Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is a futuristic gladiator-style competition with prisoners who murder for freedom. While the book is satire it takes a harsh look at the prison system of today and the arrest percentages of minorities. When this book is focused on the fighters and the struggles they are going through the book is great. When the book expands to show the fandom and the spectacle of the fights it is just okay. I feel like the story spends way too much time on the spectacle other than spending time with the fighters. The story is what if the Gladiators games happened today using the prison system as the facilitators? The reflection of today’s prison system on the one portrayed in the book is in your face but very persuasive. The story is critical of the prison system but also acknowledges that we need it just with way more counseling to prepare them better for release. The irony of the story is some of the fighters find their humanity by killing other prisoners. The beginning and ending of this book are strong, the middle is a little bit all over the place which slows down the pace. Chain-Gang All-Stars was published on May 2, 2023.

Plot Summary: Loretta Thurwar is one of the hottest stars of CAPE or, Criminal Action Penal Entertainment which is a gladiator-like show where prisoners fight in death matches for three years to be eventually released so far no one has made it. Thurwar is just three games away from release. She finds out what the final match is early and knows if she makes it to the end it will break her. She could be free, but not truly.

What I Liked: The main story of Thurwar and Hurricane Staxxx had some good twists and turns and got to me emotionally. Steven J. Craft’s story was the best his story arc was very well done. Sunset’s death was very well done and the impact all around was powerful. The ending was great and one of the best fights in the story. The lesbian relationship was told very well. I did love the van scene with the driver telling how he got involved. There is not as much action as you would think for a story like this but there are two really good fights in this story that end very gory. I liked the mystery of Steven J. Craft’s middle initial and what it stood for.

What I Disliked: The last Steven J. Craft fight was weak. I loved the ending but the fight was so weak he’s one of the strongest I wanted to see more of the fight before what happened at the end. All the cutaways from the main story were so distracting, I would have cut a couple who is getting his girlfriend into the games, boardroom scene I would have condensed or added it to the protester’s storyline. The protester’s storyline was just okay I liked the connection to Thurwar but wanted more with her storyline and what happened to her after the protest.

Recommendation: Chain-Gang All-Stars is a good futuristic novel that makes you think about today’s prison system. If you want a book filled with action you should skip this there are only four fights that I can remember and only enjoyed two of the fights. The book is a little bit all over the place as the writer in my opinion paid too much attention to the spectacle than the fighters and their struggles. I think there’s more good than bad in this novel so I will barely recommend it.

Rating: I rated Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 3.6 out of 5 stars.