Black Godfather: The Black Death

by K'wan

In this series of books, we’ll follow the life and exploits of our antihero, Grimm, as he tackles life, love, drug pushers, mafiosos, and eventually, the system itself. He’s smart, he’s handsome, he’s dangerous . . . he is the Black Godfather, and dope pushers beware.

Grimm’s childhood wasn’t too much unlike any of the other kids in his dirt-poor neighborhood. Hard times and hard lives. For the most part, while his best friends Spoon and Goldie were out getting into mischief, Grimm was in the house studying or reading. Grimm had been somewhat of a child prodigy, highly skilled with computers and a photographic memory. His intellect had fast-tracked his graduation from high school, and he received his diploma at only sixteen years old.

Following in the footsteps of his deceased grandfather, Grimm enlists in the army. Instead, however, he would spend seven years trapped in a Saudi prison camp, subject to torture, starvation, and, most notably, the Pitt, a deadly underground fighting circuit where he was bestowed the nickname The Black Death. By the time he was rescued, he emerged a two-hundred-and-twenty-five-pound weapon of mass destruction.

Upon Grimm’s return home, he finds that his neighborhood has changed. His mother is a broken shell of her former self, and his father has graduated from drinking liquor to smoking crack. His siblings are spread out, and his family is torn apart. His best friend Spoon is now an up-and-coming hustler and pimp, and Goldie has become a prostitute.

It’s up to Grimm to fix his family and community. He embarks on a one-man mission to try and push some of the low-level dealers and users out of the neighborhood. Word of what he has done starts to spread, and the community is hopeful now that there’s someone decent back around to protect those who can’t defend themselves. He’s beloved in the neighborhood, and some of the people start referring to him as the Black Godfather because of the way he’s taking care of his people.

Grimm recruits his veteran buddies as backup, and in under a year, Grimm and his unit manage to do what the NYPD couldn’t in a clean up their block. Grimm now has a small army behind him that is looking to lock the city down.

Gradually he finds himself becoming more like the men he’s fighting against. He starts slipping further into the darkness of the streets and his new Black Godfather status. Grimm models his team after the mafia and tells himself that they aren’t a criminal organization, but in truth, they are. He’s pushed the drugs out of his neighborhood, leading to them spreading elsewhere.

This all sets the scene for a confrontation between Grimm and Spoon. The two once best friends are now bitter rivals and locked in a personal war in the streets. It’s a long and hard-fought battle, but it’s only the beginning of a greater war. What started on the streets will take Grimm on a bloody path through the American ghettos and lead him to the halls of power, where he will face his greatest enemy yet.

240 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

In 2002 K'wan hit the scene with his debut novel Gangsta, under Triple Crown Publications. It was the first novel released by the budding house and would eventually become the building block for what is now a multimillion dollar company. What started as a therapeutic release went on to become a part of urban-lit history and an Essence bestseller, as well as drawing rave reviews overseas.
After penning his second novel, Road Dawgz (2003), K'wan drew the attention of St. Martins press. The literary powerhouse quickly signed K'wan to a multi-book deal, the first of which being Street Dreams (2004). In 2008 he received the Black Author of the year award from Black Press Radio for the novella Blow.
Since his insertion into the publishing world K'wan has been featured in Vibe, Pages, King, Felon, Big News, The Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, Clutch and most notably Time Magazine, to name a few. He was also interviewed by MTV News for a feature on Hip-Hop fiction, and a guest on Power 105s morning show as well as NPR (national public radio). In addition to being an accomplished author, K'wan is also a motivational speaker, mentor to at risk children and the C.E.O of Black Dawn, Inc.
K'wan currently resides in New Jersey where he is working on his next novel.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/kwan

Reviews

[Demetrius]

I found "Black Godfather" to be quite enjoyable. It offered a refreshing and unique perspective. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of characters from your previous works, such as Lil Monk, Omega, the Butlers, the Clarks, the Kings, and Icebox.

I CAN’T WAIT FOR PART 2

[Angie]

3.5 I read this for an urban fiction genre study for the library, and I can see why K'wan is such a popular writer in this genre, as I was engrossed in the story and its characters. Antwan Grimm was headed to an HBCU after graduating early, until a scheme with his friends to get some cash for a party goes awry, and he ends up joining the Marines to escape the fallout. That also didn't go according to plan, as he is captured and spends time in a brutal South American prison. Upon his release, he returns to his Harlem neighborhood to find a lot has changed--including himself. This puts him on a collision course with Antonio, the head of a criminal organization who is looking to expand the family business by going into business with a dangerous cartel supplying a new designer drug.

[Zakia]

I hope a second book is going to happen. That book was too good to leave on a cliffhanger

[Athea]

Wow!

I enjoyed this book. Kwan never disappoints. I'm hoping there's another installment based on the ending. Nobody writes quite like K'wan. There's always something you don't expect or not see coming in his stories.

[Booksaholic LLC]

Black Communities Matters

This book was so good. It was intriguing, eye-opening, and, most of all, it felt so real.

Reading it immediately made me think about Snowfall and the conversations surrounding how drugs and guns were intentionally flooded into Black communities, the lies about the war, and the long-lasting damage that followed. Whether you’re reading it as fiction or reflecting on history, it makes you stop and think.

It’s heartbreaking to see neighborhoods that were once thriving become shadows of what they used to be. Generation after generation, you watch the cycle continue—parents battling alcoholism or addiction, families torn apart, children exposed to things they should never have to experience, and communities struggling to recover. It’s one thing to read about it, but it’s another thing to know these are realities that have touched neighborhoods and cities across the country. That makes this story hit even harder.

As always, another incredible read from one of my favorite authors. But this one wasn’t just entertaining—it was thought-provoking. It gave me something to reflect on long after I turned the last page.

I still can’t believe everything this character survived. I’m almost scared to find out what’s next, but I’m more than ready to dive into the next installment of The Black Godfather.

Thank you for sharing your gift with us. I can’t wait to see where this journey goes next.

[Melissa]

K'wan knows how to weave a tale. It's the reason I run out to buy one of his books the minute it's released.
This one was a little different. Still a good read as we follow Antwan Grimm upon his return to civilian life.
Antwan was honorably discharged from the service and returns to his Harlem neighborhood to a lot of changes. He himself is changed. The scared child prodigy that secretly left to join the service after being part of the murder of a man with a powerful criminal family is no more. He was held captive after being captured by a cartel and literally had to fight for his life for years. There's more to it including a new drug on the street and past betrayals that are all somehow connected. But as we K'wan fans are used to, the book ended on a suspenseful cliffhanger.
Hoping we don't have to wait 10 years for the sequel!

[Mr Ogologo]

K'wan is my favourite author with regards to urban fiction and I'd been holding off on reading his book for ages, knowing that once I got hold of it, I'd binge on it like a craven addict. This book didn't fail to disappoint. It traced the story of Grimm, a young man who had gotten himself into a bad situation and whose only choice was to join the Marines, escaping a death sentence on the streets of New York. He returns a decade later to meet his old neighbourhood with familiar faces doing unfamiliar things and a new wave to replace who used to be there. I won't spoil the plot for those who want to read the book, but ias I said, I loved it.

[zenith Cooper]

Wow

I think those drugs and that scientist was the reason they were sent on that death mission. I can’t wait until the next book

[Zenobia Jordan]

OMG! This book was so good. I can't wait for part 2. K'wan is an amazing story teller. I really enjoyed the book. ❤️

[Jacqueline]

DAMN GOOD READ

KWAN DID IT AGAIN A GREAT START TO A SERIES I HOPE GOES ON FOR AWHILE. THANK YOU FOR HELOING ME GET MY READING MOJO BACK!

[Tiffany Ashley]

And another one

He has did it again a book with a great plot twist it better be a part two
Hurry up

[Janet Willis]

What!!!!!

This book was interesting. It hit differently than his previous books. A second installment is needed. Did we get Antiono? Spoon needs to be dealt with.

[Jacqueline]

Great

He did it again! I can’t wait for the second book to come out. Please don’t keep us hanging.

Great read.

[Joseph A.]

Another premature ending

Kwan has distinguished himself by writing novels that leave the reader fiending for part 2, but part 2 never comes. It’s disrespectful. This is another example of one of those endings.