In I’ll Make a Spectacle of You, we meet Zora Robinson, an ambitious graduate student and Hoodoo practitioner, as she enters her first year at the most respected HBCU in the country. Bricksbury University has a long and storied history, with more than a few secrets, the biggest of all involving a beast that roams the woods and several missing students. As Zora uncovers a historical secret society connected to the beast, her grasp of reality begins to slip. The story combines folklore, history, and a unique spin on dark academia, with a nice dose of queer yearning as Zora makes a romantic connection along the way.
With both a contemporary and a historical timeline featured, the novel manages to engage with the past and thus the impact of HBCUs as institutions, while still feeling like a distinctly millennial novel. This is the sort of book that knows its audience, with nods to modern musicians and a cast that is intersectionally diverse. In doing so, it sets itself apart from other dark academia novels and feels like a look at familiar themes through a distinctly current lens.
This was truly such a fun read! I loved the interweaving of Hoodoo, conjure work, and history into the story’s plot and essence. The cast of characters is built out in a way that feels real and developed. Plus, I found the modern references to be such fun little additions to the book. Plot-wise, I started out feeling like it was going to end up being a relatively predictable story, but there were a few real twists that took me by surprise! Also, huge props to the author for going for an unexpected yet satisfying ending.
For horror, it wasn’t overly scary. I would put this in the same category as media like Ring Shout or Get Out—definitely one that horror newbies could get into! It leans into atmospheric dread and creepiness rather than actual jump scares. I’ll Make a Spectacle of You might appeal to readers of both the historical horror sub-genre and dark academia novels.
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