Imagine for a second the Ku Klux Klan wasn’t just a group of racist people who burned down homes and killed people, but rather demonic entities from another dimension. Enter the brilliantly written new book by P. Djèlí Clark, Ring Shout,
Maryse is a young black woman who has been called to kill monsters after the horrific murder of her parents at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. Partnered with a former World War 2 fighter known as Chef (Cordelia), and a sharp-shooter named Sadie, the group spend their time killing the shape-shifting demons that have taken over white people when their hate has let the creature in. These tall, white, many fanged creatures feed like mindless monsters, killing people of non-Aryan descent and eat them whole. Maryse holds a shadow blade, filled with the righteous energy of thousands of people who have been killed or kidnapped unjustly. With the otherworldly assistance of a powerful root worker, an army of Shouters (explained brilliantly in the book, so I’ll let you discover this one on your own), and three spirit guides that take on the form of powerful Aunties, Maryse will face her greatest foe in the form of a multi-mouthed demonic shape-shifter known as Butcher Clyde. His goal is to gather members of the Ku Klux Klan and those who can be converted into creatures at Stone Mountain for a powerful conjuring spell; watching DW Griffith’s The Birth of Nations.
Holy smokes, readers. I was absolutely blown away by this book and found it almost impossible to put down. Populated by people who in history have been thrown to the margins of society, each character is more badass than the next. Be advised, this book does get viscerally graphic fairly often, but so do many folktales. P. Djèlí Clark’s writing is gorgeously done, even when describing organs being ripped from the human body. For squeamish readers, this might be a book that you skip. If you can handle a little gruesome, don’t skip out on this one.
Ring Shout is available October 13, 2020 from Tor.
