The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison – That’s What I’m Talking About…

Audiobook review: The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison

The Fallen Fruit is an epic story of a free Black family, spanning over 200 years. By focusing in on the lives of five individuals, we learn the about the Bridge family, their good times, the dark moments, and a peculiar curse that causes one offspring of each Bridge male to fall back in time. 

The story starts in 1964 with Cecily who recently inherited land from her father’s family, whom she never knew. Cecily sets out to learn about her ancestry and what happened to her father. Each part of the book then retreats to the past where the author spends time with a Bridge relative, allowing the reader to understand the family. Each scene is told in vivid detail, making the setting just as important as the characters. Madison excels at sharing the little details, sounds, smells, emotions, etc. allowing this reader to fully submerge into the story. The pacing of the story is slow and meandering, yet has purpose. Despite its slower pace, I was completely enthralled. Each lengthy part sharing the history of the characters builds a connection, keeping me invested. 

But the twists and turns and desire to discover the truth kept me hooked through the slower times. Part 1 ends with a bang, and that revelation is what kept me going until the very end. It is important to note that the time travel aspect of the story is critical for how it impacts the family, but this book is not science fiction or fantasy. My desire to understand more propelled me; however, things started to slow down even more in the final part of the story, and it wasn’t the big reveal I’d hoped for, in fact, I am left with too many questions. While emotionally, there is some closure for the final character, I was left frustrated and a bit heartbroken. I wanted and expected more from the tale.

Narration: The story is primarily shared via the third person POVs of five different characters over a couple centuries. Miles provides the narration for four of the five characters. Using a strong feminine voice for all narratives, she alters character dialogue based on gender and age. She adds accents based on socio-economic conditions, geographical region, and historical context. 

Ojo provides the narration for Cecily. There are brief interludes of Cecily shared via first person POV as she investigates her family after learning about her inheritance. Additionally, one of the five parts of the story is also shared via Cecily’s third person POV. Ojo uses a soft but strong feminine voice for the primary narrator. It is cautious and tentative, fitting of the character as she explores her ancestral home having never been there before. Ojo alters character dialogue based on gender, age, and geographical region. Both narrators do a fantastic job, sounding like a cast of dozens.

In the end, The Fallen Fruit is a well-written historical tale that really gets into the heart and soul of the Bridge family. I enjoyed learning more about life for this free Black family. Where it falls flat is the “fantasy” part of the tale, leaving me unsatisfied. 

My Ratings
Story: B-
Narration: A

Jen

About the Book:

On a rainy day in May 1964, history professor Cecily Bridge-Davis begins to search for the sixty-five acres of land she inherited from her father’s family. The quest leads her to uncover a dark In every generation, one offspring from each Bridge family unit vanishes—and is mysteriously whisked back in time. Rules have been established that must be followed to prevent dire 

Never interfere with past events.

Always carry your free Negro papers.

Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made to orient you in time.

Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary.

With only a family Bible and a map marked with the locations of mysterious containers to aid her, Cecily heads to the library, hoping to discover the truth of how this curse began, and how it might be ended. As she moves through time, she encounters a circle of ancestors, including Sabrina Humbles, a free Black woman who must find the courage to seize an opportunity—or lose her heart; Luke Bridge, who traverses battlefields, slavery, and time itself to reunite with his family; Rebecca Bridge, a mother tested by an ominous threat; and Amelia Bridge, a young woman burdened with survivor’s guilt who will face the challenge of a lifetime—and change Cecily’s life forever. It is a race through time and against the clock to find the answers that will free her family forever.

Author: Shawntelle Madison
Narrators: Robin Miles, Adenrele Ojo
Series: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Magic Realism, Fantasy
Audiobook Release Date: September 3, 2024
Publisher: Harper Audio
Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
Source: purchased
Audio Speed: 1.25x