balletbookworm's review

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4.0

A very thought-provoking examination of race in media and YA speculative fiction through the lens of the Dark Fantastic (spectacle, hesitation, violence, haunting, and emancipation). Thomas uses four key Black characters - Rue from The Hunger Games, Gwen from BBC’s Merlin, Bonnie from CW’s The Vampire Diaries, and Angelina Johnson from Harry Potter - to explore this cycle and how fanfiction and counter-storytelling are changing these characters in the fandom. This monograph sits between popular lit-crit and academic theory so be ready for a more formal argument.

haveyoumetlisa's review

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4.0

At the beginning of this book, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas disclaims to the reader that this book is the *start* of the conversation about race and fiction (specifically "speculative fiction" as this book refers to it). When viewed through that lens, this book is fantastic. It is by no means complete, but it doesn't claim to be.

I do wish that Thomas had split the last chapter into 2 or even 3 chapters, because while the cover promises talk of Harry Potter, she spends hardly any time talking about Harry Potter text, and more time talking about her own experiences within the fandom and fanfiction. She also spends a good portion of the chapter summarizing her points and looking briefly forward to other areas of study, which would have been better served as a conclusion or afterward, than by mashing it in with the other discussions going on.

I am more convinced than ever for the need of black main characters in popular media, and for better treatment of the ones currently in existence. Thomas breaks down this treatment to the "cycle of dark fantastic", and shows the pattern of treatment of black characters repeats itself over and over again.

In general, this book is well thought out, and well reasoned, and thought provoking. Well worth the read for anyone interested in some introduction to race critical theory, or those who care specifically about race and young adult media.

jennachristinereads's review

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4.0

This is a must read for anyone who reads YA and/or participated in any fandoms of the 2000’s and 2010’s. Justice for Bonnie Bennett!!

bookishgoblin's review against another edition

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5.0

This was a brilliant non fiction read, even as a mixed race reader myself it was brilliant to get a chance to reflect on some of my favourite and least favourite black characters and why I loved them and why I didn’t. The chapter on Gwen in BBCs Merlin especially gave words to a lot of voiceless feelings I’ve been having since the show aired. It also helped me assess my own writing. This book should be a must read for any speculative fiction writer

fjsteele's review

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5.0

First, I cheated slightly and didn't read the chapters about texts I don't know--Merlin and The Vampire Diaries--but this book is brilliant--beautifully written and researched and innovative in approach. Also, not just for educators but for literary critics, creative writers, sociologists, and scholars of the publishing industry. Thanks, Emily Meixner, for loaning it to me.

kelamity_reads's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

The main premise - how BIPOC are underrepresented and portrayed in fantasy - is an important and undeniable issue, and I found the initial discussion on this very thought-provoking and enlightening.

That said, I struggled with many other aspects of the book. It didn't feel like the arguments were backed up with strong evidence or examples. In fact, a lot of the time, it felt like a single comment by a fan or observer acted as the entire basis for the author's argument. This made what is otherwise an important subject feel weak and less relevant than it is.

Also, a LOT of the author's thoughts and opinions felt heavily influenced by their own personal experience with Harry Potter fanfic and, what it seemed like to me, trying to justify their plagiarism of another author's work.

The overall writing was sometimes repetitive and often felt like it lacked the nuances you would expect from an academic piece.

stw07's review against another edition

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3.75

The main thesis of this is solid, and a really interesting way to analyze fiction that rings true in a ton of instances. The overall message is one that anyone analyzing literature should consider. 

But as a book, the writing style didn’t really work for me. It felt more like a research paper than a book for most of it… and I felt the last bit where the author kind of defends herself from an old Harry Potter fandom scandal a bit out of place… the commentary about JK Rowling also did not age well. 

moxiegirlzriot's review

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4.0

When educating myself about issues as important as race (sexuality, gender and more), I know I am learning the most important things when the learning makes me uncomfortable with my own unrealized prejudices. "The Dark Fantastic" isn't only an advocate for more literature told from BIPOC perspectives, but a critique on the characters that already exist and how we have treated them. How they are "othered" from the moment of their conception as black. And how that "othering" goes nearly unnoticed by many of us. A necessary read for those who are still working to educate themselves, and who believe that, "ultimately, emancipating the dark fantastic requires decolonizing our fantasies and our dreams. It means liberating magic itself. For resolving the crisis of race in our storied imagination has the potential to make our world anew."

profeshbooknerd's review

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5.0

White people: If you are doing anti-racist work, participate in fandom, work with kids-YA in an educational or library setting, and/or if you just enjoy any of the media covered in this title, this is mandatory reading.

shay43geek's review against another edition

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informative inspiring

4.5