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A review by thequeeraunt
Of One Blood: Or, the Hidden Self by Pauline E. Hopkins
4.0
When you see this book classified as "horror," I think it might be a little bit misleading by today's understanding of the genre. Think about Of One Blood in the context of its time - horror was less about supernatural or paranormal or fantastic elements creating tense or terrifying situations and more about the darkness within human individuals and the capabilities of seemingly-ordinary people to inflict despair upon one another. It reads much more like an adventure story with strong themes of revealing hidden knowledge and making connections that seem nearly impossible. I suppose the elements of spiritualism present a paranormal element, but at the time Hopkins was writing Of One Blood, spiritualism was a popular scientific field of study.
While I didn't find it to be particularly suspenseful or spooky, I enjoyed reading Hopkins' adventure. There was plenty to keep me guessing and I was entertained for the duration of a 3 1/2-hour plane ride. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys classic horror/adventure, and those with an interest in historical Black novelists.
While I didn't find it to be particularly suspenseful or spooky, I enjoyed reading Hopkins' adventure. There was plenty to keep me guessing and I was entertained for the duration of a 3 1/2-hour plane ride. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys classic horror/adventure, and those with an interest in historical Black novelists.