An epic fable drenched in African mythology. This is work that both meets the immersive worldbuilding standard in books by Tolkien and Martin and brings to the genre a voice unlike anything seen before . . . It sets readers up for what will undoubtedly be a superb finale
The Boston Globe
Booker winner James's African-inspired imaginary kingdoms mark the series out from the usual run of epic fantasies, but his uniquely supple, powerful style is even more distinctive
The Guardian
<i>Black Leopard, Red Wolf</i> and <i>Moon Witch, Spider King</i> are wildly inventive, genre-defining works of fiction on the level of <i>The Lord Of The Rings</i> and the Broken Earth trilogy that deserve to be studied, dissected, and argued over
AV Club
An exhilarating tour de force . . . [James] establishes a new vision for the trilogy as a whole and confirms <i>Dark Star</i> as a true epic
- John Burnside,
Moving, vivid, and thought-provoking . . . brilliant
Buzzfeed
James cements his status as a wildly inventive and lyrical storyteller
Financial Times
James masterfully flips the first instalment on its head . . . [A] titanic story of empire, adventure and power
Esquire
Told with James' inimitable linguistic verve . . . Riotous, ultraviolent, dazzlingly inventive
Literary Hub
<p>A fantasy world as well-realized as anything Tolkien made, with language as powerful as Angela Carter's</p>
Neil Gaiman
James once again shattered my expectations . . . <i>Moon Witch, Spider King</i> is a breathtaking book, one that functions as well as a standalone as it does a sequel . . . This is a novel that begs to be read in one sitting
NPR
THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE REVOLUTIONARY DARK STAR TRILOGY
'Even more gripping and inventive than its predecessor . . . like Tolkien on ayahuasca' Observer
*Perfect for fans of Pratchett, George R. R. Martin and Octavia Butler*
In this mighty follow-up to his number one bestseller Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Booker-winner Marlon James once again draws on a rich tradition of African mythology, fantasy and history to tell the story of Sogolon the Moon Witch.
Part adventure story, part tale of an indomitable woman, Moon Witch, Spider King chronicles the antagonist-turned-antihero's journey from an ostracised no-name girl, hated by her brothers and made to live in a termite hill, to a woman with fully developed powers engaged in a long-standing feud with the Aesi, chancellor to the king.
Offering Sogolon's version of the events of Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Moon Witch, Spider King is an unforgettable exploration of power, resistance and revenge set in a world at once ancient and startlingly modern.
'A fantasy world as well-realized as anything Tolkien made, with language as powerful as Angela Carter's' Neil Gaiman
'James masterfully flips the first instalment on its head . . . [A] titanic story of empire, adventure and power' Esquire
'Told with James' inimitable linguistic verve . . . Riotous, ultraviolent, dazzlingly inventive' Literary Hub