ragna_'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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 is a treat to read, Mengiste writes evocative and compelling prose. Oftentimes, when authors make frequent use of metaphor and simile it tends to unnecessarily densen the prose in ways that don't aid the actual narrative. Mengiste, however, manages to find those images that immediately deepen the emotional and atmospheric contexts of the situations with a single line and brings the reader much closer to the characters and their interior world. Her characters are multifaceted, and while the Italians are obviously the villains, the Ethiopian protagonists aren't simply thoroughly gallant and enlightened heroes, but deeply flawed (Aster) and occasionally criminal (Kidane) people. It also highlights the immense and important contribution of women in the fight against colonialism, especially in Ethiopia. It's a great read and I would highly recommend it.
Spoiler
I also like that there isn't a romance or even some grand moment of understanding and forgiveness between Ettore and Hirut. Their situations are different and while he was definitely oppressed he was still a part of the attempted subjugation of her home country.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Death
athenaia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
The book is very challenging to read but beautifully written. However it is also not a book that is for light reading. The topics that are discussed were sometimes hard to deal with and I would recommend anyone who wants to read it to do it slowly and stop if it is too much for one day. In my opinion the book is a fantastic litterary work even though I needed half a year to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War
unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I read The Shadow King for my work book club, and it provoked such an interesting and varied discussion - definitely one I'd recommend for a group read!
I have mixed feelings about this book myself - there were elements of it that were phenomenal, and aspects that felt quite underdeveloped.
I found several of the structural and stylistic elements a little frustrating. A lack of quote marks and use of first person present tense, two of my pet hates in literature, made it difficult for me to properly lose myself in the story. The story is also presented in a highly stylised way, with interludes and choruses, with references in both style and content to Homer's Iliad. I really applaud Mengiste's aim of writing back to the male, Western and white dominated tradition of epic, but I found these framing techniques emotionally distancing and a little forced.
One of the key things I found frustrating was how little agency women maintained throughout the story. In her author's note, Mengiste says that "The story of war had always been a masculine story, but this was not true for Ethiopia and it has never been that way in any form of struggle. Women have been there, we are here now." Whilst she's absolutely right, this book really didn't feel to me like it put women right at the centre of the story.
However, the writing is stunning. It is philosophically rich, immaculately researched, and a distinctly valuable resistance to Western-centred narratives of conflict. It's an especially important text because Mengiste reminds the reader of the very, very recent brutality inflicted on people and nations of colour by European regimes; I have spent years in classrooms learning about the World Wars and their historical, but I did not know a thing about Mussolini's campaigns on Ethiopia.
It's a very important story, but overall, I wasn't a huge fan of how it was told.
I have mixed feelings about this book myself - there were elements of it that were phenomenal, and aspects that felt quite underdeveloped.
I found several of the structural and stylistic elements a little frustrating. A lack of quote marks and use of first person present tense, two of my pet hates in literature, made it difficult for me to properly lose myself in the story. The story is also presented in a highly stylised way, with interludes and choruses, with references in both style and content to Homer's Iliad. I really applaud Mengiste's aim of writing back to the male, Western and white dominated tradition of epic, but I found these framing techniques emotionally distancing and a little forced.
One of the key things I found frustrating was how little agency women maintained throughout the story. In her author's note, Mengiste says that "The story of war had always been a masculine story, but this was not true for Ethiopia and it has never been that way in any form of struggle. Women have been there, we are here now." Whilst she's absolutely right, this book really didn't feel to me like it put women right at the centre of the story.
However, the writing is stunning. It is philosophically rich, immaculately researched, and a distinctly valuable resistance to Western-centred narratives of conflict. It's an especially important text because Mengiste reminds the reader of the very, very recent brutality inflicted on people and nations of colour by European regimes; I have spent years in classrooms learning about the World Wars and their historical, but I did not know a thing about Mussolini's campaigns on Ethiopia.
It's a very important story, but overall, I wasn't a huge fan of how it was told.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Torture, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, Genocide, and Colonisation
ncdess1398's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Genocide, and Sexual violence
I had no knowledge of this time period in history and Mengiste crafted this story with such immense care and painful honesty. Beautifully written and incredibly sad.thiscrowdedshelf's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Genocide, and Violence
lucyreading's review
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Its very violent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Racism, Gun violence, Genocide, and Death
sarrasegway's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Excrement, and Gun violence
alicerossi's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Wonderful prose. Describes a period of history and an episode of colonialism that is often overlooked from the perspective of women, which is often not represented in war. A very important and very beautiful book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Genocide, Grief, Rape, and Sexual violence
bookarino's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
More...