A review by serendipitysbooks
When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 When the Reckoning Comes was a unique read which uses the horror genre to take an unflinching look at race relations and the legacy of slavery. The set-up has Mira, a Black woman, returning to her hometown for the wedding of her childhood best friend Celine, who is white, even though they are no longer close. The wedding is to be held on the grounds of a former plantation that now operates as a tourist attraction offering historical re-enactments and the like. The plantation is also the scene of a traumatic event involving Mira, their other friend Jesse, a Black man. The horror aspect comes via the historical atrocities, including some stomach-churning torture, and by the fact that the land is haunted by ghosts seeking vengeance on the descendants of those who harmed them. Not forgetting the present day racism which is a horror in its own right.

While I had a few issues with this book - the characters felt a bit flat and the pacing was a little uneven - it was still a winner for me. The originality of the concept, the powerful way it highlighted issues of race and the importance of reckoning with the legacy of slavery and racism, plus the writing - some phrases and sentences were absolute zingers - more than compensated for areas that didn’t work as well for me.

If you are looking for a unique take on race, one that emphasises that the past cannot be ignored and must be reckoned with, then check out this book. 
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