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A review by eliasaurus
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
This book was incredible. I've been telling people it's "LOTR if, instead of taking place in vaguely medieval Europe, it was instead set in vaguely medieval Africa," but that really doesn't do it justice.
The other reviews are right that it deserves every trigger warning under the sun, but this is the best high fantasy I've read in a long time. The characters are all so interesting and well fleshed out, the writing (though not always easy) is engaging because it's perfectly in the protagonist's voice, the plot is twisty and turny... It's basically perfect.
All the seemingly disparate story elements end up being relevant. If you get through the first hundred or so pages, you won't be able to put down the rest.
The other reviews are right that it deserves every trigger warning under the sun, but this is the best high fantasy I've read in a long time. The characters are all so interesting and well fleshed out, the writing (though not always easy) is engaging because it's perfectly in the protagonist's voice, the plot is twisty and turny... It's basically perfect.
All the seemingly disparate story elements end up being relevant. If you get through the first hundred or so pages, you won't be able to put down the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Incest, Child death, Slavery, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, War, and Animal death
Moderate: Homophobia and Vomit
Minor: Islamophobia, Racism, and Cannibalism