Where It Rains in Color

By: Denise Crittendon

Narrated by: Mia Ellis

Lileala has just been named the Rare Indigo—beauty among beauties—and is about to embrace her stardom, until something threatens to change her whole lifestyle and turn the planet of Swazembi upside down.

Colonized by the descendants of Earth's West African Dogon Tribe, the planet of Swazembi is a blazing, color-rich utopia and famous vacation center of the galaxy. No one is used to serious trouble in this idyllic, peace-loving world, least of all the Rare Indigo.

But Lileala's perfect, pampered lifestyle is about to be shattered. The unthinkable happens and her glorious midnight skin becomes infected with a mysterious disease. Where her skin should glisten like diamonds mixed with coal, instead it scabs and scars. On top of that, she starts to hear voices in her head, and everything around her becomes confusing and frightening.

Lileala's destiny, however, goes far beyond her beauty. While searching for a cure, she stumbles upon something much more valuable. A new power awakens inside her, and she realizes her whole life, and the galaxy with it, is about to change . . .

©2022 Denise Crittendon (P)2023 Tantor

Left me spinning in waves of joy!

I loved so, so much about this book. The prose is evocative- if you like fiction for the dramatic landscapes, this will scratch that- and the themes and vibes and concepts are both brilliant and inspiring. I’m in awe of this future, and the consistency of the world-building is something to be applauded.
I do wish there was just one more draft written before publication on this one- a stronger hand editing could’ve tightened up the character journey, and some of the unpredictable pov switches, but otherwise I’m going to Crittendon’s bio for my next read. This is one of the most creative speculative fiction novels I’ve ever read. (Also, the narration on this is very very well done!!)

Wildly Fantastical

What a universe - where melanin is revered! We are able to witness the growth and transformation of a pampered "Rare Indigo" into a courageous leader using gifts that are more than skin deep, while politics and intrigue between worlds serves as a backdrop. What's next?

Fantastical journey of hope and growth

I loved this book so much! The characters were riveting, the growth of the main character, Lalila (sorry if the sp is wrong, I listened to it on Audible) is so well done. Some of her descriptions of other worlds were so fantastical that I had a hard time actually trying to imagine what it would look like. I was fully engrossed after the first few chapters. It was such a breath of fresh air to read a Sci-Fi book that wasn't Caucasian-centric. I enjoyed reading about a future reimagined this way.

I hope you write a follow up book! I am dying to know if Rolek is able to control his temperature once his pain is healed. How does Lalila manage her new role as Em-Hondura? Which aspirant is chosen to succeed Lalila as the new Rare Indigo and does Iza prove to be trouble? How is Golong rebuilt? What happened to the children? Were they reunited with their parents? Are the slaves on Klabb freed? I have so many questions and I'm DYING to know more about this world. I'm anxiously waiting to hear more about Swazimbe, Toth, Klabb and all of the other worlds!