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The Slave Players
Modern day in the Deep South. Racial unrest is rampant, and outbreaks of violence reach epidemic proportions. When a church bus makes a wrong turn in the Alabama countryside, a dozen teenage girls become victims of a heinous crime. The resulting outcry is explosive, as a new Civil War erupts, but this time it will be whites who are cast into bondage. And Slave Playing becomes a cruel game of tyranny and survival.
The story winds and unwinds as it coils around the reader like a great serpent. At times it will be a love story, with warmth, humor and human kindness. But mostly, it will slap hard at the wall-builders, and those who would be king at the expense of others, who would be prey. And a man will arrive on this tiny speck of land in the heart of Alabama. He will bring with him a whip, and a lesson of what tyranny and oppression can do to the human spirit.
The story winds and unwinds as it coils around the reader like a great serpent. At times it will be a love story, with warmth, humor and human kindness. But mostly, it will slap hard at the wall-builders, and those who would be king at the expense of others, who would be prey. And a man will arrive on this tiny speck of land in the heart of Alabama. He will bring with him a whip, and a lesson of what tyranny and oppression can do to the human spirit.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2017
17 people are currently reading
3104 people want to read
About the author
Megan Allen
3 books147 followersMegan Allen is a 27 year old California native who received her Bachelor's from UC Berkeley and her Master's in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. After graduating she spent long periods of time in the deep south visiting her father. And it was there she found inspiration for her debut novel, The Slave Players. She writes, "I grew up naively, and had no idea that racism still prevailed with such intensity in my own country. Then I met Alabama."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
June 19, 2018
I received a free copy of The Slave Players by Megan Allen from Goodreads for my honest review.
A phenomenal and eye-opening read. A warning that there is violence, language, racism, terrible crimes and deep seeded hatred in this book. These are very adult concepts that are dealt with but such an eye-opening and important book for everyone and anyone to read in this generation. The fact that we still live in a world with hate, racism, and forced politics is unbelievable. This book will bring out your every emotion, sadness, laughter and even anger. Megan Allen has written a much needed, brutally honest book with such visual imagery that will blow the readers mind. Well done!
A phenomenal and eye-opening read. A warning that there is violence, language, racism, terrible crimes and deep seeded hatred in this book. These are very adult concepts that are dealt with but such an eye-opening and important book for everyone and anyone to read in this generation. The fact that we still live in a world with hate, racism, and forced politics is unbelievable. This book will bring out your every emotion, sadness, laughter and even anger. Megan Allen has written a much needed, brutally honest book with such visual imagery that will blow the readers mind. Well done!
September 15, 2018
A bus carrying a group of midwestern black Church members on a retreat takes a very unfortunate turn in the Deep South of Alabama. A pair of white rednecks intercept the bus, and the resulting violence is covered up as a tragic accident. When the local coroner sees the damaged bodies, including some bullet wounds, a massive cover-up ensues, starting with the local Sheriff all the way to the Governor's office. The coroner's righteous daughter stands tall in the face of threats, bringing the story to the press and President, who dispatches his closest advisor to manage the volatile situation. Then, a black colonel decides to make a stand for race relations and racism, and takes over the small town as political tensions are creating protests/riots in the big cities. In a case of role reversal, the racist whites become enslaved to the blacks, including the daughter of the largest plantation owner. Good characters, an interesting storyline, and a moral about current race relations combine to make a compelling read.
September 30, 2018
I won a copy of The Slave Players in a Goodreads Giveaway. The Slave Players had a unique idea. It was controversial, but it had promise. Unfortunately, the execution falls apart. The author seems very biased against Alabama in the real world. That in addition to her need to blatantly inform readers about how this story was a warning hurts the book. Apparently, we aren’t smart enough to figure out the point she’s making about treating people like people. Spoilers will follow this point.
The Good.
The concept was a neat idea. What if white people were made to be slaves in modern America. The steps to get there hit hard, but it does force you to think about it.
Some of the characters were very well written. Specifically, Briggs, Charlie, and especially Colonel Sedgewick. The Colonel (self-declared General) was an amazing villain. Evil in every way, but you can understand his position.
Not all the black and white people are treated the same. Those who are given “freedom” when the terrorists show up do speak out against Colonel Sedgewick on many occasions. Some early characters make it seem like there’s a complete divide between white and black people. A scene in the church shows this is far from true.
A reporter named Samantha has a magnificent arc. She is there for the payout. She was mostly believable in her actions. Although she, like most of the named characters, was inexplicably comfortable with having a gun in her face.
The psychological torture to the white slaves of implying rape was perfect. It would drive anyone crazy, and it never happened. Perfect.
The way Clayton acts upon seeing Willie with his granddaughter at the end. It was exactly how it would go down.
The Bad.
The whole plot is allowed to happen because the Sheriff doesn’t kill Vern at the beginning and blame everything on him. He does this exact thing only a few chapters later, but it’s too late to perfectly cover up the problem. The only reason he waits is really so the book can progress. It should have been handled differently.
Alabama is often shown as very bigoted. I’ve lived in Alabama (I’m also a man with a black father and a white mother). I haven’t seen it to this level. I understand it was needed for the story, but it seemed like the entire state was stereotyped.
Two game wardens could also end a lot of suffering by doing their jobs, but they speak to the corrupt sheriff about the body they saw his son dump in the swamp. They openly speak about how the sheriff can by a tyrant. They know he covers for his son. It makes no sense they would ever expect him to do anything. Either they should have been racist, too, or they should have gone around him like one suggests. Their actions seem highly unlikely.
Everyone in power (until you reach the President) is a racist. There are no exceptions. The sheriff, the governor, the colonel. Again, Alabama takes a hit. The minority characters all get back stories to justify this (prison rape, work discrimination), but the white guys are just racist.
All people, including those from St. Louis and D.C., refer to people as “blacks” or “whites.” Some people do talk like this, but most add the work “people.” It sounded weird every time it was written (several dozen).
The author needed to do more research on military tactics and equipment. They are “SEALs” not “Seals.” Apaches don’t have gunners hanging from doors. They have a turret beneath the nose. Blocking a slap and capturing the arm is considerably easier than catching a fist when punched. A simple Google search would have cleared up many of these issues.
The author speaks down to the reader. Clearly this is a cautionary tale on why we need to treat each other better. Unfortunately, we get a long diatribe at the end of the book on how a previous administration’s wall is what led to all this violence. It was insulting. The point was made very clear.
All the above issues took away from the story, but they didn’t bring it down to a one-star level. The final star (if not final two) can be summed up in two words: Mary Sue. The coroner has a daughter named Olivia. She is so perfect in every way that Mary Sue complains she’s too good. She is very smart. Just in case you don’t remember, the author has characters comment on how smart she is constantly. She also has the purest heart. Her father would go along with the coverup if not for her. She also speaks her mind, regardless of who’s listening. Early in the book, she meets a black man. Within five minutes, she uses the N-word in Charlie’s presence. (To be fair, the context isn’t racist). He not only doesn’t get offended, he laughs and loves her for it. Apparently, everyone loves her unfiltered mouth. Again, they comment about this all the time. You might figure this isn’t a big deal. Well, her father was right there. I ask you “how many white teenagers can use the n-word around a black man (sent by the president) that they just met without her father getting mad/embarrassed?” Her dad’s a coroner, so she’s used to bodies. The author acts like it’s enough for her not to be scared . . . ever . . . during the entire story. She’s white, surrounded by people who just made white people slaves, and she doesn’t ever care. She’s never scared. Even when the dead bodies of her neighbors are brought in. It never fazes her. I can write for pages my hatred for this character. I recently read a book called Winds of the Forest. It had a seventeen-year-old female protagonist. She was near perfectly written. Olivia was the complete opposite. It was a clinic in how to write a bad character. If you took her away from the book, no scenes really get changed and it becomes much better.
The Technical.
This book is not for the squeamish. There is racism, violence, and profanity galore. It’s necessary to tell this story, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
The book is written in the 3rd person omniscient. Head hopping apparently bothers some people.
The Good.
The concept was a neat idea. What if white people were made to be slaves in modern America. The steps to get there hit hard, but it does force you to think about it.
Some of the characters were very well written. Specifically, Briggs, Charlie, and especially Colonel Sedgewick. The Colonel (self-declared General) was an amazing villain. Evil in every way, but you can understand his position.
Not all the black and white people are treated the same. Those who are given “freedom” when the terrorists show up do speak out against Colonel Sedgewick on many occasions. Some early characters make it seem like there’s a complete divide between white and black people. A scene in the church shows this is far from true.
A reporter named Samantha has a magnificent arc. She is there for the payout. She was mostly believable in her actions. Although she, like most of the named characters, was inexplicably comfortable with having a gun in her face.
The psychological torture to the white slaves of implying rape was perfect. It would drive anyone crazy, and it never happened. Perfect.
The way Clayton acts upon seeing Willie with his granddaughter at the end. It was exactly how it would go down.
The Bad.
The whole plot is allowed to happen because the Sheriff doesn’t kill Vern at the beginning and blame everything on him. He does this exact thing only a few chapters later, but it’s too late to perfectly cover up the problem. The only reason he waits is really so the book can progress. It should have been handled differently.
Alabama is often shown as very bigoted. I’ve lived in Alabama (I’m also a man with a black father and a white mother). I haven’t seen it to this level. I understand it was needed for the story, but it seemed like the entire state was stereotyped.
Two game wardens could also end a lot of suffering by doing their jobs, but they speak to the corrupt sheriff about the body they saw his son dump in the swamp. They openly speak about how the sheriff can by a tyrant. They know he covers for his son. It makes no sense they would ever expect him to do anything. Either they should have been racist, too, or they should have gone around him like one suggests. Their actions seem highly unlikely.
Everyone in power (until you reach the President) is a racist. There are no exceptions. The sheriff, the governor, the colonel. Again, Alabama takes a hit. The minority characters all get back stories to justify this (prison rape, work discrimination), but the white guys are just racist.
All people, including those from St. Louis and D.C., refer to people as “blacks” or “whites.” Some people do talk like this, but most add the work “people.” It sounded weird every time it was written (several dozen).
The author needed to do more research on military tactics and equipment. They are “SEALs” not “Seals.” Apaches don’t have gunners hanging from doors. They have a turret beneath the nose. Blocking a slap and capturing the arm is considerably easier than catching a fist when punched. A simple Google search would have cleared up many of these issues.
The author speaks down to the reader. Clearly this is a cautionary tale on why we need to treat each other better. Unfortunately, we get a long diatribe at the end of the book on how a previous administration’s wall is what led to all this violence. It was insulting. The point was made very clear.
All the above issues took away from the story, but they didn’t bring it down to a one-star level. The final star (if not final two) can be summed up in two words: Mary Sue. The coroner has a daughter named Olivia. She is so perfect in every way that Mary Sue complains she’s too good. She is very smart. Just in case you don’t remember, the author has characters comment on how smart she is constantly. She also has the purest heart. Her father would go along with the coverup if not for her. She also speaks her mind, regardless of who’s listening. Early in the book, she meets a black man. Within five minutes, she uses the N-word in Charlie’s presence. (To be fair, the context isn’t racist). He not only doesn’t get offended, he laughs and loves her for it. Apparently, everyone loves her unfiltered mouth. Again, they comment about this all the time. You might figure this isn’t a big deal. Well, her father was right there. I ask you “how many white teenagers can use the n-word around a black man (sent by the president) that they just met without her father getting mad/embarrassed?” Her dad’s a coroner, so she’s used to bodies. The author acts like it’s enough for her not to be scared . . . ever . . . during the entire story. She’s white, surrounded by people who just made white people slaves, and she doesn’t ever care. She’s never scared. Even when the dead bodies of her neighbors are brought in. It never fazes her. I can write for pages my hatred for this character. I recently read a book called Winds of the Forest. It had a seventeen-year-old female protagonist. She was near perfectly written. Olivia was the complete opposite. It was a clinic in how to write a bad character. If you took her away from the book, no scenes really get changed and it becomes much better.
The Technical.
This book is not for the squeamish. There is racism, violence, and profanity galore. It’s necessary to tell this story, but don’t say you weren’t warned.
The book is written in the 3rd person omniscient. Head hopping apparently bothers some people.
January 11, 2018
This is not a pretty story, but its definitely one that needs to be read by everyone. Its intense, emotional and raw. The Slave Players is such an important book for our time. It boldly, openly addresses some of our current most controversial issues gripping our nation today. And its well written and engaging...I couldn't put it down even when I was cringing at the reality of the story.
January 3, 2018
The Slave Players shocked me to the core, exposing the prejudice and injustice I have never encountered in my life, yet it is there. This is a fast-paced thriller of a book as well, and yet carries you away with it's poetic descriptions. Megan Allen has a unique voice for her POV characters, each of which shows you a heinous crime of hatred and pathos from very different points of view. I have to admit I found this book very disturbing, but I have to leave my lavender farm sometime and realize all is not beauty on this earth. (Why not?)
The Secret Life of Mrs. London
The Secret Life of Mrs. London
January 20, 2018
A page taken out of todays racism in the deep south, starting with a bus load of black young ladies driving with their chaparones to a bible camp.They become victims of a heinous crime. A new Civil
War breaks out and now the whites are cast in bondage. This book gives you a lot to think about. A real thriller. Thank you Goodreads.
War breaks out and now the whites are cast in bondage. This book gives you a lot to think about. A real thriller. Thank you Goodreads.
April 30, 2019
I won this book on Goodreads and Amazon (Kindle version) for an honest review.
I am so glad I won this book, it was actually very good and I enjoyed it very much. The characters are well written and very realistic and likable. The story is intriguing, fast-paced, the style is easy to follow and very entertaining. I found myself fully engrossed in this story and really enjoying it while reading. The story backdrop is well described you can feel your surroundings. This story really just pulls you in and holds you there until the end. I like this authors style of writing, I will be looking for more from her.
I am so glad I won this book, it was actually very good and I enjoyed it very much. The characters are well written and very realistic and likable. The story is intriguing, fast-paced, the style is easy to follow and very entertaining. I found myself fully engrossed in this story and really enjoying it while reading. The story backdrop is well described you can feel your surroundings. This story really just pulls you in and holds you there until the end. I like this authors style of writing, I will be looking for more from her.
October 10, 2018
Wow....Just....Wow
Never has a book evoked such a turmoil of emotions. Just when you think you know who to root for, it takes another turn. The most basic thought to take away as you read this is to be kind to others. No matter what. Within these pages you will laugh, you will cry, you will rage, you will allow your mind to wander to the dark side. You will feel disappointment in humanity with a few whispers of hope seeping through.
Never has a book evoked such a turmoil of emotions. Just when you think you know who to root for, it takes another turn. The most basic thought to take away as you read this is to be kind to others. No matter what. Within these pages you will laugh, you will cry, you will rage, you will allow your mind to wander to the dark side. You will feel disappointment in humanity with a few whispers of hope seeping through.
January 21, 2018
WOW! I received this book as a GoodReads Giveaway. I would have wanted to read It anyway. It is a book that needs to be read. Outstanding characters, good and bad. Sorry to say that it mirrors the America of today. I’m going to give it to my granddaughter to read. At 14, she is starting to understand what the world is about.
May 8, 2018
I received a Hardcover of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
This was an extremely thought provoking book. It tackles issues that have been plaguing this country (especially recently): racism and hate. I loved the premise. I can't wait for the author's next book.
I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book about a problem facing society today.
This was an extremely thought provoking book. It tackles issues that have been plaguing this country (especially recently): racism and hate. I loved the premise. I can't wait for the author's next book.
I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book about a problem facing society today.
April 5, 2018
Quite interesting depiction of the American psyche and history of our country. Peoples and portrayals that actively reflect our current state of affairs to predict a coming future in the direction in which we lead. It read wonderfully. Megan Allen is a gem.
April 15, 2018
Well written book, It will haunt you for days after reading it. Very emotional book and a bit scary .
April 15, 2018
The author mailed me this Goodreads Giveaway. It was well written and the characters were very believable. I lived in Mississippi in the 1960's for 2 semesters of college. I have an understanding of the hatred of whites towards blacks. It is inculcated in the white culture at an early age. The writer understood very well and wrote with passion. However, there was too much swearing for my taste and the whole feeling of the book was very dark. Yet, you just had to determine what would happen to the very moral Coroner, Shawn Briggs, his daughter and their friend Willie. How could the president handle a menacing and horrible situation?
October 22, 2017
The Slave Players by Megan Allen is an emotionally charged tale showing what violence and racism can bring to even the smallest of communities. Our story begins when a bus carrying a group of black campers takes a wrong turn in the Deep South, Alabama. A pair of white individuals with guns meets them and once the two of them are on the bus violence follows. The next morning the bus is found, and the sheriff is called in to find out what has happened.
Secrets and lies are rife in this small community. The truth about what has happened is covered up but has to come out, and it is only a matter of time before a spark ignites everything. The attention of the nation is drawn to this little town but before too much can be broadcast a media blackout occurs and everyone is left in the dark.
I really enjoyed the intrigue of this novel. It touches on subjects that are still very taboo and does hit on many issues that have occurred in the past. The author kept my attention from the beginning to the end, as I wanted to continually know where the story was going and how it was going to be resolved. In many ways, it is not what I expected, and that is what kept me hungry for more.
The literature standard was in high quality. This book is by far the best well-edited literature I have read. This made me enjoy the story to the fullest. It has to be noted that there are racial, sexual, and political references within the content. The characters are well developed and thought out. Each to its own, have their own agenda and background. My heart just ached and felt strongly about some of the characters in particular, which bears a fitting testament to the quality of the writing.
The story has a very strong message, and that is, no matter how much we strive in trying to make the world a better place, there are always some bad apples trying to destroy it for the rest of us. I find this book very relatable to the situation we are currently experiencing in the world. Hate crime, racial discrimination, unjustified killings, spreading hatred towards different religions, are all currently what we face today.
I believe this book would be suitable for anyone that has an open mind and enjoys reading well-written literature.
Secrets and lies are rife in this small community. The truth about what has happened is covered up but has to come out, and it is only a matter of time before a spark ignites everything. The attention of the nation is drawn to this little town but before too much can be broadcast a media blackout occurs and everyone is left in the dark.
I really enjoyed the intrigue of this novel. It touches on subjects that are still very taboo and does hit on many issues that have occurred in the past. The author kept my attention from the beginning to the end, as I wanted to continually know where the story was going and how it was going to be resolved. In many ways, it is not what I expected, and that is what kept me hungry for more.
The literature standard was in high quality. This book is by far the best well-edited literature I have read. This made me enjoy the story to the fullest. It has to be noted that there are racial, sexual, and political references within the content. The characters are well developed and thought out. Each to its own, have their own agenda and background. My heart just ached and felt strongly about some of the characters in particular, which bears a fitting testament to the quality of the writing.
The story has a very strong message, and that is, no matter how much we strive in trying to make the world a better place, there are always some bad apples trying to destroy it for the rest of us. I find this book very relatable to the situation we are currently experiencing in the world. Hate crime, racial discrimination, unjustified killings, spreading hatred towards different religions, are all currently what we face today.
I believe this book would be suitable for anyone that has an open mind and enjoys reading well-written literature.
February 17, 2018
I really didn't expect much from "The Slave Players;" I was expecting a simple southern tale. Wrong! Megan Allen has created characters that tell the tale of our racial divide in a new original way. This novel has an uncanny timeliness in our present day society. The game created by a rogue military general reverses the historical roles of black and white in an Alabama County that he is able to isolate after the murder of a bus load of young black girls on their way to a church camp. Allen hits the reader full force with her summary of the racial climate: "At first the conflict to the north had entranced the millions of followers who tuned in each day. When Birmingham was sacked, the country watched with mournful eyes. When Montgomery burned, and its capitol fell, mourning turned to despair. But the clashes there were only unusual by their size and dynamic, not their presence. It had been seen before, done before, on a lesser scale, perhaps, but dozens of incidents of rioting and unrest across America and the rest of the world had hardened people enough so that such events, however horrific, were accepted and even accepted." Yes! This is where we are today not only in our racial divide but political divide -- we are becoming desensitized. While the presenting scenario is one of turning the tables on slavery in the historical context, in the novel a pastor speaks to those gathered in his church, "Slavery isn't connected to color..." The exchanges between Olivia, the daughter of the coroner, and Molly, a girl no enslaved through this game, heighten the point that differences are minimized once one commonality is discovered by getting to know each other. I received my copy of this novel through the Good Reads giveaway program and would recommend this to book clubs as it is sure to spark much conversation. Well done.
May 23, 2018
I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but when I received "The Slave Players" I immediately knew just by looking at it that it was going to be one hell of an adventure inside. Author Megan Allen did not disappoint. The Slave Players is such a fun and interesting story told in a unique way that makes it impossible to put the book down! I am normally not a fan of books or movies or shows where government and politics is a focal point or main theme but somehow Ms. Allen made it incredibly intriguing for me. The characters in this book are all some of the most charismatic and lovable that I have come across in a very long time. The good guys (especially Olivia) are obviously easy to love, but even with the worst of the bad guys you want to read more about them.
Usually when a book has a bunch of different characters with their own unique story lines that the reader needs to follow and keep track of, etc. it becomes a chore trying to remember what happened to each character the last time you encountered them and it makes it easy to get bored of certain characters and favor others. However, Allen with her remarkable writing skills (which is truly an understatement to how she managed to bring this whole cast of characters to life) made it so that no matter which character was being read about you would instantly be hooked again and want to keep following that story line, only to find yourself immediately hooked in the next character's story line again.
Everything about this book is amazing. The characters, the story telling, the writing style, the overall plot, the darkly prophetic story, everything about it is just perfect. I can't say enough about this book. Just go read it for yourself! It will be worth it!
Usually when a book has a bunch of different characters with their own unique story lines that the reader needs to follow and keep track of, etc. it becomes a chore trying to remember what happened to each character the last time you encountered them and it makes it easy to get bored of certain characters and favor others. However, Allen with her remarkable writing skills (which is truly an understatement to how she managed to bring this whole cast of characters to life) made it so that no matter which character was being read about you would instantly be hooked again and want to keep following that story line, only to find yourself immediately hooked in the next character's story line again.
Everything about this book is amazing. The characters, the story telling, the writing style, the overall plot, the darkly prophetic story, everything about it is just perfect. I can't say enough about this book. Just go read it for yourself! It will be worth it!
May 14, 2019
Great story but it could be true
I really did not want to read this book at the start because I had formed an opinion about it. But once I started reading and met the characters and understanding the plot . The more engrossed I became. The story is about hate and intolerance in America especially the Deep South. Not just a white- black but about hate from all walks of life.
The characters are well developed and I really enjoyed Willie's character. He reminded me of an old black man that I grew up with. Mr. George was loved by everyone. The characters in this story were very well developed. You got the feeling that you knew them personally.
I will promise that you will not be disappointed if you decide to purchase this book it is really worth the cost and time spent reading it will be very rewarding. This is not a murder mystery but some murders do occur that isn't the intent. This is a story about social differences you will not be disappointed. So buy the book and settle back for a good read.
I really did not want to read this book at the start because I had formed an opinion about it. But once I started reading and met the characters and understanding the plot . The more engrossed I became. The story is about hate and intolerance in America especially the Deep South. Not just a white- black but about hate from all walks of life.
The characters are well developed and I really enjoyed Willie's character. He reminded me of an old black man that I grew up with. Mr. George was loved by everyone. The characters in this story were very well developed. You got the feeling that you knew them personally.
I will promise that you will not be disappointed if you decide to purchase this book it is really worth the cost and time spent reading it will be very rewarding. This is not a murder mystery but some murders do occur that isn't the intent. This is a story about social differences you will not be disappointed. So buy the book and settle back for a good read.
January 25, 2018
I entered the Goodreads Give-away for this book and I was lucky enough to win a copy. With that being said, let me tell you a bit about this thought provoking, heart wrenching, and brilliantly written story.
Let me warn you this a no-holds barred look at racism, horrible crimes, deep-seated hatred, and the practices that mirror today's headlines. Also, this author writes with a vividness that blows the reader's mind.
I want to say so much more but that would take away your shocks and awe!
A well deserved 5 stars!
Let me warn you this a no-holds barred look at racism, horrible crimes, deep-seated hatred, and the practices that mirror today's headlines. Also, this author writes with a vividness that blows the reader's mind.
I want to say so much more but that would take away your shocks and awe!
A well deserved 5 stars!
May 31, 2018
When I first started reading this book i almost put it aside after a few chapters i was so upset that the good ole boy philosophy would let people get by with such hatred. Then it pulled me in because I wanted to find out what happened because of it. Loved the characters of Briggs, Olivia, Willie and Charlie. I did not appreciate the slur against today's government the book could have been better without that at the end.
January 14, 2018
Hard to place in a specific category, but def a wonderful, well-written, eye opening read. If you have any feelings or compassion for the human race, this novel is going to rip them out of you. You better be ready.
May 26, 2018
This was a great book. I am so glad I won it here on Goodreads. It is an eye opener for sure. A civil war breaks out from the actions of three white men against fourteen black people. Twelve were little girls.
A black wanna be general keeps pushing unrest until it all blows up.
A black wanna be general keeps pushing unrest until it all blows up.
June 24, 2018
This book was so good,Reverse slavery what a good plot for a book.The characters were so well plotted out.As you read more it just drew you in and did not let go.I would love to read more from this author.I received this book free as part of goodreads giveaways.
January 28, 2018
First time reading anything by this author. It was a good book, once I started I couldn't put it down. What starts as a cover up. Turns into one man taking things into his own hands.
January 31, 2018
Great Book
This was a very good book and well written. It will make you stop and think about racism in our country today. This would make a good movie.
This was a very good book and well written. It will make you stop and think about racism in our country today. This would make a good movie.
May 20, 2018
I really enjoyed the story line and characters in The Slave Players. I think that Megan Allen has the right idea in trying to get people to just see people, instead of color or race. I loved how this was told, and I look forward to reading more from her.
January 28, 2018
I won this book on Goodreads. This book begins with a bus carrying 12 young Black girls from a church group in Ohio to a camp in Alabama. They are on the bus with a woman who is their chaperone. As the driver makes a wrong turn, they are confronted by several white men who drag a very attractive young girl off the bus and hit the driver. In the next chapter, we learn that a bus has had an accident. All 11 girls, the driver and chaperone are dead, but one girl is missing. When the coroner starts examining the bodies, he discovers 2 bullets, one in the chaperone, and one in the driver. Now he realizes this was more than an accident. When he mentions this to the Sheriff, he is told to forget about it.
This book was beautifully written, and hard to put down. However it was also very disturbing, especially the 2nd half. That being said it was worth reading. Ms. Allen is a very prolific writer and I look forward to reading more of her work.
This book was beautifully written, and hard to put down. However it was also very disturbing, especially the 2nd half. That being said it was worth reading. Ms. Allen is a very prolific writer and I look forward to reading more of her work.
February 5, 2018
I am so glad I won this book in a Giveaway. I am not sure I would have heard of it otherwise which is terrible. It is relevant to the times we live in.
It is well written, very intense and I found parts of it uplifting.
It is well written, very intense and I found parts of it uplifting.
May 12, 2018
I won this book on Goodreads. Wow! What a page turner, I couldn't put this book down. A very interesting plot and quite thought provoking. I highly recommend this book.
September 27, 2017
Phenomenal read. I'm a junior college teacher from Minnesota and am now considering adding The Slave Players to my curriculum this year, or perhaps for extra credit? Although the violence, language and concepts are very adult, I feel it's such an important book for our time, something young people should be reading. The writing is extremely smart. Certain chapters brought me to tears. I hope this author continues to wow us in the future. Have already given my copy to my daughter, and her fiancé is already on pg 200 in his first day of reading! I must admit, it's hard to put down.
January 28, 2018
This book definitely is an eye opener. I enjoyed this book although it is sad to see that racism and segregation are still happening today. I would recommend this book.
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