Laila Lalami's *The Moor's Account* is a masterpiece of historical fiction that immerses you in the brutal yet transformative journey of Estebanico, a Moroccan slave. The book’s raw, unflinching portrayal of slavery and colonialism hits hard—especially when describing the dehumanizing conditions of the transatlantic voyage. You can almost smell the filth and feel the despair.

One standout aspect is Estebanico’s voice: eloquent, introspective, and deeply human. His flashbacks to Morocco—selling himself into slavery to save his family—are heartbreaking. The scene where he parts with his twin brothers, who don’t grasp the finality of it, lingers long after you turn the page.

The expedition scenes are equally gripping. Narvaez’s incompetence and cruelty make you rage, while Estebanico’s growth—from a sidelined slave to a respected healer among Native tribes—feels earned. His relationship with Oyomasot adds warmth to an otherwise harrowing narrative.

That said, some pacing issues crop up mid-book, and Dorantes’ manipulative antics grow repetitive. But Lalami’s meticulous research shines, especially in depicting Native American tribes with nuance rarely seen in colonial-era stories.

Verdict? A must-read for historical fiction fans. It’s brutal, yes, but also profoundly moving—a story of resilience that sticks with you like few others.