A review by pbeeandj
Victor Lavalle's Destroyer, Volume 1 by Victor LaValle

4.0

I didn't enjoy any of the parts with Frankenstein's Monster really. I understand why it was there, but I really wanted to get back to the Akai and Dr. Josephine Baker's story. The Monster's quest to wipe out any trace of Victor just wasn't interesting to me, especially when there were so many interesting themes of grief, race, and science being explored. I loved the question posed about how people were working so hard to find humanity in the Monster and not in Dr. Baker's young black child. I loved the rage present in Dr. Baker, who has been punished for almost every aspect of her identity and who is also very aware of how her rage plays into stereotypes about her. I loved the love present in Akai, who was never given a chance to grow up. The choices made by Akai's father are also interesting. I'd love to read more, but I also understand why the book ended where it did.