Rashad’s fantastic debut evokes familiar history, such as Sally Hemings’ forced relationship with Thomas Jefferson, yet is also wholly new, weaving together vividly imagined characters in Solenne and Henriette and deftly moving through multiple time periods while capturing Solenne’s haunted yet strong voice . . . . Horrifying, captivating, and full of urgency.
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The Blueprint
The Blueprint goes beyond a simple examination of human nature; it immerses readers in an exploration of race, hypocrisy, and vulnerability. Through an exploration of history and a potential future, The Blueprint beckons readers to reflect on the nuances of power dynamics and the true meaning of freedom.
The narrative is not merely a journey; it unfolds as a ballad, blending despair and hope, resilience and sacrifice into a thematic blueprint.
Solenne Bonet lives in Texas where choice no longer exists. An algorithm determines a Black woman’s occupation, spouse, and residence. Solenne finds solace in penning the biography of Henriette, an ancestor who’d been an enslaved concubine to a wealthy planter in 1800s Louisiana. But history repeats itself when Solenne, lonely and naïve, finds herself entangled with Bastien Martin, a high-ranking government official. Solenne finds the psychological bond unbearable, so she considers alternatives. With Henriette as her guide, she must decide whether and how to leave behind all she knows.
Kirkus Reviews
Provocative . . . Rashad is terrific at characterization — we feel deeply Solenne's confusion, pain and hope. As she ponders her mother's words and tries to take control of her own life, she springs to vivid life.
The Star Tribune
Rae Giana Rashad chronicles the generational ghosts of womanhood, and how we understand ourselves through the stories of those we come from, in a way I’ve never read before. A remarkable new talent, and a timeless literary voice.
Ashley Audrain
New York Times bestselling author of The Push
Ambitious in its themes...When the novel explores [questions of love and power imbalances], it is at its most fascinating. And its most impressive.
New York Times
Rashad pulls off a near-impossible feat . . . Every sentence cuts as Rashad explores the intricacies of power and subjection.
The Washington Post
It seems impossible that The Blueprint is Rae Giana Rashad’s debut novel, given its perfect pacing and complex characters.
Shelf Awareness
A book in an intense, boundary-pushing conversation with The Handmaid’s Tale . . . Inventive, ferocious, and laser-focused, The Blueprint promises to skewer the hypocrisies that already punctuate our reality.
Elle
This novel explores race, free will, and what it means to be a woman, using speculative fiction in the grand tradition of Octavia Butler.
Booklist
A consuming debut . . . a provocative and worthy mash-up of historical and speculative fiction.
Publishers Weekly
This one held me captive for two days.
LaToya Watkins
National Book Award nominee for Holler, Child
Masterful . . . . Filled with themes such as regret, rebellion, tyranny, and courage, The Blueprint is a compelling read.