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apaulson99 's review for:

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
5.0
challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wow.

This is a fantastical twist on 1920s Jim Crow south. It has a bad ass fmc who fights "Ku Kluxes", demonic versions of Ku Klux Klan members, with a sword. It's filled with dark magic, commentary of the film "The Birth of a Nation", the Ring shout tradition, and Gullah culture. The magical elements aid a huge history lesson as it feels like haunting commentary on what it feels like to be a black person in the south - then and now.

You are doing this book a disservice if you do not listen to the insanely talented Channie Waites read this.