The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
A Review By: AT
People move to New York looking for magic, and nothing will convince them it isn't there. Charles Thomas Tester hustles to put food on the table, keep the roof over his father's head, from Harlem to Flushing Meadows to Red Hook. He knows what magic a suit can cast, the invisibility a guitar case can provide, and the curse written on his black skin that attracts the eye of wealthy white folks and their trained cops.
But when he delivers an occult page to a reclusive sorceress in the heart of Queens, Tom opens a door to a deeper realm of magic and earns the attention of things best left sleeping. A storm that might swallow the world is building in Brooklyn. Will Black Tom live to see it break?
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2016
An installment in a Series? No
Narrator (s): Kevin R. Free
Another hit from LaValle!
Tommy Tester is doing what most black men in the 1920s are doing—whatever it takes to survive. Charged with supporting his feeble, widowed father, Tom takes to hustling and ends up in the middle of a paranormal maelstrom. Clocking in at just over three hours, this was a fulfilling and engaging experience. Masterfully penned and brilliantly narrated, this is a must-listen for all lovers of horror, especially Black horror.
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: NORTH STAR RATING
Content Warnings? Human or animal loss, Physical abuse/violence
