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mandkips's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, and Rape
Minor: Confinement
bandysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Recently, I've been working on expanding the genres that I read. In the past, I've avoided horror as I always thought it wasn't for me, but after trying a couple of different books I'm finding that I really enjoy it. In particular, I like horror that roots itself in history or the real world. When The Reckoning Comes does exactly that.
The story follows Mira as she returns to her hometown for her ex-bestfriend's wedding. There are threads of mystery and horror that get pulled into the story almost from the beginning, but as the plot picks up the horror really amps up with it. The wedding is held on a historic plantation where slaves were brutalized, tortured, and raped and Mira's discomfort and disgust with the location is immediately apparent. The majority of the guests remain oblivious to the ghosts haunting them until it becomes unavoidable.
I am finding that I really love horror built on reality. I think the idea of being haunted by trauma and horrific events is much more terrifying than zombies, ghosts, and devils. This also creates a lot of social critique within the story which makes it even better.
All in all, I found this a very relevant and scary horror story. If you like a more gothic vibe, current themes, and a compelling main character, you should definitely check this one out!
The story follows Mira as she returns to her hometown for her ex-bestfriend's wedding. There are threads of mystery and horror that get pulled into the story almost from the beginning, but as the plot picks up the horror really amps up with it. The wedding is held on a historic plantation where slaves were brutalized, tortured, and raped and Mira's discomfort and disgust with the location is immediately apparent. The majority of the guests remain oblivious to the ghosts haunting them until it becomes unavoidable.
I am finding that I really love horror built on reality. I think the idea of being haunted by trauma and horrific events is much more terrifying than zombies, ghosts, and devils. This also creates a lot of social critique within the story which makes it even better.
All in all, I found this a very relevant and scary horror story. If you like a more gothic vibe, current themes, and a compelling main character, you should definitely check this one out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
This book is about the ghosts of slavery on a particularly brutal plantation. Torture, murder, rape, and other dehumanizing acts are described in explicit detail. If you are sensitive to violence, please consider carefully before reading.biblio_jordyn's review
dark
mysterious
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
Guys, I loved this book. I finished it in the day. It was amazing.
The imagery and the author’s writing pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let you free until you finish.
The read was not only fast paced and creepy, but it delved into so many social issues of today...namely, education and how we treat our black students, especially black boys.
“To believe one must care, and who’s to say anyone ever cared? That’s what she’d tried to make her see: who was to say anyone ever cared—for Jesse, for her, for any of the black kids like them? Who’s to say anyone ever cared at all.”
It talked about plantations and the monstrosity of white people continuing to profit off the suffering of black slaves, the land that they tilled, the buildings they kept, and how the rottenness of it all is often overlooked.
"Roots mean something to these people, even if the core is rotted."
This book had Jordan Peele Get Out vibes and is comparable to the book Lakewood!
The imagery and the author’s writing pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let you free until you finish.
The read was not only fast paced and creepy, but it delved into so many social issues of today...namely, education and how we treat our black students, especially black boys.
“To believe one must care, and who’s to say anyone ever cared? That’s what she’d tried to make her see: who was to say anyone ever cared—for Jesse, for her, for any of the black kids like them? Who’s to say anyone ever cared at all.”
It talked about plantations and the monstrosity of white people continuing to profit off the suffering of black slaves, the land that they tilled, the buildings they kept, and how the rottenness of it all is often overlooked.
"Roots mean something to these people, even if the core is rotted."
This book had Jordan Peele Get Out vibes and is comparable to the book Lakewood!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Torture
whatiqreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Rape
laura_crowther's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Colonisation
booknerdnative's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Torture
clg2022's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture
serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
When the Reckoning Comes was a unique read which uses the horror genre to take an unflinching look at race relations and the legacy of slavery. The set-up has Mira, a Black woman, returning to her hometown for the wedding of her childhood best friend Celine, who is white, even though they are no longer close. The wedding is to be held on the grounds of a former plantation that now operates as a tourist attraction offering historical re-enactments and the like. The plantation is also the scene of a traumatic event involving Mira, their other friend Jesse, a Black man. The horror aspect comes via the historical atrocities, including some stomach-churning torture, and by the fact that the land is haunted by ghosts seeking vengeance on the descendants of those who harmed them. Not forgetting the present day racism which is a horror in its own right.
While I had a few issues with this book - the characters felt a bit flat and the pacing was a little uneven - it was still a winner for me. The originality of the concept, the powerful way it highlighted issues of race and the importance of reckoning with the legacy of slavery and racism, plus the writing - some phrases and sentences were absolute zingers - more than compensated for areas that didn’t work as well for me.
If you are looking for a unique take on race, one that emphasises that the past cannot be ignored and must be reckoned with, then check out this book.
While I had a few issues with this book - the characters felt a bit flat and the pacing was a little uneven - it was still a winner for me. The originality of the concept, the powerful way it highlighted issues of race and the importance of reckoning with the legacy of slavery and racism, plus the writing - some phrases and sentences were absolute zingers - more than compensated for areas that didn’t work as well for me.
If you are looking for a unique take on race, one that emphasises that the past cannot be ignored and must be reckoned with, then check out this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
sarahald's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I'm so torn between 4 and 4.5 stars right now and think I'll need to sit and think on this one to fully unpack how I'm feeling.
RECKONING is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. I had actual chills on more than one occasion while reading, and while I'm a complete scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, it generally takes a lot to creep me out when it comes to horror books. I was completely gripped by this book and think it's one of the best horror books I've ever read, but I almost put this book down at several points in the beginning because it was too slow. I'm so glad I kept reading, however.
It is gut wrenching at several points and absolutely brutal; it is evidence of my privilege that I had not known the full extent of the cruelty and vileness (and those don't feel like strong enough words) of slave owners, overseers, all of the individuals complicit, both in the time of slavery and all the way to the present, that I had not had to be confronted by it.
RECKONING is phenomenal at points, but it also didn't feel like a complete story and I wish I could put my finger on why. I'm going to be vague so as to avoid any spoilers, but I wanted more explanation of certain things and I felt like certain scenes could've, and should've, been expanded on. Still, I'm so glad I didn't put it down, and I would absolutely recommend this book.
TWs: racism, slavery, torture, gore, rape and sexual violence, abuse, body horror.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
RECKONING is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. I had actual chills on more than one occasion while reading, and while I'm a complete scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, it generally takes a lot to creep me out when it comes to horror books. I was completely gripped by this book and think it's one of the best horror books I've ever read, but I almost put this book down at several points in the beginning because it was too slow. I'm so glad I kept reading, however.
It is gut wrenching at several points and absolutely brutal; it is evidence of my privilege that I had not known the full extent of the cruelty and vileness (and those don't feel like strong enough words) of slave owners, overseers, all of the individuals complicit, both in the time of slavery and all the way to the present, that I had not had to be confronted by it.
RECKONING is phenomenal at points, but it also didn't feel like a complete story and I wish I could put my finger on why. I'm going to be vague so as to avoid any spoilers, but I wanted more explanation of certain things and I felt like certain scenes could've, and should've, been expanded on. Still, I'm so glad I didn't put it down, and I would absolutely recommend this book.
TWs: racism, slavery, torture, gore, rape and sexual violence, abuse, body horror.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
katie_konneker's review
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Torture