“She had the witchery of fire in her eyes and her skin twinkled as she traipsed about the village, her ebony arms bare, her face black as a moonless sky. Such skin, it was said, must have had stars rubbed into it. With one breath, Ahonotay could make it flicker. With another, she could enchant anyone who came near.” - ‘Where it Rains in Color’ by Denise Crittendon.

This is an Afrofuturist-themed science fiction novel set in a future in which Earth has been destroyed and humans have populated various planets. Twenty-two of them make up the Coalition.

Swazembi is an idyllic, peace-loving planet of blazing colours and waterless seas filled with cascading neon vapors. Its people prize their dark skin though no one has either proven or disproven their link to Earth’s melanin bearers.

Swazembi is considered a utopia and is the vacation center of the galaxy. Lileala Walata Sundiata is a beautiful woman with the highly prized blue-black skin and the ability to shimmer. For years she has been an Indigo Aspirant and her perfection and radiance has just earned her the revered title of Rare Indigo, the highest and most sacred of honours in Swazembi society.

However, as she awaits the final ceremony that will confirm her status she becomes infected with a skin disease and loses her ability to shimmer. In addition, she begins to hear voices in her head and becomes increasingly paranoid. Among those voices is that of Ahonotay, the last Rare Indigo who fled on the day that she was chosen.

While Lileala lives a privileged, isolated life, there are various political machinations taking place on Swazembi and its allied planets. The Kclabs are transparent humanoid creatures whose planet is shunned by the Coalition. They have the cure for the disease that is infecting Lileala and a number of others though they will only administer treatment under their strict terms. Oh and one of the planets of the Coalition is missing.

When first introduced Lileala is immature and spoiled. Yet over the course of the novel she undertakes a powerful emotional and spiritual journey that unlocks the far past of her Dogon ancestors and ultimately impacts upon the present and future of Swazembi and the Coalition as a whole. I found it very inspiring.

There are a number of layers to this work of science fiction, including the concept of beauty. Is Lileala’s destiny solely linked to her society’s elevation of certain physical qualities, while the Kclabs are reviled and rejected due to their perceived hideousness. Is Swazembi the utopia it appears or actually a dystopia?

I found this quite a gripping story and adored Denise Crittendon’s world building, especially her inclusion of the Dogon tribal traditions and their connection to Sirius-B.

I certainly would welcome further stories/novels set in this galaxy if Denise Crittendon chooses to revisit. Indeed, after this strong debut I will be very interested in all of her future projects.

Highly recommended.

enise Crittendon has created a vivid sci-fi world where melanin bearers are highly prized and the lead character Lileala is the rare indigo who is a figurehead for her people chosen for her beauty and her ability to shimmer.

At the beginning of the novel Lileala is a bit of a pampered brat. She has been chosen to be the rare indigo a symbol of beauty and grace, although one without a voice. The previous rare indigo Ahonotay had abdicated her role many decades ago and has retreated from all society leaving a void and much expectation on the new rare indigo.

All is going well until Lileala comes down with a disfiguring skin disease.

Thematically the novel examines beauty standards as well as issues surrounding them.

I really wanted to love this novel. The idea of the rare indigo and the shimmer is really interesting and such a vivid image, which I could clearly visualise. I loved the worlk building and the descriptions of the Swazembi infrastucture. I also loved the description of the old earth hymns.

Lileala as a character is capricious, moody and spoiled. Her character development didn’t always feel coherent or consistent. I also found her friends and her beloved as characters lacking depth. I wanted more from the characters. Likewise Ahonotay was foreshadowed heavily and I don’t feel that enough was done with the character.

Otto was a character I really couldn’t warm to I didn’t like him as Lileala’s love interest. He seemed to be both patronising and controlling and he put my teeth on edge.

Overall, Crittendon has delivered an engaging novel, but I love a deeper dive into characters than we got.

Rich visuals in this afro-centric scifi/fantasy anchor the story. I would love a companion graphic novel or something to really heighten the experience

Denise Crittendon's **"Where It Rains in Color"** is a beautifully imaginative and richly detailed novel that transports readers into a vibrant, futuristic world like no other. Set in the dazzling, utopian planet of Swazembi, the story masterfully blends sci-fi with Afrofuturist themes, presenting a vision of the future that’s both unique and thought-provoking.

The world-building in this novel is truly spectacular. Crittendon’s prose brings the setting to life in a way that feels almost cinematic—each description of Swazembi bursts with color, culture, and history. The protagonist, Lileala, is a fascinating and multi-dimensional character whose journey of self-discovery is as gripping as it is transformative.

Beyond the visual beauty and cultural depth, **"Where It Rains in Color"** also delves into themes of identity, belonging, and empowerment, resonating on a deeper emotional level. It’s a book that challenges conventional sci-fi tropes while celebrating Black heritage and futuristic possibilities.

If you’re a fan of Afrofuturism, science fiction, or simply love to get lost in a beautifully crafted world with meaningful themes, this book is a must-read. Denise Crittendon has created a vibrant, memorable gem of a novel!

Infused with a technicolor imagination, Denise Crittendon has created a stunning Afrofuturistic, sci-fi/fantasy debut that questions beauty. Is it youth? A color? Shimmering skin? Or something much deeper? Some books fade from memory soon after I’ve read them, but the imagery and characters of Where it Rains in Color have remained with me, floating through my thoughts like the vapors of her mythical Swazembi, almost like a world I’d actually visited. And as we follow the spiritual growth of Lileala, the Rare Indigo who loses her physical beauty, we cheer her on as she treads the difficult path to discovering the deeper meaning of one’s worth. Five stars!

The characters were not fleshed out. The story was predictable, but the imagery I enjoyed. I feel like the author had a clear vision of her world, but it never got to a point where I worried or cared about any of the characters.

I was really excited for the "Ancestor" storyline and it never flourished. There was so much she could have used! Ugh, it just makes me frustrated because I wanted it to work and it just didn't.

So, yeah, that's my two cents.

The book was a celebration of African Americans and science fiction. Take in the chapter headings and check out the Authors blog for more understanding and truly relevant information. This is a weaving book, follow the ebb and flow.

Thank you for celebrating Her, and us!