A review by podanotherjessi
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

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

4.5

It is really difficult to sum up how I feel about this book because it's such a complicated and nuanced book that I am not nearly smart enough to get everything from in just one read through. There are themes in there that I could still be unpacking after many years and many reads. I liked the book a lot, but it's hard to say I liked the experience of reading it. But I also really enjoyed having the story told to me in the audiobook. It really makes the whole thing come to life. It was slow to get into the book, and it's not a book I could just casually read. It really takes focus. But once the story started rolling and I was clicked in, I couldn't look away. There was a surprising exploration of family I did not expect, with one of the more unique and interesting examples of found family I've read (which is a trope I love anyway). The story telling is really on another level, both the writing itself and the narration. My one major complaint would be the pacing, but it feels intentional, just not to my tastes. A kind of back and forth pacing of things slowing down right when it was getting the most exciting. The ending in particular suffered from this to me. I think this has the brutality and intrique of A Song of Ice and Fire (but done infinitely better imo), with the story telling style of Dandelion Dynasty, and the tone of Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi. 
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