Moon Witch, Spider King
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.
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Marlon James
Marlon James is a literary force whose writing captures the essence of raw humanity and boldly reimagines the boundaries of storytelling. Hailing from Jamaica, James’s works pulse with the rhythms of his Caribbean roots, steeped in the political, cultural, and historical complexities of his homeland. His prose, both haunting and exhilarating, offers readers a window into worlds where myth and reality collide, and where the deep scars of history linger.
Best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel A Brief History of Seven Killings, James has crafted a body of work that is as layered as it is visceral. His novels are a rich tapestry of voices, filled with vivid characters whose struggles, dreams, and secrets paint an intricate portrait of modern life in Jamaica and beyond. In this groundbreaking novel, James takes on the tumultuous history of the 1970s in Kingston, interweaving political turmoil with personal drama, while capturing the voices of the unheard with unflinching honesty.
The Dark Star Trilogy
In The Dark Star Trilogy, Marlon James ventures into uncharted territory, fusing African mythology, epic fantasy, and dark, haunting narrative into a stunning, world-shattering tale. With the first book, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, James redefines what a fantasy epic can be—leaving behind the traditional tropes of the genre and crafting a story that is as sprawling and complex as it is visceral.
The Dark Star Trilogy consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
