Ring Shout

This fantasy historical novella is a retelling of the brutal reign of the Ku Klux Klan. In this retelling, the Klan are actual monsters, and they're able to spread and grow immensely after the creation of the film “Birth of a Nation”. Maryse, a woman who has experienced a lot of violence in her life time, has a magic sword that she uses to defeat these monsters. What follows is a dark, dangerous story about hate and terror.

This book was chilling and masterfully crafted. The characters are so well rounded and fleshed out for so short of a book. Every one has their own inner demons and motivations, while all being united in one singular goal. The historical ties in this book are what make the book especially dark. References to real life events as told through this tale of monsters makes the reader really grasp how disgusting these moments in history were. The use of dreams to explore further the demons was expertly created. Everything felt so rich and dark and real, no matter how fantastical the story got.

This book isn't for the feint of heart, but I would recommend to anyone. It is dark, scary, hopeful, and gripping. Please check the content warnings before hand.

TW: arson, body horror, death, dismemberment, gore, KKK, lynching, murder, n-word, oppression, racism, torture (implied), violence, whipping