A review by dawncasters
Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this fictionalized account of the Ethiopian revolution and the overthrow of the monastic government in turn for a faux-Marxist military regime. I read Mengiste’s latest book, The Shadow King, before I read this and while I enjoyed that book it was definitely more brutal and slower to work through. This book captivated me in her beautiful prose and her meticulous historial research. I’ve really been interested in reading novels that depict radical history within Third World nations and this book stood out for her dedication to expanding on the rise of the Derg. I think historical fiction can oftentimes do a better job of conveying the multiple perspectives and emotions that arise during a people’s revolution. As someone who sees himself as an anti-imperialist and burgeoning communist, I value books that came place me into key moments where history was in the making. Especially on the African continent in instances where people strove for liberation for colonialist powers. I hesitated to give this book a five because I think there were some moments where the plot was lost. But I really enjoyed the characters and the historical account of this moment in the Horn of Africa. I recommend it to people aware of the history but interested in exploring it more.