I’ll admit, I was late to the game when it came to reading local author Sadeqa’s Johnson’s New York Times bestsellers, Yellow Wife and The House of Eve, but after having the pleasure of meeting Sadeqa last year, I dove in and thoroughly enjoyed each one. When we met, she told me she was hard at work on her next novel, and I was delighted to receive an advanced copy from her publisher late last year.
Keeper of Lost Children is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant novel that once again showcases Sadeqa’s gift for weaving rich storytelling with deep character insight. From the opening pages, I was pulled into the narrative filled with longing, heartache, and ultimately, healing, and I spent more than a night or two up way past my bedtime to see how it was all going to unfold.
The strength of the novel lies in the complexity and vulnerability of the three main characters it toggles between—Ozzie, Ehtel, and Sophia. Sadeqa portrays their struggles with empathy and nuance, allowing readers to feel both the weight of their losses and the flickers of hope that guide them forward. The themes of motherhood, identity, and the invisible threads that connect us are handled with striking sensitivity and honesty.
What makes Keeper of Lost Children especially compelling is Johnson’s ability to balance emotional depth with a narrative that moves steadily and purposefully. Every scene feels intentional, every revelation earned. Readers who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven fiction will find themselves deeply moved by this story.
Sadeqa Johnson has once again delivered a powerful, memorable novel—one that reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the ways we find our way back to ourselves.
Keeper of Lost Children comes out on February 10th and until then is available for pre-order wherever books are sold.
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