Comments (19)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of Surrey Libraries.
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Sep 17, 2023Eratatosk rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Once again, Clark decolonializes a piece of history and runs it forward. Here, Haiti wins its rebellion with the help of African gods and Haitian scientists who let them master the storm. Russia takes California and the American Civil…
Jun 18, 2023bocalibrary_Isabel rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Though a very short novella (something like 110-pages long), this work is a very tightly-woven story and world with unique, well-defined, diverse, and developed characters, as well as a firm footing in a historical what-if situation…
Oct 05, 2022TellyBellyBookReader rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This story felt longer than it was! I am so said to see the melting pot of BIPOC in this book end(sequel needed). I really love the book. It’s mainly about a young girl who has been blessed by an African goddess who gives her guidance and…
Aug 05, 2022DevonM_KCMO rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An explosively fun, fast-paced, phenomenal read. I highly recommend checking out the audiobook, stellar voice acting by Channie Waites really brings the characters and action to life.
Aug 04, 2022fjordking rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I was surprised how good this short book was. I'll look for P. Djèlí Clark again.
Apr 18, 2022
After Creeper overhears a secret involving a kidnapped Haitian scientist and the Black God’s Drum in her alcove in Les Grand Murs, she tries to earn Captain Ann-Marie’s trust so she can secure passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight…
Apr 03, 2021wyomingf rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book - I only wish it was longer! The steampunk/afro-futurist setting was so unique, and the characters really came alive. I would highly recommend this to any fan of sci-fi or fantasy.
Oct 19, 2020LitHub rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Because it's a novella, it's easy to read in one sitting. And it was so much fun. New Orleans. African spirits/goddesses. An alternate, steampunk US in the late 1800s. Great characters, a plot that zips along, and the always-enchanting New…
Sep 15, 2020rixonkj rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is SO vivid and creepy and fun!
Jul 13, 2020mjwiggins rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Fantastic writing and world-building in this fast-paced story set in an alternate history post-Civil War New Orleans. I'd love to see it on a screen.
Jun 18, 2020EKGO rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A delightfully fun romp through alt-NOLA just after the American Civil War! This is the quick - both short in length but also fast-paced - story of Creeper who gets hold of some information that she can potentially sell. Instead, she…
May 20, 2020tarynannewill rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Action-packed, creative world-building, diverse characters and a quick read. Very enjoyable Sci-Fantasy novel.
Oct 29, 2019derikam rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An amazing and short read. There's no downside to giving this book a try.
Aug 20, 2019RandomLibrarian rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Review excerpt: "I adored this book. All the main characters are people of color and almost all of them are women. There are awesome nuns. There’s an emphasis on the importance of education. There’s adventure like mad and mysticism and…
Jul 11, 2019
Packs a lot into such a short book, and hits that sweet spot where it's satisfying as it is, but sequels wouldn't feel tacked on.
Mar 05, 2019
I like alt-history stuff and I love strong female characters so I should have loved this book more. It was an interesting world and I liked the characters, but the pacing was off and it ended abruptly, to me. I certainly won't warn anyone…
Dec 21, 2018JessicaGma rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This should have been a much longer novel for the amount of action packed into this novella. Such a fantastic alternate history set in New Orleans - I hope more comes from this universe!
Dec 16, 2018Hillsboro_ElenaG rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
In this steampunk alternate history set in New Orleans, a young street girl inhabited by a goddess of storms works with a fellow god-touched airship pilot to prevent the use of a dangerous weapon that could wipe out the entire city of New…
Sep 11, 2018EmilyC_KCMO rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Riveting novella that takes place in an alternate history New Orleans with powerful, complex women of color as protagonists. Irreverent, fast-paced, magical.