A liquor place next to the house of God
Fabiola makes her first official steps into the world of America and Detroit. As she leaves the house, she notices the irony right outside the door of her home. She notices two buildings right next to each other, one being a house of God and the other a liquor store.
“Above it is a sign that reads LIQUOR BEER WINE PIZZA CHECK CASHING. At the other corner is a smaller building with a sight that reads HOUSE OF GOD. I stare at the liquor place, then the God place, and back.”
Situational irony - the cousins are the drug dealers
As she is investigating Dray, trying to find evidence for the detective about his involvement in drug dealing and the death of the white girl from overdose, Fabiola is faced with the devastating and ironic reality. She discovers that it was her cousins, all three of them, who were the ones who dealt the drugs that killed the girl. This turn of events is unexpected and represents situational irony in the novel.
Situational irony - the death of Kasim
To save her cousins and remove Dray out of their lives, Fabiola makes a trap for him to be caught dealing drugs by the police. What she didn’t realize is that Kasim will be there with him. The entire thing ends with Kasim being killed by the police, which is an unexpected turn of events.
Situational irony - Papa Legba saving Fabiola
Right before Dray pulls the trigger to kill Fabiola as revenge for Kasim’s death, Papa Legba appears and kills him instead. His sudden direct involvement with the family’s lives is unexpected, as he was only an indirect guidance thus far, and creates situational irony in the novel.
Fabiola no longer hears or sees Papa Legba
The ending reveals the consequences of the choice Fabiola made. She no longer sees Papa Legba or hears his songs, meaning that she is slowly leaving her spiritual-self behind, accustoming to the world in Detroit.
“Papa Legba doesn’t show up at the corner anymore. I don’t hear his words. Every now and then, I try to remember one of his riddles, but it only conjures up more regret and guilt.”
