Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark - 4 stars

[Jen K]

Really enjoyed horror/ alternate history/ fantasy story. The characters were fabulous. Set during Prohibition in Macon, Georgia where the KKK is out in public but divided between human Klan members and Ku Kluxes who are truly monsters from elsewhere hiding in a white man's skin. These monsters feed on hate like a parasite and found the Klan a ready and easy victim to change with so much inner hate to feed on. Maryse with her friends Chef and Sadie are some of the few who can actually see the real monsters and they have made it their mission to kill all that they can find. Maryse has been chosen as champion with a magic sword fueled by the stories of those sold into slavery and abused for the color of their skin.

Clark skillfully weaves in the power of the past abuses and the songs or shouts of the slaves giving them magic to fight the hate and the Ku Kluxes. It reminded me of The Water Dancer in that way but with better flow and intent. I only wish that the book had been a bit longer.

[Meli]

My book club is reading this in October, and coincidentally we are supposed to be reading The Water Dancer this month but I can't get into it... according to another member who is halfway through it is still kinda slow so I think I will not be finishing 😬

I heard P Djeli Clark has a long form book coming out soon. I forget the name, but I think it is published by Tor as well. The ARCs are starting to make their rounds.

[Jen K]

I think listening to The Water Dancer as an audio is the best way to go as the sound effects and actual singing help add to the otherwise somewhat confusing event.

The songs/ shouts are more effectively used in Ring Shout and are better explained witha bit of history of the shout at the start of each chapter. Plus it is much shorter and faster paced. I read most of it in a day.

I'm so excited to read more from P Djeli Clark!