A review by savvylit
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
dark
emotional
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
4.25
"The nut to crack in any criminal-justice sport was to separate the criminal from the human. When humans saw other humans, they felt 'bad' for whoever had gotten sliced up that week. When humans saw a criminal die, well, that was different."
Chain-Gang All-Stars is an incredibly effective satire full of brilliant observations. Though the realm of pay-per-view bloodsports is a slightly exaggerated version of the current United States, many aspects of this novel are ripped right from reality. Adjei-Brenyah includes footnoted facts that prove aspects of the story aren't fiction: more Black people are incarcerated than any other group, solitary confinement is inhumane torture, teargas is chemical warfare, and many more horrifying truths. It's easy to imagine the world of Chain-Gang All-Stars as being in our own near future.
Within this excellently executed satire, there is also a cast of deeply empathetic and complex characters. Thurwar, Staxx, Craft, & Hendrix will each stay with me for quite some time. The countless absolutely brutal, heartbreaking moments throughout Chain-Gang All-Stars wouldn't have been nearly as effective if the characters hadn't felt so real. My only criticism: I think there were too many characters that were given a first-person perspective. The events of this novel would have been just as riveting and compelling without some of those perspectives.
Chain-Gang All-Stars is an incredibly effective satire full of brilliant observations. Though the realm of pay-per-view bloodsports is a slightly exaggerated version of the current United States, many aspects of this novel are ripped right from reality. Adjei-Brenyah includes footnoted facts that prove aspects of the story aren't fiction: more Black people are incarcerated than any other group, solitary confinement is inhumane torture, teargas is chemical warfare, and many more horrifying truths. It's easy to imagine the world of Chain-Gang All-Stars as being in our own near future.
Within this excellently executed satire, there is also a cast of deeply empathetic and complex characters. Thurwar, Staxx, Craft, & Hendrix will each stay with me for quite some time. The countless absolutely brutal, heartbreaking moments throughout Chain-Gang All-Stars wouldn't have been nearly as effective if the characters hadn't felt so real. My only criticism: I think there were too many characters that were given a first-person perspective. The events of this novel would have been just as riveting and compelling without some of those perspectives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Blood, Violence, Gore, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death, Murder, Confinement, Police brutality, and Suicide