A review by forsidious
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

challenging mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This was so well done.

Managed to make me sympathize with the guy summoning cthulhu.

Super poignant story of racism and police brutality in 1920s NYC, that unfortunately rings true today, solved with cosmic horror. Tommy was a really well developed character in such a short time

and his daddy's death was heart breaking and infuriating. Using Suydam as a pawn was great.

I do with we got more of Tommy's perspective at the end, but it fits making him a bit other, and Malone was an interesting, slightly more sympathetic police perspective, drawn to the horror and unable to look away, but also not recognizing the horror around him.

C - 10, A - 10, W - 10, P - 9, I - 10, L - 9, E - 10