Ravens before Noah by Susanna Harutyunyan is a powerful tale of survival in the Armenian mountains, where refugees from war and persecution form a secret village. The novel traces the lives, loves, and tragedies of those seeking solace in isolation.

In Ravens before Noah, Susanna Harutyunyan paints a vivid and haunting portrait of resilience and survival amidst the Armenian mountains. Beginning with a newborn and an old man fleeing the Hamidian massacres, the novel traces the lives of exiles who form a hidden community, cut off from the world and bound by shared traumas.

Harutyunyan weaves deep-seated traditions, love, and haunting memories into a narrative that is both intimate and tragic. The story of Harout, a boy who grows up within this hidden village and falls for a young woman with her own painful past, reveals both the strength and vulnerability of displaced people.

This novel is an emotional journey through loss, cultural survival, and the redemptive power of community.

Monique Martin