Reviews with content warning for Racism - When the Reckoning Comes

This debut novel is beautiful and horrifying. While McQueen doesn’t go into extensive detail of the atrocities committed to the slaves from no to long ago, it is enough to break your heart, shock, and stick with you. It is beautifully written. The main character Mira, feels relatable and her growth in this novel is beautiful to see.

Content Warnings

isabellew27's review

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious reflective 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

4.75

Content Warnings

serinalovesreading's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

3.5

Content Warnings

ska1224's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

Content Warnings

nochilarybanks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.25

Content Warnings

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Context:

I borrowed When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen from my library through the Libby App.

Review:

When the Reckoning Comes is a straightforward and well-executed novel that emphasizes the horrors of American slavery and racism and the importance of confronting the past. The book’s strength lies in its ability to balance the horror and plot elements with the relationships between its characters, Mira, Jesse, and Celine. Without this grounding in the characters and the relationships, When the Reckoning Comes might have been rather generic. The complex dynamics between these childhood friends lend the story its stakes and authenticity, which blend seamlessly with the novel’s commentary on modern racism and the malicious glorification of America’s monstrous history.

I found myself engaged with the novel throughout, and I am especially impressed with McQueen’s ability to mess with the reader’s sense of time. My only qualm with the book is that it ends too soon. I would have liked another couple of chapters for the main characters to work through their experiences and their relationships with one another; as it stands, McQueen somewhat neglects the fascinating interplay between Mira, Jesse, and Celine in favor of a more traditional horror ending.

In particular, I was disappointed that Celine got killed off in service of the plot. I would have liked to have seen a final confrontation between the three as they grapple with the role race, circumstance, and outlook shaped the course of their friendship.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like When the Reckoning Comes if . . .

· You are looking for a solid horror book about race, slavery, and how history haunts the present

· You want to read a book that asks questions about how we choose to remember history, especially when it comes to Southern plantations

You might not like When the Reckoning Comes if . . .

· You are hoping for a story that takes risks with its plot and premise

· You want a book that maintains an even level of character development

· You want a smart, strong-willed protagonist

A Similar Book:

Kindred by Octavia Butler (a spectacular book and a must-read, if you haven’t already) Similarities include:

· A Black female main character who finds herself confronting the horrors of slavery on a Southern plantation

· Commentary on how America’s past infects its present

Content Warnings

carax561's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Content Warnings

herelieshenry's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this is one of the best novels I’ve read in a damn long time. people complaining that it isn’t “horror enough” baffle me; horror as a genre has always had room for discussing and showing the horrors within society and in history. I don’t know why so many reviewers seem confused that a plantation wedding horror novel is rooted in discussing the grotesque history of the plantation.

Content Warnings

More...