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Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Cobalt Chronicles by Kathryn Den Houter is the story of Esynama who has bigger dreams than just working in the cobalt mines. Living in the Katanga province of the Congo is not easy, but with a nudge in the right direction by her mother, Esy is ready for a change. Education is everything for Esy; she wants to do better, she wants to learn and she does not want to work in the cobalt mine with her father. But her reality is much bigger than her dreams and she has to fight off challenges and challengers every step of the way. Does she have what it takes to follow the path of success? The choices are tough, but they have the power to change her whole life. What will she do?
Writing about empowering women is a forte of author Kathryn Den Houter and Cobalt Chronicles is no exception. I remember reading Abigail’s Exchange and falling in love with Kathryn’s writing style. There is something soothing about the way she writes. Her words are simple; they are not showy or overly descriptive, but they are magical. I have high expectations from authors who impress me this much, and I am overjoyed that Kathryn didn’t let me down. Esy is on par with Brida by Coelho and Bride by Morrison. She is smart, determined, and just motivated enough to fight for what she believes in. The plot is powerful, deceptively simple, and incredibly paced to bring the essence of the story to the forefront. The descriptions about the Congo, how gentle her mother is, and how domineering her father is are vivid enough to make you feel like you are in the moment with Esy. Reading Cobalt Chronicles is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their life.
