Chain Gang All Stars

Absurd. The opening scene is shockingly violent; then, as the novel progresses, Adjei-Brenyah periodically introduces further cruelties, tortures, and humiliations. Actions that no human would ever inflict on any sentient creature, let alone a fellow human.(*)

(*) That is not actually true.

This. Was. Painful. I almost DNFed on page six; a trusted friend encouraged me to continue, and I thank her. Shock value notwithstanding, this is a work of compassion and love, as will come as no surprise if you’ve read Friday Black. Adjei-Brenyah has a disturbing gift not just for depicting unimaginable horrors but also the chilling social acceptance of such, and by so doing he highlights the horrors that we today treat as commonplace.