2.83k reviews for:

Let Us Descend

Jesmyn Ward

3.86 AVERAGE

judybett's review

3.0

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3.5 stars - this is a beautifully written haunting story about one enslaved woman’s journey through life. There are equal parts narrative and magical realism that made it hard for me to connect with, however over all an important story.

lv00009's review

3.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

augustcollin's review

3.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

rgerin's review

4.5

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-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

lemoniereads's review

5.0

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I have been thinking about this book since I finished it. My mind has come back to it on many occasions, and I’ve had some pretty deep thoughts about it, and the things it got me thinking about. This work did a better job of helping me check the lenses through which I view history than anything else I’ve read up to this point. Beautiful, haunting, distressing, and thought provoking. Incredibly worthwhile read.

cvcbk's review

4.5

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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beautiful. from start to finish. 

shelleyschureads's review

5.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

sarah_red's review

3.5

adventurous inspiring sad tense fast-paced

erin_od92's review

3.0

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

sazerye's review

3.0

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I wish I was smart enough to fully appreciate all the details and work that Ward put into Let Us Descend. Her prose feels natural but also unlike what I am usually reading. I do feel like there is something to be gained from multiple reads in how she describes the elements and spirits of the world. I found Annis to be an endearing protagonist but given the setting I didn't find myself rooting for her to find some happy ending. I was hoping she would find something that helped her endure and persevere and the ambiguity of the spiritual influences was one of the most interesting parts of the novel for me. Would recommend to friends but not universally.