Taylor's Reviews > Ring Shout

“Reason and law don’t mean much when white folk want their way.”

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P. Djèlí Clark has cemented himself as a new favorite author of mine, because wow. Ring Shout was glorious.

Clark's newest novella gives a supernatural twist to the Klan's reign of terror in the Jim Crow south. D. W. Griffith's film, The Birth of a Nation, is a work of dark sorcery that draws on the hatred of white America, and the Klan is rising in power and prominence. Maryse Boudreaux has a magic sword and a deep need for vengeance: when she's not bootlegging Nana Jean's magic spirits through prohibition Georgia, she's hunting down Klu Kluxes with her two friends, Chef and Sadie. Chef is a Harlem Hellfighter and explosives expert, and Sadie is a sharpshooter with a fiery personality. These three women hunt the demons that have sunk their claws into the Klan, but something bigger is on the rise. Something that could bring about the end of the world.

If the premise alone hasn't sold you, I don't know what will. Truly, this book is a masterpiece.

Not only is Ring Shout a beautiful blend of genres (fantasy, historical fiction, and horror); this story is a gorgeous tapestry of epic writing, gory, horrific imagery, vibrant characters, and deep, visceral anger.

The magic Maryse calls upon with her sword is born from the souls of African kings, paying their repentance for selling their own people to slavers. These African kings sing Shouts of sorrow, rage, and Old African Gods. I adored Maryse's magic, and was heartbroken over her intense grief. There's so much pain in Ring Shout, but it's eclipsed by power, hope, and love. I really loved the fantastical and folkloric elements of the world building, too, and how Maryse's story mirrored that of an epic hero's journey. The magic, stories within stories, and undeniably bone-chilling body horror were all pure perfection.



“There were two brothers, Truth and Lie. One day they get to playing, throwing cutlasses up into the air. Them cutlasses come down and fast as can be-swish!-chop each of their faces clean off! Truth bed down, searching for his face. But with no eyes, he can't see. Lie, he sneaky. He snatch up Truth's face and run off! Zip! Now Lie go around wearing Truth's face, fooling everybody he meet.”



Ring Shout isn't just a historical fantasy novella with horror elements and monster-hunting heroines. It speaks to the pain and joy of the Black experience, and sings its song of loss, rage, strength, and love in a fierce Shout. I loved this book so much, and I can't recommend it enough. Truly a standout book of 2021!

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“What I have is beautiful music inspired by struggle and fierce love. What he got ain’t nothing but hateful noise. Not a hint of soul to it.”