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A review by tales_told_in_gold
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
When you find a book that checks all the boxes for you, what do you do?
Why, you give it five stars, of course! And then plan the day that you'll be rereading it which is exactly what I'll be doing for "Ring Shout."
Honestly, if you're looking for a story about a group of strong-willed women ready to face against Hell itself to defend the world and take down as many demons (including their own personal ones) as they can, then THIS is for you. But let me explain...
This novella sucked me into a world so imaginative that it gave me the notable feeling that "Harry Potter" once gave - you just know there are magical beings and places existing around you, but you haven't quite figured out how to spot them... yet.
Clark does a fantastic job of laying out the voice and setting of 1920s Georgia. He places specific attention to the narrative voice and dialogue which is structured after the dialects of both southern Black people and the Gullah people (think Black people but on the coast). His choice to do this brings the characters more to life while also providing some historical context to where these folks originate from in the US. Amazing. But that's enough of me fangirling over language. Let's get into the juicy part!
From shape-shifting demons to ancient horrific beings, the creatures lurking in this tale are my favorite. They are intriguing on their own, but then Clark layers in some symbolism and creates the perfect recipe for his readers to analyze what the monsters' true purposes are and witness how they plague the protagonist. After all, they are there to rip and tear at the characters to their very cores so we can see what lies hidden beneath the fragile skin and tender muscles (both literally and figuratively). Call me a sadist, but I love it, I love it, I LOVE it.
But yeah, I can rant and rave about this book all day, so I'll just leave it at that. Check this one out and let me know what you think below ;)
Why, you give it five stars, of course! And then plan the day that you'll be rereading it which is exactly what I'll be doing for "Ring Shout."
Honestly, if you're looking for a story about a group of strong-willed women ready to face against Hell itself to defend the world and take down as many demons (including their own personal ones) as they can, then THIS is for you. But let me explain...
This novella sucked me into a world so imaginative that it gave me the notable feeling that "Harry Potter" once gave - you just know there are magical beings and places existing around you, but you haven't quite figured out how to spot them... yet.
Clark does a fantastic job of laying out the voice and setting of 1920s Georgia. He places specific attention to the narrative voice and dialogue which is structured after the dialects of both southern Black people and the Gullah people (think Black people but on the coast). His choice to do this brings the characters more to life while also providing some historical context to where these folks originate from in the US. Amazing. But that's enough of me fangirling over language. Let's get into the juicy part!
From shape-shifting demons to ancient horrific beings, the creatures lurking in this tale are my favorite. They are intriguing on their own, but then Clark layers in some symbolism and creates the perfect recipe for his readers to analyze what the monsters' true purposes are and witness how they plague the protagonist. After all, they are there to rip and tear at the characters to their very cores so we can see what lies hidden beneath the fragile skin and tender muscles (both literally and figuratively). Call me a sadist, but I love it, I love it, I LOVE it.
But yeah, I can rant and rave about this book all day, so I'll just leave it at that. Check this one out and let me know what you think below ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death