The Monsters We Defy
This historical fantasy set in Washington, DC in 1925 incorporates Black folk traditions of magic with Penelope’s imaginative extensions. The main character, Clara Johnson, born at a dark crossroads, emerges with a caul covering her body, the ability to talk with spirits, and to look Over There to the dead and other restless beings. Penelope develops a convincing world in which greedy spirits called Enigmas hold various humans in debts called Tricks, in exchange for Charms, magical abilities that appear to offer easy solutions to their problems but usually don’t work out as desired. This dynamic infuses the novel with thought-provoking themes, as does Clara’s struggle to overcome her self-doubt, sense of unworthiness, and inability to trust others. Clara wants her freedom—ironically, the very thing she bargained to regain when she made her “deal” from a prison cell with an Enigma named the Empress. When the Empress offers to release her debt if she steals a magic ring, Clara tries to find the catch, but she also can’t resist, especially when she realizes the ring is causing widespread troubles within the Black community.
One of the many strengths of this novel is Penelope’s portrayal of Black life in DC of the Twenties. Clara’s feeling of obligation to her community, on the one hand, is contrasted with the class snobbery of the educated, wealthy Black elite members. Penelope’s powerful style propels the reader forward. For example, she describes a moment of emotional intensity for Clara like this: “Her fingers coiled, pressing almost painfully against her palms, taut as the head of a drum with a tempting rhythm of rage beating against it. Like the thump, thump of fists meeting flesh.” An engaging read.
