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A review by michaelgreenreads
At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
The first third of this novel: đ±
The second third of this novel: đ„ș
The final third of this novel: đ±
AT NIGHT ALL BLOOD IS BLACK is a startling confession! Alfa Ndiaye is our narrator, a Senegalese man who volunteers to fight for the French in WW1. After feeling helpless watching his best friend die in the trenches, he abandons civility and starts to intentionally lean into stereotypes of âsavageâ madness that his French captain wants the âChocolatâ soldiers to embrace to scare the Germans.
His allies initially adore the energy, but once Alfa begins to return every night in a row with a German soldierâs hand that he cuts off a new man, his allies quickly become terrified of the depths of what they asked for. **And thatâs just the first 45 pages!**
I was not expecting the little beautiful diversions into the double nature of friendship in such an intense book about masculinity, colonialism, and hand amputation. Nor did I expect the protagonist to lose his virginity in a Romeo-and-Juliet story with a rival familyâs daughter. Nor was I expecting his parentâs relationship to be upsettingly beautiful in context????
That all being said. The third and final act is... a lot... I will not give anything away. Just know... I never knew what to expect from this novel. I wonât forget it any time soon.
The second third of this novel: đ„ș
The final third of this novel: đ±
AT NIGHT ALL BLOOD IS BLACK is a startling confession! Alfa Ndiaye is our narrator, a Senegalese man who volunteers to fight for the French in WW1. After feeling helpless watching his best friend die in the trenches, he abandons civility and starts to intentionally lean into stereotypes of âsavageâ madness that his French captain wants the âChocolatâ soldiers to embrace to scare the Germans.
His allies initially adore the energy, but once Alfa begins to return every night in a row with a German soldierâs hand that he cuts off a new man, his allies quickly become terrified of the depths of what they asked for. **And thatâs just the first 45 pages!**
I was not expecting the little beautiful diversions into the double nature of friendship in such an intense book about masculinity, colonialism, and hand amputation. Nor did I expect the protagonist to lose his virginity in a Romeo-and-Juliet story with a rival familyâs daughter. Nor was I expecting his parentâs relationship to be upsettingly beautiful in context????
That all being said. The third and final act is... a lot... I will not give anything away. Just know... I never knew what to expect from this novel. I wonât forget it any time soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence