Scan barcode
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Blood, Child death, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Slavery
becksusername's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I wish I had read Black Leopard Red Wolf more recently, or had a copy with me to compare the parts of the story that overlap, so I could note all the subtle differences between Sogolon's account and Tracker's. This book was such a satisfying follow-up after BLRW, which I remember being an incredible story unlike any I'd ever read, but also wildly misogynist (the narrator and characters, not the author obviously). Like Sogolon said of Tracker's story "maybe some of it even have one or two women he neither call witch nor bitch." Sogolon is a (deeply flawed) feminist icon. I want more stories in this world!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Homophobia, Violence, Vomit, War, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Grief, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Torture, Transphobia, Death of parent, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicide, Body horror, and Sexual violence
econsidine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Another book I was skeptical about that really surprised me. I liked Black Leopard, Red Wolf, but Sogolon was the least interesting character in that book for me (her grumpy misandrist schtick got old fast) so a 626-page prequel from her POV was not the most enticing.
But I was definitely wrong. Though it takes some time to get going, Sogolon is a compelling narrator, and this second book makes me very intrigued for where this series is going to go next. Something about a second book as a prequel/retelling from a different perspective is always going to be fun to me, but James goes a step further with it. Sogolon is not a direct counterpoint/pair/antagonist to Tracker, even though they have a lot of similarities, so she is not concerned with his story most of the time, which is a bizarre place to put the readers in and a reminder that there is so much damn plot and world building here that has nothing to do with the guy we spent the last book rooting for. To be clear: The previous main character of a 600+ page novel is only in its sequel for about 1/6 of it and the whole time the new narrator treats him as an annoying side character—or, as she says, “a silly slutty fool.” It’s a fun, ballsy risk to take with your sequel, and one that somehow works because the rest of the world James has built is rich enough to sustain itself without the reader’s automatic emotional buy-in from the last book.
A bunch of odd thoughts:
—Neither narrator seems to care what their audience ("the interrogator") thinks of them, and both are very matter-of-fact in tone. So I was not expecting either of them to be unreliable narrators. But there are inconsistencies between their stories that seem odd, especially as they’re not harped on, and I can’t figure out why it would be different. Am I remembering the first book wrong or is there’s some much deeper thing going on?Who killed the Leopard? Because Tracker said it was Sogolon and Sogolon said it was a random spear. Was it her "wind (not wind)" power and she's just being cagey? But why would she lie when she admits to so many other murders? And isn't the Leopard the one who fucked Fumeli, not Tracker? Wasn’t that why Tracker was so pissed at the Leopard in the first book? But why would either narrator care to lie about that? It’s such a small relationship detail that made me suddenly wonder if Fumeli is actually super important and not just a plot device who barely has any lines. We know basically nothing about him.
—The title of this book was not as strong as the previous, mainly because the actual Spider King is not really the antagonist, counterpart, or foil of Sogolon the Moon Witch. It would have made a lot more sense if the second name was a clear reference to the Aesi, who IS her direct antagonist. Which makes me wonder if he’s not referenced here because the next book is going to be about him.
—My other guess for the next book is that it will be from ( long shot ) Fumeli’s perspective and suddenly this very minor character will turn out to be super critical.
--Why is this called the Dark Star trilogy? I can't remember a single reference to stars at all in either of these books.
—One character that has yet to make a comeback is Smoke Girl. My beloved. Where’d you go?
But I was definitely wrong. Though it takes some time to get going, Sogolon is a compelling narrator, and this second book makes me very intrigued for where this series is going to go next. Something about a second book as a prequel/retelling from a different perspective is always going to be fun to me, but James goes a step further with it. Sogolon is not a direct counterpoint/pair/antagonist to Tracker, even though they have a lot of similarities, so she is not concerned with his story most of the time, which is a bizarre place to put the readers in and a reminder that there is so much damn plot and world building here that has nothing to do with the guy we spent the last book rooting for. To be clear: The previous main character of a 600+ page novel is only in its sequel for about 1/6 of it and the whole time the new narrator treats him as an annoying side character—or, as she says, “a silly slutty fool.” It’s a fun, ballsy risk to take with your sequel, and one that somehow works because the rest of the world James has built is rich enough to sustain itself without the reader’s automatic emotional buy-in from the last book.
A bunch of odd thoughts:
—Neither narrator seems to care what their audience ("the interrogator") thinks of them, and both are very matter-of-fact in tone. So I was not expecting either of them to be unreliable narrators. But there are inconsistencies between their stories that seem odd, especially as they’re not harped on, and I can’t figure out why it would be different. Am I remembering the first book wrong or is there’s some much deeper thing going on?
—The title of this book was not as strong as the previous, mainly because the actual Spider King is not really the antagonist, counterpart, or foil of Sogolon the Moon Witch. It would have made a lot more sense if the second name was a clear reference to the Aesi, who IS her direct antagonist. Which makes me wonder if he’s not referenced here because the next book is going to be about him.
—My other guess for the next book is that it will be from ( long shot ) Fumeli’s perspective and suddenly this very minor character will turn out to be super critical.
--Why is this called the Dark Star trilogy? I can't remember a single reference to stars at all in either of these books.
—One character that has yet to make a comeback is Smoke Girl. My beloved. Where’d you go?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Slavery, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
spacecars's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
If you’re in the mood for something that screams female empowerment, this is it. Run, don’t walk.
I don’t read fantasy, but this is by far the best book on female empowerment that I’ve read so far. Sogolon is a queen in her own right, and I stan a woman’s bloodlust for stupid men—men who only want to own women, men who only want to violate women, men who think women are just birthing machines.
Marlon James did an extremely fantastic job on this—the observations and monologues that Sogolon had on men were so relatable I found myself agreeing with everything she’s said. It’s a feat to write something so empowering when you’re not a woman, and not going through what we have to endure.
I’m left breathless by the end of this book, and I can’t emphasise how much I admire and love Sogolon for all that she’s been through and all that she does as the Moon Witch.
Read this, please, especially if you’re a woman. I guarantee that it won’t be disappointing at all.
I don’t read fantasy, but this is by far the best book on female empowerment that I’ve read so far. Sogolon is a queen in her own right, and I stan a woman’s bloodlust for stupid men—men who only want to own women, men who only want to violate women, men who think women are just birthing machines.
Marlon James did an extremely fantastic job on this—the observations and monologues that Sogolon had on men were so relatable I found myself agreeing with everything she’s said. It’s a feat to write something so empowering when you’re not a woman, and not going through what we have to endure.
I’m left breathless by the end of this book, and I can’t emphasise how much I admire and love Sogolon for all that she’s been through and all that she does as the Moon Witch.
Read this, please, especially if you’re a woman. I guarantee that it won’t be disappointing at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Death, Blood, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Grief, Hate crime, Gore, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, and Child death
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.25
4.25 stars
I enjoyed this a LOT more than Tracker's perspective - Sologon the Moon Witch was a compelling character who was consistent in her characterization - stubborn, quick to anger, violent, intense in all emotions, and unwilling to take anyone's shit (or advice, to her own detriment).
I was impressed with how James wrote her - she was a lot more realistic than many male fantasy writer's female characters. She actually talks about her period (moonblood), expresses frustration with how stupid men are and how unfair and unjust the world is to women, and has her own interests outside of a husband and children (both of which she does have). She's not perfect - frustrating, sometimes veers towards homophobic in her comments/thoughts about Tracker, violent, rude, but always compelling.
The world is just as violent, misogynistic, and brutal - rape, witch hunts, and murder are still common, everyday occurrences. We follow Sogolon through at least 170+ years of her life, with a more sequential story than BLRW. Characters from the first book really only show up 500 pages in, and as expected, there are discrepancies between Tracker's versions of events and Sogolon's. Particularly around the Aesi - who is only slightly less mysterious in this novel and altogether more terrifying as you learn more his backstory (mostly through interactions with our protagonist).
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and it flew by in comparison to BLRW. Sogolon had so many great moments of insight and power, and her impact on the woman of this fantasy world is undeniable. There's still a lot left to uncover across the main plot, which I hope will be revealed in the final book, whenever that's published.
CW: rape, torture, sexism and misogyny, slavery/enslavement, domestic and child abuse, blood and gore, witch hunts, bestiality (consensual this time, for what that's worth...), child death, grief, pregnancy and birth, pedophilia, and I'm sure others that I can't remember after 650 pages.
I enjoyed this a LOT more than Tracker's perspective - Sologon the Moon Witch was a compelling character who was consistent in her characterization - stubborn, quick to anger, violent, intense in all emotions, and unwilling to take anyone's shit (or advice, to her own detriment).
I was impressed with how James wrote her - she was a lot more realistic than many male fantasy writer's female characters. She actually talks about her period (moonblood), expresses frustration with how stupid men are and how unfair and unjust the world is to women, and has her own interests outside of a husband and children (both of which she does have). She's not perfect - frustrating, sometimes veers towards homophobic in her comments/thoughts about Tracker, violent, rude, but always compelling.
The world is just as violent, misogynistic, and brutal - rape, witch hunts, and murder are still common, everyday occurrences. We follow Sogolon through at least 170+ years of her life, with a more sequential story than BLRW. Characters from the first book really only show up 500 pages in, and as expected, there are discrepancies between Tracker's versions of events and Sogolon's. Particularly around the Aesi - who is only slightly less mysterious in this novel and altogether more terrifying as you learn more his backstory (mostly through interactions with our protagonist).
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and it flew by in comparison to BLRW. Sogolon had so many great moments of insight and power, and her impact on the woman of this fantasy world is undeniable. There's still a lot left to uncover across the main plot, which I hope will be revealed in the final book, whenever that's published.
CW: rape, torture, sexism and misogyny, slavery/enslavement, domestic and child abuse, blood and gore, witch hunts, bestiality (consensual this time, for what that's worth...), child death, grief, pregnancy and birth, pedophilia, and I'm sure others that I can't remember after 650 pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Slavery, Blood, Gore, Grief, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Child death, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Pedophilia, Homophobia, and Torture
jessthanthree's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Gaslighting, Murder, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Classism, Death, Sexism, and Rape
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and War
deedireads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.25
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Moon Witch, Spider King is a rich, complex novel with an indomitable protagonist. It’s an easier read than BLRW (though still not easy), and it widens the plot in super interesting ways.
For you if: You like very literary fantasy (and read Black Leopard, Red Wolf).
FULL REVIEW:
Hurray for the next installment of Marlon James’ Dark Star Trilogy, which started with Black Leopard, Red Wolf. I liked BLRW, but like many, also found it very dense and challenging. I’m happy to report that MWSK presents an easier read (although I would still not go so far as to call it easy).
You may have heard the MWSK tells the same story as BLRW, but from the Moon Witch Sogolon’s perspective. This is actually only part of the story — the novel actually goes back much further than that, to when Sogolon was a girl, all through her life, how she became the Moon Witch, and how she got tangled up with the search for the boy. The events of BLRW only come into play in the last third or so of the book.
I tell you this so you don’t spend as much time as I did wondering when all that was going to start. But even so, by the end, I understood exactly why James set it up this way; the story BLRW drops us into is so much bigger, so much older, than we knew before. MWSK shows us what’s at stake here — and sets us up for an epic trilogy conclusion, I think.
Part of what makes MWSK more readable is that we’re prepared for the trilogy’s episodic storytelling style (which doesn’t settle into the shape of a traditional plot until deep into the book), not to mention the world the story takes place in. But I also really, really loved Sogolon as a protagonist. Her voice is so strong, her desires so pointed. She tells you like it is, unlike Tracker. And she takes absolutely NO shit from anyone. Such a badass. The audiobook narrator did an incredible job bringing her to life, too, and I highly recommend listening along on audio as you read the print version (especially given that it’s still relatively long and challenging).
If you liked BLRW enough to consider continuing with the series, even if you’re feeling a bit intimidated, I say pick this up. I think chances are good that you will like it.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Moon Witch, Spider King is a rich, complex novel with an indomitable protagonist. It’s an easier read than BLRW (though still not easy), and it widens the plot in super interesting ways.
For you if: You like very literary fantasy (and read Black Leopard, Red Wolf).
FULL REVIEW:
Hurray for the next installment of Marlon James’ Dark Star Trilogy, which started with Black Leopard, Red Wolf. I liked BLRW, but like many, also found it very dense and challenging. I’m happy to report that MWSK presents an easier read (although I would still not go so far as to call it easy).
You may have heard the MWSK tells the same story as BLRW, but from the Moon Witch Sogolon’s perspective. This is actually only part of the story — the novel actually goes back much further than that, to when Sogolon was a girl, all through her life, how she became the Moon Witch, and how she got tangled up with the search for the boy. The events of BLRW only come into play in the last third or so of the book.
I tell you this so you don’t spend as much time as I did wondering when all that was going to start. But even so, by the end, I understood exactly why James set it up this way; the story BLRW drops us into is so much bigger, so much older, than we knew before. MWSK shows us what’s at stake here — and sets us up for an epic trilogy conclusion, I think.
Part of what makes MWSK more readable is that we’re prepared for the trilogy’s episodic storytelling style (which doesn’t settle into the shape of a traditional plot until deep into the book), not to mention the world the story takes place in. But I also really, really loved Sogolon as a protagonist. Her voice is so strong, her desires so pointed. She tells you like it is, unlike Tracker. And she takes absolutely NO shit from anyone. Such a badass. The audiobook narrator did an incredible job bringing her to life, too, and I highly recommend listening along on audio as you read the print version (especially given that it’s still relatively long and challenging).
If you liked BLRW enough to consider continuing with the series, even if you’re feeling a bit intimidated, I say pick this up. I think chances are good that you will like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
ronpayne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Body horror, Violence, Gore, Physical abuse, Cursing, Classism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Vomit
2treads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
'Tell me what it mean that my memory is of a man telling me what my life was and me choosing to believe it, when even the gentlest of men can tell only so much story about a woman. But look at you.' —Sogolon
🕸🕷🕸🕷🕸
A tale full of political machinations, deceit, power, intrigue, corruption and the struggle for the soul of a kingdom.
🕷🕸🕷🕸🕷
At the turn of every page of #MoonWitchSpiderKing, from the mistreatment and violence that Sogolon endures, to the evolution in her quickness and sharpness of tongue, is her shrewdness, capacity to observe, learn, and thus adapt; we glean that she will become a force to be reckoned with, and in turn will have a reckoning of her own to face.
🕸🕷🕸🕷🕸
It is engrossing to see the turn of the machine that is molding Sogolon: the magic, intrigue, betrayals, punishments, and warnings; all of which she observes and learns from. Sogolon is a character that is very much a learning character rather than one that just exists for the narrative. But it is her spirit that truly captivates the reader. Sogolon will fight.
🕷🕸🕷🕸🕷
All the usual suspects of James' style is here: wicked wit, frightful violence, irreverent dialogue, feisty interplay, slight of hand; ingenious, complex and twisty plotting that really culminates to just suck a reader in, engendering questions and comparisons while revelling in a world that is always changing, with characters that just absolutely tickle one's fancy and are just as easily liked as they are despised.
🕸🕷🕸🕷🕸
And yet I am left full of questions, because a lot is lost to the mystery and structure of the telling, whereby important storylines are never fully resolved, leaving the reader equally frustrated and intrigued.
🕷🕸🕷🕸🕷
🕸🕷🕸🕷🕸
A tale full of political machinations, deceit, power, intrigue, corruption and the struggle for the soul of a kingdom.
🕷🕸🕷🕸🕷
At the turn of every page of #MoonWitchSpiderKing, from the mistreatment and violence that Sogolon endures, to the evolution in her quickness and sharpness of tongue, is her shrewdness, capacity to observe, learn, and thus adapt; we glean that she will become a force to be reckoned with, and in turn will have a reckoning of her own to face.
🕸🕷🕸🕷🕸
It is engrossing to see the turn of the machine that is molding Sogolon: the magic, intrigue, betrayals, punishments, and warnings; all of which she observes and learns from. Sogolon is a character that is very much a learning character rather than one that just exists for the narrative. But it is her spirit that truly captivates the reader. Sogolon will fight.
🕷🕸🕷🕸🕷
All the usual suspects of James' style is here: wicked wit, frightful violence, irreverent dialogue, feisty interplay, slight of hand; ingenious, complex and twisty plotting that really culminates to just suck a reader in, engendering questions and comparisons while revelling in a world that is always changing, with characters that just absolutely tickle one's fancy and are just as easily liked as they are despised.
🕸🕷🕸🕷🕸
And yet I am left full of questions, because a lot is lost to the mystery and structure of the telling, whereby important storylines are never fully resolved, leaving the reader equally frustrated and intrigued.
🕷🕸🕷🕸🕷
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Misogyny
kikireads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
Minor: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity
More...