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A review by lprongs
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy shit. This book is a righteous rage filled answer to an unjust world. There are plenty of real world references, some more overt than others, that tune you into what it's really about. But the thing that gets me is that despite all of the violence - the murder, the gore, the rage - it never feels heavy. It feels just and restorative and satisfying all the way through. It is full of violence, but also care and introspection, and in the end, a hope for the future.
The characters have created a system that uses insider violence to protect against outsider violence, but have also created such a thorough system of care for each other. The runners, though trained to be terrifying and efficient killers, are also trained in conflict management, in how to spot depression in their peers and care for them. The casual depiction of complex community based care was amazing. The characters are also so complex in such good ways - having to present one way for the good of the people, even if they hate you, knowing that what you're doing is morally wrong but if you didn't do it, you'd do something worse. The salvation the protagonist finds in sanctioned and celebrated violence so they don't lose themselves in their own uncontrolled rage, the way they heal by giving unconditionally to someone who doesn't flinch from them. It's all just so...perfect. And given how the real world feels like it's falling apart and only getting angrier, this was a surprisingly therapeutic read. This is both the angriest and most honest book I've resd in a long time.
The inspiration from ballroom culture is outstanding, with what I assume are Panther references, climate injustices, general injustices toward the global south and of course the obvious commentary on white supremacy and its systems which are sometimes heavy handed but well deserved and well articulated for a fictional world without being too preachy about our current one. They rang more as affirmations than lectures.
Overall, if you're angry at the world and its injustices, if it has wounded you, read this book.
The characters have created a system that uses insider violence to protect against outsider violence, but have also created such a thorough system of care for each other. The runners, though trained to be terrifying and efficient killers, are also trained in conflict management, in how to spot depression in their peers and care for them. The casual depiction of complex community based care was amazing. The characters are also so complex in such good ways - having to present one way for the good of the people, even if they hate you, knowing that what you're doing is morally wrong but if you didn't do it, you'd do something worse. The salvation the protagonist finds in sanctioned and celebrated violence so they don't lose themselves in their own uncontrolled rage, the way they heal by giving unconditionally to someone who doesn't flinch from them. It's all just so...perfect. And given how the real world feels like it's falling apart and only getting angrier, this was a surprisingly therapeutic read. This is both the angriest and most honest book I've resd in a long time.
The inspiration from ballroom culture is outstanding, with what I assume are Panther references, climate injustices, general injustices toward the global south and of course the obvious commentary on white supremacy and its systems which are sometimes heavy handed but well deserved and well articulated for a fictional world without being too preachy about our current one. They rang more as affirmations than lectures.
Overall, if you're angry at the world and its injustices, if it has wounded you, read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Slavery, Transphobia, and Addiction
Further content warnings: religious trauma, shaming of sex workers, depression.