Blood Slaves - Review

I received a digital copy from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. All reviews are my own.

After watching the movies Sinners and Birth of a Nation, I was excited when Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond hit the shelves. There’s nothing like a good old story about a slave revolt to get the blood pumping. And then to fuse vampires in the mix? I was highly invested. Sadly, Libby had other plans for me, and we remember how long it takes to clear those holds. Well, after six months, I finally got my hands on it and dove right in with high hopes! The verdict? I hate to admit it, but I’m not impressed. Community of the skin color: don’t come for me.

"In the Province of Carolina, 1710, freedom seems unattainable for Willie, for his beloved Gertie, and for their unborn child. They live, suffer, and toil under their brutal master, James “Big Jim” Barrow, whose grand plantation was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of the enslaved. To flee this hell on earth is be hunted and killed. Until one strange night Willie is offered a dark hope by Rafazi, an enigmatic slave with an irresistible and blood-chilling path to liberation.

Hailing from the Kingdom of Ghana, Rafazi is the lone survivor of the Ramanga, an African vampire tribe rendered nearly extinct by plague. Rafazi has roamed the world for centuries with an undying desire to replenish the power that once defined his heritage. In Willie, Rafazi has found his first biddable subject to be turned and to help in a hungry revolt. And Willie desires nothing more than to free his people from malicious bondage. Whatever it takes.

One by one, as an army of blood slaves thirsting for revenge is gathered, the headstrong Gertie fears that no good can come from the vampiric legacy that courses through Rafazi’s veins. Willie knows that only evil can fight evil. And when the woman he loves stands between the reemergence of the Ramanga and the justified slaughter of the oppressors, Willie must make an irreversible decision. Only one thing is certain: on the Barrow plantation, and beyond, blood will spill."

For those who have been here for a while, we all know that audiobooks are my favorite flavor right now. But with Blood Slaves, the narrator didn’t click for me, so I bounced between reading and listening. Narrated by Akin Omotoso, the narration clocks in at 11 hours and 5 minutes, but I cranked it up to 1.25x speed to breeze through.  Looking back, I wish I had read more rather than listened, but it is what it is.

Blood Slaves tells a story of a man named Willie, who will do anything to protect his love, Gertie, and their future family. After a failed escape, Willie is severely punished and is forced to clean the stables with another man, Rafazi. That man, Rafazi, happens to be a Ramanga, the lone survivor of an African vampire tribe, wiped out due to the plague. When Rafazi reveals his true nature and dangles the promise of freedom to Willie, a daring plan for rebellion takes shape. The story then follows Willie as he plots a revolt, all while wrestling with the question: Can you ever be truly free if you’re already dead? It’s a bit of an angel-versus-devil situation.

I liked how layered Redmond designed the story. He captured the spectrum of human nature: some characters are ready to risk it all for freedom, while others cling to safety out of fear. There are those who betray their own for a scrap of favor, and others who puff themselves up to feel important. Redmond skillfully explores the complexities within the Black community, showing how we navigate the roles we’re given.

I danced with the rating, but overall, I rated this book 3-stars. I don’t think I was ready for the book's vibe, and the narrator didn’t help. The content is extremely heavy, dealing with the brutality of slavery, rape, bigotry, murder, and a lot of bloodshed. Some readers might find it tough to get through. As for me, I’ve learned about these things my entire life, so it didn’t affect me as much. Blood Slaves just wasn’t what I was looking for this time, and that’s okay. I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the second book, since it left off with a cliffhanger, but who knows? My reading moods are unpredictable, so never say never. If you’re a fan of Sinners, Birth of a Nation, Django, or Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, Blood Slaves might be right up your alley.

Blood Slaves is available now!

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