Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

86 reviews

bitterseason's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Kidnapping, Body horror, Grief, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Rape, Slavery, Abandonment, and Antisemitism

noahsingh's review

fast-paced

• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality and Gore

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Medical content

szuum's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Body horror, Racial slurs, Gore, and Racism

Moderate: Animal death and Sexual content

mar's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Death, Racism, Body horror, Murder, Racial slurs, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Slavery, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Animal death, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape, Antisemitism, and Sexual content

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

This book was wild and intense and uncomfortable, and I do think it's uncomfortable on purpose. We're in 1920s Georgia, USA and racism is in full swing. Maryse, our main protagonist and narrator, is busy hunting down Ku Kluxes, monsters hiding in the white robes of human Klaners. I don't want to tell you too much because the author has a lot of cool surprises in store.
One thing I loved about it was how important language and oral tradition are. Maryse has her own, very specific, way of talking, and other characters include varying levels of dialect and other languages into American English. I read this in French and I was once again in awe of Mathilde Montier's work (she's Clark's translator).
Sadly my state of mind did not do justice to how excellent this book is. But whenever I opened the book, it grabbed me. It feels very unique, even though there are parallels to be drown with Lovecraft Country.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Torture, Violence, Body horror, and Death

Minor: Animal death

bookishbutch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I would read literally anything by P. Dejli Clark. I have yet to be disappointed by any of his books. The way he shapes his characters is masterful. The plot is, as with all of his books, emotional and beautiful and smart. I'm trying not to say too much, because I don't want to spoil the book! It's a journey best taken blind, I think. (Although be very mindful of the TWs!)

Also, if you're able to, please listen to the audiobook! Channie Waites breathes life into this book brilliantly. Frankly, that's the best way to experience this novella in my humble opinion.

Come for the strong Black women kicking racist ass, stay for the beautiful writing and the huge amount of heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Grief, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Alcohol, and Medical trauma

Minor: Animal death

babydog420's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Murder, Hate crime, Body horror, Racial slurs, and Death

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Slavery, Religious bigotry, Animal death, War, and Death of parent

jarshi's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Clark's intention for this book was to show that fantasy stories about wielding swords and slaying monsters can exist outside of the fantastical worlds of white people where people of color barely exist. He wanted to show that black people can be the protagonists of these stories.

I think that in his quest to convey these ideas, Clark has made one of the most compelling modern fiction stories I've ever read. Clark was able to craft a story that centers on slavery and black pain without it being fetishized. I love that Clark decided to make the protagonist a black woman, as I think that introduces a deeper, more intersectional aspect to the themes of anger, hate, and trauma stemming from slavery, racial violence, and systemic oppression.

Another thing that Clark succeeded in (whether intentional or not) was highlighting just how strange the KKK actually is. They wear white sheets and chant while standing around burning crosses. They give themselves ranks and funny names. When you think about it, and when you put all of that within the context of a story like Ring Shout, the whole absurd ritualism of it all becomes so obviously apparent. They're fucking crazy. And it's even crazier that they claim to do it under the guise of *checks notes* Christianity and believing that they were... highly enlightened. Insane.

Anyways, I think this story is so good! The incorporation of Black-American culture, rituals, and magic as a means of goodness and strength instead of being stereotyped as primitive was so nice to read.

This book made me really interested in learning more about African-American folklore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Mental illness, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death

entityj's review

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery

Minor: Kidnapping, Vomit, Torture, Slavery, and Sexual content

gracklewarp's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Grief, Racism, and Cursing

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Slavery, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail