Reviews

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron

kim_j_dare's review against another edition

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5.0

This one grabbed me and didn't let go. The women in Evvie's family have been gifted with the Jubilation to protect themselves and their families for hundreds of years. As Evvie comes into hers, she learns that the ability to manipulate the world around her comes at a high cost.
Racial tensions run high in 1962 South Carolina, and the way that Corthron weaves a story of love and friendship and family against a truly creepy and sinister backdrop is masterful.
Suspenseful pacing, excellent world-building, utterly original.

alwaysairie's review against another edition

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4.0

Well it was a nice, short read (although I took my sweet time with it

kearaspencer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rae_bookmarkchronicles's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I'm having feelings

books4susie's review against another edition

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4.0

I had high hopes for this book but was only slightly disappointed by the fantasy aspects. This story leaned more towards the historical uncurrent of being an African American living in South Carolina in 1962, the height of the Jim Crow era. I plowed through the book to see how Evalene would master her abilities at jubilation(magic). Unfortunately, the ending broke my heart.

nicolemhewitt's review against another edition

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5.0

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Daughters of Jubilation is a story of power and the ways it can be wielded for both good and evil. Having grown up in the Jim Crow era, Evvie knows what powerlessness feels like and she isn’t willing to just sit back and wallow in it. Luckily, she has magic on her side. But as Evvie’s powers grow stronger, she struggles to figure out boundaries: When is using her magic against someone justified, and just how far is too far? Suspense is built when Evvie realizes she’s being stalked by a mysterious man who she eventually realizes has ties to her past–a past she doesn’t want to remember. And another surprising character shows up in Evvie’s dreams and adds a uniquely unexpected element to the story that I won’t spoil. (Though, I will say it makes me wonder if there are more books planned in this world…) Daughters explores difficult topics, including sexual assault and extreme racism that turns brutal, so it can be a tough read in some parts, but at its heart it’s a story of strength and resilience. I highly recommend this powerful read!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

krb_615's review against another edition

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3.0

I know Kara Lee Corthron as a playwright first and a novelist second. She’s a gifted storyteller in both genres, stitching elegant and surreal tales about race and femininity. In Daughters of Jubilation, Corthron reclaims the magical negro trope, inserting Blackness into the world of fantasy fiction.

Due to her dramatic background, Corthron’s strength lies in dialogue, in character voice. Daughters of Jubilation’s first person narration crackles with life. Corthron’s prose captures Evvie’s effervescence, making her headspace an intriguing place to be.

Through Daughters of Jubilation, Kara Lee Corthron expands her reach as a storyteller and provides us with another diverse fantasy novel to decolonize the genre. If you want a quirky and dark fantasy read, be sure to pick this one up.

3.5 stars

Full review: https://link.medium.com/kc5R2kSRuab

colorfulleo92's review against another edition

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4.0

I wasn't prepared on how much the book would effect me reading it as I forgot that YA now days can be just as hard hitting and intense as books caters to adult. A very good and well written story and I would definitely read more from this author.

elizpeace's review

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DNF. I just could not get into it. I wanted to, but could not. Maybe I will try again another time.

sarahreadsabit's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars.
The voice of this writer is not one that I connect to. And the plot and character development feels sudden and unnatural at times.

Overall, the message and it’s successful ability to worm itself in my head and still haunt me days later causes me to round up rather than down.