The Color of Mourning

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 by onemoreexclamation

Welcome to the The Color of Mourning by Kim Dempster book tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.

About The Color of Mourning

Title: The Color of Mourning

Author: Kim Dempster

Released: February 10, 2025

Find it: Amazon

Just as Margaret Atwoods’s Handmaid’s Tale prophesied a repressive dystopian future, Kim Dempster’s The Color of Mourning takes us on an intensely emotional journey into the very real world of today, where women are confronted by fanatic religious fundamentalists in an existential fight for freedom.

Set in the war-torn city of Raqqa during the Syrian civil war, Mourning is a story about love, loss, and the extraordinary strength women have when they are desperately fighting for their autonomy.

Nooda, an intrepid journalist who is chronicling the harsh realities of the war, and her daughter Layal, a young woman who dreams of a better future, are repeatedly forced into excruciating situations as their family is torn apart.

Filled with raw emotion and vivid detail, Dempster’s Mourningis an unforgettable novel that pays tribute to the resilience of women and their enduring fight for justice.

Review for The Color of Mourning

Wow—this debut hit hard. The Color of Mourning is a powerful, eye-opening read that dives into the lives of women in Syria during the civil war—something I admittedly knew little about. Through Nooda and her daughter Layal, we witness the heartbreak, fear, strength, and sheer will to survive in a world turned upside down by extremism. These women are forced to adapt, resist, and sometimes even fight back in ways that are deeply moving and incredibly human.

Kim Dempster doesn’t just tell a story—she puts the reader into the nightmare without ever feeling heavy-handed. The writing is vivid and emotionally gripping, and the characters will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a tough read, but an important one—and it reminds us that resilience can look like a whisper, a protest, or a mother protecting her child in the face of horror. Highly recommend this one for anyone ready to be both informed and inspired.

About The Author

Kim Dempster grew up in Europe and Asia. When she was 16, her family moved to Iran, where she became fascinated by the strength and camaraderie of Middle Eastern women. As an adult, she became a cosmopolitan but intrepid explorer of the Middle East.

Kim had a successful career as a commercial director for over 20 years. In 2016, she started writing screenplays. Her first three were all finalists for the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowship. During Covid, she began writing essays to comfort her friends. They did, and Kim saw the power of the pen. She sat down to write a story that had been in her head for over ten years; that story became The Color of Mourning, her first novel.

Instagram – Facebook – LinkIn – Substack – Bluesky: @kimdempster.bsky.social