honestly, life is ripe with a million untold tales, there just needs to be someone creative and insightful enough to pick up on this, and turn it into an enjoyable book to read. Barker has done just that with this book, her third novel. I loved it so much I wished she was Canadian, because I wanted to claim this as our own.

Now I should warn you, there are some very violent, and terrible happenings in this story. But it covers a good chunk of Chinese history, so there’s got to be some blood and gore to stay true to life! Personally, I’ve never been one to shy away from this sort of thing (crazy cat ladies like myself need their action from somewhere) but just keep this in mind before you pick up The Incarnations, it’s not for the faint of heart but you’d be missing out BIG TIME if you skipped it.