The Monsters We Defy"[P]itch perfect, with wit, romance, and a lovable found family." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review) "This smart and entertaining, magical heist novel hits all the right notes!" ―T.L. Huchu NPR Best Book of 2022! Paste Best Fantasy Book of 2022! "Never make a deal with shadows at night, especially ones that know your name.” Washington D. C., 1925: Clara Johnson can talk to spirits—a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance, no questions asked. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District. Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need the help of an unlikely team, from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody to an aging actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they race along DC’s legendary Black Broadway, conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one—an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life and change the fate of an entire city. The Monsters We Defy is a timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Ghost Girl | |
The Monroe | |
The Empress Requests | |
Searching for Samuel | |
The Reanimated | |
The Grays | |
Haints | |
Source of Legends | |
The Saturday Nighters | |
The Queen of Sheba | |
Breakfast for Heathens | |
An Unexpected Visit | |
The Scrying | |
Madame Josephine | |
The Fairy Ball | |
The Actor | |
Booted and Suited | |
The Luminous Four Hundred | |
The Thief | |
The Musician | |
A Garden in the City | |
A Possible Alliance | |
The Pullman Porter | |
The Speakeasy | |
Soul Food | |
The Garage | |
The Afflicted | |
A Reckoning | |
A Trip to Jail | |
Cinderella | |
Shave and a Haircut | |
The Whitelaw Hotel | |
The Ball | |
A Destiny of our | |
A Flare of Tempers | |
Our Precious Blood | |
The Ring of Makeda | |
Bargains | |
Negro History Week | |
Epilogue | |
Authors Note | |
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Common terms and phrases
Addie Afflicted ain't alley Aristotle ballroom Black blinked breath Brendy brows Charm chuckled Clara asked Clara Johnson Clara took Clara's heart Colored crossed her arms crossmark Daddy Deke dark destinies distillery door dress Empress Enigma eyes face felt fingers folks front frowned gaze girl going gonna goose bumps Grays grin guards hand happened heard held Howard University inside Israel Lee Jesse Lee Josephine Lawrence Josephine's keep knew laughed Leetown Lilia lips looked Louise Madame Josephine Makeda Mama Octavia mind Miss mouth Negro never night nodded Perry playing pulled Queen of Coins ring second sight she'd shook his head Shuttlesworth skin smile someone spirits staring steal steps stood stop Street sure talk tell Thaniel things thought told tonight Trick trying Uncle Nazareth voice walked whispered Whitelaw Hotel woman Woodson Zelda asked