Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
the black god’s drums (P. Djèlí Clark)
Title: the black god’s drums
Author: P. Djèlí Clark
Publisher: Tor.com
Publication Date: Tomorrow!! (paperback/ebook)
ISBN: 978-1250294715
Source: NetGalley
I absolutely loved this novella. It follows the orphan, Creeper, who inadvertently hears a plot she is not supposed to know about and then gets drawn into the struggle to stop it. This is set in an alternate 1884 New Orleans, has airships, shows an America where slavery in the South is not illegal, and also has Gods alive and well and getting involved in human affairs. And me description does not really begin to do it justice. The world-building is exquisite, the characters are quirky and wonderful, and the writing captivated me. Though short, it packed an emotional punch. I want many more stories set in this fantastic diverse world. Don’t just take me word on it (though yer Captain’s word should be enough!). Check out these other reviews by me crew. Then go get a copy. That’s an order. Arrr!
Melanie @ meltotheany’s review – “I loved this book and P. Djèlí Clark is now forever on my auto-buy list. And in this ownvoices novella, the entire cast is black. And the characters in this book are a tier above most, and you can’t help but fall in love with them in only 100 pages! Creeper, Madame Diouf, Anna-Marie (the bi or pan airship captain of my heart, also physical disability rep because she’s missing a leg), Feral, Eunice and Agnes, I loved them all. And I want nothing more than more books from this world.”
Elise @ thebookishactress’ review – “I absolutely love the worldbuilding of this book. The Black God’s Drums is set in a post-confederate New Orleans in which the South achieved their goal of armistice. While many cities rebelled, they succeeded in keeping most territories, using slave labor and keeping them confined via a type of poison gas called drapeto. The aesthetic used is perfect, keeping you very firmly within the alt-history lowkey-sci-fi vibe but also not feeling overdone.”
Goodreads has this to say about the novella:
Creeper, a scrappy young teen, is done living on the streets of New Orleans. Instead, she wants to soar, and her sights are set on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann-Marie’s trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums.
But Creeper keeps another secret close to heart–Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities concerning Creeper and Ann-Marie…
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Previous Log Entries for Tor.com Novellas
- Bear, Elizabeth – stone mad – book 2 (Dry Dock – Fantasy Western)
- Brennan, Marie – cold-forged flame – book 1 (On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)
- Brennan, Marie – lightning in the blood – book 2 (On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)
- Cole, Myke – the armored saint – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Fantasy)
- Hutchinson, Dave – acadie (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
- McGuire, Seanan – every heart a doorway – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
- McGuire, Seanan – down among the sticks and bones – book 2 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
- McGuire, Seanan – beneath the sugar sky – book 3 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
- Newman, Emma – brother’s ruin – book 1 (On the Horizon – Fantasy Steampunk Arc)
- Newman, Emma – weaver’s lament – book 2 (On the Horizon – Fantasy Steampunk eArc)
- Okorafor, Nnedi – binti – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
- Okorafor, Nnedi – home – book 2 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
- Okorafor, Nnedi – the night masquerade – book 3 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
- Thompson, Tade – the murders of molly southbourne (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
- Wells, Martha – all systems red – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
- Wells, Martha – artificial condition – book 2 (On the Horizon – Sci-Fi e-Arc)
- Wells, Martha – rogue protocal – book 3 (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)
I love the sound of this one! While novellas aren’t my favourite form – too many authors can’t handle the shorter narrative effectively – when someone can nail it, the result is a joy. Thank you for pointing me towards this one:)
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I was very impressed with the world-building and the story is lovely. It was deftly done. I do think ye will like this. And for a Tor novella it be fairly cheap for them. Though a library having it is always better 🙂
x The Captain
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Yes… that is the other snag about novellas. I read fast and I don’t reread, so they tend to be expensive.
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I can’t wait to read this!! I want all the alternate history from black authors — after reading Everfair my appetite for that type of thing is BOTTOMLESS.
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I don’t know anything about Everfair. I will have to check that out. But I agree about needing more alternate history from black authors. I will take some from all minorities actually. Fun! I do hope ye like this. I am pretty sure ye will 🙂
x The Captain
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Hey Cap, this sounds up my alley. Great review. I’ll see if I can snag this one.
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It is quite fun. I hope ye can get a copy!
x The Captain
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Awh, I love that you loved it. And forever thank you for the shout out. You are too kind! And I hope you’re currently reading something five star worthy, love! 💕xx
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I am certainly reading something good right now. Not sure about the five stars. I will know more once it be finished. Arrr!
x The Captain
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Sounds interesting!
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It was lovely. I wish me imagination could make up cool things like this. But at least I get to read about them! Arrr!
x The Captain
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This is on the list to read, glad you loved it😊
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Glad it be on yer list matey! Looking forward to seeing what ye think. Arrr!
x The Captain
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Sounds good!!! Great review, need to read this now
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Aye, matey. Ye certainly do!
x The Captain
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Intriguing
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Indeed matey, indeed!
x The Captain
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