Reviews

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

ajowens76's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring 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? No

3.0

vyhurz's review

2.0

It took me a very long time to read this very short book (about 65 pages), and I thought it was me. I’m a slow reader after all. But after finishing it, I realized there just wasn’t enough story here to interest me.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot since the book is so short, but essentially we follow a young teenage girl who is living on the streets of New Orleans. But this version of New Orleans is some sort of alternate history. I’m not sure of the specifics, and I’m not sure when exactly the story is supposed to take place. The world isn’t fleshed out very much. There are also skyships and magic (more-or-less) involved.

It’s an interesting premise, and it’s a bit sad since, if this story were developed more, the world could be amazing. I’ve been reading short books to try to read more books, to experience more stories beginning to end, but this one really let me down.

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mj1588's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.75

widowrites's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.0

Interesting and entertaining novella. I enjoyed it.

lleullawgyffes's review

adventurous 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

5.0

thesegildedpages's review against another edition

3.5

Quick listen. I enjoyed it but felt teased regarding world building and the characters/gods connection. Worth a listen though.

ruth_bookdevourer's review

adventurous challenging emotional 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? No

4.0

kamijinai's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

Took this in as an audiobook and while as a Trini I love any and all mention of my countrymen and women in literature, I really would’ve loved if a Trini voice actor either trained the narrator on our accent or got the job themselves cause I didn’t hear us in the captain at all 

laura_wilson's review

adventurous 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

3.75

tatyanavogt's review

4.0

I LOVE the atmosphere and positive black character descriptions. I enjoyed being immersed into the world and reading the Caribbean dialect of some of the characters. The plot was a little weak or at least it just wasn't what I was most interested in, but the experience was wonderful. I hope to read this again in the future!