The Monsters We Defy
The Monsters We Defy by L. Penelope is a historical fantasy published by Redhook in 2022, featuring 384 pages in English. Set in Washington D.C. in 1925, the narrative follows Clara Johnson, a woman with the ability to communicate with spirits. This gift, while once a source of salvation, has become a burden, leading her to a dangerous pact with a powerful spirit that requires her to steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Readers will encounter a blend of action and adventure as Clara assembles a diverse team, including a jazz musician and an aging actor, to execute the heist. The story unfolds against the backdrop of DC’s vibrant Black Broadway, where the lines between the spirit world and reality blur, revealing an unfolding mystery that threatens Clara’s life and the fate of the city. The book intricately weaves elements of African American folk magic and romance, offering a unique exploration of city life and the complexities of human and supernatural interactions.
Official synopsis Publisher
“[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.
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