This book is not available to purchase on Fable
4.0
This Is the Only Kingdom
ByPublisher Description
From the Whiting Award-winning author of Ordinary Girls, an epic portrayal of a working-class Puerto Rican family wrestling with the aftermath of a murder.
In gorgeous and striking prose, Jaquira Díaz tells a profoundly moving story of one unforgettable family. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Maricarmen works hard, getting good grades, and cleaning houses after school. She dreams of becoming a singer. When she meets Rey, a young Black musician, she falls in love with his dynamism and his voice. But when her mother discovers their relationship, the course of Maricarmen’s life is changed forever. During the rise of the drug crisis sweeping their tight-knit community, Maricarmen fights to make a home for herself, for Rey, for Rey’s young brother Tito, and eventually, for her daughter Nena.
Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, as the community that had once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Encumbered by loss and betrayal, and reckoning with her burgeoning sexuality, Nena must learn to navigate the world on her own, to fight for herself and her family. An immersive and propulsive exploration of generational grief and the legacy of colonialism, This Is the Only Kingdom is a searing and moving portrait of a family torn apart, determined to find their way back.
In gorgeous and striking prose, Jaquira Díaz tells a profoundly moving story of one unforgettable family. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Maricarmen works hard, getting good grades, and cleaning houses after school. She dreams of becoming a singer. When she meets Rey, a young Black musician, she falls in love with his dynamism and his voice. But when her mother discovers their relationship, the course of Maricarmen’s life is changed forever. During the rise of the drug crisis sweeping their tight-knit community, Maricarmen fights to make a home for herself, for Rey, for Rey’s young brother Tito, and eventually, for her daughter Nena.
Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, as the community that had once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Encumbered by loss and betrayal, and reckoning with her burgeoning sexuality, Nena must learn to navigate the world on her own, to fight for herself and her family. An immersive and propulsive exploration of generational grief and the legacy of colonialism, This Is the Only Kingdom is a searing and moving portrait of a family torn apart, determined to find their way back.
Download the free Fable app

Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThis Is the Only Kingdom Reviews
4.0
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Why can’t I buy this ebook on Fable?
Can I start a book club with this book on Fable?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
