The Black God's Drums

By: P. Djeli Clark

Narrated by: Channie Waites

Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 onboard 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.

©2018 P. Djeli Clark (P)2019 Recorded Books

Exceptional story!

I cannot believe the author was able to tell such a compelling story with such rich characters in such a short story. I find myself desperately wanting to listen to more stories featuring the adventures of Ann Marie and “Creeper” and of course, Oshun and Oya. The narrator adds an element to this book that also makes listening to story in her voice even more immersive. This definitely made me look up more works by this author that I plan to dive into.

good YA story, but distracting narration

The story was decent, and seemed like it would appeal especially to a young adult audience.

But I didn't like the narration at all. The actor tried to give the characters distinct voices, but it just fell short. The voice for the girl from New Orleans didn't sound at all like anyone from Louisiana. The voice for the airship captain from Haiti sounded like a caricature of a Haitian. Her imitation of a Cajun was way off the mark. I think it would've worked better if she just read the whole thing in her natural voice, or if someone else read it - maybe someone from Louisiana who knows better how all these different people sound.

A dazzling adventure in an alternate New Orleans

Another lovely little steampunk gem from P. Djeli Clark. I'm eagerly awaiting his forthcoming longer works, including a return to his historical fantasy Cairo. This novella takes place in an alternate history New Orleans, a free territory where people of all races can mingle peacefully. However, outside the city the country has split into Union and Confederate states, with an uneasy armistice in place.

Clark's worlds are places where people of color have an equal say in how things are run. He's also unusually skilled at writing female characters. Creeper, a street girl with a Nigerian storm goddess living inside her head, and Anne-Marie, an airship captain, are the main characters here, along with a pair of delightful minor characters - informer nuns who know everything that's going on inside the city. Put them together with vengeful Confederates, terrifying skull apparitions and a foray into a drowned Dead City in the swamps, and you have the ingredients for a rip-roaring yarn.

Really enjoyed this!

I love this author's imagination. I am hungry for alternative history these days and always love a generous dollap of steampunk with my fantasy. Add in main female characters who are sufficient unto themselves, interesting, intelligent, flawed, and Im a happy reader. finding female characters who aren't actually a prop for males and with whom their author hasn't confused selfish pigheadedness with "spirit" (as so many authors of female main characters seem to do) can be a challenge even in 2021 and I'm delighted with these. the narrator did well enough though I personally couldn't differentiate her accents and suspect that I should have been able to do so. I am glad I gave this a listen!

Good story, capturing perspective

The story is great, a young 13 year old conquering evil alongside adults. She has no parents, so she carries herself well and independently. She has a gift that allows her to have assistance in fighting evil, and she surrounds herself with similar-powered people. Creeper focuses on maintaining the good and to live an unorthodox life of freedom.

There is a weird part at 2:27:16 where there's an overlap in audio for a second so you miss a little, but other than that its perfect!

Amazing just Amazing

This book has everything unlikely friendships. Yoruba Goddess and all the beauty in New Orleans.

Not for me

I bought this because this book got a nebula nomination. But after tolerating it for an hour, I couldn't continue. The story wasn't making much sense. The writing style and the narration accent requires you to pay undivided attention to it, and even then I missed what was happening. I read the ebook along with it and even then it was extremely boring. Abandoning it.

great short story

voice acting was brilliant and added atmosphere. this short story can be read in one day but has so much going on.