Ring Shout
by P. Djèlí Clark
And somehow the Ku Klux Klan aren't the most harrowing things in this book. Yet in a way, they still are.
Whilst I’m not usually a fan of novellas, Ring Shout has changed my mind. While it’s a short tale, its impact was massive in proportion to its length, somehow introducing us to characters and giving the reader all the understanding necessary to become desperately attached. The culture throughout this book is amazing, and leaves a strong impression of a depth and richness the individuals in this book have, and is a great representation of the Gullah Geechee people. And all of this, before managing to explore the racism within the 1920s deep south in a completely different way.
The book starts following a young woman called Maryse, she’s rageful yet determined and that makes her a dangerous warrior. She, and her crew, are not just resistance fighters, but literal demon hunters in the terrifying environment of Macon. And while I’m not always a fan of the ‘chosen one’ trope, the subtlety and reasoning behind it made for an amazing story throughout.
While this is a work of fiction, knowing it’s historical fiction adds to the facts that while some of the experiences themselves weren’t lived, the feelings such as fear and anger most certainly were. You can truly understand the story, and its historical context allow it to cram so much more into this story’s shorter form factor.
The other characters such as Sadie and Chef complemented Maryse and the story beautifully. They provided everything from literal ballistic and explosive support to comedic relief between the horrors of the Ku Kluxes. The depersonification of Klansmen into literal all consuming demons from hell made for a gripping tale, that usually wouldn’t be my cup of tea, but one that I loved from start to finish. Ring Shout was an absolute treat to experience, one that anybody could tell that P. Djèlí Clark put their soul into.