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A review by medievalfantasyqueen
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Tell me.
First, before I move any further, I wish people would stop saying that this trilogy is the African Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. Sure, Marlon James is inspired by Tolkien and Martin, but he is inspired to create something new, where he becomes someone we see alongside Tolkien and Martin, having created something that is not Tolkienesque, or Martinesque, but James-esque.
If anything, Black Leopard Red Wolf, is a story of stories, and storytelling and mythmaking. Reading like a psychedelic labyrinth into the rich world of African mythologies, religions and cultures, Marlon James brings to fantasy something so fresh and so new that I can see it being here to stay.
It takes some time to read through, and some time to digest and understand but that is what it takes when you are dealing with something so completely new and not done before, and with a wide array of characters, beings and creatures, ranging from the zombi (not entirely the same as the modern day Western zombies we know, but also, a good harkening to the beginnings of zombie lore) to the impundulu, to various other undead vampiric beings, and shapeshifters, and so, so, so many more.
I greatly enjoyed this and I am looking forward to the next installment!
First, before I move any further, I wish people would stop saying that this trilogy is the African Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. Sure, Marlon James is inspired by Tolkien and Martin, but he is inspired to create something new, where he becomes someone we see alongside Tolkien and Martin, having created something that is not Tolkienesque, or Martinesque, but James-esque.
If anything, Black Leopard Red Wolf, is a story of stories, and storytelling and mythmaking. Reading like a psychedelic labyrinth into the rich world of African mythologies, religions and cultures, Marlon James brings to fantasy something so fresh and so new that I can see it being here to stay.
It takes some time to read through, and some time to digest and understand but that is what it takes when you are dealing with something so completely new and not done before, and with a wide array of characters, beings and creatures, ranging from the zombi (not entirely the same as the modern day Western zombies we know, but also, a good harkening to the beginnings of zombie lore) to the impundulu, to various other undead vampiric beings, and shapeshifters, and so, so, so many more.
I greatly enjoyed this and I am looking forward to the next installment!