shaythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
3.75✨
"The magic of those old Afrikin gods is part of this city, ma maman used to say, buried in its bones and roots with the slaves that built it, making the ground and air and waterways sacred land. Only we forgot the names that went with that power we brought over here."
This is a retrofuturistic story that takes place in New Orleans. We follow a young orphaned girl who lives on the street through an adventure to rescue a kidnapped scientist.
There are visions and gods that follow and protect her.
I enjoyed the story, but I feel like I wanted more. I needed to know more about the world and the Sci fi elements.
"The magic of those old Afrikin gods is part of this city, ma maman used to say, buried in its bones and roots with the slaves that built it, making the ground and air and waterways sacred land. Only we forgot the names that went with that power we brought over here."
This is a retrofuturistic story that takes place in New Orleans. We follow a young orphaned girl who lives on the street through an adventure to rescue a kidnapped scientist.
There are visions and gods that follow and protect her.
I enjoyed the story, but I feel like I wanted more. I needed to know more about the world and the Sci fi elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
lucystolethesky's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Death, Trafficking, Violence, War, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual content, Slavery, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Sexism
csevet's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
definitely thought there'd be more airships, but it was a lot of fun nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Slavery
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
i got such mixed feelings abt this book. on the one hand, the alternative history, culture, and language are exciting and downright ingenious; on the other, i find it a tad predictable and juvenile.
my favorite thing abt the black god's drums is the rich african and diasporic culture, and how clark cleverly weaves his own version of a history gone right into very refreshingly thriving black societies and all the endless possibilities that creates. the main character creeper/jacqueline is also spunky and surprisingly astute for her age, but we dont get to know the other characters as much.
the book's a lil too predictable for me, however, and it feels juvenile at times. although things dont always go well and there are hiccups along the way, the obstacles faced by our main characters still seem easy, thus robbing the story of any real excitement despite its adventurous style. i wish the ending was a lil longer as well. even so, i'll still be checking out clark's master of djinn.
my favorite thing abt the black god's drums is the rich african and diasporic culture, and how clark cleverly weaves his own version of a history gone right into very refreshingly thriving black societies and all the endless possibilities that creates. the main character creeper/jacqueline is also spunky and surprisingly astute for her age, but we dont get to know the other characters as much.
the book's a lil too predictable for me, however, and it feels juvenile at times. although things dont always go well and there are hiccups along the way, the obstacles faced by our main characters still seem easy, thus robbing the story of any real excitement despite its adventurous style. i wish the ending was a lil longer as well. even so, i'll still be checking out clark's master of djinn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent, Slavery, and War
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A slender tale of a valiant girl who loves her home of New Orleans and fights to save it against powers both evil and meteorological.
Creeper, a 13-year-old orphan, is a pickpocket just struggling to get by when she overhears a conspiracy being planned. The wind god Oya, who has been a part of Creeper since her birth, knows something bad is coming to New Orleans, so Creeper heads off to get the help she needs. She enlists the Captain and makes a deal - she'll reveal the conspiracy if the Captain lets her come work on the airship.
As this is all taking place about twenty years after a fragile truce in the US Civil War, issues of freedom are paramount. New Orleans, a neutral zone, is full of escaped slaves and freemen, Confederate and Yankee soldiers, and citizens of all colors and classes. The author's vivid imagination and his charismatic main character keep this lively story going. It's a small but worthwhile entry in the steampunk genre and Black sci-fi / fantasy.
Creeper, a 13-year-old orphan, is a pickpocket just struggling to get by when she overhears a conspiracy being planned. The wind god Oya, who has been a part of Creeper since her birth, knows something bad is coming to New Orleans, so Creeper heads off to get the help she needs. She enlists the Captain and makes a deal - she'll reveal the conspiracy if the Captain lets her come work on the airship.
As this is all taking place about twenty years after a fragile truce in the US Civil War, issues of freedom are paramount. New Orleans, a neutral zone, is full of escaped slaves and freemen, Confederate and Yankee soldiers, and citizens of all colors and classes. The author's vivid imagination and his charismatic main character keep this lively story going. It's a small but worthwhile entry in the steampunk genre and Black sci-fi / fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Slavery
steffiraquel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
obviousthings's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Sexual content
stubbornlybookish's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Drug use
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'The Black God's Drums' by P. Djèlí Clark is an exciting novella set in a steampunk version of New Orleans. In the novella, we follow Creeper, who has an African God speaking in her mind and is seeking to leave the streets of New Orleans behind by joining the crew of an airship. To do this, she must prove her worth to its captain and save New Orleans from a new weapon that is just on the horizon.
Clark does a great job of fitting the plot perfectly to a novella length. I find this especially impressive because I've read many novellas that have novel sized plots that feel as if they have been forced into a novella length. This isn't at all true with 'The Black God's Drums.' Clark sweeps us up and into his steampunk version of New Orleans, acquainting us quickly but firmly with Creeper and the world that she inhabits. With world building fluidly added in as the plot progresses, it's easy to feel as if we have stepped into Clark's world as we become comfortable with its fantastical elements. The weapon at the center of the plot is ingenious but terrifying and I would love to see what else Clark would choose to explore in this world if he returns to it in a future book.
I would highly recommend the audiobook though I am sure that this story is a fun ride no matter what way you encounter it. I was left hoping for more adventures with the crew of the Midnight Robber and knowing that I'll be looking to pick up more of Clark's work soon.
Clark does a great job of fitting the plot perfectly to a novella length. I find this especially impressive because I've read many novellas that have novel sized plots that feel as if they have been forced into a novella length. This isn't at all true with 'The Black God's Drums.' Clark sweeps us up and into his steampunk version of New Orleans, acquainting us quickly but firmly with Creeper and the world that she inhabits. With world building fluidly added in as the plot progresses, it's easy to feel as if we have stepped into Clark's world as we become comfortable with its fantastical elements. The weapon at the center of the plot is ingenious but terrifying and I would love to see what else Clark would choose to explore in this world if he returns to it in a future book.
I would highly recommend the audiobook though I am sure that this story is a fun ride no matter what way you encounter it. I was left hoping for more adventures with the crew of the Midnight Robber and knowing that I'll be looking to pick up more of Clark's work soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death
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