2.82k reviews for:

Let Us Descend

Jesmyn Ward

3.86 AVERAGE

chrismichcon's review

4.0

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I have not read Dante's Inferno, but I can't think of any better depiction of Hell than Let Us Descend. Annis sits in a line of matriarchs and inherits their knowledge and fight (and their not entirely useful fairy-godmother/spirit). The very realistic and vivid descriptions of slavery are obviously incredibly sad, but there's a tinge of hope/resilience in it that's very powerful. I think some of the callbacks to the tutor's Dante lesson were a bit heavy handed and unnecessary, but the writing is beautiful as ever and makes me want to get through all of Jesmyn Ward's oeuvre.

jasminewang's review

3.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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: No

danibcook's review

5.0

challenging emotional medium-paced

chelseareads's review

3.75

dark emotional hopeful 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: Complicated

bryna07's review

2.0

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I wanted to enjoy this book more since it had such a strong start. I enjoy magical realism, but books like this make me reconsider it. It’s probably because I didn’t enjoy characters that I feel should be enjoyed, and no one stuck around long enough to be developed, outside the one person that ended up being terrible.

lindsey_reads06's review

3.0

dark emotional reflective sad 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

theshannonhong's review

3.0

hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

yhlesa's review

4.0

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3.5 technically. it wasn’t bad at all, i just think the magical realism took me out a little bit.

thecarrotcanread's review against another edition

3.25

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

diamondgb's review

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No