Holy atmosphere! That is the one thing I loved the most about this novella- and there was a lot to love. The setting and world are incredible- an alternate Reconstruction-era New Orleans. This was extra fun having just been to New Orleans- I was able to even more vividly picture all the streets and areas that the author mentioned. But being an alternate history, things didn't exactly end as they did in our world- but I will let you read about it for yourself. Just know that you will be drawn in to it.

Creeper, the main character, is fabulously done. You want to root for her, and it's incredible how well she's developed in such a short page span. As are the secondary characters, who were delightful in their own right. My only real qualm is that while I loved the world building and characters, sometimes there was just so much going on that I had trouble keeping everything straight. There's the political end, the good guys, the bad guys, the alternate history weapons, and of course, magic. Perhaps because a lot is packed into a short amount, it overwhelmed me a bit. I really would love to read more about these characters and/or this world, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Bottom Line: A fabulous novella with well developed characters and a phenomenal setting, this is one that's absolutely worth reading.

So here's the thing: every now and then, a book comes striding along that is both thoroughly readable as well as important—important in ways that extend beyond the hazy boundaries of a book' as a product in and of the world, and the people who inhabit it. Important in ways that make such a book difficult or even impossible to talk about without also acknowledging and discussing these other things. As should be the case with any book, but is mandated by the best. And this has been a year—a decade—for such books, crossing genre and reader demographic boundaries, laying out the cracks in how our world—and our America, our Britain, our Australia, our Western literary and political establishments—treats its citizens. Readers of P. Djèlí Clark's "The Black God's Drums" will recognize a shared spirit with works like Sarah Bailey's "River of Teeth," Nisi Shawl's "Everfair," Kij Johnson's "The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe," Justina Ireland's "Dread Nation" (Ireland is mentioned in Clark's acknowledgements), Nnedi Okorafor's "Binti" trilogy, and science fiction and fantasy rooted in the same ethic as Octavia Butler's "Bloodchild." "The Black God's Drums" is in tune with all of these things, all while also being ardently new, confounding postcolonial narratives which are as rooted in fantasies of the Other as they are in the history of Empire.

This novella is worth reading for these readings, and also because it is simply quite stellar as a written work. Clark puts lovely sentences together, crafts great dialogue, and creates a plot arc which holds all the moving parts together. It's a quick read, but one which will have you lingering in its world for a long time after.

I really enjoyed this book, steeped in New Orleans sights and sounds, Haitian scientists, storm gods and airships! It tells the story of Creeper, a young girl who overhears a plot to acquire the eponymous Black God's Drums and races to protect the city she loves from certain destruction. I thought the prose style was great here, with just enough dialect to give a real flavour of 1870s New Orleans while still allowing the narrative to flow freely. The character of Creeper is a little under developed, but she works well as our point of view and introduction to the world. The plot is intricate, considering the length of the novella, which I thought was impressive and the narrative pacing is fantastic, with the action mounting to a crescendo very well. All in all, I found this to be a very well constructed and enjoyable story and would recommend it to anyone who likes steam punk to try something a little bit different.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Creeper is a scrappy girl who lives on the streets of post-Civil War New Orleans, but she has big plans. She plans on gaining passage on the smuggler airship Midnight Robber by earning the trust of Captain Ann-Marie. She'll do just that by sharing a secret of a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon called The Black God’s Drums. Creeper has her own secret: Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities.

I was so excited to when I learned I was approved for The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark. Since I'm a fan of alternate history and steampunk as well as Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, this novella sounded like an absolute must read. Luckily, this story was absolutely brilliant - and one of my favorite reads of 2018. Although it only clocks in at 110 pages and the plot moves quickly, the author's world-building and complex character development skills are top-notch. It hooked me from beginning to end and I loved just how original and unique it all is. In short, this novella is a real treat for fans of alternate history and a must read for fans of innovative fantasy. I need to read more of Clark's work in the future and I would love to return to this steampunk world.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

the black god's drums (P. Djèlí Clark)

Title: the black god's drums

Author: P. Djèlí Clark

Publisher: Tor.com

Publication Date: Tomorrow!! (paperback/ebook)

ISBN: 978-1250294715

Source: NetGalley

I absolutely loved this novella.  It follows the orphan, Creeper, who inadvertently hears a plot she is not supposed to know about and then gets drawn into the struggle to stop it.  This is set in an alternate 1884 New Orleans, has airships, shows an America where slavery in the South is not illegal, and also has Gods alive and well and getting involved in human affairs.  And me description does not really begin to do it justice.  The world-building is exquisite, the characters are quirky and wonderful, and the writing captivated me.  Though short, it packed an emotional punch.  I want many more stories set in this fantastic diverse world.  Don't just take me word on it (though yer Captain's word should be enough!).  Check out these other reviews by me crew.  Then go get a copy.  That's an order.  Arrr!

Melanie @ meltotheany's review - "I loved this book and P. Djèlí Clark is now forever on my auto-buy list. And in this ownvoices novella, the entire cast is black. And the characters in this book are a tier above most, and you can’t help but fall in love with them in only 100 pages! Creeper, Madame Diouf, Anna-Marie (the bi or pan airship captain of my heart, also physical disability rep because she’s missing a leg), Feral, Eunice and Agnes, I loved them all. And I want nothing more than more books from this world."

Elise @ thebookishactress' review - "I absolutely love the worldbuilding of this book. The Black God’s Drums is set in a post-confederate New Orleans in which the South achieved their goal of armistice. While many cities rebelled, they succeeded in keeping most territories, using slave labor and keeping them confined via a type of poison gas called drapeto. The aesthetic used is perfect, keeping you very firmly within the alt-history lowkey-sci-fi vibe but also not feeling overdone."

Goodreads has this to say about the novella:

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…

To visit the author's website go to:

P. Djèlí Clark - Author

To buy the book go to:

the black god's drums - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for Tor.com Novellas

Bear, Elizabeth – stone mad – book 2 (Dry Dock – Fantasy Western)

Brennan, Marie – cold-forged flame – book 1 (On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)
Brennan, Marie – lightning in the blood – book 2 (On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)

Cole, Myke – the armored saint – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Fantasy)

Hutchinson, Dave – acadie (Captain's Log - Sci-Fi)

McGuire, Seanan – every heart a doorway – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
McGuire, Seanan – down among the sticks and bones – book 2 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
McGuire, Seanan – beneath the  sugar sky – book 3 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)

Newman, Emma – brother’s ruin – book 1 (On the Horizon –  Fantasy Steampunk Arc)
Newman, Emma – weaver’s lament – book 2 (On the Horizon – Fantasy Steampunk eArc)

Okorafor, Nnedi – binti – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
Okorafor, Nnedi – home – book 2 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
Okorafor, Nnedi – the night masquerade – book 3 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)

Thompson, Tade – the murders of molly southbourne (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)

Wells, Martha – all systems red – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
Wells, Martha – artificial condition – book 2 (On the Horizon – Sci-Fi e-Arc)
Wells, Martha – rogue protocal – book 3 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)

Wow, for a novella, this story really packs a punch!

In around 100 pages, the author manages to include original worldbuilding, vivid characters, and an exciting plot. The story takes place in 1871 in an alternate New Orleans, a city where all people mix freely, lying as it does outside the control of both the Union and Confederate states. It’s a steampunk world with airships and other mechanical creations, but the main character, a young teenage girl called Creeper, is an avatar of an African goddess of storms. When the Confederates try to acquire a dangerous weapon that can seed the clouds with massively destructive storms even more dangerous than hurricanes, Creeper joins others in attempting to thwart their plans to save the city she loves.

I loved everything about this novella and can’t wait to read more stories set in this world. Highly recommended for anyone who likes alternate world fantasies!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Dear P. Djèlí Clark:

How did you manage to cram all that epic worldbuilding into such a short novella? How? Some writers would've taken that story and stretched it into 500+ plus pages, but you managed to tell it in barely 100. It's...it's amazing. There is so much badass writing in The Black God's Drums, I am both in awe and super, super jealous.

Please tell me this isn't the only novella, and that this will be an ongoing thing, like Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries. I need more of this world.

Sincerely:

Someone who will likely never possess such amazing writing and worldbuilding skills.

I received this ebook via NetGalley.

The Black God’s Drums is alt-history at its finest, told in a voice thicker than any gumbo. I read the novella in one sitting. Creeper is a brilliant, headstrong, rebellious girl—and that’s just her on her own, not considering the old god who thrums in her ears, a storm ready to burst. When she happens on a deadly plot wrought by men who determined to continue the Civil War in their own terms, Creeper offers to sell the secret of the plot to a woman who can give her what she wants most: a place on her airship.

The story flows fast and intense, gods and mystical nuns and fabulous twists along the way. This novella is going on my awards short list for certain, and I’ll look for more of Clark’s work in the future.

The Black God's Drums is a Afro-steampunk novella set in an alternate history, post-Civil War Louisiana. It has an interesting premise and a diverse cast of characters, but is too short for the amount of world-building needed and lacks narrative complexity in terms of pure plot. This would have worked better as a full-length novel or even short novel, but as it is the characters and plot feel under-developed. However, if you're looking for an interesting & quick read, give it a try!

In a world where the Civil War permanently split the United States and Louisiana is an independent territory, Creeper is a young teen girl living on the streets of New Orleans. When she overhears Confederate soldiers planning to buy a dangerous weapon from a Haitian scientist, she used the information to buy her way onto an airship. But first, she must use the powers gifted to her by Oya, the African Orisha (goddess) of wind and storm to save her city.

It's a rich world with fascinating history and culture, wonderful diversity, and promising characters Unfortunately, the story-telling got bogged down in the world-building, a problem that could have been solved by simply lengthening the book. I would read more in this world if we got a full novel. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an early review copy.

The Black God’s Drums is the first novella I’ve read by P. Djeli Clark, but I’ve got to say that I’m officially hooked. Her writing style and techniques are flawless. Here we have a blend of genres, yet the novella never once feels conflicted in what it is.
The Black God’s Drums is both alternate history and urban fantasy rolled into one. It’s also a little bit a coming of age story, which was a nice touch. Add a dash of Steampunk for good luck and you’ve got a perfectly balanced and extremely unique novella.
It relies heavily on local mythology, so the local accents used are a wonderful touch. The entire plot itself it based in New Orleans, but it doesn’t take long for us to learn that what is happening here could have far greater reach than that.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first picked up The Black God’s Drums. I knew it was being published by Tor, and honestly that holds a lot of weight for me, and that it was based in New Orleans, but that was nearly it. Obviously the title gave me a few hints as well, but not as much as I would have liked.
What I got though? What I got was a compelling story. One that wrapped up so many elements and somehow managed to make it all its own. We’ve all read stories where a youth sees or does something that quickly gets them in over their head. However, P. Djeli Clark managed to make that whole concept unique and fresh again. Creeper (not her true name, naturally, but her preferred one to be sure) is a girl living out on the streets. She’s quick, bright, and shockingly observant. There’s likely nothing that goes through the docks that she isn’t aware of.
And that’s exactly the reason she found herself in a spot of trouble. It’s amazing how dangerous information can be. What’s more dangerous though, is allowing others to act on that information. I don’t think Creeper intended to get as wrapped up in this adventure as she did…but she handled herself well.
This novella was beautifully written. I’ll admit that I’m not always a fan of alternative history novels…but this one really managed to grab and hold my attention. The addition of the fantasy and steampunk elements really helped sell it too, so that’s a major plus. More than that though, the characters and the emotions they carried were so real, how could I possibly been anything other than charmed by them?
The Black God’s Drums ended in a way where it could very easily get a sequel…and I’m really hoping it does. In fact, I would love it if this became a series. I so badly want to see more of this world, and more of Creeper’s adventures. I want to see more of her goddess’s quirks and opinions, and I want to see if Creeper ever manages to get out of New Orleans. In short, I really just want another novella or two. Or three.

This puppy is short … 110 pages. That’s all there is! I wish it were twice … no three times as long! I’m going to keep this review short as well but don’t let that fool you, I loved it.

I have to say I love these novellas being published by Tor. It started with Binti for me and now I just want to collect all of them. The quality of writing is top notch, they are written by a diverse group of authors, and feature brilliant Scifi/Fantasy. This little story is right up there at the top of a distinguished list.

I don’t want to take a chance at giving away too much so I’m sticking to bare bones on the plot. Creeper, is a young girl living on the streets in New Orleans. She is intelligent, daring and somehow chosen by the gods. Oya, an African Orisha speaks to the girl and lends her power. Scrapper wants to escape her life on the streets and get accepted on the crew of an airship but she has to prove herself.

Right off the bat the thing that impressed me most, besides the wonderful characterization of Creeper herself, is the language of the book. This story is full of characters from so many different cultures and they speak with such distinctive dialects and voices. There is never any confusion about who is speaking. You can almost hear the rhythms of their speech and it lends a musicality to the dialogue that I really enjoyed. As I said, I would have loved to have spent a much longer time in this world. I’m looking forward to seeing what this writer will come up with next. I keep adding to my Tor novella pile as we speak!

Song for this book: Creole United: African American Creole Music from Louisiana

Having just finished "The Black God's Drum", the only regret is that it wasn't longer. I was getting invested in the character of Jacqueline also known as Creeper. Creeper is a child of the street in an alternate steampunk history of New Orleans. I presently live in New Orleans and have lived here for 15 years. I always find it interesting to see others perspective of this diverse and wonderful city.

Creeper lives in a New Orleans near the later part of the 19th century. The area is still recovering from a war that shook the country. There are unsavory forces a foot that would see the city and the alliance destroyed using an ancient power. Creeper overhears the plot and seeks out the assistance of Captain Ann-Marie. They share connections to ancient powers that are essential to the survival of New Orleans and possibly the entire country. The power these forces seek to release carries the power of a category 5 hurricane. It is an untamable destructive power with little to no defense against it. There is hope! Creeper and Ann-Maries connection to the Orishas are their only hope.

I can only hope that the author Mr. Clark will continue the further adventures of Creeper and Ann-Marie. There seems to be a lot more adventures in store for them and I would like to join them.

Almost, almost, almost!

Oh, I liked this so much. I just didn’t love it. I almost did. There are sky pirates, really cool alt-history, a bit of steampunk, diversity, and some truly awesome villains. And yet…almost.

It’s just too short! This has such epic potential and I just wanted to physically restrain the author from publishing and say, “Please stop!”

I wanted it fleshed out more. I wanted the characters built out just a touch more and I wanted sub-plots. I just wanted more. The plot is so thin when it could have had more intrigue, more danger, more More!

I will read the author again. I just wanted the book to live up to its epic potential.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Publishing house Tor continues to hit it out of the park with their series of novellas. P. Djèlí Clark tells the story of homeless orphan, Jacqueline, in an alternative steampunk New Orleans of the late 1800s as she gets swept up in a plot that threatens the city. Packed with great world-building, interesting magic, a captivating alternate history of the United States, and a superb central character, The Black God's Drums' is a great bite-sized serving of steampunk fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for a review.

This is SPECTACULAR. Historical New Orleans with an alternate twist of magic and steampunk. Short but still somehow not lacking, "The Black God's Drums" is an eloquent story told in a world I ache to see more of.

Every setting was so easy to visualize, (despite me never going to New Orleans) every character tangible and interesting. I'm begging author P. Djeli Clark for something else set in this magical, wonderful place. Finished it in two settings -- devoured it.

Honestly, this is how you write novellas. With enough worldbuilding and plot and characterisation that you simultaneously feel that it works as a novella but also that it could be expanded into an entire novel. And The Black God's Drums does all that so well.

This novella is an alternate, steampunk history set during the American Civil War, in which the Confederates and Union came to an truce (along with a number of other things, as explained better in the book than I could ever hope to summarise in this review). It follows Creeper, an orphan living on the streets, who overhears a Confederate plan to use a weapon known as the Black God's Drums to defeat the Union once and for all, and plans to use the information to bargain her way onto an airship.

Sometimes, in a novella, it can feel like there's either not enough worldbuilding or not enough plot, but in this one, there's the perfect balance of both. The world and the characters in it are compelling, and there's a fully realised plot as well. It's so good, I even didn't mind the present tense, which would usually be a bit of a problem for me.

If there's one tiny thing that I didn't really like, it was the strangely omniscient nuns. I get the plot needs to move along, but the fact they knew everything and had the right tools for the right moments in time, and even seemed to perhaps be able to see the future? It all felt a bit overly convenient. I'd have liked the main characters to have had to struggle a bit for the answers but there we go.

This novella is set in an alt-history New Orleans, which has become a neutral city upon the end of the Civil War with an armistice. We follow our young protagonist, Creeper, a street orphan who uses information she has heard as part of a trade, in order to gain the trust of an airship captain from Trinidad. I did love the mix of African mythology/civil war history with more modern technology like airships.

I'm of mixed opinion about this novella. I enjoyed it. However, I found myself wanting more. Sure, its great fun when the plot moves fast and there is lots of action. BUT I felt like there were some plot points that could have been expanded on. Like a the end, what happened to the fourth canister? Why did the captain change the subject? Am I reading too much into this or does this mean there will be more from this world.

An appealing story of a spunky heroine in a steampunk world. The mythology underlying this imaginative story is unusual and intriguing. I enjoyed the characters, and their interactions and hope there will be a sequel.

Creeper makes a living as a pickpocket but, at the beginning of P. Djèlí Clark’s delightfully imaginative novella The Black God’s Drums, she comes across a piece of information that could destroy her city. In this version of history, the Civil War has become a cold war. The Confederate States are still struggling along, while the Union maintains its borders with help from the Free Islands of the Caribbean. New Orleans, where Creeper lives, is an independent port where everyone gathers and schemes in a way that reminds me of Casablanca, but with a strong flavor of steampunk and the meddling presence of the orisha.

Creeper’s alcove near the city walls becomes the unlikely meeting place of a band of Confederate States soldiers and an opportunistic Cajun. The soldiers are plotting to kidnap a visiting Haitian scientist who knows how to harness a supernatural weapon of mass destruction. She hides as best she can, then bolts as soon as they leave. The plot doesn’t pause for a minute as Creeper dives head long an attempt to save her city. Fortunately for her, Creeper has allies in form of a visiting Haitian captain and her crew, and a pair of nuns who know everything that’s going on in New Orleans.

Clark is excellent at world-building. The problem (if you call it that) is the plot races along so quickly that we never get a chance to just hang out and enjoy the setting. I hope that there are more books featuring Creeper and the world Clark created just so that I can spend more time in this amazing world. That said, the plot is top notch and full of great action sequences. The Black God’s Drums would be a great read for reader’s looking for a fun, original ride this summer.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration. It will be released 21 August 2018.

Clark thrilled me with this novella, and my only complaint is that it is far too short. Creeper’s New Orleans is a beautiful terrifying south. How could it not be? The language is rich and the influence of the Orisha...lets just say I need more books like this!