Review: The Black God's Drums

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

P. Djèlí Clark's The Black God's Drums is set in an alternate history world at the end of the US Civil War. In a steampunk New Orleans Confederate and Union soldiers coexist publicly, while obeah magic is practiced and orishas are embodied in young girls and airship captains. Jacqueline, aka Creeper, is an orphan who lives in the shadows, trading in information. Ann-Marie is the airship captain of the ironically named Midnight Robber. Together they will stop the use of a terrible magical weapon, rescue a Haitian scientist and his Jewel, and make their orishas proud, while saving New Orleans from a disaster right at the start of Mardi Gras.

I enjoyed the memorable world Clark built in this book and the distinct patois of his characters. The language reads easily, especially for anyone with a bit of French in their skillset. I would love to read more of this world and just wished the novella had been a bit longer. At a slim 100 pages, I'm not sure the price point will garner Clark's book the readership the story deserves.


I received a paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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