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A review by katiemack
A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The two parts to this book read more like separate short stories, despite the way the two families come together at the end; this made the narrative flow tough for me to get through. Regardless, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ writes her many characters beautifully; the way she imbues each of them with a fleshed-out backstory is admirable and doesn't bog the story down--it made me want to read more about all of them. The sense of place and culture is equally impressive and rich.
As you may have surmised from the synopsis, this does not have a happy ending, but it's worth a read for the descriptions of Nigerian politics, culture, and socioeconomic interplay.
The two parts to this book read more like separate short stories, despite the way the two families come together at the end; this made the narrative flow tough for me to get through. Regardless, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ writes her many characters beautifully; the way she imbues each of them with a fleshed-out backstory is admirable and doesn't bog the story down--it made me want to read more about all of them. The sense of place and culture is equally impressive and rich.
As you may have surmised from the synopsis, this does not have a happy ending, but it's worth a read for the descriptions of Nigerian politics, culture, and socioeconomic interplay.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Murder