A review by bookreviewswithkb
She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

wow… this is an absolutely remarkable novel and i can’t believe we aren’t all raving about it every chance we get

a million stars✨ 

“and most men i knew before, in that place, laid their spirits to rest the first time the cat-o-nine-tails flew into their backs. and without a spirit, you cannot feel. you react, but the longer you exist in a world without your spirit, the less you feel. … laughter was a reaction. tears were a reaction. those screams were a reaction. but the source of them - the mother of joy, of sadness, or terror - was a ghost like me.”

it has very similar vibes to The Shadow King, Kindred, and Homegoing, connecting the truth of enslavement and liberation from the Americas to Liberia, giving breath and life to the complexities that exist within this historical time period. Wayétu Moore is able to tell these stories with such dedication, love, and compassion through a fierce and empowering female narrative 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings