Reviews

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

anastasiadreaming's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Transcendent Kingdom held a quiet anger, but anger nonetheless. 

zwachtel50's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

maggieshalloe's review against another edition

5.0

It’s just beautiful. Such skillful writing, heart-wrenching at times.

geraldineleyendo's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

The writing of Yaa is just so special. So many of her lines in this book made my heart completely stop with how beautiful or poignant or true they felt.

This is an intense and intimate exploration of girlhood and her faith (Christian-centric) weaved so beautifully with her science, race, and family history. A fictional story about addiction that feels so true it blew my mind and made me literally cry - not because of its sadness but because of its honesty. The author made me feel the characters' losses so deeply and yet I ended the book with an enormous satisfaction of being alive.

If you are debating whether you should read it: yes yes yes yes 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Child death

read_mo's review against another edition

4.0

ngl homegoing was way better, this was a little disappointing in comparison

mayamcdo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.75

atsundarsingh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

I thought this was really complex. I really saw myself in so many moments of it, but I never fully connected to the way the narrative was structured. I think it's one of those books that's important, but not necessarily an enjoyable read either stylistically or on topic. Less of a guaranteed re-read than Gyasi's first book for sure, for me. 

reinedumonde's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

jaimygdala's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

tashaseegmiller's review against another edition

5.0

Stunning. An exploration of grief and addiction and depression and spirituality/religion. I absolutely loved this book, will likely recommend it to many.