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A review by thehireader
When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I'm so torn between 4 and 4.5 stars right now and think I'll need to sit and think on this one to fully unpack how I'm feeling.
RECKONING is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. I had actual chills on more than one occasion while reading, and while I'm a complete scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, it generally takes a lot to creep me out when it comes to horror books. I was completely gripped by this book and think it's one of the best horror books I've ever read, but I almost put this book down at several points in the beginning because it was too slow. I'm so glad I kept reading, however.
It is gut wrenching at several points and absolutely brutal; it is evidence of my privilege that I had not known the full extent of the cruelty and vileness (and those don't feel like strong enough words) of slave owners, overseers, all of the individuals complicit, both in the time of slavery and all the way to the present, that I had not had to be confronted by it.
RECKONING is phenomenal at points, but it also didn't feel like a complete story and I wish I could put my finger on why. I'm going to be vague so as to avoid any spoilers, but I wanted more explanation of certain things and I felt like certain scenes could've, and should've, been expanded on. Still, I'm so glad I didn't put it down, and I would absolutely recommend this book.
TWs: racism, slavery, torture, gore, rape and sexual violence, abuse, body horror.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
RECKONING is one of the creepiest books I've ever read. I had actual chills on more than one occasion while reading, and while I'm a complete scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies, it generally takes a lot to creep me out when it comes to horror books. I was completely gripped by this book and think it's one of the best horror books I've ever read, but I almost put this book down at several points in the beginning because it was too slow. I'm so glad I kept reading, however.
It is gut wrenching at several points and absolutely brutal; it is evidence of my privilege that I had not known the full extent of the cruelty and vileness (and those don't feel like strong enough words) of slave owners, overseers, all of the individuals complicit, both in the time of slavery and all the way to the present, that I had not had to be confronted by it.
RECKONING is phenomenal at points, but it also didn't feel like a complete story and I wish I could put my finger on why. I'm going to be vague so as to avoid any spoilers, but I wanted more explanation of certain things and I felt like certain scenes could've, and should've, been expanded on. Still, I'm so glad I didn't put it down, and I would absolutely recommend this book.
TWs: racism, slavery, torture, gore, rape and sexual violence, abuse, body horror.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail