I tried reading this one, but I just could not get into it and decided to DNF as per my review policy. I do not think it's a bad book by any means. In fact, I actually think this one was really important in the current socio political climate. Unfortunately, this was not my kind of fantasy story and I struggled to immerse myself in it. I enjoyed premise of the story, but the narrative just did not work for me and I am not interested in providing a poor review of such an important story. I typically do not publicly rate or review books I do not finish. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

I loved this book from the first few sentences. It’s action packed and gripping while also giving meaningful messages about the power of hate and how it can turn us into monsters—and in the case of this book, literal monsters.

Ring Shout is about a group of kick-butt black women living in 1920 who hunt monsters that take the form of KKK members. Clark does an amazing job of weaving magic and mythology into the Jim Crow south.

I’d highly suggest reading this novella. It’s excellent.

If you like alternative history and speculative fiction, add this to your October pre-orders. P. Djeli Clark has lit my brain on absolute fire with this latest release. I like to go into books without a whole lot of preliminary info, so the only thing I'll say is badass Black heroines, a magic sword, and excellent social commentary + supernatural action.
Side note: I think this will be superb on audio, and I plan on revisiting this book when it comes out in October for a fuller review!

I absorbed this in a single day and it was a welcome respite from the news. I love a story with a tough female heroine and a big heap of folkloric fantasy. It's a quick read, and highly recommended for readers of alternate history or fantasy action, and fans of tough chicks who hack KKK-member monsters to death with magic swords.

Anyway, I’m very happy to report that the author’s newest novella is not only his best yet, but an agonisingly timely and heart-wrenching story of resistance, horror, and hope. It manages to celebrate aspects of what was a typically dark time in African-American history, walking the line between wish-fulfilment fantasy and cosmic horror without giving in to either. There is a simmering tension between optimism and futility in both the story and the telling of it, which resonates to this day – especially right now.

Ring Shout tells the story of a gang of resistance fighters in 1922 Georgia – a historical setting a little more grounded in reality than some of Clark’s previous, and just as richly evoked. Of course, the departure from history that makes this fantasy – with hints of cosmic horror – is that the Klan are not just a human evil, but a gateway for another evil from outside our reality. These are what our hunters – a war vet with a penchant for explosives, a sharpshooting prodigy, and the wielder of a mystic sword – hunt, rather than the actual human Klan members. Helping them are a diverse cast including a gullah magic woman, a Choctaw scientist, a Jewish Marxist, and a slick creole juke-joint owner.

It’s a great cast, and I found them even more real and rounded than in previous work. The plot is also his most complete, perhaps because this is by far his longest novella (perhaps even a short novel). The length allows him to explore the story completely while also keeping the tight focus that serves the shorter format so well, and leaves the large cast just enough room to breathe – and suffer. I’ve been crying out for longer works from Clark for a while, because you are always left wanting more – even with about 50% more in this case!

The most interesting choice in the novel is to blend the true-to-life horror of the KKK, Jim Crow, and segregation in the South with a fantastical cosmic horror of inhuman beings feeding off the hate and fear. On some level, you would have thought the actual horror was enough – and while he doesn’t lift the blame from the actual Klanners, he leaves the conflict with them aside, somewhat off-limits – perhaps reflecting historical constraints. As tempting as it would be to re-write the era with a team of elite and magical heroes wreaking righteous vengeance, that might cheapen the sacrifice and struggle of the actual resistance. Instead, our heroes are saving the world – not just “their people” from an even greater threat, despite the best efforts of white racists. There is a sort of tragic nobility in this, and perhaps an acknowledgement that some monsters are easier to fight – and defeat – than others, even with magic swords and the power of the Shout.

Sadly, it’s a fight that’s still going on.

So, if you want a fantastic, timely, tense, power-packed short (but not too short) read, then I can recommend few better than this from one of the stars of the novella scene. Looking forward to whatever he does next – which might just be a novel!

I loved this story from start to finish. At times raw and painful, but ultimately honest and oh-so necessary. The author knows how to set and describe a scene - what a movie this would make (if done properly). I know a book has me when I want to ditch work to read, turn off the TV to read, fight off sleep so I can read.

Clark has written a deeply disturbing novella, filled with gnashing teeth and monsters hiding in plain sight. But what's most horrific is how of-the-moment this piece of historical fiction feels. In the America of RING SHOUT, racism is a plague, given literal monstrous life by puppet masters controlling pliable white Klan members. Combatting this supernatural scourge is literal Black girl magic, harnessing the injustices of centuries into potent revivalist power.

I don't know the last time I felt so floored by a story, horror or otherwise. There's body horror and eldritch horrors and the horror of reality, all mixed together in a work that's striking and somber but also, in its own way, celebratory. The persistence of Black resilience and resistance is something to be shouted, to be passed through the generations. But the most terrifying truth of RING SHOUT is how required that resilience and resistance continue to be.

Ring Shout is a masterful work of speculative fiction that plays with narrative, structure & character voice.

Even though it doesn't span that many pages, the world building is smooth and allows the reader to navigate it with a set of well-developed pieces of information. It's easy to connect to the character, it's easy to understand the threat, it's easy to empathize with them.

The threat itself is terrifying, especially in a world where The Birth of a Nation is still considered a landmark in cinema & shown to film students as a tool to understand the route film ended up going. Its use of speculation is unique and gripping - using Ku Kluxes as monsters and demons that need to be hunted - and just for that and the parallels it runs, I hope many people will pick it up when it comes out.

I want to touch up on the character voices as well - to me, it's always incredible when an author manages to give their characters a certain set of turns of speech, making the reader give this character a voice. To me, the ability to do this means that the author successfully managed to make the reader see the character as real & listen to them and hear their voice.

The only thing missing for me were better action scenes - I got a little lost in them and I bet they would have had even more impact if I didn't.

However, I enjoyed this immensely and would recommend it to every fan of speculative fiction & everyone who wants to learn something about the dynamics that Black people had, and still have to to this day, face when they interact with white supremacy. It's a great metaphor for power mongering while being a solid piece of horror/fantasy fiction.

Ring Shout is a fantastic piece of speculative fiction. It takes place in the deep south of 1922 Georgia, USA. It combines Lovecraftian monsters and juxtaposes this with the real-life monstrous existence of the KKK and a world filled with fear and hatred.

The story seamlessly weaves these two ideas and mixes them with historical details and African folklore, including the cunning Burh Rabbit. Into this Clark introduces some breath-taking heroines, especially our main character Maryse Boudreaux, smart, audacious, kick-ass brave, just the type of heroine you want on your team!

They combat the supernatural Kluxes as well as the KKK and white supremacy.
Other over-arching themes are of love, strength, the struggle, determination and above all togetherness and the desire to survive.

What I loved about this book was the superb worldbuilding combined with the very relevant subject matter.
It’s an exciting but challenging read which makes you think. At times it can be a brutal read, but Clark deftly manages the plot and action. This is a solid read that packs a massive punch.

You should note this book contains the following (trigger warnings: violence, racial hatred, racism, gore).
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for providing a digital review copy, all opinions are my own.

So much happened in this novella, and honestly my only critique I have is that it deserved to be its own series instead of just a one off novella.

For the time we did have with the characters, I did grow attached to them and I felt distraught when they were injured. The world building was also incredibly well done and I felt like I had some idea of how this world worked, even with a limited time in it. There was also enough left up to the "unknown" so there is still a lot of magical elements in the world, so you aren't all-knowing by the end.

It's one of those books you have a ton of fun reading, but you can also tell there was a ton of effort put into research for the background. Just more proof for why you should research your novels thoroughly!

(Read as an e-arc)
Wow. Clark has outdone himself yet again! This novella, when it comes out, is going right next to The Black Gods Drum.
And a lot like TBGD, he mixes elements of African American and African Folklore and mythology. And in such a way that I can barely put into words. This story is powerful, insightful, meaningful, spiritual. All the uls! And emotional too.
It's also interesting to reads books that connect to parts of my life that rarely connect anywhere else. Specifically the spiritual/magical scenes. They were beautiful and I felt and saw the scenes described. They were vivid and spellbinding.
These characters too, such a short story and so much depth given to these women and men! I cant even pick a favorite! And his world building! Again, wow. The Klan is already monstrous, but to up the ante to actual monsters that resemble the all too familiar white veiled terrorists, truly horrifying. I really wish this were part of a series because we get so much: sex positivity, Black love, black narratives in historical fiction, multiverses, kicking Klan butt! All the best things and more are in this book that I recommend everyone add to their TBR, immediately.

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.

This is historical fiction with a fantasy twist. Clark is a new author for me, but I love his character development and the idea of Ku Klux hunters. I'll definitely be reading more of him.

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.