Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Ring Shout: Nuestro cántico by P. Djèlí Clark

270 reviews

lady_bountiful's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-paced

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tifftastic87's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really liked this story and the horror was on point. The writing style wasn't for me though. There were times I needed more to understand what was happening and the narration would jump past it. I understand this was done for a reason, and in some cases it worked great, but in others I struggled. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kjtlion's review against another edition

Go to review page

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jacob_dion's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If you're looking for a Lovecraftian horror mixed with black girl magic, you've found it in Ring Shout

I love how this novella blended history with fantasy to create a horrific yet captivating story. Our three main characters, who are black resistance fighters, go up against Ku Kluxes that are literally and figuratively demonic. Their hate has allowed them to be possessed by demons. 

The pacing was exceptional, and the characters were well-developed, which is especially impressive for this being a novella. As for the story itself, it is creative in its horror and informs the reader of the historical context of the KKK at the time--the 1920's. The audiobook gave me a cinematic experience where I could picture each character clearly in my mind. The writing is incredible, and I was thoroughly entertained by this novella. The only criticism I have of this story is that I wish it was longer. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

halcyon_nights's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Really enjoyed going on this journey with the book. At first I wasn't used to the story written in spoken speech (specifically, AAVE) but I quickly got used to it and applaud the author's decision to write it that way. It felt like the main character, Maryse, was telling a story to the reader, no fluff. 

Despite its relatively short length, I was completely attached to the characters and the book made me tear up. I loved the way the story embodied the pure evil of the hatred of the KKK and cults/associations like them. They are so monstrous in their hate and the senselessness of it all. I'm super looking forward to getting to Djeli Clark's other work.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bishopbox's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

billcbentley's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

alexalily's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

erebus53's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I had no idea what this book was about, except Race friction/violence, and was surprised to find that it was a supernatural fantasy/horror story set in an alternate world version of North America. In a world where Racial hatred has been fomented by the KKK (who have actual Grand Wizards) only those people with The Sight can see the true form of the monsters awakened in men filled with hate. Foul Magicks are worked and in a horrid twist of the knife a popular movie contains the Workings to bring forth all sorts of horrid beings through the Veil (by inciting people to Hate).

A group of scrappy monster-hunting girls lay traps for the awakened monsters that they call "KluKluxes" which they attempt to dispel with bombs, guns and a magical sword. Back home, people are using whatever resources they can to keep their families safe, from science, to the elders' gris-gris and ancestral rites.

The main character has dream visits with other beings who she relies on as spirit guides, and who she sees as "Aunties". It seems that her destiny is tied up, and she is called to action to stop the re-release of that popular old movie, which will allow the KKK to raise an old god. She must use her power and wisdom to defeat the manifestations of Racial Hatred.

Some parts of this story are pretty trippy, and it's got a whole monster killing Buffy vibe, but in a much less White girl context lol.

The end of the story seems to indicate that there is possibly another would-be hero out there.. and from the gist of it I could see the follow up being from the point of view of a personal journey of a White boy who needs to turn his back on the lure of bigotry.. but I really don't know how the vibe would work that way around.. could go either way if there was a sequel, but the creepy otherbeing world, and the slipping in-between, going inside flesh-trees,  and vision quest type feel, is a really cool interweaving of fantasy elements.. and there are emotionally resonant bits in the end of the story that deliver nicely.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings