Reviews tagging 'Death'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

38 reviews

lfl's review

dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautiful writing.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

This book was so descriptive, for better or for worse you felt everything that Annis was going through. I did the full immersion on this one (audio and physical) which I think helped when it came to being able to follow along with the descriptive writing. I have been slowly making my way through this authors books and have not been disappointed.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy

amandaacat's review

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

1.0

I could not get behind this book and only kept reading for the sake of the book club I’m in. I did not like the writing style and would have preferred the story without the supernatural elements. It’s a tough read, with the story being about a girl sold into slavery and her experiences, however I found the spirits in the book distracting and would have rather just her story on its own. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

kshertz's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was so deep and hard and sad. It’s just a realistic look at the horrors of slavery combined with what might have been. It was hard to be in this headspace for too long, but it’s definitely beautifully written 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

moonyhannah's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Grief

jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, and Grief

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

challenging dark

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

I don’t even really understand what I just read–or what the point of the book was–so I’m withholding a numerical rating. The synopsis was accurate but really undersold how big a role the spirits played in the storyline. I almost felt like the spiritual element got more face time than the main character (Annis/Arese). It revolved heavily around the ambiguous nature of her ‘ancestral’ spirit (Aza). The vibe was ultra gloomy with fleeting tender moments from love interests (Safi & Bastian). If this hadn’t been a book club read, I would’ve DNF’d for sure.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy

bluz19's review

challenging dark inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This story is categorized as literary fiction with the themes of being heavy, supernatural, cerebral, and have LGBTQ+ themes. Trigger Warning: rape, sexual assault, slavery and abuse. This is not a usual read, it is a hard truth, it is harsh and real but it is also lyrical and reads like a song. It is about a generational love and the trust of a daughter. Annis is the descendant of a West African warrior, she comes from so much strength. When her mom is sold in the slave market she is overtaken with grief. Then Annis is sold South, along the journey, a weather spirit using the namesake of Annis’ grandmother appears. She goes on a physical and spiritual journey to understand herself and her past.

It is a hard read because it is based in the time of American slavery, you experience the hard truth that is slavery. The ripping apart of families, the assault on black bodies and disregard for those lives. You also see the traditions of black families that still exist today. You see the strength and the culture. We so often talk about “we lost our history when they stole us” this is a book of transitioning and finding freedom in our current situation. This book by no means glorified slavery, instead it shows us the power that is ourselves and our choices. 

I think I originally picked up this book to just get the experience of the read. I think I would read again just because there is so much to unpack there and a lot of it is about finding the deeper meaning. There involved so many themes that I think could be flushed out more. Although this isn’t my usual read, I think it was definitely a story worth diving into to.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Like most books on slavery, this was emotionally hard to read. But it was beautifully written, and I loved Annis and even Aza. I have hope for Annis.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

beccacondon's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? N/A

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail