Audacity Book Club: August Read

By Celeste Daniels

TW: Racism

Hello Audacious Readers!

I need a good fight book.

So, for most of the year, I’ve been picking books that have been introspective or dramatic or autobiographical, like last month’s pick of Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi…but I’m read for a tonal switch. So, for August, we’re exploring an alternate history New Orleans and African gods in The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark.

Creeper is an orphan that is scrapping by on the streets of New Orleans and is ready to leave the city for good. As the United States is entangled in the Civil War, she longs to escape into the air by joining the crew of the airship Midnight Robber. Ran by Captain Ann-Marie, she knows it won’t be an easy sell.

But when she stumbles across some dangerous information about a Haitian scientist and a weapon called the Black God’s Drum, she knows it’s her ticket out. However, the information lands her in the middle of an unforeseen battle in the middle of the city. Not only that but Creeper has an even bigger secret to keep: Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, speaks to her and has her priorities that could mean destruction.

With Oya visions of destruction and her freedom on the line, Creeper and the crew of the Midnight Robber must face a power unlike anything they’ve ever seen before the city of New Orleans is wiped out of existence.

In this adventurous and immersive novella, The Black God’s Drum dares readers to tap into their inner power, knowing the strength to save ourselves is always within us. This book is available online, at your local bookstore, Bookshop.org and your local library. I hope you enjoy it, and I will see you in September for the full review.

Make sure to also check out the STAYCATION, Audacity’s members-only virtual retreat, coming September 26th. Join us to relax, reset, and upgrade you and your business (or your book club) through expert panels, workshops for professionals, and daily meditation.

As always, don’t forget to read audaciously!

Audacity Magazine & Events is an affiliate partner of Bookshop.org. If you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. All books are selections of the Audacity Book Club curator.