The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter

A Novel

De: Brionni Nwosu

Narrado por: Nicole Cash, Sean Crisden

A young woman at the crossroads of life and death embarks on an extraordinary journey across time in an epic novel about beauty, hope, endurance, and endless loves.

Most humans cower in the face of Death. Not Nella May Carter. She sees him. She doesn’t hide. Instead, she bargains.

Born enslaved in eighteenth-century Georgia, Nella still believes in the will to survive amid the most untenable of conditions, in the glory of life, and in the ultimate goodness of the human race. She asks that Death, doubtful and curious, allow her to live long enough to prove it. He’s giving Nella all the time in the world.

Challenged, Nella embarks on an epic journey across the globe and centuries. Each new incarnation records the joys and losses, and the friendships and heartbreaks, throughout her lifetimes. When she meets handsome and passionate professor Sebastian Moore—the first man to whom she has ever revealed her secrets—Nella yearns for the mortality that escapes her. She can’t bear to leave this love behind.

As Death keeps watch, has Nella’s journey come to an end? Or is a new one just beginning?

©2025 by Electric Postcard Entertainment, Inc. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This debut is a testament to the strength of light in dark times, and the necessity of hope. Well-developed characters and a strong sense of place throughout history draw the reader in to the very end.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Having created a world of magical realism that incorporates an African-American historical perspective, The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter will prove a uniquely popular pick…” —Midwest Book Review

“A love letter to epic romance, resilience, and travel, The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter sweeps readers through time and across the globe with a heroine often relegated to the margins in search of the grandest love story humanity has to offer. An enchanting debut that will leave you forever changed.” —Zoraida Córdova, bestselling author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

Beautiful. Thoughtful. Brilliant. 100/10 recommend!!!

Where to start— a simple concept and a simple challenge, yet complex, heartbreaking, and moving. The story, the lives, the fears, the loves, the devastation, the devotion, and the commitment to find the beauty in the world. The story of a black woman from the slaves quarters, a deal with death, and lives lived through centuries; this is a book worth clearing your schedule for.

This is Brionni’s first published book and what a beautiful way to start.

The narrators are fantastic!! They truly did Bri justice for her characters.

A Very Long Life

This book is about a deal made with death to prove that humanity is worth saving. Death wants to destroy humanity and rebuild it. Nella works out a deal while she is dying of typhoid that is death spares her she can change death's mind about humanity. Nella starts as an enslaved woman in late 1700s Georgia, but she is the daughter of a slave and plantation owner and the owner of the plantation taught her to read and would read stories to her. Nella is to fulfill her dreams by traveling and writing about all of the beauty in the world. Despite all of the things that happen historically that may be ugly Nella finds the beautiful and extraordinary and writes about them. she reports to death during regular and irregular meetings to prove humanity isn't lost.

I wanted to rate this 3.5 to 4 stars because there were areas in the story where the main characters focus to save the world was just not there it frustrated me, if you are really trying to save humanity why was this your focus. I was finally glad when she started tracking part of Mexico and South America when she ended up in Argentina. I was expecting this type of detail to be a part of every Era she lived, it was not so. She has limitations in the beginning being a freed woman of color so I understood the barriers to just getting up and traveling but it took her over 100 years to really travel see the world and humanity from that view.
overall I would recommend. I liked reading it. I was ready for her to finally be done after the last couple of relationships she made. The book got kind of boring. Not that the time she was in was boring but it was just predictable at that point.

Love and Living

This book was a journey that took me on an interesting trip! The ending mattered.

Immortality pov

No complaints the voices were great. Really enjoyed this listen. Great story and incredible message.

Wonderful book!

I absolutely loved, adored, and was enveloped in this book. The story was beautifully told and as the character moved through history she reminds us of the beauty of humanity amongst the trauma. I can’t say enough of this book.