Scan barcode
sofipitch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was entertaining, it does a great job of taking Lovecraft and reshaping it. I think my one complaint is that it was too short, I would actually like more to this story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
librariabillie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
the_bees_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
For fans of Jordan Peele, Candyman, Lovecraft Country and the black horror genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Gore, and Violence
scarroll178's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Graphic: Police brutality, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, and Murder
amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is part of tordotcom's four novella set re-imagining HP Lovecraft stories. The other novellas include the Dream Quest of Villet Boe, Agents of Dreamland, and Hammers on Bone.
In this book, Lavalle takes HP Lovecrafts arguably most racist story and reworks it with a Black Protagonist and very white detective.
Charles Thomas Tester is a street musician. He's not very good. He makes most of his money busking, and he occasionally delivers packages. As he goes about his day, he meets a rich eccentric white man who invites him to play at a party in his mansion. The story unfolds in a matter of days as Tester copes with the world he's been invited into.
The white cop's POV was hard to read. Both men use their identities to keep themselves safe and both men learn what happens when their identities are removed.
The police murdering Charles dad gutted me, and it forced me to reflect on our existing systems that allow Black men to be killed and white cops to walk away.
If you are a person who likes reimagining of HP Lovecraft's work like the City we Became and if you like speculative fiction, you will likely appreciate this book.
In this book, Lavalle takes HP Lovecrafts arguably most racist story and reworks it with a Black Protagonist and very white detective.
Charles Thomas Tester is a street musician. He's not very good. He makes most of his money busking, and he occasionally delivers packages. As he goes about his day, he meets a rich eccentric white man who invites him to play at a party in his mansion. The story unfolds in a matter of days as Tester copes with the world he's been invited into.
The white cop's POV was hard to read. Both men use their identities to keep themselves safe and both men learn what happens when their identities are removed.
If you are a person who likes reimagining of HP Lovecraft's work like the City we Became and if you like speculative fiction, you will likely appreciate this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
shereadytoread's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
As someone who hasn't read any Lovecraft since high school (and absolutely will not), I wondered how much of the mythos of Lovecraftian horror was contained. Upon further research, this story (and the one it is based on) are not part of the full Cthulhu canon, so the mentions are rather minor and the story stands on its own.
This book does play a lot on identity and transformation by power and circumstance. As it is a novella, the story is concise, but unfortunately this means that many meaningful scenes happen off-page and are discussed by the characters. I like this one a lot, and would have loved an expanded version where we get to see those happenings.
I think something that is a slight draw back for me is the MC acceptance of the racist assumption that he is a monster. He is thought to be one, so he loses his humanity and turns into one. But it felt close to equalizing the violence of an oppressive system to the reactions to that system. I think that the author's note adds a lot of context, and as someone that does not read author's notes often, I read this one twice.
This book does play a lot on identity and transformation by power and circumstance. As it is a novella, the story is concise, but unfortunately this means that many meaningful scenes happen off-page and are discussed by the characters. I like this one a lot, and would have loved an expanded version where we get to see those happenings.
I think something that is a slight draw back for me is the MC acceptance of the racist assumption that he is a monster. He is thought to be one, so he loses his humanity and turns into one. But it felt close to equalizing the violence of an oppressive system to the reactions to that system. I think that the author's note adds a lot of context, and as someone that does not read author's notes often, I read this one twice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
darnishabee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
_egg_wash's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder
jdamae11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Violence
nicoleonbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Weird. Strange. Creepy.
LaValle uses this Lovecraftian horror novel to explore rasicm. Malone was a great way to depict white complacency. Listening to the audiobook feels like listening to a really good creepy podcast.
LaValle uses this Lovecraftian horror novel to explore rasicm. Malone was a great way to depict white complacency. Listening to the audiobook feels like listening to a really good creepy podcast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Gore