Erin 's Reviews > The Blueprint

"If sex ended racism, racism wouldn't exist."

I can't believe this is Rae Giana Rashad's debut novel. This is a masterpiece. Everyone should be reading this book. I can't wait for Rae Giana Rashad's future work.

The Blueprint is an alternate history/ dystopian novel about an America that could still happen. In this book, the Civil Rights movement led to a 2nd Civil War that lasted for 7 years. The government turned its guns on Black Americans and their allies. Martial law was invoked, and the military was given full reign to "restore peace." Things turned out even worse for Black people after this Civil War. The Founders of the Order overthrew the U.S. government. And a new form of slavery was instituted. Women lost almost all their rights and Black woman had no rights at all. Black people were given Louisiana as a free state and any Black people who couldn't move to Louisiana before 1962 became slaves. Louisiana basically becomes Haiti, it's overcrowded with few resources and it's devastated by 2 hurricanes in 15 years.

We follow Solenne a Black woman who lives as the "concubine"of a high ranking government official. As she works through her conflicted feelings towards her owner and she writes the story of her ancestor Henriette who was a slave back in the 1800s.

This book is bleak. It's a tough read but I was consumed by this book. I was scared to pick it up but once I did I really didn't want to put it down. This book is a Horror novel. It's a Psychological Thriller and it's something that could actually happen( Google Project 2025). I was shaking while I read this book. The villains in this book are so scary because they exist in our real lives and we need to do everything possible to keep them for having control.

The Blueprint might be my favorite book I've read this year. I want everyone to read this book. This book should be being talked about. This book should be a best seller.

I highly recommend The Blueprint