I wanted to talk about the world-building in the book compared to other fantasy novels I’ve read recently. So, the last few fantasy books that I’ve read include Akata Witch, the Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, The Belles by Danielle Clayton and I started on N.K. Jemisin’s The Killing Moon. I also recently read Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone. Her Children of Virtue and Vengeance came out recently, and I plan to get a copy of that soon.

I see that these other books seem to take more time with their world building. Black Leopard, however, throws you right into the world with some backstory, but you mostly have to figure things out as you go. There are definitely interesting creatures, but I still feel like I’m trying to get a good grasp of this world. Even Akata Witch, where most of the book is about world-building, takes its time. In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, it’s like boom, you’re here, let’s go. That’s the feeling I get.

So, that’s my quick observation.

Original draft written in December 2019