A review by zgonzale
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

5.0

Wow. Black Leopard, Red Wolf is nothing short of a master class in fantasy unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Marlon James takes African mythology, throws it in a blender, and constructs his own rich and detailed world from the result. He does not hold the reader’s hand, so there was an adjustment period for me getting used to the writing style and the world, but the map and cast of characters at the start of the book helped enormously whenever I needed them. Once I did get adjusted, I was ENTHRALLED. The characters are brilliant; the story a rich tapestry of witches, magic, monsters, and political machinations; and the themes on pride, intimacy, violence, and identity are beautifully developed over the course of the book. The violence and carnage of the novel is frequent and extreme, but it is intentional and meaningful. This is not light-hearted or good vs. evil fantasy, this is a complicated tale set in a very dangerous world. I really loved this book and I cannot wait for the next. I’m not much of rereader, but I look forward to rereading this before I take on book two!