Audiobook review: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope
April’s TBR optional theme: Location, Location, Location
Clara Johnson was touched at birth and has been able to see the “other side” and communicate with spirits since she was a child. In her teens, she made a bargain with an enigma (similar to a Jinn or Genie), and now she must help others who seek out an audience with the enigmas. When The Empress, the enigma that bound Clara, tells Clara she can be free of her agreement if Clara brings her a supernatural ring, Clara isn’t certain she should help. But when it’s made clear that someone is using the ring to enslave Black youths, Clara realizes she must do something to stop the supernatural affliction and save her people.
The Monsters We Defy is an engrossing fantasy set in the Washington DC area circa 1925. The heroine, Clara Johnson, is based on an actual girl from the time who was arrested and later released from jail after being convicted of killing a white police officer. The story is based in the historic past, with a magic twist which makes the story so exciting.
Clara discovers that the handsome Israel Lee, rising star in the Black music world, is also bound by an enigma and searching for the ring. In order to save the afflicted, the pair agrees to work together, and they round up a motley crew of supernaturally gifted individuals to create a formidable team.
I really enjoyed Clara. She’s got a hidden strength that keeps her going, despite the odds and lack of belief in herself. Her moral code is true, but that doesn’t mean she won’t scrap and fight when pushed. Over the course of the story, we witness Clara realize her own self-worth. She gains confidence to face down her fears. And she also learns to lean on others and open herself up to friendship and love. She has been hurt so often by those she thought good that she doesn’t trust anyone. Yet her roommate Zelda and Israel cause her to question herself which makes her uncomfortable. It’s a wonderful journey, and the slow-burn romance is delightful! I also enjoyed learning from the historical details about Black Broadway, African folk lore, and the Black caste system.
Narration: The story is primarily shared via the third person POV of Clara, with a handful of omnipotent interludes that provide backstory for some of the myths and supporting characters. Small utilizes a strong female voice for Clara, but she is able to express the weariness of being an overworked Black woman. Small successfully alters her voice for dialogue based on gender, socio-economic status, and age. Each character has a fitting voice that is both unique and identifiable.
Overall, The Monsters We Defy is a beautiful story that is fun, exciting, and a bit romantic. The author spins a supernatural tale rooted in facts, while bringing to life a turbulent time in our nation’s history.
My Ratings
Story: A-
Narration: A-
Jen
About the Book:
A woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.
In the summer of 1925, along Washington, DC’s “Black Broadway”, a malevolent entity has begun preying on Negro residents. Twenty-three-year-old Clara Johnson is determined to discover what’s going on in her community. Using her natural ability to talk with spirits, she begins to investigate, but a powerful spirit tasks her with a difficult quest: steal an ancient, magical ring from the finger of a wealthy socialite.
When Clara meets Israel Lee, a supernaturally enhanced jazz musician also vying for the ring, the two decide to work together. They put together an unlikely team including a former circus freak, a pickpocketing Pullman Porter, and an aging vaudeville actor to pull off an impossible heist.
But a dangerous spirit interferes at every turn and conflict in the spirit world is leaking out into the human world. With different agendas, even if Clara and Israel pull off the heist, only one of them can truly win.
Author: Leslye Penelope
Narrator: Shayna Small
Series: Standalone
Genre: History Fantasy, magic realism
Audiobook Release Date: August 9, 2022
Publisher: Redhook
Length: 11 hours, 30 mins
Source: purchased
Audio Speed: 1.3x