By P. Djèlí Clark
4 Stars
The story Ring Shout is a dark fantasy novel set in the 1920s, where Maryse Boudreaux and her friends fight monstrous Ku Kluxes who are literal demons feeding on hatred. The story blends historical fiction with supernatural horror, highlighting themes of resistance and the battle against racism. This makes the book's tone as dark and ominous as the horror elements and supernatural beings create a sense of horror and tension in the story. The message I believe from the book is the resilience and unity of oppressed communities that are crucial in overcoming adversity and achieving justice for equality between all groups. I enjoyed how the story took components from American history when racism was prominent and used it as a backdrop to explore the resilience and strength of marginalized communities. Additionally, the book has a unique blend of genres, where it cleverly combines elements of historical fiction, horror, and fantasy, creating a compelling narrative and a strong, unique protagonist that is engaging and relatable to readers. I very much disliked how the pacing of the book was extremely uneven, with certain parts feeling rushed while other parts of the book felt like it was dragging on. I also didn't enjoy how some of the main characters, such as Chef, didn't have as in-depth character development as other main characters, such as Sadie. Overall, I rate this a four out of five stars and would recommend the book to young adults due to some graphic content in the book that younger audiences may find intense or disturbing.
Reviewed by Yunbeen
View in Library Catalogue: Print
Add a comment to: Book Review: Ring Shout