Reviews with content warning for Death - She Would Be King

This book got a little confusing because I was listening to it so I couldn’t go back as easily and clarify what was going on. This book was also very difficult because of the brutality of being a Black person in history. I really loved the magical realism and how the stories all wove in and out of each other ending where it began.

Content Warnings

bookishcori's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

4.5

Content Warnings

ktrecs's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

professorbadger's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Another favorite novel of the dozens I’ve read so far in 2021. Lyrical language, interesting characters, a touch of historical knowledge, and a fair amount of straight-up action. Read if you like: Homegoing, classical myths, complicated superheroes, strong women, magical realism, historical novels, Africa.

Content Warnings

slightlyliterary's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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? N/A

3.5

Content Warnings

montyroz's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark tense 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

4.0

Content Warnings

caprivoyant's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book deserves words of praise I may never be eloquent enough to write. In She Would Be King, Wayétu Moore creates a novel directly from the heart. This book feels like an offering -- a spiritual experience with the understanding and empathy of your wisest elder.

This book is poetry. It's heartbreak and love at the same time. It's the best, most beautiful, most magical aspects of the human species... And the most sinister. It's hope, and it's pain. It's love in the purest and most raw forms.

This is a book I didn't want to put down. And it's a book I never want to let go. It's not a page-turner, exactly, but it felt precious. I felt honored to be able to read it, to witness it. Every word deserved to be savored. And even though I've finished the final pages, I don't think this book will ever be done for me. It'll stay in my heart. It'll be in the wind on my face. It'll flow in my veins, whispering encouragement, tenacity, and resilience. It'll live through my actions.

Gbessa will not die.

Content Warnings

unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

She Would Be King is an absolutely phenomenal story that interrogates the concept of power - in its magical, social, political, martial, physical, emotion, and spiritual manifestations - in a very sophisticated way. The book is not without its flaws, and it is likely to appeal more to readers who prefer character-driven stories, but it is filled with gorgeous writing and intricate metaphors which capture some very difficult and complicated themes. It is important to note that this book deals with some very distressing themes, and I would recommend checking content warnings if you feel that you may be affected.

She Would Be King contains some of the most beautiful nature writing I have ever read. The relationships between the three characters and the landscapes they move through are incredibly compelling, and captured in staggeringly beautiful prose. This was my favourite aspect of the entire book. The personification of the wind, the sun, and the moon weaves together the two major themes of nature and ancestral power, creating an atmosphere which feels vibrant and stunning, yet fresh and authentic - a difficult feat for fantasy writing.

The writing is very metaphor heavy. This is done incredibly skilfully, but may not be for all readers; this is a book with very intricate layers. It is difficult to do justice to the many complexities of the different themes and the way they are represented; Moore writes so insightfully about so many enormous issues, including but by no means limited to: sexism, superstition, religion, racism, slavery, colonisation, colourism, culture, classism, nationhood, romantic love, friendship, and family. I did not feel that any of these themes were brushed over; each was dipped into with real compassion and consideration. The influence of real world history and politics creates a very strong foundation for the more fantastical elements of Moore's story, and these two aspects are blended together with incredible artistry.

For me, this book's main shortcoming is the plotting. It is certainly more character than plot driven. Gbessa's story is fascinating and heartbreaking; the one part of her character which I struggled with was her subservience to various male characters. The reasons for this are completely fair and clear, but those reasons are worked through a little too slowly

and I found it frustrating that her moment of real liberation and empowerment was dependent on her first love being finally and thoroughly removed from her world. It was fantastic to see her finally come into her own power; however I felt that this moment came a little late in the narrative for her character to bloom into its absolute full potential. This character development could have been better paced.

I was a little frustrated by other elements in the second half of the book; I had hoped to see the stories of the three main characters weave together a little more closely. Although the sections introducing June Dey and Norman were very, very strong, their role in the rest of the story feels a little lacklustre compared to Gbessa's. Overall, I would definitely consider the first half a five star read, but the second half settles just under four stars for me. It's still good (with some excellent aspects), but not as incredibly charged after the first three sections.

The ending felt strangely paced. It is important to remember that this is a book about a beginning. As a reader, you're not working towards a conclusion, but a new start; this was a little jarring for me, but the more I dwell on it, the more I understand the author's choice.

Overall, this is an excellent read that I would recommend to fantasy and non-fantasy readers alike. It is not easy to read, and it is not for everyone; again, I encourage readers anxious about difficult content to check the content warnings. However, this book is compelling, magical, frank, difficult, excellent, and beautiful, all in its turns.

Content Warnings

More...