A review by montereads
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

A vicious, disturbing page-turner brimming with old magic. This novel was brought to life by the rich details of a resilient community in a near-future, walled-in and gang-run Toronto; the setting and the ever-present attention to community care upped the stakes of Ti-Jeanne’s desperate gamble to save her on-again, off-again ex from the city’s most dangerous crime boss. You can feel what she has to lose as she faces new and increasingly intense horrors with her baby strapped to her hip and her lively, sceptical grandmother along for the ride. The magic elements were evocative, rooted in the body and spirit and mixing awe and horror. Paranormal/urban fantasy are hard sells for me, but this was a good, dark read, and I loved the audiobook.
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