Reviewer: Ryan O’Boyle
Our five senses dictate our view of the world. If one is stronger than the rest, we tend to rely on the information it gives us over the other four. For Tracker, he is born with an excellent sense of smell. He is able to discern scents from long distances, and, once the smell is in his mind, he can track it for miles. Known only as Tracker, he navigates a harsh childhood. As a teenager, he had a violent confrontation with his abusive father. He makes his escape. Stumbling upon his birth village, he discovers a shocking truth about his family.
This truth lights the fuse on a powder keg of adventure. Explosive, volatile, and dangerous, Tracker weaves in and out of fighting, drinking, and engaging in extracurricular activities. He meets many characters during his travels. A woman who may be able to cast spells; a ghost; a leopard that can take the form of a man if he so chooses. Groveling is not in his nature. Pride is a feature. His combat skills learned while training with the leopard serve these traits well.
Marlon James weaves a magical tale with the book Black Leopard, Red Wolf. The themes of this book stray into adult content but are deftly detailed. Magic, power, struggle, hope, loss, friendship gained and lost thread through the needles of the pages of this book. James uses these looping spools of fiery tinder to orchestrate a powerful story jam packed with grit and determination. The stage is set in an alternate Africa full of folklore and hidden gems.
With a deft hand, Marlon James levitates the prose off the page and immerses the reader in the story. His style begets the universe. For a new perspective on Fantasy Fiction. Black Leopard, Red Wolf is as good as it gets.