Blackheart Man

English language

Published 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

ISBN:: 978-1-6680-0510-1

The magical island of Chynchin is facing conquerors from abroad and something sinister from within in this entrancing fantasy from the Grand Master Award–winning author Nalo Hopkinson.

Veycosi, a scholar of folklore, hopes to sail off to examine the rare Alamat Book of Light and thus secure a spot for himself on Cynchin’s Colloquium. However, unexpected events prevent that from happening. Fifteen Ymisen galleons arrive in the harbor to force a trade agreement on Cynchin. Veycosi is put in charge of the situation, but quickly finds himself in way over his head.

Bad turns to worse when malign forces start stirring. Pickens (children) are disappearing and an ancient invading army, long frozen into piche (tar) statues by island witches is stirring to life—led by the fearsome demon known as the Blackheart Man. Veycosi has problems in his polyamorous personal life, too. How much trouble can a poor scholar …

The magical island of Chynchin is facing conquerors from abroad and something sinister from within in this entrancing fantasy from the Grand Master Award–winning author Nalo Hopkinson.

Veycosi, a scholar of folklore, hopes to sail off to examine the rare Alamat Book of Light and thus secure a spot for himself on Cynchin’s Colloquium. However, unexpected events prevent that from happening. Fifteen Ymisen galleons arrive in the harbor to force a trade agreement on Cynchin. Veycosi is put in charge of the situation, but quickly finds himself in way over his head.

Bad turns to worse when malign forces start stirring. Pickens (children) are disappearing and an ancient invading army, long frozen into piche (tar) statues by island witches is stirring to life—led by the fearsome demon known as the Blackheart Man. Veycosi has problems in his polyamorous personal life, too. How much trouble can a poor scholar take? Or cause all by himself?

3 editions

Zivan reviewed Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson

Myth, Magic and History blend on the island of Chynchin. Threatened by an imperial power it's population looks to its mythical past for solutions.

4 stars

Myth, Magic and History blend on the island of Chynchin. Threatened by an imperial power it's population looks to its mythical past for solutions.

Veycosi, a local scoundrel and history student with the heart of an engineer, is tasked with studying the magical victory that earned Chynchin its independence.

This is not a simplistic story, with plucky egalitarian islanders as the good guys and the empire as the villains. The island is not perfect and has its share of sins.

Veycosi is very much a representation of the powers of ADHD and is constantly getting into trouble, weather by his own actions or due to the magical nature of Chynchin.

He reminded me of the Jewish story about the difference between a Shlumiel and a Shlimazel.

The Shlumiel when carrying a bowl of soup will inevitably drop it over someone.

The Shlimazel is the …

Myth, Magic and History blend on the island of Chynchin. Threatened by an imperial power it's population looks to its mythical past for solutions.

Veycosi, a local scoundrel and history student with the heart of an engineer, is tasked with studying the magical victory that earned Chynchin its independence.

This is not a simplistic story, with plucky egalitarian islanders as the good guys and the empire as the villains. The island is not perfect and has its share of sins.

Veycosi is very much a representation of the powers of ADHD and is constantly getting into trouble, weather by his own actions or due to the magical nature of Chynchin.

He reminded me of the Jewish story about the difference between a Shlumiel and a Shlimazel.

The Shlumiel when carrying a bowl of soup will inevitably drop it over someone.

The Shlimazel is the person that somehow manages to allways find himself in the path of the soup.

Veycosi somehow manages to embody both aspects of such misfortune.

PS. While the book seems good for young teens, note that there's some extremely graphic sex towards the end.