The Black God’s Drums

It's truly remarkable how much world building Djèlí Clark was able to fit into this rather short tale without it being in the way of the story. The first person narration by Creeper drew me right in abd the setting is basically everything I could demand (New Orleans, airships, a queer airship captain etc.). I recommend listening to the audiobook as it's narreted in the fitting various patois and thus adds to the atmosphere of the book. I'd love to have a follow-up or another story set in this universe.

Clark has a knack for unconventional takes on the speculative genre, no doubt, and his writing is beyond reproach. This alternate New Orleans novella is smart and fun, but overall, it feels very conventionally steampunk-ish, a far cry from the whirlwind experience that is his Djinnpunk stuff .