Moon Witch, Spider King (The Dark Star Trilogy)

I came across Black Leopard Red Wolf browsing in 2019 not long after it was released. An excerpt was provided and I read only half of it before I purchased the book. It was one of my favorite books of the year and it wasn’t until a few months after finishing it I learned it was the first in a trilogy. Moon Witch Spider King has been one of my most anticipated books since.I’ve purchased and read all the other works by Marlon James and am excited for more from him.BLRW was interesting and long-overdue. The narrator’s cadence delivering the narrative and intensity of the scenes might be difficult for some people to reach the end of the book, though the play of story and truth are well done and the intensity of some content should invest the reader with visceral reactions. A terrible thing should have a terrible feeling and that’s what the writing is able to achieve, and readers will experience a range of feeling, good and ugly, reading the book.I pre-ordered MWSK and have read the first chapter. James has done an outstanding job with this African-themed fantasy. I’m also impressed with the publisher and the design and quality of the books. For a story I’m looking forward to owning in hardcopy, I appreciate the quality of materials and production that goes into these final products.Can’t wait to finish and can’t wait for the conclusion. Great work Mr. James. We’re fortunate to have your novels and you as a teacher.

James’, Black Leopard, Red Wolf took me completely by surprise and impressed me in a way few books have. This novel ... it’s sister? Counterpoint? ... magnifies and amplifies the world these books are set in by space, time and perspective. James again shows his mastery of the narrative voice, this time through Sogolon, through whose eyes we are privileged, saddened, and exultant to see shaped by over two hundred years of history, and how she in turn shapes it. When I read the last line I whooped out loud and can’t wait for what comes next.

I like his writing style, creativity and sense of humor.He has an approach to writing that is unique and enjoyable.Not your typical novel by any means.

I think about this series constantly. It’s broadened my perspective on the world.

Excellent! I Loved this book. Dense writing with great story telling. Unlike book 1, book 2 displays the author’s brilliant writing skills and imagination without the need for a “sex scene” every 10 pages which was an unnecessary distraction throughout book 1. (Which was also good ). Book 2 also shortened the story sections. I can’t wait for Book 3 and hope the writer continues with other books after the 3rd.

Author Marlon James returns to his genre-bending world of the Dark Star Trilogy in his follow-up to “Black Leopard, Red Wolf,” with “Moon Witch, Spider King.” Imagine a mad scientist hunched over a concoction that is part L. Frank Baum, part J.R.R. Tolkien, part Lewis Carroll, and part George R.R. Martin, with a little Stephen King and Larry Flynt thrown in for good measure and you won’t even scratch the surface of the Dark Star Trilogy.While technically this is a review for “Moon Witch, Spider King,” it’s nearly impossible to separate it from “Black Leopard, Red Wolf,” as clearly each book serves as a unique view of the same whole. That being said, “Moon Witch, Spider King” can be enjoyed as a standalone fantasy novel, but for the richest experience possible it is advisable to read it within the context of its intended trilogy. “Black Leopard, Red Wolf” is the story of a group of extraordinary men, women, and fantastical creatures assembled with the intention of rescuing a child that has been missing for three years. The story is told in a non-linear fashion as a series of adventures recounted by a protagonist known only as “The Tracker.” Among the assembled fellowship, and serving as a minor antagonist, is Sogolon, known as the Moon Witch. “Moon Witch, Spider King” reshuffles the deck, and recasts Sogolon as the primary protagonist and narrator. Spanning 177 years, Sogolon tells her life story, including how she became a member of the rescue party, and retells the events of the first novel from her point of view, adding a fair amount of mystery and intrigue as her account of those events rarely correspond with those told by the tracker.Marlon James’ prose and narrative style are both unique and inspired. In fact, I defy any fan to not recognize his writing after only a page. However, too much of a good thing is not always the best recipe for success. After over 600 pages of linguistic acrobatics, an exhaustion creeps into the bones that suggests having crawled a marathon. Told from the first and third person POVs of an “uneducated, bush woman” the combination of pre-colonial African colloquialisms and speech patterns with circuitous and tangential storytelling result in what I would charitably call a “challenging” narrative. Several sections of the narrative were reread in an effort to understand mysterious shifts in characterizations, settings, and time periods only to discover the explanation isn’t available for another fifty pages. Abrupt transitions with little to no explanations result in a narrative that is difficult to follow and laborious to understand.Characterization is a mixed bag for a number of reasons. On the one hand, the characters of Sogolon, her “friend” Princess Emini, and her “husband” Keme are extremely well developed. Each painstakingly crafted and explored, they are dynamic, multi-dimensional characters. Each fiercely loyal and caring but also equally capable of betrayal, brutality, and cruelty, they are all fascinating and thought-provoking characters. Unfortunately, odd plot devises such as memory losses and seismic time shifts forces these characters to constantly evolve, as all characters must, but also forces them to revert to their initial condition several times over in which case the characters must rediscover themselves and evolve all over again. Every time we begin to understand and sympathize with a character, some plot device negates everything that came before. The effect is tedious and counterproductive to the narrative flow.Although steeped in African mythology and folklore, the North and South Kingdoms as well as the wildly inventive creatures populating these kingdoms are products of James’ unparalleled imagination. As such, it takes an adept hand at worldbuilding to provide the evocative and visceral descriptions necessary to breathe life into such a world. Descriptions of characters, settings, and action sequences bring the unimaginable to life with such startling imagery the reader steps away with what approaches a cinematic experience.James’ use and exploration of thought-provoking and contemplative themes results in a reading experience that lasts long after the story is complete. Whereas “Black Leopard, Red Wolf” explores the roles of masculinity within pre-colonial African social and political structures, “Moon Witch, Spider King” approaches femininity through similar optics and with startling revelations. The dichotomy between power and powerlessness and especially between truth and lies are revisited throughout both narratives. Lies, in particular, appear to be fierce weapons of both the Tracker from book 1 and Sogolon from book 2. One or both characters are clearly liars, but whether those lies serve anything more than survival is a question to hopefully be explored in the conclusion to the trilogy.“Moon Witch, Spider King” is a challenging read with a lot for a reader to unpack. The world building alone is worth the price of admission, but the introspection raised through the course of the narrative is the fuel that drives the story forward. Universal themes are explored and challenged, and conventions are flouted in a story dripping with originality. While I generally don’t enjoy having to work so hard to access and understand a novel, I remain enthralled by the story and eagerly await the conclusion of the Dark Star Trilogy.

Haven’t read the book yet so the review is more for the condition of the book. It came as described, new and in good condition.

This 2nd book was an absolute joy to read but my critique is that it felt like it tried too hard to be different than the first when it should have been more of a compliment

Marlon James acertou uma vez e agora conseguiu de novo: OBRA-PRIMA! é impossível não ficar fascinado por essa saga, tanto pelo mundo, pelos personagens ou pela trama, mas sobretudo pela estrutura, na qual o autor se esforçou muito pra imbuir de inspirações definitivamente não europeias e totalmente metalinguísticas. aqui novamente vemos a história da busca fracassada pelo garoto, só q agora sob uma outra ótica, q leva em conta motivações e revelações totalmente diferentes.Sogolon não tinha me chamado muito a atenção no primeiro livro. achava ela até uma personagem irritante. o q o Marlon teceu nesse livro fez minha opinião mudar completamente, oq imagino q seja parte da intenção dele. ao mostrar a jornada brutal e triste da personagem, conseguimos absorver a visão de mundo dela e entender suas preocupações. é uma jornada de vingança e obsessão, mas tbm de solidariedade feminina e identidade.a narrativa tá beeem mais acessível e linear do q em LNLV, acompanhamos direitinho a vida da protagonista pelos diferentes estágios da vida, da corte traiçoeira e do lar caloroso em Fasisi até as perambulações dela por toda essa África mística e ancestral. consegui fixar muito melhor vários conceitos e contextos histórico-políticos desse mundo, foi extremamente esclarecedor nesse sentido. quem se sentiu boiando no primeiro livro vai se encantar com a continuação.o universo continua estupendo. aquele misto de fantasia com história, com o autor buscando emular uma África complexa e independente antes das influências cristãs e islâmicas. o Marlon sempre diz q quer fazer pela África oq Tolkien fez pela Europa, no sentido de dar vida a todas essas mitologias, criaturas e referências enquanto constrói uma narrativa q tbm é africana em seu modo de contar. felizmente os livros não ficam só nesse conceito, entregam absolutamente tudo.o final foi como o do primeiro, porém contado de uma maneira completamente diferente, é absurdo ver como a troca de ponto de vista muda o tom e o foco da história. torço tanto pra q a Intrínseca traga pro Brasil esse segundo volume, pq é algo sem precedentes na fantasia contemporânea q merece ser muito conhecido. no terceiro volume, supostamente veremos a história do garoto. ainda tem vários mistérios pra serem revelados, além do fechamento da trama q se passa no presente. mal posso esperar!!!

Molto bello.

Properly great stuff from James here, from the opening to him telling us how much his mother is allowed to read.I loved Black Leopard, Red Wolf but definitely felt there was an issue with every female character seemingly being a form of antagonist.Here that is hugely redressed as we go through the history of Sogolon the Moon Witch, including the parts of book 1 we weren't present for in that narrative.Just some of the best fantasy work I've read.

This is a hard but rewarding read. I can't imagine how you even go about thinking of writing a book like this. He could have chopped this up into 10 books such are the quality of the ideas.

I am in love with Marlon James..... and his cats. Not disappointed un this sequel, cant wait for the third.