Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Tor.com (2018)
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Historical Fiction. In an alternate New Orleans caught in the tangle of the American Civil War, the wall-scaling girl named Creeper yearns to escape the streets for the air�in particular, by earning a spot on-board the airship Midnight Robber. Creeper plans to earn Captain Ann-Marie's trust with information she discovers about a Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God's Drums. But Creeper also has a secret herself: Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, speaks inside her head, and may have her own ulterior motivations. Soon, Creeper, Oya, and the crew of the Midnight Robber are pulled into a perilous mission aimed to stop the Black God's Drums from being unleashed and wiping out the entirety of New Orleans.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book, I borrowed this book from the library.
Story (4/5): This was another really well done story and I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the African mythology/gods in here and loved the alternate New Orleans. I think if I had read this book before reading all of
Characters (4/5): This is again full of some really wonderful, and strong, female characters. While I didn’t engage with them as well as the characters in Clark’s other books, I did enjoy reading about them.
Setting (5/5): I loved the alternate historical New Orleans setting. It was very well done and interesting to read about.
Writing Style (5/5): While you can tell this was one of Clark’s earlier books, I still really enjoyed it. Clark builds amazing worlds in a very short page space and does a fantastic job of balancing this with characters that are fun and engaging. The plot was well done and I enjoyed the African mythology (something I would love to learn more about) in here as well.
My Summary (4.5/5): Overall this was a great read and I would recommend it. While not as polished as Clark’s later books, it does showcase his excellent world-building skills and his ability to make entertaining, strong characters that are a lot of fun to read about. He pairs this with excellent action scenes and a fast-paced plot that is engaging and easy to read. I am so excited for the next Fatma book to come out later in 2021 and even more excited that I just got a copy of it early to review!!! I would definitely recommend Clark to those who enjoy strong female characters and amazingly built alternate history worlds.
Story (4/5): This was another really well done story and I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the African mythology/gods in here and loved the alternate New Orleans. I think if I had read this book before reading all of
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Clark's other books I probably would have given it 5 stars. However, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as his more recent books. His more recent books just have more solid world-building, more action, and a bit more "edge" to them.Characters (4/5): This is again full of some really wonderful, and strong, female characters. While I didn’t engage with them as well as the characters in Clark’s other books, I did enjoy reading about them.
Setting (5/5): I loved the alternate historical New Orleans setting. It was very well done and interesting to read about.
Writing Style (5/5): While you can tell this was one of Clark’s earlier books, I still really enjoyed it. Clark builds amazing worlds in a very short page space and does a fantastic job of balancing this with characters that are fun and engaging. The plot was well done and I enjoyed the African mythology (something I would love to learn more about) in here as well.
My Summary (4.5/5): Overall this was a great read and I would recommend it. While not as polished as Clark’s later books, it does showcase his excellent world-building skills and his ability to make entertaining, strong characters that are a lot of fun to read about. He pairs this with excellent action scenes and a fast-paced plot that is engaging and easy to read. I am so excited for the next Fatma book to come out later in 2021 and even more excited that I just got a copy of it early to review!!! I would definitely recommend Clark to those who enjoy strong female characters and amazingly built alternate history worlds.
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Creeper is a girl living on the streets of New Orleans when she overhears some men talking. She takes what she hears to an airship captain and together with the captain and her crew, she races to stop disaster. Creeper lives during the late 1800s, in a steampunk New Orleans that exists as a free
This is a novella that packs in an enormous number of elements. The world building here is just fantastic. Clark is an historian and there's a depth of knowledge that informs his alternate world, which he wove into the story in a natural way. And with both Creeper and Captain Ann-Marie, Clark has managed to create complex and interesting characters in very few pages. This genre is not at all in my wheelhouse, but I really liked this and I wanted to learn more about this world.
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city on the edge of a Confederacy that fought the Civil War into an uneasy standstill. She also lives with an Afrikan goddess living in her head. This is a novella that packs in an enormous number of elements. The world building here is just fantastic. Clark is an historian and there's a depth of knowledge that informs his alternate world, which he wove into the story in a natural way. And with both Creeper and Captain Ann-Marie, Clark has managed to create complex and interesting characters in very few pages. This genre is not at all in my wheelhouse, but I really liked this and I wanted to learn more about this world.
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LibraryThing member quondame
This alt-history New Orleans comes across moist and dense in the best way, I was thankful for all the rudimentary French my mother left me with in deciphering the dialog which is the okra of the story's gumbo. It really does feel different than other steampunk and uses it's alt-attitude to enhance
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the agency of the characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladyoflorien
Steampunk novella set in New Orleans with Orishas. I loved the world building and the feisty teen heroine from the streets.
LibraryThing member LisCarey
Young teen Creeper, a.k.a. Jacqueline, is making her living as a thief in Free New Orleans, some decades after a Civil War that didn't end quite the way ours did. She has thus far resisted her late mother's former madam's attempts to send her to school, though she doesn't reject the occasional hot
But one night she is watching the airship dock from her favorite hidey-hole when a Haitian scientist meets with some Confederate soldiers, promising them "Shango's Thunder" is exchange for "my jewel."
This is big news, and possibly disastrous for New Orleans. "Shango's Thunder is the weapon Haiti and the Free Islands used to keep their independence. It would be a disaster for New Orleans if the Confederates get it.
Creeper uses all her sources to gather information, Along the way, she meets a smuggler, Ann-Marie, captain of the Haitian airship Midnight Robber, who may hold the key to Creeper's more personal goal of seeing more of the world than New Orleans.
That's if any of them survive, which may not happen, once the scientist is snatched from the Confederates by the even more malignant Jeannots.
This is an interesting world well-developed in the space of a novella, with excellent characters and a plot that holds together and moves.
Recommended.
I received this novella as part of the 2019 Hugo Voters Packet.
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meal and safe place to sleep.But one night she is watching the airship dock from her favorite hidey-hole when a Haitian scientist meets with some Confederate soldiers, promising them "Shango's Thunder" is exchange for "my jewel."
This is big news, and possibly disastrous for New Orleans. "Shango's Thunder is the weapon Haiti and the Free Islands used to keep their independence. It would be a disaster for New Orleans if the Confederates get it.
Creeper uses all her sources to gather information, Along the way, she meets a smuggler, Ann-Marie, captain of the Haitian airship Midnight Robber, who may hold the key to Creeper's more personal goal of seeing more of the world than New Orleans.
That's if any of them survive, which may not happen, once the scientist is snatched from the Confederates by the even more malignant Jeannots.
This is an interesting world well-developed in the space of a novella, with excellent characters and a plot that holds together and moves.
Recommended.
I received this novella as part of the 2019 Hugo Voters Packet.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
In a world where things are subtly different Creeper aka Jaqueline lives in New Orleans, the Orisha Oya occasionally using her or helping her stay out of trouble. When she hears that someone is going to bring the Black God's Drums, the weapon used to liberate Haiti, to New Orleans with plans to
It's an interesting look at a slightly different Steampunk version of the world where the differences are subtle but big and wide-ranging. I quite enjoyed the read and will be looking for other stories by this author.
I'm very grateful for the Hugo Ballot for giving me an opportunity to read this. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will end up paying for an voting membership in future Worldcons for the opportunity to get exposed to more of these excellent reads. I liked The Long Way to a small angry planet enough that I bought a copy to give to my husband to read as well.
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devastate. She bands together with new friends and old to defeat those who would use the gods for evil. It's an interesting look at a slightly different Steampunk version of the world where the differences are subtle but big and wide-ranging. I quite enjoyed the read and will be looking for other stories by this author.
I'm very grateful for the Hugo Ballot for giving me an opportunity to read this. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will end up paying for an voting membership in future Worldcons for the opportunity to get exposed to more of these excellent reads. I liked The Long Way to a small angry planet enough that I bought a copy to give to my husband to read as well.
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LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
This was an enjoyable Civil-War-divergent AU set in New Orleans, with a steampunk flavor and excellent characterizations. This is definitely be a world worth exploring further. I very much enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member lavaturtle
I really enjoyed this story, with its spunky protagonist, diverse supporting cast, and richly detailed setting. I want to read more about these characters!
LibraryThing member MaowangVater
One evening in the late nineteenth century in New Orleans, Jacqueline, a thirteen-year-old street urchin who goes by the name of “Creeper,” overhears a conversation between some suspicious characters. It’s near her hideout by the airfield where the giant airships are docked. Some Confederate
Clark’s adventure set in an alternate history abounds with intrigue and action. There are several high tech weapons involved, an extremely efficient intelligence service run by two nuns, airships, Gatling guns, masked villains, swashbuckling heroines, and in the tradition of Homer’s war stories, the intervention of some Yoruba deities in its outcome.
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military personnel are hoping to exchange a prisoner for the Haitian scientist who knows how to produce the weapon of mass destruction that freed Haiti from the French. It’s called the Black God's Drums. It destroyed Napoleon’s fleet, but also many Haitians in its wake. Creeper realize that with this weapon the Confederacy could break the armistice of the past fifteen years and turn the American Civil War back from a stalemate to active conflict. Clark’s adventure set in an alternate history abounds with intrigue and action. There are several high tech weapons involved, an extremely efficient intelligence service run by two nuns, airships, Gatling guns, masked villains, swashbuckling heroines, and in the tradition of Homer’s war stories, the intervention of some Yoruba deities in its outcome.
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LibraryThing member over.the.edge
The Black God's Drum
by P. Djeli Clark
2018
Tor
3.8 / 5.0
In 1884, a 13 year old orphan, Creeper, has been living on the streets of New Orleans for years. She lives in an alcove, by the ship docks. She sees them coming and leaving and dreams of the day she can escape her life. She decides getting on
This is alternative history done well. Engaging and believable. Creeper is hard not to like. I loved the whimsical writing style of P. Djeli Clark.
by P. Djeli Clark
2018
Tor
3.8 / 5.0
In 1884, a 13 year old orphan, Creeper, has been living on the streets of New Orleans for years. She lives in an alcove, by the ship docks. She sees them coming and leaving and dreams of the day she can escape her life. She decides getting on
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board an airship, Midnight Robber is the start to a new life. To get on the airship she must be granted permission from the captain, Captain Ann-Marie. Creeper sets out to find Captain Ann-Marie.This is alternative history done well. Engaging and believable. Creeper is hard not to like. I loved the whimsical writing style of P. Djeli Clark.
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LibraryThing member iansales
Clark won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story this year (the story is also nominated for the Hugo), but appears to have come pretty much from nowhere. True, The Black God’s Drums was published by Tor.com, but his short story was published in a magazine I’ve not come across before. Also true,
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there seems to be a great love for debuts in recent years’ popular vote genre awards (seriously? why?), but that doesn’t mean the nominated works are necessarily bad. The Black God’s Drums is a bit busy, but it’s an interesting melding of ideas – alternate history, steampunk, voodoo magic and gods – and if it suffers it’s because its ideas makes its plot all a bit too obvious. Streetwise urchin protagonist has connection to powerful goddess; said goddess makes unexpected appearance at story climax to save the day. It’s not quite that simplistic, but the telegraphing here is as blatant as it comes. Obvious foreshadowing is better than none, but a little subtlety goes a long way. The plot is pretty much a staple of, well, fiction in general: nutter steals superweapon to wreak vengeance on city, random people come together to foil the plot (because there’s no organised government response to these sorts of things, ever). Does The Black God’s Drums belong on the shortlist? About as much as the Robson, I think. Its presence is hardly embarrassing, but if this and the Robson are the best the genre can produce in a given year then there’s still a long way to go… Show Less
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
The best part of this book was its first-person narrative voice, told from the perspective of a black street urchin with an African goddess in her head-- in a steampunk New Orleans in a timeline where the Civil War ended in a draw, but New Orleans is neutral territory. The main character must get
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help from an airship smuggler captain when it turns out Confederate racists are building a superweapon in secret, in violation of the treaty. It's good fun, with strong worldbuilding and character. Its main weakness was that it felt a little set-up heavy, with not enough actually happening. It reads like Clark envisions there will be a sequel... but I would read a sequel, so maybe he gets away with it. Show Less
LibraryThing member renbedell
An alternative history novella about a thief in post Civil War New Orleans where there was a truce between the North and the South. New Orleans is now a melting pot of different cultures, where the main protagonist stumbles upon a plot by the Confederates to build a super weapon. The main character
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is fun and interesting with supporting characters being well written as well. The story itself could have been longer to develop more. Show Less
LibraryThing member MontzaleeW
The Black God's Drums by P. Djeli Clark is a fascinating alternative history/world where there is more steampunk but also tribal gods are real. A truly unique world. Wonderful well developed characters that came alive on the pages! The world building was outstanding especially since this was such a
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short novel. The author put so much into so little space and it turned out great! I will be looking for more books by this author. I got this book from the library. Show Less
LibraryThing member tldegray
In an alternate world where the Civil War ended in a truce and the Confederacy drugs its slaves into addiction and compliance, Creeper, a young black girl lives in free New Orleans. She learns of a plot by the Confederacy to unleash a weapon that could allow them to win the stalled war and uses
This book was fresh and interesting, the world-building was excellent, and the characters were three-dimensional. I would happily dip back into this world. #TheBlackGodsDrums #NetGalley
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that information to get herself a place on an airship attempting to stop it. But Creeper and the Captain of the ship aren't alone in what they're doing because there's a goddess using each one of them and those goddesses have ideas of their own. This book was fresh and interesting, the world-building was excellent, and the characters were three-dimensional. I would happily dip back into this world. #TheBlackGodsDrums #NetGalley
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LibraryThing member ladycato
I received this ebook via NetGalley.
The Black God’s Drums is alt-history at its finest, told in a voice thicker than any gumbo. I read the novella in one sitting. Creeper is a brilliant, headstrong, rebellious girl—and that’s just her on her own, not considering the old god who thrums in her
The story flows fast and intense, gods and mystical nuns and fabulous twists along the way. This novella is going on my awards short list for certain, and I’ll look for more of Clark’s work in the future.
The Black God’s Drums is alt-history at its finest, told in a voice thicker than any gumbo. I read the novella in one sitting. Creeper is a brilliant, headstrong, rebellious girl—and that’s just her on her own, not considering the old god who thrums in her
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ears, a storm ready to burst. When she happens on a deadly plot wrought by men who determined to continue the Civil War in their own terms, Creeper offers to sell the secret of the plot to a woman who can give her what she wants most: a place on her airship. The story flows fast and intense, gods and mystical nuns and fabulous twists along the way. This novella is going on my awards short list for certain, and I’ll look for more of Clark’s work in the future.
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LibraryThing member greeniezona
This book had been all over my social media feeds for a while, and at least twice I'd scoured bookshelves at local bookstores intending to buy it, but it wasn't there and I failed to muster the energy to special order it so finally I just put a hold on it at the library.
It really is a
This book definitely makes me understand the people who read A Ruin of Shadows and said, "Listen! You did all this gorgeous world-building! I want more!" I'll definitely have an eye out for more of Clark's work in the future.
It really is a
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lightning-fast read, I read it in one day. It would have been a single sitting, except lunch. This book is kind of irresistible, with its melding of steampunk alternate history with old school racism, and magic from African diaspora goddesses hovering about/inside their chosen favorites. Oh, and an international brigade of hot air pirates. This book definitely makes me understand the people who read A Ruin of Shadows and said, "Listen! You did all this gorgeous world-building! I want more!" I'll definitely have an eye out for more of Clark's work in the future.
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LibraryThing member eldang
A quick, fun story, set in an alternate history 19th Century that I hope Clark revisits. I love the ideas in it, but really want to read a longer version: there wasn't space to develop characters much and there's a clunky plot twist that probably could have been made to work if the narrator had
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been allowed to gradually realise what was going on. Show Less
LibraryThing member electrascaife
Creeper is a young girl living on the streets of an alternate, steampunk, late-1800's NOLA. She makes her way as a pickpocket, but dreams of working on an airship. Her dream moves to the realm of possibility when she gets information about a scientist getting kidnapped for his knowledge of a secret
It's quite short (clocking in at just over 100 pages), but boy, this one packs a good storytelling punch. Anyone who can weave such a good yarn, create such interesting characters, build a fascinating world, and set a perfect atmospheric scene in such a few pages is clearly a talent to be watched. Highly recommended.
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and very dangerous weapon called the Black God's Drum, but she'll need to grapple with the tension between her desire to see the world and her ties to the city she loves. Oh, and she also has an orisha sort of living in her brain...It's quite short (clocking in at just over 100 pages), but boy, this one packs a good storytelling punch. Anyone who can weave such a good yarn, create such interesting characters, build a fascinating world, and set a perfect atmospheric scene in such a few pages is clearly a talent to be watched. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member aickman
A near-perfect alternate history/fantasy, with a very interesting setting: an alternate New Orleans following an armistice ending the Civil War. The city is now a neutral free state, brought vibrantly to life by Clark. The cast of characters is fine, even the small supporting roles. The story takes
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its time getting started, but, once it does, it's a marvelous ride, and a wonderful love letter to New Orleans. Show Less
LibraryThing member m_mozeleski
This was a great book to break my reading slump with. (it turns out all you have to do is be excited about the books you want to read...who knew...) It was a great exploration of secrets, history, and how the intersection comes together.
I can't wait to get a hold of the next in the series (I hope
I can't wait to get a hold of the next in the series (I hope
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there is one.) Show Less
LibraryThing member Herenya
This novella is richly imagined, an alternate-historical fantasy in which New Orleans is an independent state. It’s filled with adventure and some strong personalities -- I particularly enjoyed the thirteen year old protagonist’s attempts to convince an airship captain to take her on as crew.
I
The audiobook narrator, Channie Waites, is excellent.
I
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was unwell when I read some of this, which might be why I don’t feel more strongly about it. (Alternatively, it wasn’t written for me and that’s okay. I’m not sure which it is, and that’s okay too.)The audiobook narrator, Channie Waites, is excellent.
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LibraryThing member texascheeseman
The Black God’s Drums
Author: P. Djeli Clark
Publisher: Tor/Macmillan Publishing
Publishing Date: 2018
Pgs: 111
Dewey: F CLA
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
_________________________________________________
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Steampunk New Orleans is a free
_________________________________________________
Genre:
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Steampunk
Why this book:
Steampunk mixed with Afrofuturism...I’m in.
_________________________________________________
The Feel:
You are there. You feel these characters, especially Creeper. The opening of The Black God’s Drum has an incredible voice, rich, deep.
I am a girl on the verge of womanhood, L’Afrique heritage, in steampunk New Orleans with a god in my head...that’s how good this is written. The escapism is spot on. It sucks you in.
Favorite Character:
Oya, the goddess in Creeper’s mind, reminds me of my great grandma. There isn’t a single thing in the performance that I can point to that reminds me, but it surely does.
Sister Eunice and Sister Agnes are great characters.
Favorite Concept:
The worldbuilding in htis book is awesome. My heart swelled a little bit when they started talking about General Tubman fighting a guerilla war in the South and running escaped slaves to the North.
Hmm Moments:
Steampunk New Orleans plus alternate history, I guess the Confederates showing up should have been expected.
Juxtaposition:
If the real world had something like the Black God’s Drum, they wouldn’t even be thinking about it. They’d be firing super hurricanes at each other whether we ended up with something like Jupiter’s Big Red Spot or not.
Missed Opportunity:
Russian Kalifornians? Would be interesting to see a map of this steampunk world. Love the worldbuilding.
_________________________________________________
Pacing:
Great flow.
Last Page Sound:
Love it. Really happy that instead of being handled as just a part one, this story stands on it’s own and if the author wants to return to this world to tell more stories, it is set up to do so. I much prefer this to the cliffhanger in novel form.
Author Assessment:
Incredible. Will definitely read more stories by this author.
_________________________________________________
Author: P. Djeli Clark
Publisher: Tor/Macmillan Publishing
Publishing Date: 2018
Pgs: 111
Dewey: F CLA
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
_________________________________________________
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Steampunk New Orleans is a free
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city between the Free Isles, Haiti, the Confederates, the Union, and the European powers. Airships, Voodoo, Storms...and weapons of mass destruction birthed by calling forth the Gods of Africa in storm and waves and veangeance. Calling them forth and waking them up, may do you no good if you can’t put them back to slumber...and if they decided to stay and continue, a neverending hurricane that’s the fear if Shango’s Thunder is ever used again. And a Haitian scientist has gone missing. And some Confederate agents are in New Orleans trying to find him. Creeper overhears bits and pieces. She has to find someone to help...for a fee, of course, street children in New Orleans know that information is worth money in this Casablanca style city caught between hot and cold war. Oh, and Creeper has an African storm goddess in her brain. The Black God’s Drum has only played once and it helped free Haiti, the Isles, and New Orleans. If it plays again, the world fears it may never stop. _________________________________________________
Genre:
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Steampunk
Why this book:
Steampunk mixed with Afrofuturism...I’m in.
_________________________________________________
The Feel:
You are there. You feel these characters, especially Creeper. The opening of The Black God’s Drum has an incredible voice, rich, deep.
I am a girl on the verge of womanhood, L’Afrique heritage, in steampunk New Orleans with a god in my head...that’s how good this is written. The escapism is spot on. It sucks you in.
Favorite Character:
Oya, the goddess in Creeper’s mind, reminds me of my great grandma. There isn’t a single thing in the performance that I can point to that reminds me, but it surely does.
Sister Eunice and Sister Agnes are great characters.
Favorite Concept:
The worldbuilding in htis book is awesome. My heart swelled a little bit when they started talking about General Tubman fighting a guerilla war in the South and running escaped slaves to the North.
Hmm Moments:
Steampunk New Orleans plus alternate history, I guess the Confederates showing up should have been expected.
Juxtaposition:
If the real world had something like the Black God’s Drum, they wouldn’t even be thinking about it. They’d be firing super hurricanes at each other whether we ended up with something like Jupiter’s Big Red Spot or not.
Missed Opportunity:
Russian Kalifornians? Would be interesting to see a map of this steampunk world. Love the worldbuilding.
_________________________________________________
Pacing:
Great flow.
Last Page Sound:
Love it. Really happy that instead of being handled as just a part one, this story stands on it’s own and if the author wants to return to this world to tell more stories, it is set up to do so. I much prefer this to the cliffhanger in novel form.
Author Assessment:
Incredible. Will definitely read more stories by this author.
_________________________________________________
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LibraryThing member whatsmacksaid
Three and a half stars. I finished it feeling like I've been somewhere totally different; I love that feeling. Another, please! (Please, please, please let there be a sequel.)
LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
Oh, I really liked this! It was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and I felt so immersed in this New Orleans of the alternate United States. I would definitely read more if this ever became a series, and I think it would adapt really well if it were optioned for a TV series or
********
Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
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movie!********
Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
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Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novella — 2019)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novella — 2018)
Locus Award (Finalist — Novella — 2019)
Alex Award (2019)
IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award (Finalist — 2019)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Fiction — 2018)
Language
Original publication date
2018-08-21
ISBN
9781250294708