Jacqueline, or “Creeper” to her associates, is a precocious and tenacious thirteen-year-old street kid. Eking out a living through petty crime is no easy feat in of Civil War-era New Orleans, but Creeper gets by. She has a leg up on the competition thanks to her visions, which are a blessing from Oya, the goddess of storms. When Creeper’s latest vision foretells the destruction of her beloved New Orleans, she reluctantly falls in with an airship captain and her ragtag crew to save the city.

New Orleans is a great real-world setting for a fantastical steampunk story: it’s already an atmospheric city packed with history, culture, and magic. P. Djèli Clark makes the most of it, drawing on the diversity of Black cultures and experiences in the city to flesh out the characters. The language and culture of Black southerners, Haitians, and French people all contribute to the richness of the world. Yoruba culture informs the magic system, which relies on Orisha to bless people with magics. Creeper’s own gifts come from an almost possession-like relationship with Oya. Sometimes the goddess lives within Creeper, whispering to her and using Creeper’s body to make her powers manifest. This world sunk its claws in and hooked me right away!

Creeper’s narrative voice is distinct, with a fresh perspective and a strong dialect. When done well, I really enjoy dialectical writing, and I’m pleased to report that P. Djèli Clark pulls it off. What I thought he could’ve done better was the balance between the world building and the story: as much as I love the world, I think it overshadows the actual plot. I appreciate how difficult it must be to craft a unique world with such a limited page count, but I still wanted a little more from the story. I would happily read another novella or even a full-length novel set in this world.

Recommended for steampunk fans, world building lovers, and readers looking for Black speculative fiction.

This is a perfectly fine light read that will entertain you for a few hours. I didn't find that it stuck with me afterwards. I would be curious to read a novel set in this world- this novella felt like an exploration of a concept that the author might return to.

Clark is an incredible voice in SFF. I enjoyed this take on a novella that allowed the main character to run through NOLA.

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

Steampunk/alternative history version of New Orleans and orisha magic and an interesting, street thief main character. Quick, imaginative, but I did wish there was a romance somewhere in its pages. ★★★½

Review: BLACK GOD'S DRUMS

I adore this novella! Author P. Djeli Clark brings us right inside the skin of his characters, stripping away the masks (in some cases literally) and plunging us into an incredibly defined Alternate History, one that awakens the ugly history of the 19th century, in the US and in Haiti, that we know as fact. Here is a culture set in New Orleans that resembles Dickens' Victorian London (but humming with a "Naw Orlins" flair), and a thirteen-year-old protagonist who is a carrier of an avatar of Yoruba goddess Oya. There are airships and steam engines, steampunk everywhere, and yes, there are fools willing to sell the most dangerous invention ever, for greed, and for warmongering (cause the South wants to Rise again, and not "someday.") Author Clark has a gift for Magical Realism that rivals Tim Powers', and that is high praise indeed.

I've never been so thankful for my resolve to work through my NetGalley list of review books. I requested this book AGES ago, and - tragically - never got to reading it. That changed today, when I devoured the entire story in a single sitting.

<em>The Black God's Drums</em> is set in a steampunk, alternate history New Orleans, with the Civil War having been paused with a tentative Armistice (after the Third Antietam). The year is 1884, and Jacqueline - though she prefers Creeper - is just thirteen years old. She's grown up on the streets, quick and smart, and with connections and people who care for her. And she's also got an African Orisha, Oya - goddess of storms, life, death, and rebirth.

<p>"The goddess is just ... with me."</p><p>"Like you possessed?"</p><p>It's my turn to frown up at the woman. "You know that's now how it works."</p><p>She huffs, muttering: "Yes, yes. Have to let them in. Don't understand how all of them can with we, and with they priests and all over the blasted place at the same time."</p><p>"They're gods," is all I answer.</p>

Creeper is in her spot, prime location for picking pockets of unwary travelers, when she comes across something much more valuable and dangerous. The knowledge that she takes across the city ends up being the catalyst of this fast-paced story.

I loved this novella, from beginning to end. The voice of Creeper was <em>infinitely</em> easy to fall into. I saw New Orleans through her eyes, heard the voices and noise of the city, traveled with the goddess Oya.

World-building is an intricate thing, it takes time and effort to get it right. Some authors can't do it well in a full novel, few authors can do it well in a novella. P. Djèlí Clark is an author that can, and does. I could <em>feel</em> the emotions of this world, clearly imagine every bit of it. Every sentence had meaning, building the character, the world, the plot.

And the characters moved through this world like real people, people with histories, stories, tragedies, and adventures that I just didn't know yet. Even if we didn't know the character's name, they were fully realized characters ready to jump off the page. Creeper we get to know best as we're in her head (with Oya); but I also adored the captain and her crew. Especially the captain. Her wry humor was right up my alley.

<p>"And you going to stop stealing. It's damn immoral!"</p><p>"You're a smuggler!" I point out, extending my arms to take in the airship.</p><p>"But not a thief!" she retorts evenly.</p><p>"The name of your ship is <em>Midnight Robber</em>!"</p><p>She pauses at this. Shrugs. Then says evenly: "It's satire."

The other absolutely beautiful thing in this small novella was the amount of diversity and representation! I just - it really puts paid to the idea that it's hard to include it in books. Creeper is Black, born in America, Captain Anne-Marie hails from Trinidad (and is BI-SEXUAL!!!!!), her crew contains an Indian, a Haitian, and Mongolian. And all are just themselves. This is a novella, so we don't get a ton of time with each of them, but the simple fact that they're there; they're identified, and it's completely NORMAL. I was in love.

Let's go back to the bi-sexual captain of the Midnight Robber. There are so few positive representations of bi-sexuality anywhere. This is definitely one of them. The Captain is confident, capable, and not dithering about what she enjoys. She knows she likes both women and men, and that's just <em>normal</em>. Can I tell you how utterly refreshing that was?

This is easily one of my favorite reads this year. I'm definitely going to be finding more of P. Djèlí Clark's work to enjoy.

Absolutely stunning!! The biggest disappointing is that this is a short story and only 111 pages long. While a good little story The Black God's Drums really feels more like the introduction to a new larger world that could have many books written it it. From airships, voodoo, southern culture, strong heroines, steampunk influences and more; there is a lot here to love.

Alternate History
While P. Djeli Clark (sorry I don't have accents accessible on this keyboard) doesn't specifically call it out by the end of the book I was fairly confident that our story was set sometime within 100 years of Napoleon having power. Given there are airships and other awesome steampunk items throughout the book; I'm going to say this is a sort of alternate history. Usually I'm not a big fan of alternate history because it's not creative enough. But that definitely cannot be said about Clark's short story. Instead I had to really think about it when little tidbits that gave hints to the timeframe and world came up. I would have been totally okay if this was a whole new fantasy world to learn. But it does work elegantly the way it is and you can apply many of our social norms to the scenarios successfully which cuts down on the explanations needed.

New Orleans
Setting is such an important part of a fantasy story and when the items around you and magic that may (or may not) manifest is dependant on the landscape it's almost a character all of it's own. Think of Game of Thrones and consider each of the major strongholds of Westeros as characters. The Eyrie, Winterfell, Harrenhal, Kings Landing, etc. all have their own tone, cultural expectations, weather and location that affect everything and everyone around them. The Black God's Drums is like that as well. Where we are and how our location(s) are being approached affects so much around them.
Ever since Sookie Stackhouse gave me some of my first 'real' introduction to Louisiana culture and history in books I have loved learning more about New Orleans (and area). I've also found myself really into blues music over the years and so that has helped with my immersion into understanding this unique area of the United States.

Heroines
As if the above wasn't enough to be engaging we also have two of the strongest and most interesting heroines I've read about. Each has their own skill sets and a spirit, magic or goddess (whatever you'd like to call it) that speaks inside their head. The struggle between each of the women and their way of dealing with the voice in their head are starkly different and represent the difference between people's approaches and reactions to similar situations. There is a wonderful Psych paper to be written somewhere in here about how people cope and handle the exact (or similar) situation differently.

Overall
I absolutely understand why The Black God's Drums was nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and World Fantasy award. I'm sad it didn't win any of them! It's definitely more than deserving of any one of these prestigious awards. That said I know the competition is fierce out there these days. It has all the right elements and is elegantly put into 111 pages without feeling rushed, squished or inadequate. If Clark was trying to see what people would think of this concept he has used then I'd say he should immediately write everything possible about these two heroines, their world and it's challenges.
Clark is definitely an author to watch. I will be keeping a close eye on him and keep hoping that TOR and him have a full novel in the works! Too bad I don't know how to do voodoo, like practiced in the story, to ensure more writing is guaranteed from Clark in the future.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I'm so mad I've slept on this one. Clark's writing is so atmospheric that I was immediately drawn in. As much as I love the Tor.com novellas, I also am sad they're novellas. I always want more. This is my first book by Clark, but it won't be my last. I hope we'll see more of Creeper and Ann-Marie in future books.

After hearing about the Black God’s Drums, Creeper, a young girl living on the streets of New Orleans, decides to sell that information to Ann-Marie, the captain of the Midnight Robber. We, then, follow them as they look for the weapon and ultimately try to prevent it from destroying New Orleans.
The characters were well-written but I would’ve liked to know more about Ann-Marie. If there’s a sequel, I would love it to focus more on her.
The story was okay. There were a lot of interesting concepts, like the goddesses inside them but, again, I would have enjoyed it more if the book had focused more on that.
Most of my problems with this novel stemmed from its length, the undeveloped characters and brushed-over aspects of their lives but, still, I would love to read more stories set in this world.

This was definitely not the story that I thought it was going in and boy did it surprise and delight me. As we follow Creeper through an alternate reality, we discover that history is not all that's different - God's are real and they're hitching a ride on our in story humies. Throw in a city - and possibly world-destroying weapon and all Hell breaks lose as Woman and God go to war.

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review

Living with a goddess inside her, Creeper happens upon some valuable information about a scientist and his powerful but dangerous invention. A streetwise kid like her decides to sell this information to become a crewmember for Captain Ann-Marie of the "Midnight Robber." But the weapon in question could kill thousands and reignite the Civil War.

Other than the casual use of racial epithets typical of the South around the time of the Civil War, this was a cool take on a steampunk-like world set in an alternate universe. It's a shame it's just a novella but enough entertainment is packed into its short length, great characters, and fun action. Not enough books are written about the African Orishas and this is a highly creative and enjoyable take on that mythos. 4.5 out of 5.

'The Black God's Drum' by P. Djèlí Clark is a novella set in an alternate New Orleans of steam and voodoo.

The story stars street-smart Creeper who is intent on making her way aboard an airship. She also has a pretty big secret living inside her, Oya, a god of the wind. When she finds out about a potent weapon that could be used against her friends and city, she smuggles aboard an airship named Midnight Robber and tries to stop the weapon known as The Black God's Drum.

I found this alternate world fresh and really appealing. I've read any number of steampunk style books, some better than others. The addition of the city of New Orleans, the magic system, and some memorable characters made this a fun, quick read.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

I am in love with this novella! It takes place in an alternate history New Orleans, where the Civil War and technology in general turned out a bit differently. It's a perfect blend of steampunk, mythology, magic, and history; with strong female POC characters who don't get caught up in the standard tropes. Perfect adventure for teens and adults. I would love to read more in this world!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★☆+

Synopsis:

Creeper, a scrappy young teen, is done living on the streets of New Orleans. Instead, she wants to soar, and her sights are set on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann-Marie’s trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums.

But Creeper keeps another secret close to heart–Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities concerning Creeper and Ann-Marie…

Review:

Thanks for Tor.com and the author for an eARC of The Black God’s Drums in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC did not influence my review in any way.

This was my first dance with Clark as a writer, so I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into. Easy to say that I was overall impressed with his writing and the ability to tell such an imagined story in so few pages.

While most Tor.com novellas seem to “snapshots” or “one-offs”, I could definitely see Clark expanding this story into a series, or even a full length novel. It was simply one of those stories that you weren’t ready to turn the last page on. A post-Civil War and completely re-imagined New Orleans teeming with airships, Yoruba deities, ancient weapons, and all the charm of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras.

What really struck me was the world-building. While I have not been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, I have been to NOLA before and Clark absolutely captures the heart and soul of the city. The cajun food and jazz music. The vibrant costumes and dialects of its people. It is simply dazzling. In fact, I think I can smell the beignets now.

While the story only lasts about 110 pages, the character of Creeper will be one that stays with me for a while. Fierce and determined are words best to describe her, but do not do her justice. While her quality of life is diminished, what with having to live on the streets and all, think of the difficulty she has, and the burden it brings, of having an ancient deity speaking through you and granting to you powers beyond your comprehension. That is a great deal to throw on a scrappy young teen, but she handles it with finesse and grace.

Overall, this was a fantastic story that I think everyone should give a chance. I just hope Clark gives us more Creeper in the future!

Original and well-crafted. This book's worldbuilding makes it a great choice for any fantasy reader.

This novella is just phenomenal. An imaginative Haitian inspired Civil War alternate history set in an independent New Orleans with airship pirates and street urchins orisha magic and street-savvy nuns who know all the city's secrets. It has an incredible amount of depth and development, especially considering it's length.

Excuse me now while I go read everything P. Djèlí Clark has ever written.

This was a really fun/action packed novella. I loved the setting of an alternate history, steampunk New Orleans. I really liked the main character and her goddess companion. But the real star for me was the airship captain! I would love to read more about her.

Very, very much enjoyed this alternate history novella - voice, setting, plot, all fantastic. Looking forward to revisiting this world and these characters.

This novella was just OK for me. While I enjoyed the setting and there were some very interesting characters introduced, I ended the story feeling like it was not enough. There was not enough development in Creeper as well as the captain to get to the climax at the end of the story, and then we get to the climax and the story is over. I was hoping for more and because there was no more, it was difficult for me to enjoy the story. The main issue that stunted my enjoyment was having an adult character who lived her entire life avoiding a power she possessed in every way possible, and then all of a sudden, in a couple of pages, she can save the day against this huge force using a power she's ignored for the first time. It all wrapped up too easily and too quickly. I wish more time had been spent on that development as well as giving more information about the nuns and the ship's crew. I enjoyed the nods to Nalo Hopkinson and the relationship Creeper had with the brothel owner and how she took care of herself until she knew she needed help. I also liked the presentation of this alternative steampunk New Orleans. There just wasn't enough of anything for me to actually enjoy the story.