Review 5 stars. This is one of the best books that I've read this year and I'll have no hesitation in nominating it for the 2021 Hugo Best Novella. We all know that the members of the KKK are monsters; in this story Clark takes them one step farther. There are human KKK and then there are the Ku Kluxers, monsters from another dimension that are infiltrating our world who feed on hate. They're led by Butcher Clyde and are trying to bring across the Grand Cyclops. Fortunately a group of African American women (and others) stand ready to protect us all. Maryse with her haint-sword is definitely one of the great fantasy heroines of all time. I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge and the 2021 Hugo nominations. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49247404-ring-shout

I’m not sure what I was expecting but this was NOT it. Intense, engaging, and highly readable, will stay with you for a long time

A clever horror book which uses the history of racism in movies (THE racist film Birth of a Nation in this instance) and sets literal monsters against young black women and their allies who fight them. Maryse the main character is smart and strong. The book uses tidbits of folklore from black culture and folklore woven into a great story. I hope this will be a series.

I almost can't put into words how beautiful, horrifying, disgusting and powerful this book is. Ring Shout weaves together history, folk lore, magic, while having a thought provoking and painful discussion about racism in America and the trauma and grief Black people experience as well as their continual oppression.
Ring Shout is set in the 1920s Macon Georgia following Marsye and her rag tag group who hunt horrifying monsters hidden within the KKK.

Honestly, I don't know what to say, any praise I can muster is insufficient. This is brutal and breathtaking and it would be a disservice to the book and yourself if you don't read it. There is magic and body horror, monsters and action, mystery and gore and joy even in the darkest times. And there is love, so much love between the characters, for each other, for their families for their histories and for their futures. The hate and fear and grief and hope feels like a punch to the gut.

Ring Shout is hands down one of, if not the best fantasy book I've read. I couldn't stop reading yet often I felt so overwhelmed that I couldn't keep reading. Absolutely, a 100% recommend reading Ring Shout!

CW:Aside from the gore and the violence there is a lot of racism and racial violence so be prepared before reading.

4 STARS

IN AMERICA, DEMONS WEAR WHITE HOODS.

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RING SHOUT is something else, let me tell you. I honestly had to sit with it for a few days before I could wrap my head around writing a review. Part fantasy, part horror, RING SHOUT takes a deep and dark look into the history of racism in America (with a twist.)

Although this is a novella, it definitely packs a punch worthy of a full length novel. Fusing fact and fiction into one seamless alternate history, it was often difficult to sort out which was which because of how detailed (and horrifyingly accurate) the writing was. I also loved how strong, independent and yet heavily flawed the main character Marsye was. I was rooting for her the whole time!

Honestly, the only reason that this wasn't a 5 star read for me was that I personally prefer more world building when reading fantasy. I know that this is a novella and there is only so much backstory that can be provided in a shorter story but I was still left with the sense of just wanting a bit...more.

RING SHOUT is a very timely allegory on racism in America and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Also, can we talk about that cover? It is perfection.

Beyond a five star read. It’s impossible to wrap my head around how rich and fully realized the world Clark’s created in such a short book. It’s vivid and horrifying and immersive. A blend of early 20th century Black historical fiction and Eldrich horror ... and that’s hardly scratching the surface. Clark remains a master of his craft. He always manages to rise above the incredibly high expectations his work has already set for him. Just flawless.

An absolutely fantastic historical horror novel! I totally fell in love with Clark’s Cairo series and was thrilled to discover he had a new novella coming out this year. Ring Shout is a historical set horror novel about Black Americans hunting down monsters that spur on the hatred of White supremacists in the South.

Sound fun? It is, but it’s also more than that. A deep look into America’s historical racism and treatment of Black people, Ring Shout gives the reader a lot to think about in terms of historical and personal traumas, as well as a providing number of jumping off points for further research into the actual history behind the story.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. The three main characters are absolutely stunning — three monster hunting, weapon wielding women who face both supernatural and human enemies every day. I especially adored the foul mouthed Sadie, who was a wonderful addition to the story. These three women have such different backgrounds, but are tied together by their shared traumatic pasts.

The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was — being vague as possible to avoid spoilers — the revelation of the Big Bad. Like with most horror stories, I find that the actual reality of the villain is much less frightening than their actions while cloaked in darkness. While there was a lot that I enjoyed about the ending, that was one thing that stuck with me as not quite clicking. It certainly wasn’t enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story though.

4.5 out of 5 stars

An excellent horror-fantasy with a historical bent. One of those novellas that you wish was longer, just to flesh the world and these characters out even more. With an ending open to a sequel/series, I hope that Clark revisits Maryse and her compatriots.

This was a very atmospheric, vibrant, and intriguing read. Not only are there some pretty great scenes of cosmic/Lovecraftian horror here, there's a lot of commentary on racism and injustice woven into the fantastical elements. The commentary is not subtle at all, but then, it isn't trying to be, and that's perfectly fine, actually; I like that the book just comes out and says what it wants to say without tiptoeing around it all.

I will say I found the worldbuilding just a little bit confusing; I found myself re-reading a lot of passages to understand what was going on. There were a lot of exposition dumps strewn throughout the novella and it was kind of a lot of information to take in all at once. Even by the end I wasn't entirely certain I had completely understood the distinction between the creatures the characters were fighting.

Loved Maryse and her companions, though! Maryse's voice is very distinctive, and the entire novella is written in authentic dialect. The whole book is steeped in a very particular kind of African-American Southern culture that was very rich and immersive.

Overall, this is without a doubt one of my favorite books of 2020. I think my new favorite sub-genre is the specific "Lovecraftian horror, but intentionally and completely rejects/subverts the racist overtones of Lovecraft's writing by using the inter-dimensional monsters as a tool to write a story about fighting for justice and equity" (Also in this vein would be The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin)

As for the story, what's relevant in the US in 1922 is still relevant 98 years later. Clark perfectly blends eldritch horrors into the narrative of the Jim Crow era and the rampant racial injustices that were--and are-- being faced. The characters had incredible depth and even after hardly meeting them I found myself quickly emotionally attached to all of them.

For a quick read, this story packs a large and poignant punch.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for the ARC in exchange for a review!

A full review on https://www.armedwithabook.com/will be published closer to the publication date on October 10th.

This is my favorite of P. Djeli Clark's works so far. He's a historian and I've always liked the historical details that he brings to his writing. In this instance, 1920' Macon really comes to life- it's the most vivid setting yet!

Maryse, the hero of the story, is a young Black girl who is working to undermine the Klan, especially the demonic Ku Kluxes who have learned to wear human skin and who exist on hate. Maryse has a whole network of friends, some of whom can do a bit of magic and some of whom know how to use explosives and rifles exceptionally well. The characters are developed quickly and all of them feel individual and interesting- it's too bad we're in a novella format because I'd have liked to have spent more time with some of them.

The basic theme is how hate is a destructive, cancerous force that feeds on itself and looks for opportunities to increase itself. Maryse has her own reasons for hate, and a magic sword that is a great aid in vanquishing her enemies. She has a choice to make, and if you've seen any Star Wars movies you'll figure out pretty quickly what that choice is.

I'm ready for this author to put out a novel! He's very good in the novella framework but that framework has its limitations. Clark is a storyteller instead of an author who focuses primarily on feel or concept. With a novella, you're going to have an initial exciting introduction to your characters, a problem to solve, a way to get information, and then the big fight at the end. Nothing wrong with this and I've happily watched many TV series follow just this formula over and over. And Clark has put some interesting questions into the book. He's also done a great job of illuminating parts of American history that often stay dark and unnoticed. I'd like to see him stretch a bit more, if he's got the time and energy.

A fiercely compelling and imaginative take on hate and racism, where the monstrous realities of our history are (partially) configured into full-on monsters. Clark's mind astounds me. He takes stories and legends and pieces of history and knits them into his story with uncanny precision. From the insidious hypnotism of propaganda films to the mysterious existence of Night Doctors, Clark always held me surprised and engrossed. As powerful as his imagination is, it's also strongly rooted in the historical period he writes about. He creates a narrative that is richly imbued with the voices and traditions of the time, which are too often underrepresented.

I don't read much in the way of body horror, so the unsettling and visceral descriptions of the monsters in this book shook me up and linger in my imagination. There were also moments of great beauty, too, but most important was the strength and the grit of Maryse and those around her, as well as the important delineation that anger is a very different thing from hate. A good book any time, but especially now.

Ring Shout is a lush, engrossing, truly stirring novella. It is full of the parts of my country's history I am still learning and still coming to grips with. It's amazing how much we are not taught, how much there still is to know, how much pain and suffering I can never truly understand. This novella was so powerful in that way, in how it depicted generational trauma and suffering, but also the resilience passed on, the strength and hope.
P. Djèlí Clark's writing brought me to tears several times, all for different reasons. I was most in awe of his storytelling, how immersed I felt in this world and these characters. How vividly I could see the images he painted. The monsters in this tale are not strangers, but true evil that this book confronts in such a unique and interesting way. And I truly loved the ending and resolution. A must read story for these times.

It’s taken me a good two weeks since reading Ring Shout to sit down and have the words to review it. Actually, scratch that. I don’t even know if I do have the words to review it. It’s still all a nebulous bundle of unformed thoughts right now so, yeah. Bear with this review.

Ring Shout is another of P. Djèlí Clark’s alternative histories, though this time it’s less fantastical and more horror and/or paranormal (i.e. not something I might normally enjoy, being the little baby I am). And it is still so so good.

I’m not sure I know an author who does novellas as well as Clark does novellas. Each of them is a perfectly contained story but also something that you want so much more of, because it is that great. It’s a perfect balance, for me. There’s a knack to writing novellas that simultaneously leave you satisfied but also wanting more.

And that’s definitely the case here. While the story itself stands alone fine, I found myself wanting more of the characters and the world. I mean, in the backstories of some of the characters alone you could imagine so many more tales. And it’s also a novella that I think you could read many times over and still be finding new things to enjoy about it.

Basically, what I’m saying is, if you haven’t read any P. Djèlí Clark before, you should absolutely put down what you’re reading an correct such a grievous oversight straightaway.

Ring Shout is a novella set in the US during the Ku Klux Klan, but retold in a dark, supernatural context.
First the title, Ring Shout, is a reference to a religious ritual usually performed by slaves, with deep roots in West African culture, in which the dancers would move in circle, patting their feet and clapping their hands. The ritual would be a praise to the Gods, a form of expression, and that alone sets the tone to this story.
We follow our main character Maryse, a young, Black woman who hunts Ku Kluxes, demons hiding under white hoods and false humans appearances. Together with her acolytes, she must defeat a dark plot bigger than herself and driven only by hate, fighting her own demons in the process.
I can safely say that everything about this story was great. Having read the Black God's Drums earlier this year, I already fell in love with Clark's writing, and when I heard about this new novella and its unique premise, I knew I would love it, and I was right. Everything, from the historical setting to the multilayered characters was well-executed, and the author's particular voice gave it a pure, Black storytelling aspect.
Reading this novella was a vivid, dark experience, the characters—especially Dr. Bisset and the Night Doctors—being the best part of it all.
I strongly recommend this novella, particularly with everything that's going on, and I can assure you it will be a story like you've never read before.

A dark fantasy historical novella that gives a supernatural twist to the Ku Klux Klan’s reign of terror

The KKK are monsters. But what if, in addition to the human kind of monsters, they were also actual otherworldly demons? P. Djèlí Clark examines just such a situation, in this engaging and twisted novella. I really enjoyed this.

This is the third novella by Clark that I’ve read, and each one has been excellent. In Ring Shout, the author takes a look at an alternative, supernatural-horror-inflected history of the United States. Our main protagonist is Maryse Boudreaux, a resistance fighter with some otherworldly abilities and someone who has drawn the attention of the Ku Kluxes and also their supernatural opponents. Through Boudreaux’s eyes, we learn more about the ongoing struggle between these supernatural forces, as well as peripheral creatures who are not directly involved in the fight (but could be convinced to take part, given the right… inducements).

The KKK seem to be evolving, adapting, becoming a more evolved and dangerous beast. The first time we meet one in the story, Clark describes their transformation process in lurid detail. Something is changing among the Ku Klux ranks, however, and the group of heroes are starting to learn about an upcoming event that could spell doom on a huge scale.

“I’m saying that the organism—the Ku Klux—is evolving.”

“Evolving?” Sadie looks up, fiddling with the knobs of a microscope. “Like that monkey man’s book?”

“Darwin,” Molly answers, pulling the microscope away. “He the one. But you say that take a long time.”

Molly looks impressed Sadie remembers. “It’s supposed to. But I’ve recorded these changes over months. They’re happening, and fast.”

Very well-situated in the time (see the Darwin comment, above — and he’s mentioned elsewhere in the novella, too), Clark does a fantastic job of bringing the setting to life on the page. Whether in the quieter moments as Boudreaux et al unwind after a hunt, or when she’s recruiting otherworldly allies, or the final climactic denouement, the author’s prose is always engaging and evocative. His characters are great, fully-realized, and readers will quickly become invested in their fates. Clark spends little time explaining the supernatural “rules” of his creation, and instead we learn more as events unfold. There’s no info-dumping, and the story moves along at an excellent, steady clip as a result.

To say much more would be to ruin the story. To sum up, this is another excellent novella, and one I highly recommend. I can’t wait to read more by Clark.

The struggles is eternal, there are no easy fixes — continue the fight, or lose.

Effectively frightening, fast moving novel about Black women fighting hate. Dark forces have caused white racists to turn into supernatural 'ku kluxes' - only a few can see their true nature and have the gifts needed to hold them back. Fantasy/horror/alternate history.

Ring Shout is a small book that really packs a punch! This is a creative and intense novella that blends elements of horror, fantasy, and historical fiction. The storytelling hooks you from the beginning, and it's a very visual story. It took me a little bit to grasp what was going on, but I was fully invested once I figured it out. Ring Shout has some great body horror, and I would really love to see more horror stories from this author. It's woven together really well with both heartbreaking and amusing storylines, and this is a book you don't want to miss in the fall!

Ring Shout is the latest novella from King of the shorts P. Djèlí Clark, and as far I’m concerned is his most important and powerful writing yet.

Disgustingly racism, violence, and hate are endemic to modern society. So the themes in Ring Shout are ALWAYS current, but boy is this absolutely a novella for now.

While I have no right to dissect these themes, I can say it is very much a book about racism. It highlights the everyday and innocuous ways in which we allow racism into our selves, and in doing so, allow it to infect and replicate.

Despite all this though it neither preaches nor points the finger of blame.

Instead, it asks you to see and to listen.


One of P. Djèlí Clark’s gifts is his ability to take real-life periods and places, re-frame them with his own unique perspective then coat them in a delectable layer of myth and fantasy.

In Ring Shout, however, gone are the dazzling streets of a prosperous alternative Cairo. Replaced with the brutal and all too real horror of racism in 1920s Georgia.

The story is told through the first-person POV of Maryse Boudreaux. First-person perspectives are very hit-or-miss with me and not things I always enjoy. Here though, thanks to the author’s undeniable skill, I had zero issues.

Maryse, along with her companions Sadie and Chef are such gloriously engaging characters. They continuously elicited from me genuine emotions as I experienced their hopes and fears, their pleasures and terrors.

P. Djèlí Clark creates such vibrantly nuanced characters, deep and gut-wrenchingly real. He brings to life such strong, STRONG women who thrive across each strata of character whether they be primary, supporting or background.

The enemy being fought here is racism, physically embodied by the Ku Klux Klan and backed by an otherworldly horror.

Real-world history is blended with fantasy such that while the flesh and blood racists aren’t excused or exempt from violence, the main targets are the monstrous ‘Ku Kluxes’, creatures who thrive on hate and are perceived as humans by those not gifted with the sight.

Behind it all, the main (multi)-mouthpiece is the truly disgusting Butcher Clyde. He’s the perfect manifestation of hatred and a master of all the ways it can be disseminated. Butcher Clyde is a vile character and one that will almost instantly take up home beneath your skin, his taint polluting and sickening like oil on water.

His offer at the end though! That ending!

On top of the fantasy is heaped an abundance of African-American myth and culture ranging from the joyous to the harrowing.

I loved discovering the titular ring shouts and reading the notations at the end of specific chapters, each describing a new shout.

Reading about bottle-men and night doctors, once I’d looked up their real-world origins was awful. It’s quite a thing when the horrors of fantasy are eclipsed by the horrors of reality.

The whole story is told with such an authentic flavour it has a personality all of its own. The language is delicious from its delivery and cadence to the southern drawl and Gullah patois that saturate the pages.

Its pacing is adrenaline fast and hits you with emotional hay-makers time and time again.

Ring shout is an angry, visceral lamentation that rises to an energetic crescendo. Brutal, unapologetic but shot through with hope.

A must read for everyone.

Macon, GA, 1922. African-Americans, Gullahs, and Creoles team up with supernatural forces to fight monsters made from KKK hatred. Ring Shout is a masterpiece for modern times. P. Djeli Clark puts his foot on the gas and doesn't let up until the final sentence. Everyone and their mother needs to read this book.