Set in an alternate version of New Orleans and steeped in magic, The Black God’s Drums is immediately compelling. A Hugo nom in 2019, the narrator is Creeper, an orphaned black girl who has plans for becoming more than she is. The Goddess who resides inside her has plans too, and the reader is pulled along on the fabulous journey through a rich world filled with fully-fleshed characters that we only get to glance at. This short book left me scrambling to find something else like it.
The greatest success of The Black God’s Drums is not necessarily the story, which is fairly expected for an orphan with magic type of story, but rather it is the world building. Clark weaves together a world that is so rich that it feels completely real and immersive. He does give some explanation and backstory for those of us not familiar with the culture and mythology, but it always feels natural and a part of the story. Yet, Clark leaves much to be revealed, believing his reader can intuit what they need from sparse details that hint at a deeper mythos. Combined with lively and engaging characters, some mysterious and some sympathetic, The Black God’s Drums leaves one salivating for the next story in the saga.
If you like this book, also check out:
The Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction By People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl
Kindred by Octavia Butler
How Long ‘til Black Future Month? By N.K. Jesmisin