A review by krys_kilz
Jackal by Erin E. Adams

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

I was blown away by this book! It was so well done - the writing kept me invested, the atmosphere was tense with a constant tinge of dread below the surface, the setting was perfectly laid out and the characters were complex and not always trustworthy. I found it really interesting how Adams set the novel in her own hometown of Johnstown, PA and drew on actual historical events when writing this book. It was incredibly effective and illustrated that while this is a work of fiction, the horror it contains is very real.

I did not predict the twist, which made it all the more shocking. I agree with some other reviewers that the ending did feel a bit rushed, but I disagree that the paranormal element didn't work.
The imagery of the jackal and his desire to become a god by taking over a Black woman's body felt incredibly poignant to me. The additional metaphors around shadows, scavenging, the consumption of the girls' hearts and Anabis, the Egyptian god of death, were also potent. I am still teasing apart the metaphors meanings, but I do think they were incredibly intentional and not something random that Adams threw in at the last second. Perhaps they could have been explained more, but also maybe it's up to the reader to do their own digging. I also don't feel like the paranormal element diminished the horrors perpetuated by humans. As Jack said himself, he never forced anyone to do anything they didn't want to do, he simply gave them permission. And that alone feels like a lot to chew on about what Jack represents in the story.


I am very excited to read whatever Erin E. Adams publishes next!

tw: anti-Blackness, misogynoir, white supremacy, abduction and targeted killing of Black girls
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