A review by estark16
The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas

3.0

The Dark Fantastic is a scholarly book and, as a result, it reads like one. I am not a literary scholar so this made for a pretty slow and laborious read for me as I acquainted myself with various terms of art in critical race theory in literature. That said, I found myself learning a great deal not just about literature, but also about how literature is influenced by social norms as well as how literature affects our worldview. Thomas's book is a must for anyone who loves the fantasy genre and is curious about deeper analysis of the characters and themes as they relate to race. That said, if you are like me, know that it is not an easy read unless you are willing to take the time to get up to speed as you progress.

Thank you Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, NYU Press, and Netgalley for providing me with the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.