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tasharobinson's review
4.0
Oh, that feeling when you really enjoy a rich, creative, well-characterized book and then find out it's the first in a series.
emeraldcitybookworm's review
4.0
4.25, rounded.
In the first installment of the African Immortals series, Tananarive Due does a great job establishing the backstory/giving us an origin story. My Soul to Keep introduces us to Jessica (who I quite liked) and David (
In the first installment of the African Immortals series, Tananarive Due does a great job establishing the backstory/giving us an origin story. My Soul to Keep introduces us to Jessica (who I quite liked) and David (
jessy_caca's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kelamity_reads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book...I'm so conflicted over whether I liked it or not.
I thought the story was well-written, interesting, and I liked how it seemlessly merged average life with the supernatural.
However, I absolutely detested the male protagonist. I loathed his abusive, gaslighting, controlling behaviour and his absolute arrogance. There was literally nothing redeemable about him, and yet I kept feeling like the story wanted me to find him sympathetic? Tragic? Idk what, but I wasn't buying it.
I liked the subtle way a major aspect of the ending (the biggest twist) was alluded to, and I thought it was the right choice for the story. I did, however, feel like a major aspect of the story was just suddenly dropped in a very anticlimactic and unsatisfying way, but perhaps that is explained in the sequel?
One thing I didn't like was how the main female protagonist was this strong, intuit character one moment and then scripted to be clueless and/or unable to connect obvious dots the next moment. It made her character feel disjointed.
An aspect that I quite liked was the extended family and how willing they were to accept and go with things. That felt really genuine to me.
Also, Teacake is a great name for a cat!
I thought the story was well-written, interesting, and I liked how it seemlessly merged average life with the supernatural.
However, I absolutely detested the male protagonist. I loathed his abusive, gaslighting, controlling behaviour and his absolute arrogance. There was literally nothing redeemable about him, and yet I kept feeling like the story wanted me to find him sympathetic? Tragic? Idk what, but I wasn't buying it.
I liked the subtle way a major aspect of the ending (the biggest twist) was alluded to, and I thought it was the right choice for the story. I did, however, feel like a major aspect of the story was just suddenly dropped in a very anticlimactic and unsatisfying way, but perhaps that is explained in the sequel?
One thing I didn't like was how the main female protagonist was this strong, intuit character one moment and then scripted to be clueless and/or unable to connect obvious dots the next moment. It made her character feel disjointed.
An aspect that I quite liked was the extended family and how willing they were to accept and go with things. That felt really genuine to me.
Also, Teacake is a great name for a cat!
doomluz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very different take on vampires. I loved the world and characters.
kxmulligan79's review
5.0
This book and if fact this whole series is excellent. It really makes you think about what it would be like to live for eternity. I really hope she is not finished because I think she can get at least one more book out of it.
waclements7's review
4.0
Really, really different. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I’m still processing. Tananarive Due has an amazing mind for story telling. I can see the two books I’ve read by her so far as movies in my head—I think they’d be great as films. Her characters are real and they do things you don’t expect them to. I had to take breaks because things would get so intense and it felt so _close_ that I just needed to stop even though I wanted to know what happened next (which was invariably not what I thought was going to happen). Highly recommended.
helaisme's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
git_r_read's review
5.0
I am glad I listened to book 2 before book 1 in this series. I would have a completely different view of David/Dawit. I was sympathetic towards him as I listened to book 2 last month. I wanted to smack him [or worse] while listening to book one. That's how well-written the characters are in this series. The reader is drawn into the lives and emotions and occurrences, be they sad, happy, or terrifying.
Tananarive is an excellent storyteller. Listening to the story via Recorded Books/Simply Audio, I had the chance to listen to an interview with the author. Another enlightenment to the story.
I can definitely recommend this book and it's sequel. And likely the rest of the series as I find them to listen to.
Tananarive is an excellent storyteller. Listening to the story via Recorded Books/Simply Audio, I had the chance to listen to an interview with the author. Another enlightenment to the story.
I can definitely recommend this book and it's sequel. And likely the rest of the series as I find them to listen to.