Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is an American exploratory fiction author. Adjei-Brenyah came to the literature limelight in 2018 when he wrote a short story collection, Friday Black. Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) is Adjei-Brenyah’s debut novel. The National Book Foundation (NBF, 2018) named Adjei-Brenyah one of the top "5 under 35 Writers."
Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) is set in a dystopian America, about two top women gladiators, Loretta and Hamasa, fighting for their freedom. In dystopian America, the imprisoned people can join a gladiatorial scheme called "The CAPE." In the CAPE, the prisoners participate in a televised Chain Gang, and whoever survives is set free. In Chain Gang, the prisoners engage in a three-year battle. Most prisoners die at this stage, but whoever remains alive is freed. Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) follows the journey of Loretta and Hamasa in CAPE as they battle in death matches to fight for their lives and freedom.
Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) is an epic novel that explores the American prison systems, methodical prejudice, unconstrained capitalism and mass manifestation. Chain-Gang All-Stars became the New York bestselling novel in 2023. According to the New York Times Book Review, Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) shows the needed American voice in the prison system to promote equality for all detainees. This year, chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) is nominated for the National Book Award for Fiction.
