Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Unabridged)
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3.8 • 78 Ratings
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
One of TIME’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
Winner of the L.A. Times Ray Bradbury Prize
Finalist for the 2019 National Book Award
The New York Times Bestseller
Named a Best Book of 2019 by The Wall Street Journal, TIME, NPR, GQ, Vogue, and The Washington Post
"Gripping, action-packed....The literary equivalent of a Marvel Comics universe." --Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
The epic novel from the Man Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings
In the stunning first novel in Marlon James's Dark Star trilogy, myth, fantasy, and history come together to explore what happens when a mercenary is hired to find a missing child.
Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter: "He has a nose," people say. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge, full of unusual characters with secrets of their own, including a shape-shifting man-animal known as Leopard.
As Tracker follows the boy's scent--from one ancient city to another; into dense forests and across deep rivers--he and the band are set upon by creatures intent on destroying them. As he struggles to survive, Tracker starts to wonder: Who, really, is this boy? Why has he been missing for so long? Why do so many people want to keep Tracker from finding him? And perhaps the most important questions of all: Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?
Drawing from African history and mythology and his own rich imagination, Marlon James has written a novel unlike anything that's come before it: a saga of breathtaking adventure that's also an ambitious, involving read. Defying categorization and full of unforgettable characters, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is both surprising and profound as it explores the fundamentals of truth, the limits of power, and our need to understand them both.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Filled with fantastical beasts plucked from ancient African folklore, the inventive first volume of Marlon James’ Dark Star trilogy evokes the expansive, immersive worlds of George R. R. Martin and J. R. R. Tolkien. But James’ whirlwind of pop culture references, outrageous one-liners, and proudly Afrocentric settings puts a fresh cultural spin on the epic fantasy genre. With his commanding, rich baritone and knack for creating distinctive voices, actor Dion Graham is the ideal guide for James’ magical, game-changing voyage. We cannot wait for books two and three!
Customer Reviews
Black Leopard Red Wolf
Great read, I loved how the author was able to capture dialogue of this African mythical land. I appreciate all of Marlon James books.
Phenomenal
I found this listen to be quite a expansive journey. I picked this book up in Barnes and noble the cover honestly is what called me. I have the physical book but time kept getting away from me so this audio I was genuinely vested in the entire time! I didn’t know the book had gay themes that was a pleasant surprise!
A good read, an even better listen
The voice work in this audiobook adds remarkable depth to the characters, making it far easier to envision them as the author intended. The story itself is gritty, thought-provoking, and at times very dark—unflinchingly so.
Some scenes are difficult to read or listen to due to their graphic nature and intense descriptions, but it’s clear this was an intentional choice by the author. In my view, if a story doesn’t evoke a strong emotional response—whether toward the characters or the world they inhabit—then it’s not doing its job.
This is not a hero’s tale by any stretch, and that’s perfectly fine. The world we live in exists largely in shades of grey, and this story captures that moral ambiguity brilliantly. I’m looking forward to the next book and the fresh perspective it promises to offer.