Book Review: They Made Us Blood and Fury by Cheryl S. Ntumy
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Cheryl S. Ntumy really well the last few years since we are both founding members of the Sauúti Collective. I have read numerous short stories by Cheryl and had the honor of beta reading some of her longer works too, so when she offered me the opportunity to read an ARC of her adult dark fantasy novel, They Made Us Blood and Fury, I jumped at the chance.
There are many things I appreciate about Cheryl’s writing: clear and uncluttered prose, multifaceted characters, complex world-building, intricate plots, and stories brimming with compassion. They Made Us Blood and Fury delivers all of this and more. While some of Cheryl’s stories certainly contain darker elements, this novel surprised me with just how gruesome and gory it could be, introducing elements of body horror I was not expecting, but absolutely loved. (Trigger warning for those who don’t like spiders)
This book is not all heart-pounding action, however, as Cheryl manages to balance the well-paced and meticulously crafted action scenes with slower, gentler moments between characters. While romance doesn’t take center stage in this book, for readers who prefer romantasy, they will find a tender love to root for between the bloodier pages. This book also explores familial love, particularly the relationship between father and son, and the concept of identity in many different ways. While none of the POV characters are queer, there is queer rep in this story in a world that seems queer-accepting. I particularly appreciated the inclusion and portrayal of a trans character.
They Made Us Blood and Fury is an African-inspired fantasy for fans of Tobi Ogundiran and Tomi Adeyemi. This fantasy features several POV characters navigating complicated political and religious terrain in attempts to stave off war while protecting those they love. As always, Cheryl has created morally gray characters at odds with themselves as much as each other and the world. While having multiple POV characters in a book can sometimes be disorientating or frustrating, Cheryl seamlessly weaves the narratives together, drawing the reader along multiple story threads toward a stunning conclusion that left me desperate for the sequel.
Available from Rosarium Publishing
Review By Xan van Rooyen
I received an ARC from the author
