P. Djèlí Clark writes truly incredible speculative fiction and Ring Shout is no exception. Set in 1915, Ring Shout centers on Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters as they hunt Ku Kluxes, monsters that hide themselves and their actions in the Ku Klux Clan, because monstrous men create space for literal monsters. 

The legacy of slavery is strong and the Clan plans to use a showing of The Birth of a Nation (an actual real life propaganda film) to bring Hell to Earth. Maryse, with the guidance of her fox-spirit aunties, will fight to put a stop to this and protect her people.

Lyrical and punchy at the same time, Ring Shout is a fantastic short novel.

Ring Shout is by far my favorite book that I have read this year! I decided to read this because I enjoyed Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff, but Ring Shout far surpassed Lovecraft Country in my opinion. While the novel is short, it packs a hefty punch. I quickly fell in love with the characters and their histories. I love that black culture and history was pulled into this fantastical world. I have been recommending this book to anyone and everyone who will listen!

It's taken me a while to try and put my thoughts together on this one.

I was confused and a little bored in the beginning, but oh my gosh am I glad I kept reading because this was unlike anything else I've ever read!
If I had to say it was like the best of Lovecraft but spun on his racist head. The monsters in this story are racists and while they are actual abominations, it's terrifying because of the realistic portrayal. 

The writing is poetic and lyrical and made even the gory bits beautiful somehow. I'm not sure what else to say, but this painted a fantastical movie in my mind and I loved it.

READ THIS

The writing, like Maryse's sword, SINGS. I read portions of this aloud on multiple occasions because the writing was so stunning and took my breath away (a passage I've returned to multiple times is when Maryse's sword first appears). Cinematic, badass, brilliant - with a big emotional punch.

This was unlike anything I've ever read before.
The way the monsters were described was so visceral and menacing. 
I love the way the book talked about heritage and how the connection to your ancestors can give you strength.
The writing was extremely unique and powerful as well as lyrical.
This book had a great sense of time and place. It set the stage so well.
I enjoyed the characters immediately and you really felt their ties to one another. I do wish there was a little more time spent fleshing them out near the beginning but overall I just really loved this book.

My Thoughts:

- I had no idea what to expect going in, but I found blood and gore and trauma and so much emotion, but also friendships and hope and healing. There was a little of everything, which is what really made me love this novella. I will warn you that the beginning is a bit of a shock. It’s quite violent and gory, and while I’m a fan of violence, I’m not so much a fan of the gore. Definitely turned my stomach in some places. For a minute, I considered whether this was the book for me. Ultimately, I stuck with it, and oh my gosh, I’m so freaking glad I did. If you hit the 15% mark and you’re still not quite sure if this is the book for you, giving it a little more of a chance. The beginning feels like a shock impact, but for a reason. After all, this takes place in an alternate history around the early 1900s, where racism is still a well-accepted thing. As you can imagine, not a great time for all the main characters, who are Black.

- Race plays an important role in this novella, and it’s not always pretty, but I bet it’s not quite what you expect. I mean, I sure didn’t. There are definitely the obvious culprits when it comes to racism and segregation and all the things we know took place in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Add onto that, though, a hint of magic … the dark kind, if you will. Ku Kluxes are monsters from somewhere else that are infiltrating the Klan and riling up normal white folk. That’s where Maryse and her gang come in, because they can see the monsters among the humans and take them out … sort of. That’s the goal, at least. Never quite as easy as that, though, is it? There’s a lot of uncomfortable moments in this book when it comes to race, regardless of what side you’re on, and the story really asks you to just sit in that unease for a while and get used to it. We can’t grow if we don’t face our monsters head-on, can we? You’re going to be asked to bear some horrible things along with Maryse and her crew, but trust me, the payoff will be worth it.

- This is a coming-of-age story for our older main character, Maryse, who thinks she’s already got things figured out. I still absolutely love coming-of-age stories with older protagonists, because as it turns out, more years on Earth does not equate to miraculously figuring out your stuff. Who would’ve guessed? I’m a fan of coming-of-age stories for older characters because they remind us that regardless of your age, you can change. No matter where you are in life, you can always become something better, do something more, or have a life-altering experience. This is definitely the case for Maryse. I don’t want to go too in-depth with this, because this is a pretty big part of the plot. Needless to say, the character has some things to work out, and I loved her emotional journey.

- Even though this book is filled with a lot of darkness, the message is rather uplifting, and I walked away with so many beautiful moments. That may seem a little counterintuitive, considering this is a horror about racial strife, but bear with me. There’s a lot going on in this, especially for a novella. The friendship bonds and found family are *chef’s kiss*. Oh my gosh, I just loved this crew so much. Rooting for them was easy. There were so many beautiful one-liners and nuggets of wisdom and just wonderful words that I for sure couldn’t include them all in this review, but Clark’s writing is just gorgeous, layering meaning on top of meaning.

As a result of my various committee appointments and commitments I am unable to disclose my personal thoughts on this title at this time. Please see my star rating for a general overview of how I felt about this title. Additionally, you may check my GoodReads for additional information on what thoughts I’m able to share publicly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this and any other titles you are in charge of.

P. Djèlí Clark has absolutely solidified himself as one of the leading voices in novellas, more specifically in diverse fantasy, with his last few works, and Ring Shout is absolutely the pinnacle of those skills. With a film already in the works, Ring Shout‘s small stature hides a big punch. P. Djèlí Clark creates a world fantastical, but one that could easily exist inside inside our own, with a metaphor for racism that feels uncomfortably real. While I read this novella in a single sitting, I feel like it’s going to stick with me for a long time.

The Ku Klux Klan are monsters, both inside and out. While they begin as human monsters, they evolve into literal ones, feeding on the hate that white America has for its Black members of society to morph into massive Alien-like beings that kill indiscriminately. While some are blessed with the sight to be able to see these monsters, most just see them as hateful humans. But Maryse can see them. And armed with a magical sword her fox-spirit aunties gave her, she can kill them too. No matter how many Ku Kluxes she hacks to pieces, however, more just keep coming, fueled by America’s hate, and with a new showing of Birth of a Nation coming up, Maryse knows that there’s a bigger plan in play. She has a community and friends all trying to bring down the same evil she is, but racism is not so easily killed, and Maryse soon realizes that the way to win back America is rooted in her own past and realities beyond her imagination.

While the monster of racism in the pages of this book feels familiar, the monstrous origins of the Ku Kluxes and their evolution process is strikingly original. This novel does a great job in balancing the fantasy element of the novel (the monsters and their origin) with the ugly realities of racism while tying them inexplicably together. While the racists we know and hate aren’t the literal monsters Maryse spends her time chopping up, it is their feelings and internal ugliness that drives the monsters forward. When someone hates enough, they become part of the Klan, not yet monsters but not still men, and when they fully immerse themselves in their racism, they turn into full Ku Kluxes. This process is horrifying in the physical deformations and transformation that occurs, but still felt familiar. As an (American) society, we’ve watched a decent chunk of the nation devolve into hateful, frothing beasts, more openly intense and dangerous than they’ve been in a while. While this threat has always been there, this is the first time it’s been at the forefront of the national cultural consciousness in some of our lifetimes. Ring Shout, taking place in the 1920s and full of nine-foot tall monsters, felt hyperreal and true to our times. To be a racist is to be a monster.

Maryse’s voice was absolutely flawless. It wasn’t just that her narration felt conversational or open with the reader, it was very literally like she was talking to us, telling us this story. Her dialogue and narration is almost identical and gives us this feeling that she’s sitting right there with us, shouting and exclaiming over an open fire. She’s such a lovable protagonist, messy and traumatized, but a wonderful friend and a fierce fighter. Her narration makes it so easy for us to fall in step next to her throughout this story, to get fully immersed in her head and her point of view. This intensely personal style was perfect for a novella. It really was the perfect tone and length to feel like Maryse was a friend telling you about her life. This stylistic voice transfers over to the dialogue, where Clark deftly handles not only the vastly different personalities of the characters, but the different dialects as well. One of the characters speaks in a completely different dialect of English than most readers will be familiar with and her speech is spelled out phonetically. It was unusual to find an author who was willing to go so far to capture a character’s voice, and while it took me a few pages to adjust, it paid off wonderfully. These characters sound so real. They sound like your neighbors and grandmothers; Clark does an impeccable job not only in creating conversations, but in capturing the human spirit.

Ring Shout was the epitome of the perfect novella. Perhaps uncomfortably real for some and not for the audiences who are looking for a light and fluffy read, but undeniably important and original. Clark has the length and pacing of a novella down flat and continues to write about subjects that are tough but meaningful. Beyond the important social issues this book raises, it’s simply great: Maryse’s voice is stunning, the horror is gruesome, the dialogue is realistic, there wasn’t a single thing not to love. Clark’s novellas are one of the best things coming out of the science-fiction/fantasy genres these days and I continue to await his next work with anticipation.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ebook.

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Absolutely beyond phenomenal and creative. This one will stick with me for months/years to come.

This would be a phenomenal pick for those who enjoy Lovecraft Country!

Ring Shout is a unique and visceral read. It is scarily relevant to our times and filled with incredible strong female leads.

4.5 Stars

A bit-sized story of supernatural KKK members, the black resistance fighters that are trying to save the world, and how easily racism can spiral out of control. The body horror in this is REAL, and I would not recommend reading while eating or right before bed. 

I absolutely loved the writing, and I cannot wait to read more books by this author!

Thank you to netgalley for the free e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic bite-sized story with a huge range of emotional exploration. It’s incredibly satisfying to read about the KKK as the actual monsters they are and see vengeance coming their way. This was brutal and fast-paced and i loved it so much! I enjoyed the short novella format but I also think this concept was so great that it could have been elaborated on more in a longer novel. Still, I had a great time with it!

Wow! What a powerful novella. *starry eyes* Ring Shout is a layered story with so much depth, a fantastic premise, and both historical and modern significance. This is the novella form at its finest. There's an incredible amount to be read into Ring Shout -- it's clear the author put thought into every single choice. The way the monsters work, the twists, even seemingly random conversations... they're all woven intricately together and everything is doing at LEAST double duty. It doesn't overstay its welcome, but neither is it too sparse.

This story contains the supernatural, but that's not the scary part. The scary part is the way we can read into what it means for our very human world, especially in light of recent events. I loved the story arc, the characters and the direction the plot went. Highly recommended!

Thank you Tor.com Publishing for providing a free e-copy of the book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Ring Shout in exchange for an honest review!

I'm actually reviewing Ring Shout after reading it for the second time & am even raising it to five stars because that's what it deserves. Even during my reread, I still felt so many emotions.

First off, the concept? GOLDEN. I love the route P. Djèlí Clark takes when exploring themes of racism -- it's unique & very hard-hitting. Second? The characters? This is only a novella & yet, each character is so well-thought out that by the end I was weeping. Listen, if you've read this -- you know there's a particular tear-inducing scene & I'm here to tell you, it doesn't get easier the second time around. Clark knocked this one out of the park & if I'm here to encourage you to read anything at all, let it be Ring Shout.

Possibly one of the most unique books I’ve read! Finished it in one sitting and seriously need a sequel. I wish it had been a bit longer so I could get to know some of the characters more.

4+ stars. In Ring Shout, P. Djèlí Clark melds two types of horror, Lovecraftian monsters and the bloody rise of the Ku Klux Klan in 1922 Georgia, as a group of black resistance fighters take on an enemy with frightening supernatural powers.

As Ku Klux Klan members march down the streets of Macon, Georgia on the Fourth of July, Maryse Boudreaux, who narrates the story, watches from a rooftop with her two companions, sharpshooter Sadie and former soldier Cordelia “Chef” Lawrence, a bomb expert. They’ve baited a trap for the “Ku Kluxes,” who are hellish demons that hide in disguise among the Klan humans, taking over the bodies of the worst of them. The trap works, but the silver pellets and iron slags contained in the bomb aren’t enough to kill the three monsters that rise out of the wreckage and their human outer veneers. It takes more to kill a Ku Klux.

Since The Birth of a Nation had come out seven years earlier, in 1915, susceptible white folk surrendered to the spell of hatred woven by the groundbreaking silent film with its message of white supremacy and KKK heroism, lending manpower to the KKK and spiritual power to evil demons. Now The Birth of a Nation is getting a grand rerelease at Stone Mountain, a Georgia park honoring the Confederacy, in a few days. The spirits that frequently commune with Maryse let her know that this will cause a massive rise of evil and hatred, a rift that the demonic powers can use to fully inhabit and take over our world.

Ring Shout is little hard to wade through at times, with lots of idiomatic speech. Otherwise, though, this is powerful stuff. H.P. Lovecraft’s eldritch monsters and, more, his infamous racism lend themselves well to a plot centered on the infiltration of the KKK — and from there, our world — by unearthly, destructive powers that use our weaknesses against us. Opposing them are lively, earthy blacks and their sympathizers, many of whom have their own supernatural connections, primarily arising out of African traditions and folklore. Among these are Maryse’s magical sword and the Ring Shout, a ritual gathering involving song and dance. It’s “about surviving slavery times, praying for freedom, and calling on God to end that wickedness.”

Clark’s novella also points out the seductive power of hatred and rage, and how they can twist good to bad. “A righteous anger and a cry for justice,” Maryse realizes, aren’t the same thing at all as hate.

"These monsters want to pervert that. Turn it to their own ends. Because that’s what they do. Twist you all up so that you forget yourself. Make you into something like them."

In Ring Shout, Clark deftly uses a historical and fantastical setting, characters and motifs to create a novella that’s both timeless and timely, with a powerful message for all.

I am officially a P. Djèlí Clark stan.

Can I give this ten out of five stars? Because it's honestly deserving of that. I know we're only four days into 2021, but this might be my favourite read of 2021.

This book was absolutely impeccable. You know how the best lies have a bit of the truth in them? So do the best fictions. His work is on point, gives you the history, overlaid with his beautiful imagination and creates a world so vivid that honestly you might as well be there with Maryse on Stone Mountain and some Ku Kluxes.

I'm also a sucker for a well written battle scene. I don't know what it is, but battle scenes just do it for me, in movies and in books. In movies it's the choreography of it all (I'm a dancer so I appreciate that stuff), but in books it's a whole different ball game because it has to be written in such a way that you can visualise the choreography taking place. It's a beauty of butchery, and he gets it.

Excellent, swashbuckling tale, grappling with racism in a demon-plagued alt-history. Great ensemble cast. Full review at Positron.

“IN AMERICA, DEMONS WEAR WHITE HOODS.”

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation spreads hate and turns racists into Ku Klux, monsters who are determined to kill black folk. Standing between these Ku Kluxes and their goal is resistance fighters like Maryse Boudreaux. She and her fellow fighters hunt those that would hunt them, and send these demons straight to hell. Something even worse that Ku Kluxes is rumbling in Macon, though, and as the summary states, “The war on Hell is about to heat up.”

This book is awesome. I’m a huge fan of looking at racism through metaphor, especially from a horror lens, and this book doesn’t disappoint. Turning those who would wear white hoods into literal monsters that need fighting is genius. It reminds me a tad of Dread Nation in concept, but racists as monsters is the only real comparison. This is a wholly original story with intriguing characters that I was 100% rooting for. It grabs you from the beginning, takes you on a wild ride, and doesn’t let go until the last page.

It moved so quickly, and was pretty short. Tor knows how to get me and keep me coming back for more. I never get bogged down in tomes and overly long descriptions of beautiful prose. No. I am here for the characters and the plot, and Tor has got me covered. This one’s out now, so if you’ve watched Lovecraft Country, and or read Dread Nation and wanna stay on brand, check this out!

Trigger Warnings: white supremacy, blood, murder, violence, racism and violence targeted towards African Americans, discussion of racism other marginalized groups such as Indigenous people experienced, slurs, generational trauma.

Tor sent me an advanced readers copy via Netgalley. This does not change my opinion of the book. All quotes used have been matched against a published copy.

This book messed me up. Ring Shout makes every sharp ring of Mayse’s sword sound as loud as a shout in your ear.

Maryse is a monster hunter. In her is the anger of what white people and the Ku Klux Klan have done to her people. It consumes her, that centuries built up anger that she has experienced herself but also the rage she’s inherited from her ancestors.

 “Y’all got a good reason to hate. All the wrongs been done to you and yours? A people been whipped and beaten, hunted and hounded, suffered so grievously at their hands. You have every reason to despise them. To loathe them for centuries of depravations. That hate would be so pure, so sure and righteous-so strong!”

The Shout is about a movement, about surviving slavery and praying for freedom.

A witch and his group of believers read from a conjuring book, bringing forth the monsters they call Ku Kluxes. All stem from a movie. The re-release of D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of A Nation. It is about to be shown once again and Maryse worries it would cause another influx of monsters. Surrounding an imagined world where D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of A Nation conjured not just a surge of the Ku Klux Klan but created monsters they call the Ku Kluxes, monstrous beings with mouths that feast on flesh, claws for ripping, and the likeness of Ku Klux Klan robes.

In Clark’s world, the people that inflicted centuries of slavery and white supremacy on Maryse’s people conjured yet more monsters. They are the personification of rage and hate. Rage consumes itself and multiplies. What Clark did is create a supernatural world in which the rage and hatred of our world is understood through the supernatural. Real history can often be supernatural horror.

Clark also includes discussion on what white supremacy forced on Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups.

Ring Shout almost reminds me of a more fantastical take on Charles Chesnutt’s writing. It has that tone and pacing of early 20th century novels mixed with the eerie tales of Southern African American culture. It is a novel that feels like those dark moments in horror films where the sound is off, there’s an eerie silence just waiting from a deathly outcome. Every feeling is raw and explored.

The build up in the story reminds me of The Marrow of Tradition, a bloodthirsty tale of white people’s call for a race riot on African Americans. Clark’s characters speak AAVE, and some speak Gullah, both of which are built into Clark’s writing style. Ring Shout calls forth The Conjure Tales, supernatural tales inspired by African American folklore. Maryse carrying around a book of African American folklore places that magic and supernatrual horror of African American stories. The beings that white people summon into their world in addition to the beings of African American folklore all create a speculative novel that I never could have imagined existed but I am so happy to have read.

It was all consuming and intense on a level that left me sitting and wondering how much time had passed. Everything is historically placed. The land, its trees and its roots, is full of magic. Just like Clark’s writing,

"When I call the sword I get visions from them angry slaves, their songs pulling at restless chiefs and kings bound to the blade, making them cry out until sleeping gods stir in answer.”

Clark doesn’t give easy answers. This is not ‘the rage the protagonist feels is wrong’ type of book. This book doesn’t give a tale of morality which feeds you all the answers. It’s more accurate that Clark shows how ridiculous it is to expect people not to feel justifiable in their rage.

Frankly. I don’t read enough SFF centering African American folklore and this book certainly shines as an example of what the genre could look like in the future. I hope so.