Publication Date: January 24, 2024
Perestroika is a historical fiction novel that provides thrilling insights into the late Communist era. The book opens in 1978 and introduces citizens of Slavia like artist Ludwig Kirchner, struggling to survive in concentration camps, whilst the terrifying elites of the regime live in luxury and moral depravity. It all changes in 1989, with Perestroika. In the revolutionary turmoil, former crime boss Ivan Fiorov leads the newly formed ‘Freedom Party’, heralding a wave of insecurity that resembles the previous dictatorship.
Revenge, redemption and catharsis collide head on with recent European history. With Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, alongside a resurgence of populist leaders and neo-Nazi movements across the world, Perestroika is as much a lens into the present as an exciting epitome for the past.
With all of the unrest related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, readers can get a peek inside Slavia and witness the revolution that took place after more than a decade.
Author João Cerqueira opens Perestroika in 1978, delivering a sobering tale of a regime that controls all aspects of life. Citizens are indoctrinated and fiercely punished for the smallest of infractions. Within the framework of this historical fiction story, citizens begin to question their lack of freedom.
A strong parallel can be drawn between this story and modern-day North Korea. Within Slavia, the gap between the governmental elite and the people is extreme. With the 1989 revolution, a mob faction takes over, causing more strife.
The rallying point of the story centers around a group of artists and their struggles against censorship. While the writing is structurally sound, it is a challenging storyline. I had trouble immersing myself in the flow, which led to a disjointed experience.
Perestroika delivers a story of survival and revenge against a regime pushing for ultimate control.
João Cerqueira was born and lives in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
He holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Porto.
He is the author of nine books and is published in eight countries: Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, England, United States, Brazil, Argentina.
He won the 2020 Indie Reader Awards, the 2014 Global ebook Awards and the 2013 USA Best Book Awards.
The short story “A House in Europe” won the 2015 Speakando European Literary Contest, received the bronze medal in the Ebook Me Up Short Story Competition 2015 and an honorable mention in the Glimmer Train July 2015 Very Short Fiction Award.
The short story “The Dictator and Poetry” was published in the 2016 Bombay Review Anthology.
His works are published in The Adirondack Review, Ragazine, Berfrois, Cleaver Magazine, Bright Lights Film, Modern Times Magazine, Toad Suck Review, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, Hypertext Magazine, Danse Macabre, Rapid River Magazine, Contemporary Literary Review India, Open Pen Magazine, Queen Mob’s Tea House, The Liberator Magazine, Near to the Nuckle, Narrator International, The Transnational.
