The Ballad Of Black Tom
Written by Victor Lavalle
www.ink2quill.com

“The Ballad Of Black Tom” is a fantasy, horror novella written by Victor Lavalle and is inspired by the story “The Horror At Red Hook” by H.P. Lovecraft but set in Harlem of the 1920s and set within African American culture. I really feel that this story is a good case of an author outshining a work that inspired them. Victore Lavalle has won the Shirley Jackson Award and the American Book Award.

Victor Lavalle website

The Ballad Of Black Tom Amazon webpage

The Ballad Of Black Tom Goodreads webpage

“The Ballad Of Black Tom” is set in Harlem of the mid 1920s. A place with a powerful cultural identity but also a place dealing with racism and injustice from police and government alike. The Main character is Charles Thomas Tester, known as Tommy Tester on the streets but Charles to his ailing father. He is a resourceful 20 year old who takes care of his ailing father and does the best he can to hustle a nut, as the expression goes. His adventure takes off when he is hired to deliver an arcane book to a mysterious woman. It is that errand that pulls him into the occult machinations of a Robert Suydam and sets one detective Malone after him.

“The Ballad Of Black Tom” is a very well written book that captures the Harlem of 100 years ago through the beauty and realism of the characters. I loved the way he took us back to those times through his eloquent descriptions of the characters. I´ve always loved writers who have the talent of putting the reader in the shoes of his/her characters or in the very place of their story and Victor Lavalle does this brilliantly.

Another element I really liked was the horror fantasy aspect of the story. Tommy Tester is a lousy musician, a struggling musician, but is somehow overflowing with mystical potential as are several of the other characters. It is this potential that draws certain events into his life.

I really loved “The Ballad Of Black Tom” but felt that it ended too soon. I wanted to read more about Tom. It´s a great read so check it out folks.

John

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