Moon Witch, Spider King

By: Marlon James

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

“Masterfully flips the first installment on its head... James makes the mythic tantalizingly real.’” —Esquire

"Even more brilliant than the first.” —Buzzfeed

An Instant New York Times Bestseller and NPR Best Book of 2022 pick

From Marlon James, author of the bestselling National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the second book in the Dark Star trilogy.

In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, Sogolon the Moon Witch proved a worthy adversary to Tracker as they clashed across a mythical African landscape in search of a mysterious boy who disappeared. In Moon Witch, Spider King, Sogolon takes center stage and gives her own account of what happened to the boy, and how she plotted and fought, triumphed and failed as she looked for him. It’s also the story of a century-long feud—seen through the eyes of a 177-year-old witch—that Sogolon had with the Aesi, chancellor to the king. It is said that Aesi works so closely with the king that together they are like the eight limbs of one spider. Aesi’s power is considerable—and deadly. It takes brains and courage to challenge him, which Sogolon does for reasons of her own.

Both a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.

🤯🥳🤠😱😢🤬☠️🥳

Narration: beautiful, engrossing, griot sung
Story: repeat of narrativon plus filled with imagery that helped me see, hear, taste, feel and smell my voyeuristic leap through trees, adventure through air, fight, make love and hope.
All Hail the imperfect, avenger of balance...MOON WITCH. May we all aspire.
From Marlon James, I have come to expect NOTHING less.

Incredible!

This was well worth the wait. I do hope it is a trilogy. Marvelous!

Much better than the first novel.

If you had any reservations after the 1st novel, don't worry you get the best of it. If you liked the 1st novel, you'll still be in very good shape.

Better is subjective, but I mean better as in more palatable. The first novel was fascinating. A new world with so many possibilities and interesting mythology. The main character, Tracker, was really unlikable, though, haha. So angry and aggressive. His caustic attitude and the violence of his life was at times difficult to read through. I'm no prude.

This novel is not a repeat of the first, but more of a prequel. The main character is bitter but more likable and an easier read to follow because of it. This isn't sanitized, just a very different character with a very different world view.
The writing is still witty and the characters are very interesting. Touching, funny, savage, introspective. There is a lot here. A very complex Character.

Much later on, you hear some of the events in book 1 with a new perspective, but in brief rather than great detail, so it is interesting, still, now with the context of a prequel. I didn't expect to like this as much as I had. I look forward to more!

The saga keeps getting better and better

Awesome story that had a hold of me from beginning to end. An amazing performance by the narrator as well. One of the best I have ever heard!

amazing 👏

loved it. the struggle to see both characters in a negative light will haunt me forever