A review by bookreviewswithkb
The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

5✨
historical fiction, African literature 
themes of war, the strength of women, fighting the fuck back 

this novel is truly stunning. i was blown away. i can’t imagine what it took to write this - the historical research, the lyrical descriptions, and the devastating content. there were lines and thoughts and ideas and concepts that just took everything out of me. that shook me to my core. 

although i didn’t find this to be true for me, i can definitely understand why people say this is a hard book to read. it’s extremely dense, and the subplots are real. but i think that’s when historical fiction is at its best. the characterization and stories that exist within the historical event brought to life through fiction - that’s what The Shadow King is. 

and i mean when will the empowerment of women, especially within the context of a story we are ALWAYS overlooked within, not be incredible in a book? i think never 

“who remembers what it means to be more than what this world believes of us?”
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