Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James is the first book in The Dark Star Trilogy. This trilogy uses the African mythology much like other fantasy books use a Medieval (+magic) mythology. I am looking forward to a new perspective on the approach to fantasy literature.
Started: 4/10/2019
Completed: 5/15/2019
Recommendation: Mildly recommended
Recommended By: I have read several reviews, all quite positive
Review:
Mr. James has created a believable (though fantastical) and consistent universe. The protagonist, Tracker, tells the story in a Homeric style (with adjectives to match--almost whenever Tracker is mentioned "I hear you have a nose" follows). Since the protagonist jumps around in his timeline a bit, it is disorienting. That sort of reflects Tracker himself who seems to thrive in chaos.
This story is take-your-breath-away violent. It is gory in remarkably odd ways. The reader (I listened to the book on tape), Dion Graham, uses a heavy accent, but his pacing of the novel is wonderful. Battle scenes rip by in a staccato burst of action upon action to a crescendo when Mr. Graham seems out of breath just as Tracker himself is gasping or down.
This story is also very gay. Discussion of ass holes seems to blossom throughout the novel in a manner that suggests the protagonist focuses on his sexuality second only to his sense of oppression at the hands of "the world." He has good reason to feel oppressed and one cannot help one's sexuality. The degree to which this book focuses on sex, however, makes the book very adult. Some of the sex is very disturbing (not because it is gay--though some of the disturbing sex is--but because it is so violent).
The jury is out on whether I will read other books in the series.
Mr. James has created a believable (though fantastical) and consistent universe. The protagonist, Tracker, tells the story in a Homeric style (with adjectives to match--almost whenever Tracker is mentioned "I hear you have a nose" follows). Since the protagonist jumps around in his timeline a bit, it is disorienting. That sort of reflects Tracker himself who seems to thrive in chaos.
This story is take-your-breath-away violent. It is gory in remarkably odd ways. The reader (I listened to the book on tape), Dion Graham, uses a heavy accent, but his pacing of the novel is wonderful. Battle scenes rip by in a staccato burst of action upon action to a crescendo when Mr. Graham seems out of breath just as Tracker himself is gasping or down.
This story is also very gay. Discussion of ass holes seems to blossom throughout the novel in a manner that suggests the protagonist focuses on his sexuality second only to his sense of oppression at the hands of "the world." He has good reason to feel oppressed and one cannot help one's sexuality. The degree to which this book focuses on sex, however, makes the book very adult. Some of the sex is very disturbing (not because it is gay--though some of the disturbing sex is--but because it is so violent).
The jury is out on whether I will read other books in the series.
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