She Steals Justice – J Clark
Clark kindly gifted me a copy of this stunning fantasy novel, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I usually steer towards crime thrillers, so it was refreshing to read something that I wouldn’t normally have chosen for myself. She Steals Justice is a modern Robin Hood novel for adults. It is a novel that is set in a world of brave women, angels, creatures of the Underworld, demon hunting Christians, and prejudiced beings.
Robyn, the protagonist, tries to protect her sister from her abuser and in doing so, morphs into something supernatural. It is set in the south of the USA – and Robyn comes up against racism and misogyny. Clark’s writing delves into the Church’s depiction of demons and also the struggles of black people in America; it is because of these depictions that Robyn is thrust into a somewhat supernatural atmosphere which also tests her own morality and choices.
The dialogue is fantastic, and it feels so raw at times that you feel emotional and your heart aches for the experiences the characters go through.
Clark covers themes of overthrowing strong, opposing forces and that nothing and no one is either good or bad. Often, the lines are blurred, and Robyn herself gets dragged down by the power she has been given and doesn’t always make the right decisions. Clark has self-published this book, and I admire the thought, effort and passion that is evident across each page. It is cleverly complicated and has an extremely strong narrative and message. One thing I loved about the book was that it wasn’t always the good person winning – it sometimes didn’t take me down a path I expected, and it was refreshing to read something that avoids that. Quite often we read books for comfort, books that are predictable but feel safe.
Clark enables her protagonist to break down barriers of the racist and sexist society that surrounds her and retaliates in the best way. The voices that speak to her are often portrayed as being evil, but they set Robyn on the right path.
She Steals Justice is the perfect title for this novel, and I felt that it has been left open for a possible sequel. For me, this is a must read, especially if you love fantasy fiction!
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