Friday Night Highlights: History, Fantasy and Horror Combine in Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

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Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
Length: 5:35
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on October 13, 2020
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Fiction / Fantasy / Historical, Fiction / Horror
Pages: 112
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Source: Library
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IN AMERICA, DEMONS WEAR WHITE HOODS.

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die.

Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up.

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

I got put onto Ring Shout by by P. Djèlí Clark by fellow Bookstagrammer @Bookish_Afrolatina after I saw it on her timeline. I was immediately intrigued and wondered whether it was a backlist title or something recently published. Either way, I had never heard of it before. But I’m definitely glad it turned up on my radar, because whoa nelly! This is one heck of an action adventure story!

Lovecraft Country Vibes

First of all, I watched the tv show Lovecraft Country last year on HBO and while I don’t know if I can rewatch a lot of the episodes because of the horror elements, the history embedded in that show paired with the magic elements were woven together very well. Ring Shout gives me Lovecraft Country vibes through and through. It’s got history explained through a magical lens. It also has dark magic tied to white supremacy and racism. You may or may not be a fan of the Lovecraft Country horror vibes, but let me throw some key terms at you first.

Key Phrases to Hook You

• Black Women Warriors
• Black Women bootleggers
• The Birth of a Nation as a a dark magic spell casting
• Ku Kluxes
• Black Women Warriors fighting KuKluxes
• Gullah traditions
• Supernatural
• Horror
• Fantasy
• Historical
• Novella

Come on I know at least a few phrases on that list had to have caught your attention and held it long enough for you to go, let me check out this book.

So Far, So Good

Now, so far I’m into the second chapter of the book. I’m reading it and listening to it on audiobook. The audiobook is awesome by the way. I have had many a moment so far where my response to something fantastical set in a historical foundation was, “Yeah, I can see that.” I shake my head in agreement and move on. That is in juxtaposition to a traditional response of “What just happened?! I can’t believe it!” That I usually have when reading fantasy or horror. Horror, racist terrorism and dark magic just seem to make sense I guess.

So if you know anything about the history of the Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow and The Birth of Nation, then it is not that far fetched if someone were to come to you and say, “Hey you know the Klan comes from dark magic and demons. And their goal is to stir up hatred and evil.” There is a good chance that I would say “Yeah I could see that.”

I expect to finish this book either tonight or sometime soon this weekend. If you are looking for books to add to your spooky reads list for October, I would give this a try. I’ll let you know what I think of the rest of Ring Shout in a few!

Friday Night Highlights is a quick Friday evening post featuring anecdotes and highlights of my current reads of the week. If you feel inspired, it’s the perfect time to grab a new book for your next weekend read.

Past Friday Night Highlights

• Mystery Abounds in The Bones of Ruin
• The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less
• White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson Has Me Shook

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