A review by savannahp12
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Jesmyn Ward writes so much like Toni Morrison—it’s wild. What really stood out to me, and what makes her feel even more like Morrison, is how she briefly navigates sexuality (👩‍❤️‍👩) in a way that explores intimacy, especially within the brutal context of enslavement. We don’t often get historical accounts that include consensual queer experiences, and Ward doesn’t center it, but rather weaves it in as a natural part of the character’s emotional journey. That nuance is rare and powerful.

Ward has easily become my favorite writer of this generation—this is my third book of hers.

That said, something that felt like a letdown was how the book started really strong but seemed to lose its way a bit as it went on. The ending, in particular, didn’t land as powerfully as I hoped. It kind of left something unsaid, and I’m not even sure how to describe what was missing—but I felt it.