It is weird how so many books are being published right now that were obviously written well before the current load of crap hit the fan, but which speak to global events with an urgency and a directness that seems quite prophetic.

The plot of this novella can be summed up in a few lines: “D.W. Griffith is a sorcerer, and The Birth of a Nation is a spell that drew upon the darkest thoughts and wishes from the heart of America. Now, rising in power and prominence, the Klan has a plot to unleash Hell on Earth.” If that doesn’t immediately grab your attention …

Having read most of PDC’s previous tor.com novellas, I must admit to not being quite sold on this one from the get-go. With very real blood being spilled on the streets of America, isn’t it trivialising to (re)imagine the KKK as a bunch of Lovecraftian monsters, when we see very ordinary-looking monsters on our television screens every day?

I did not know that PDC is the pseudonym for Dexter Gabriel, whom I have not read before. Apparently the two names are used for his fiction and non-fiction respectively. To confuse matters even further, he has also used A. Phenderson Clark. It kind of reminds me of Samuel R. Delany and his K. Leslie Steiner alter ego.

I also did not know that PDC “works as an academic historian whose research spans comparative slavery and emancipation in the Atlantic world”. It definitely explains the rich vein of historicity that runs throughout Ring Shout, including the Tulsa massacre.

This was highlighted in Damon Lindelof’s superlative HBO series Watchmen, and of course announced as the venue for Trump’s next campaign rally at end June … Ah, imagine if only one of the slavering KKK monsters from Ring Shout can make an appearance there and lay waste to the proceedings!

Ring Shout is such a terrific read that you are likely to gobble up its under 200 pages in one sitting. The ‘body horror’ dreamt up by PDC here is some of the most intense he has ever conjured up, and is enough to make David Cronenberg blush.

Underpinning the novella is an intense discussion about what turns ordinary people into monsters, and how everyone is grappling with their own demons, both personal and institutional. None of this subtext is forced down the reader’s throat, which makes you wonder if the underlying message is likely to go over many people’s heads.

But I don’t think so. Genre readers are generally very savvy (we’ll ignore the right-wing Sad Puppies). Fantasy, SF and horror have always been ideal vehicles to explore concepts of otherness, intersectionality and privilege.

I think what Ring Shout’s Lovecraftian excess also highlights is just how crazy and polarised the world is at the moment. Here the KKK’s innate badness is underscored by them being inter-dimensional bad asses. Thus we root for the good guys even more, and every hacked-off monster limb and bit of flesh makes us cheer. That ending alone is bound to get a fist-pump from every single reader.

From the stellar premise to the striking cover, I was thrilled to receive Ring Shout and couldn't wait to get started.

In Prohibition Georgia, Maryse, Sadie, and Chef hunt monsters. The Klan's on the rise, and Ku Kluxes are hiding in their ranks, using The Birth of a Nation to recruit and feeding off hatred. With Sadie's sharpshooting, Chef's bomb-making, and Maryse's magic sword, they prepare for the ultimate battle against a malevolent force that would see the world succumb to hatred.

I don't even know where to begin with this one.

WOW? That seems like a good start. WOW.

I've read a few titles that I'd categorize as historical horror lately (Alma Katsu's The Hunger and The Deep), which are deeply rooted in historical events but offer alternative interpretations, allegorical analyses, or symbolic breakdowns of previously-established pedagogy. Ring Shout does the same. Maryse's character is deeply affected by her ancestry, not all of which manifests in her sword--a magical weapon she summons at will that connects her to the pain of the past. With it, she sees suffering, their songs of mourning, loss, and agony, and draws power from this grief. The function of the songs, the call-and-response system that are used throughout the text, is a running tie between timelines, and without giving too much away, the aspect I loved most about Ring Shout was this connection, the importance of the past and the hope for the future while the present is in turmoil. Beautiful.

I also loved the narrative voices. Maryse, Sadie, and Chef do things that are traditionally assigned to men: fighting evil, bootlegging, dancing and drinking and cursing and shooting--almost every masculine trope you'd imagine, done by strong black women (Maryse wielding a giant sword is probably my favorite symbolic image, but it's hard to pick just one). This felt especially important in this moment, as BLM moves forward and we are reminded that black women deserve justice, to be heard and believed. Questions of race, gender, morality--Clark addresses these with rational discourse and, dare I say, hope that not all is lost as long as we can understand that hate and sorrow are not the same thing, that choosing one over the other dictates what kind of power you have, and that while evil will go to any extent to distort your perception, accepting the past opens the path for a champion of goodness.

Additionally, there is no shortage of gore here. Ring Shout is bloody, visceral, violent, and horrifying in the best possible way. Clark's imagery is cinematic and electric, and his command of dialogue is nothing short of mastery. There are some truly terrifying creatures here. This story isn't for the squeamish, but perhaps that's exactly what we need right now.

Overall, Ring Shout is a visceral, powerful, striking read with relevant themes and important issues. With elements of horror, sci-fi, historical fiction, and fantasy, there is something for everyone here. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a truly fantastic story. I'll definitely be re-reading this one.
Big thanks to Tor.com and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

The minute I heard about this novella I knew I had to read it. It is gripping from the get go. Not only is there a memorable cast of misfits who triumph amongst the war set by the Klan but also otherworldly characters with stomach turning techniques to unleash hell upon earth.I loved the character of Maryse, she is tested time and time again throughout this novella and she does not back away from a fight of any kind.

What I enjoyed the most was the spin on this story and the way the fantasy meets horror meets historical fiction. The author puts across a message which is very relevant to what we are experiencing right now.

4.5

There was so much to this novella! The narrative follows a group of black women hunting literal KKK monsters in Georgia, and can I say that I am loving this movement of the monstrosity of white supremacy as Lovecraftian monsters? As I said, there is a lot to dig into in such short story, it's rich with history and African folklore as well as some ass-kicking fight scenes from a great group of heroines. Recommend for readers that enjoy historical fantasy with deep world-building

Set in an alternative history in 1915, there's the Ku Klux Klan - and then there's the Ku Klux, hellish white creatures who look human, except to a few people that can see their true faces. Maryse has been called to fight these monsters with the help of a magical blade, fellow resistance fighters, a powerful root worker and the magic she gathers from the Shouters (of the title), and three spirit guides referred to as "the Aunties". As horrible as they are, there is worse yet to come.

I am awed at how much was packed into this novella, which is a mix of fantasy and horror: twisting fiction with historical events, African folklore, horrifying monsters, memorable characters, and an ass-kicking heroine with a magical blade. Clark has a fantastic narrative voice, delivering both a page-turning tale AND a powerful commentary on hate .

I read this in one sitting, and it was a story that followed me around for ages after I read the final page. A powerful message that is needed now more than ever mixed in with a page-turning read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC. Ring Shout is a fantastic speculative fiction story. Filled with an utterly memorable cast of characters, and a highly compelling story. Set in 1915 America, the Ku Klux Klan is near the height of its power and its attempting to bring Hell on Earth. The only thing standing between Hell and humanity is Maryse Boudreaux and a band of resistance fighters, that happen to have a little magic on their side. An incredible story that packs a punch and leaves you wanting more, Ring Shout is one not to miss.

What a fantastic book. Amazing characters, captivating plot, and it left me wanting more when it was done. The premise is awesome, where the KKK is actually a group of demon creatures from another reality. It's incredible. I read this entire book in a single sitting yesterday afternoon because I absolutely could not put it down. Highly recommended!

Ring Shout is a stark, perfectly blunt piece of speculative fiction that is sure to make you shudder and *gasp* from all of the body horror while drawing you into the magical and fantastically weaved world by Clark. Clark completely masters taking a moment in time, and sculpting it into something so unbelievably real that it is horrifying- and you don’t want to look away. Expertly mixing unnerving fiction with true historical events and timelines, Clark delivers a gut punch in under 200 pages. I finished this story hours ago and it is still with me leaving me wishing there was more.

What an amazing and timely read. I devoured it in a day while much of the U.S was protesting the brutality of the police against African American men and women. I couldn't help but wonder what Maryse Boudreaux and her kin would make of the current state of race relations. At first they may feel relieved, noticing how far we've come. But soon they would likely see the that this insidous beast still shows its face, often in a subtle but just as dangerous way.

Going back to the story: I loved the world building, the characters, and fact that I was hungry for more (upon finishing) Even though the subject matter was heavy, it was also entertaining and balanced the two beautifully. I'd love to see what happens next (::::minor spoiler:::: especially with the mention of another sword!) and I'll be following Clark closely.

Imagine for a second the Ku Klux Klan wasn't just a group of racist people who burned down homes and killed people, but rather demonic entities from another dimension. Enter the brilliantly written new book by P. Djèlí Clark, Ring Shout,

Maryse is a young black woman who has been called to kill monsters after the horrific murder of her parents at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. Partnered with a former World War 2 fighter known as Chef (real name is Cordelia), and a sharp-shooter named Sadie, the group spend their time killing the shape-shifting demons that have taken over white people when their hate has let the creature in. These tall, white, many fanged creatures feed like mindless monsters, killing people of non-Aryan descent and eat them whole. Maryse holds a shadow blade, filled with the righteous energy of thousands of people who have been killed or kidnapped unjustly.  With the otherworldly assistance of a powerful root worker, an army of Shouters (explained brilliantly in the book, so I'll let you discover this one on your own), and three spirit guides that take on the form of powerful Aunties, Maryse will face her greatest foe in the form of a multi-mouthed demonic shape shifter known as Butcher Clyde. His goal is to gather members of the Ku Klux Klan and those who can be converted into creatures at Stone Mountain for a powerful conjuring spell; watching DW Griffith's The Birth of Nations.

Holy smokes, readers. I was absolutely blown away by this book and found it almost impossible to put down. Populated by people who in history have been thrown to the margins of society, each character is more badass than the next. Be advised, this book does get viscerally graphic fairly often, but so do many folktales. P. Djèlí Clark's writing is gorgeously done, even when describing organs being ripped from the human body. For squeamish readers, this might be a book that you skip. If you can handle a little gruesome, don't skip out on this one.

An interesting historical fiction with a fantasy twist in the American South. Characters were memorable and the fantasy elements propelled the story forward.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: P. Djèlí Clark is one of the best SFF writers out there right now. He is a master of plot, and worldbuilding, often creating whole universes in a short story or novella. Clark also gives us the stories and characters we've longed to see in SFF for so long: from Egyptian detectives in A Dead Djinn in Cairo to Orisha-possessed heroines in The Black God's Drums. He does it yet again in Ring Shout.

By combining Lovecraftian monsters with the real-life monstrosities of racists, Clark brings a brutal but spellbinding world to life. Clark's academic background is evident here, as real history and African folklore combine with supernatural foes. Fast-paced, deftly written, and packs a punch. Basically, I haven't read a P. Djèlí Clark book that wasn't at least four stars. He's putting out solid stuff time and time again, and I think he deserves the world.

(trigger warnings in the book for: violence, racial hatred, racism, gore)

More book reviews/recs/thoughts here: https://medium.com/@literallymya

Killer. I was a fan of Clark's work from THE BLACK GOD'S GUNS and "A Dead Djinn in Cairo" -- but this surpasses just about anything else he's written thus far. It's 1920-ish and the Klan is ascendant... except there's the Klan and there there's the Ku Klux. And the Ku Klux, folks, are some kind of strange eldritch monstrosities whose shape, perhaps, inspired the white pointy robes.

I loved this. It was harrowing, at times almost too dark to keep going and yet one HAD to keep going because the story was so well crafted that it rather demanded you continue. Clark has a gift for reframing historical material (perhaps because of his alter ego as a proper historian) in speculative and fantastical modes and he manages it yet again here, with a story that hits far closer to our world than much of his other work. But it's all the more powerful for it and with any luck, this will be the book that launches Clark to a whole new level of well-deserved attention and readership.

(Oh and whenever somebody wants to make a movie of this? I will be cowering behind my hands and pausing frequently, utterly delighted to be scared to death)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishers for this free ARC.
I LOVED this book! I could have easily sat and read it in one sitting. It was the perfect mix of horror, fantasy and a beautiful tribute to African slaves. I had no idea what the title meant when I first started hearing about this book and now after reading this, I want to know everything about it. Mr. Clark set this up as a series and and I really hope there is more to come from Maryse.

Hello Gemmies! I have an exciting book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Ring Shout is a new novella by P. Djeli Clark. I have to start by saying P. Djeli Clark is the MASTER of the novella. He has an incredible talent for creating vast detailed worlds, intricate and complicated characters, and heart stopping action that capture the African American experience in a novella format. Ring Shout is no exception and unlike anything else i've read before. It is so inventive, clever, and different. Clark takes a moment in this country's dark history and mixes in fantasy and horror to come up with a wicked alternate vision.

Ring Shout takes place in the post war South in 1922. It immediately pulls you into a world shaped by hate and fear, where hate literally takes on a life of its own. Ring Shout is also an extremely well written character driven story. Maryse Boudreaux is our main protagonist and such an enjoyable character. She's smart, brave, and an all around kick ass heroine. I found Maryse to be complex and relatable as she struggles to reconcile the hurts from her past and discover who she will be going forward. There are so many plot twists and gut punches, this story left me on the edge of my seat throughout. This is a tale of the dangers of being led by hate and the strength and beauty that are built out of struggle and the fierce determination to love and thrive despite it all.

If you are a fan of alternate history interpretations, horror, speculative fiction, justice, black girl magic, and action galore then go read this book! This gem published by Tor.Com is set to release on October 13, 2020 and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give Ring Shout 5 out of 5 gems. I cannot wait for this story to be out in the world for all to read. Happy Reading!

This stunning novella takes the machinations of the KKK and puts a distinctively elder-god twist on things to explore hate, prejudice, and racism. Clark's tale is paced perfectly and is an excellent example of a tight story told with intention. Readers will likely want more, though not because the story is lacking; rather, the rich characters and setting beg further exploration. The dark subject matter - hate, racism, and prejudice - is made all the more human by the preternatural beings capitalizing on it. An exceptional book.

This book was amazing! Strong plot! Powerful characters! A plot that held my attention the entire time!!!! I couldn’t put it down. I needed to find out what happened next!

Ring Shout is a stark, perfectly blunt piece of speculative fiction that is sure to make you shudder and *gasp* from all of the body horror while drawing you into the magical and fantastically weaved world by Clark. Clark completely masters taking a moment in time, and sculpting it into something so unbelievably real that it is horrifying- and you don’t want to look away. Expertly mixing unnerving fiction with true historical events and timelines, Clark delivers a gut punch in under 200 pages. I finished this story hours ago and it is still with me leaving me wishing there was more.

5/5 stars- highly recommended!