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A review by serinas
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Here is the full review, with NO SPOILERS. I saw great reviews and I was also recommended it personally from a friend - so I knew I had to read it! It was already apart of my TBR at that point, but the recs definitely sealed the deal. This took some time to read, but that was my fault. I started it right before my exams... so yeah, my fault😅
Chain-Gang All-Stars jumps right into action, and introduces us to the concept of the entertainment programme. This is action-packed, but also pretty relateable to the real world. We get to see the MCs everyday-life, and the relationships that evolve.
Everything mentioned in Chain-Gang All-Stars is already true - prisoners are slaves, and most of them are dark skinned. Some are 16 years old, jailed with men that are triple their age. Chain-Gang All-Stars uses the real world, and puts everything in a twisted, dark perspective that you can't look away from. Making a sports event out of prisoners killing other prisoners is grotesque, but a symbolic way to show today's prison system in many parts of the world. The book even uses sources and data from real life American prisons, which makes the story hit harder.
I rated it 4.5 stars. The women in this book will forever amaze me - they're written so well, and have range and depth. Women truly have my heart, especially the ones in this book. Hurricane Staxxx and Loretta Thurwar will always be one of my favorite characters of all time - they are amazing.
The few downsides (to me) are that the book had so many POVs, it was confusing at times, and the pacing. The book had a span of several weeks, but it didn't feel like that at all. I don't know if I'd change any of it though, as the book wouldn't be the same if they did. I might not have been in the right headspace when I read it, which would be my fault ofc.
I honestly found it quite disturbing - as I know for a fact this could happen in real life, and people would love to watch a killing match like this. Some would probably not see the problem, and even encourage a match like the ones we see in the book. This is also (probably) part of why I find it disturbing, as I know many would like this concept in real life.
An uncomfortable read, but in a good way. This should 100% be a book you put on your TBR if you haven't already!
Chain-Gang All-Stars jumps right into action, and introduces us to the concept of the entertainment programme. This is action-packed, but also pretty relateable to the real world. We get to see the MCs everyday-life, and the relationships that evolve.
Everything mentioned in Chain-Gang All-Stars is already true - prisoners are slaves, and most of them are dark skinned. Some are 16 years old, jailed with men that are triple their age. Chain-Gang All-Stars uses the real world, and puts everything in a twisted, dark perspective that you can't look away from. Making a sports event out of prisoners killing other prisoners is grotesque, but a symbolic way to show today's prison system in many parts of the world. The book even uses sources and data from real life American prisons, which makes the story hit harder.
I rated it 4.5 stars. The women in this book will forever amaze me - they're written so well, and have range and depth. Women truly have my heart, especially the ones in this book. Hurricane Staxxx and Loretta Thurwar will always be one of my favorite characters of all time - they are amazing.
The few downsides (to me) are that the book had so many POVs, it was confusing at times, and the pacing. The book had a span of several weeks, but it didn't feel like that at all. I don't know if I'd change any of it though, as the book wouldn't be the same if they did. I might not have been in the right headspace when I read it, which would be my fault ofc.
I honestly found it quite disturbing - as I know for a fact this could happen in real life, and people would love to watch a killing match like this. Some would probably not see the problem, and even encourage a match like the ones we see in the book. This is also (probably) part of why I find it disturbing, as I know many would like this concept in real life.
An uncomfortable read, but in a good way. This should 100% be a book you put on your TBR if you haven't already!