In the very near [dystopian] future, the prison system is not only privatized but has become a massive money-maker in the entertainment field. In this version of our country, prisoners may sign up to be in CAPE (Criminal Action Penal Entertainment) where members (Links) of opposing chain gangs battle to the death. Their every move is televised and the matches have become the country’s most popular sport. If a Link manages to win enough battles, their sentence will be commuted – a vicious way to earn freedom. The story primarily follows Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker, CAPE’s biggest stars and lovers who are both steadily making their way to Freed. As Thurwar and Staxxx attempt to gain some control over their own lives, the perspectives of those pulling (or attempting to pull) the strings – the untouchable capitalists, activists, sycophantic viewers in this sick version of society – illuminate the systemic racism and warped value system in our country.
This book completely changed the game. To say it lived up to the hype is an understatement. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah altered my brain chemistry with this one. [See the NYT review for a deep dive into his genius.] Often described as Hunger Games meets Handmaid’s Tale, this novel works for the same reason those did: it shows, rather than tells, just how far humanity can fall and just how easily we can justify our behavior. It is the ultimate warning. The links are criminals, but they’re still human. It’s the civilians who have become animals.
5 out of 5 stars. This book will stay with me for a long time as one of the most impressive of the century.
Pair with: Orange wine
Peaches to Apples 