This historical fiction was inspired by the great Katherine Dunham, an American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. She was awarded fellowships in 1935 to conduct ethnographic fieldwork in Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, and Trinidad, focusing on the dance forms of the Caribbean. Denny S. Bryce used Chicago and Jamaica in 1935 as the backdrop for this story, which followed three female protagonists – Othella, Vivian Jean from America, and Zinzi in Jamaica. Othella was a poor, orphaned girl who used her smooth pickpocket skills to secure money for survival. Vivian Jean, a wealthy anthropologist, had to confront family secrets to find peace with her life. Zinzi was a Jamaican labor activist from the Jamaican Maroon people. Throughout much of the story, we see Zinzi struggle to embrace her Maroon heritage.
Katherine, an antagonist and co-star of the book, provided the connections and structure to lead the story from America to Jamaica. Her unrelenting desire to learn all she could, specifically African dance in the caribbean allowed the author to seamlessly embed historical information into the story. For readers unfamiliar with the history of the Maroons and Cockpit Country, this book features a variety of historical facts sprinkled throughout.
My Thoughts
This book had me from the start, right to the explosive ending. The author did a fantastic job of character development. I think there was a great balance in the development of each character with detailed backgrounds. I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing each of these women grow throughout the book. I think Othella had the biggest character arc, followed by Zinzi. Vivian Jean was the character that I felt developed the least, and at times, I felt like having words with her. But I think that is great writing when a character can elicit a strong reaction. I like how she used the expedition to allow each character to work through their personal struggles.
I highlighted so much in this book, and it definitely sent me down the rabbit hole researching more about the Maroons and Cockpit Country. I believe that makes for the best historical fiction: the kind that creates a strong desire to research more, and this book does just that. I can’t imagine anyone reading it and not stopping at some point to do some research.
Another thing that I enjoyed in the book was the sisterhood between the characters. I appreciated that they looked out for each other, and it was nice to witness their mutual respect as the story progressed. All of them had secrets and vulnerabilities they hid from each other, yet they still found deep connections as they faced challenging situations. It was refreshing to see the female characters support each other throughout the story.
I am so impressed by how the author made me feel so immersed while reading this book. The descriptions were so elaborate without feeling overwhelming. It made it easy for me to visualize them, and the reading experience was so enjoyable.
I am so grateful to Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Where the False Gods Dwell by Denny S. Bryce. It was a wonderful book that has left me with deeper curiosity and a list of topics to further research. I highly recommend this book. Where the False Gods Dwell is released today (February 24, 2026)
