Reviews

Forty Acres by Dwayne Alexander Smith

bumpkinhouse's review against another edition

5.0

This book can definitely be a hard read at times but it truly makes you rethink the themes of revenge, fear, accomplishment, etc. All the while being a great thriller to read. I don't think there's ever been a black person who hasn't thought at some point what if the roles were reversed but here we're slapped in the face with that and just how problematic it can be.

seymone's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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? No

3.5

fro_alchemist's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

anwilliams86's review against another edition

4.0

I didn’t expect this book to be as good as it was, but I just could not put it down until I got to the end.

kimskindlereads's review against another edition

4.0

3.75 rounding up. I enjoyed this book a lot. The plot was unique. The main character irked me but with this plot that was to be expected. Thoroughly enjoyed this journey but the ending was not what I wanted personally. I get it but … no, respectfully

remreadstoo's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

raymond_murphy's review against another edition

3.0

A secret society of wealthy and powerful Black men build a secret get-away that is a plantation + a gold mine where they keep white people (snatched from the streets) as slaves. The protagonist is a man who this society seeks to initiate, but he is repulsed by their endeavor and risks it all to try to shut it down.

The problem is that it's a thriller. So what was cool--the concept--gets totally trampled by the insane pressure of the page-turning plot. Characterization is completely lost as the narrative moves on.

lilacs4b's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Minor: Rape

zikeyag's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

This was a mediocre thriller. It had a lot of detail that went into it to the point where I almost DNF’d it because it was kind of boring at one point, but I went ahead and pushed through. Towards the end is where it started getting more action packed. At the almost verrryyyy end. I can see where it was a thriller, as far as , Martin trying to escape, a contract killer hunting down the wife, and stuff like that, but other than that, it wasn’t really thriller to me. It wasn’t super intense shall I say, but that’s just me.  

This was an interesting take on “get back”. These group of powerful men decided to take matters into their own hands as far as getting payback for what was done to our African-American ancestors and Martin was not for it at all. It makes me wonder if there’s actually somebody out there or multiple people that have thought about this, wanted to do this, have actually done this, and are currently doing this. I couldn’t imagine owning a slave and treating them how our ancestors were treated because it’s so inhumane. 

amy_j18's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

The first half was slow. The last quarter was all fast-paced and better than the beginning. It was… not what I was expecting. It was okay? Could’ve left some parts out I feel like and it would’ve been the same. But to each their own.