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A review by stefan_lennemyr
The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste
informative
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
Imagine that you know a character in a book throughout. Rather, you think you do until reality interferes.
In this book the characters are as real as any one can be, and that’s really disturbing when the characters are Italian fascists and Ethiopian freedom fighters. Humanity plummets as the war goes on, but are there also ways to explain atrocities?
“Heart of Darkness” by Conrad and the film adaptation “Apocalypse now” by Coppola are both valid references to the insanities and grandeur of the world in which the story takes place. And the scope in “The Shadow King” are greater still.
In this book the characters are as real as any one can be, and that’s really disturbing when the characters are Italian fascists and Ethiopian freedom fighters. Humanity plummets as the war goes on, but are there also ways to explain atrocities?
“Heart of Darkness” by Conrad and the film adaptation “Apocalypse now” by Coppola are both valid references to the insanities and grandeur of the world in which the story takes place. And the scope in “The Shadow King” are greater still.