Ring Shout: Book Review

Ring Shout

By P. Djélí Clark

5 stars

Publishers blurb:

IN AMERICA, DEMONS WEAR WHITE HOODS.

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die.

Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up.

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?

About

Maryse and her team of demon hunters resist hate in the Jim Crow South by hunting down Ku Kluxes, otherworldly monsters that inhabit the bodies of KKK members. They use their wits, bombs, and a magical sword to thwart the demons before more havoc can be loosed on the country.

But something big is happening, and the big monster is using The Birth of a Nation as a dog whistle, conjuring spell to call on even greater evil. Can Maryse's team stop them?

Themes

 It's not a far stretch to think of KKK members as monsters. To many people, they are monsters. Their ideologies call for unchecked racism and hate and have no place in America.

Ring Shout was a captivating novella that used supernatural, dark fantasy to explore themes of racism, hate, violence, and female power. It highlights an especially violent time in American history when power was in the hands of evil people and imagines a team that takes that power back from hateful people.

The themes echo similar circumstances in 2026. In today's world, KKK members still exist but are largely underground. What we have instead are ICE agents emboldened by Trump and his hateful policies. The agents, hiding behind mask, are terrorizing communities across the U.S., like KKK once did.

This new push has no regard for human life. In fact, 32 people were murdered by ICE in 2025. This year, things are only worsening. We've seen people like Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, Keith Porter, and Renee Good murdered by ICE without regard for legality, citizenship, or compassion.

Final Thoughts

Ring Shout is an excellent book that highlights important themes in American history that are still relevant in American cities today. The writing is excellent, the characters are engaging, and it is a must read.