I fully admit that this was a total cover/title buy. But I’m glad I did - it’s a great read. 

Set in 1950’s America, the central characters are faced with the dangers of living in the Jim Crow era, while fighting privileged assholes that practice some shady magic. It’s an unusual combination, but they actually tie together really well. 

Matt Ruff originally pitched the concept as a tv show; the chapters are quite episodic so it’s not surprising. And now that there is a show, I’m very interested in seeing how it’s been adapted. 

There’s a bit of an author interview at the back of the book, which I really recommend everyone read. He explains where the concept came from, and addresses the fact that he’s a white man writing from a Black character’s perspective. I’m not the person to say whether or not he got it right, but I can say that it was very engrossing and left me with a lot to think about.