Reviews tagging 'Death'

Der Schattenkönig by Maaza Mengiste

43 reviews

greyike's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and War

misty_kb's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Death

Minor: Drug use and Misogyny

clementinemelodie's review against another edition

I was sold a story of women during the war, but this book (at least its first third) mainly slow and heavy description of men on the battlefield. I found it extremely tedious.
I was also very annoyed with the pretentious style, it tries to be clever and poetic but I don't think it succeeds. One particular "writing tick" I got bored with was the constant flashforwards to "this will be told in the stories, sung in the songs", etc.. yet not one song or story is actually mentioned in the book. I love when books immerse you in the culture and tales of the area it is set in, but here it's not the case. It's just a way to make any event "grand", but it is so repetitive that it feels more like a habit than a conscious creative choice.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Death of parent, and War

stabilesero's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

Mengiste did this story justice; what a beautiful nod to her grandmother and those who fought in the Italian-Ethiopian war; particularly for those who went unrecognised.
I'm really keen to pick up Mengiste's other novels, The Shadow King was beautiful.
It wasn't perfect, I agree with other readers who also said there were a lot of side characters and names to keep up with, but I see why there were so many by the end of the book. A little bit of repetition regarding describing light and surroundings, but again, it didn't put me off. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death

stindex's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Slavery, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

kittyka0s's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent

bookmaddie's review against another edition

This novel isn’t as character driven as I’d prefer. I was basically halfway and realized I didn’t really feel much for any of the characters, I think because the narrative doesn’t focus on a single person. I did appreciate the chapters that were little pauses in the story to widen our perspective or provide a different point of view, but I wish these chapters were anchored by a more character driven “main” story. I look forward to reading what Mengiste writes, because I did enjoy her way with words. Just not for me! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and War

leahhateshardbacks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I really didn't get on with the way this book was wirtten. Between overly written prose that made the most heartbreaking scenes quickly lose value, to the characters' daydreams which are apparently so rich and vivid in their mind that sometimes it was difficult to discern whether what was happening was real or imagined. I didn't like the whole *40 years later* sections that bookended the story, I don't think it was important enough to be how we enter the story, perhaps just at the end would have been better. I was so confused by Aster - does she like Hirut, does she hate Hirut, does she not know herself? Often her actions contradicted the way she verbalised how she felt about Hirut. It takes too long to understand why the book is called The Shadow King; you don't know until about half way through and although it's not a huge demerit it was frustrating as a reader (also The Shadow King, while a great title, is not completely representative of what the story is about... the women and not The Shadow King). Okay now good things!  I liked the bones of the story, the plot was interesting, feeling somewhat like a car crash that you can't help but stare horrified at (in a good way!!) although imo it could have been at least 100 pages shorter, maybe even under 300 pages altogether (cut most of the earlier stuff rather than the later). Most importantly though the main character Hirut was very endearing and easy to root for. A low class young girl sent to be a maid for a rebel and his wife after the death of her parents, Hirut is confused, frustrated, defiant, and fierce, and we see her qualities that hinder her as a maid blossom as she becomes a soldier. Tbh I think it's a bit of an insult that the book isn't named after her. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder