What on earth did I just read?

This book was supposed to be the “literary equivalent of a Marvel Comics universe” (Kakutani, new York Times), with echoes of “Tolkien, [and] George R. R. Martin” (Rushdie, Time). The author is a Man Booker Prize-winner (promising, right?) who decided to turn his attention to the fantasy genre. I can’t believe I read all 620 pages.

This book is a confusing tome, jam-packed with more characters and creatures than you can shake a stick at. This isn’t a complaint—I appreciate complexity. The problem came with the weak plot, lifeless characters, and painfully redundant attempts at shock value.

I hear there are two books still to come that narrate the same events from different perspectives. I’ll leave them on the shelf.

James, Marlon. Black Leopard Red Wolf. Anchor Canada 2019. The Dark Star Trilogy 1.