I kinda knew I should have read the Lovecraft story that this novella is written to engage against, called one of Lovecraft's most racist works, before this to better grasp the context, but I didn't. After finishing this novella I only read a small section of it's predecessor, and even that was enough to greatly broaden my understanding of LaValle's work. The Ballad of Black Tom was intriguing then heartbreaking, a powerful piece on race and the impact of being dehumanized. It wasn't so much enjoyable to read as it was thought provoking. I'm all the more excited to read more of LaValle's work.