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

3.0

I read this at halloween because it is fantasy horror. The fantasy element was very gritty and immersive, based on African folklore. There was violence, sexual violence, child abuse and body horror, so no more or less than Greek myth or European fairy tales. I enjoyed the supernatural elements and the snarky interactions of the characters. I felt for Tracker on his chaotic journey. However, it was the chaotic nature of the story that I struggled with. The author did explain this and I understand that a narrative is a coherent but false presentation of life and life is messy and usually lacks overall purpose. Despite this, I was still constantly searching for that arc of meaning.