OneofNPR’sBestBooksof2016,winneroftheShirleyJacksonAward,theBritishFantasyAward,theThisisHorrorAwardforNovellaoftheYear,andafinalistfortheHugo,Nebula,Locus,WorldFantasy,andBramStokerAwardsPeoplemovetoNewYorklookingformagicandnothingwillconvincethemitisn’tthere.CharlesThomasTesterhustlestoputfoodonthetable,keeptheroofoverhisfather’shead,fromHarlemtoFlushingMeadowstoRedHook.Heknowswhatmagicasuitcancast,theinvisibilityaguitarcasecanprovide,andthecursewrittenonhisskinthatattractstheeyeofwealthywhitefolksandtheircops.ButwhenhedeliversanocculttometoareclusivesorceressintheheartofQueens,Tomopensadoortoadeeperrealmofmagic,andearnstheattentionofthingsbestleftsleeping.AstormthatmightswallowtheworldisbuildinginBrooklyn.WillBlackTomlivetoseeitbreak?“LaValle’snovellaofsorceryandskullduggeryinJazzAgeNewYorkisamagnificentexampleofwhatweirdfictioncanandshoulddo.“--LairdBarron,authorofTheBeautifulThingThatAwaitsUsAll“[LaValle]reinventsoutmodedliteraryconventions,particularlytheghettosofgenreandethnicitythatlongdividedseriousliteraturefrompopularfiction.“--PraiseforTheDevilinSilverfromElizabethHand,authorofRadiantDays“LaVallecleverlysubvertsLovecraft’sCthulhumythosbyimbuingablackmanwiththepowertosummontheOldOnes,andcreatesgenuinechillswithhisevocationofthemonstrousSleepingKing,anechoofLovecraft’sDagon...[TheBalladofBlackTom]hasasatisfyingslingshotending.“-ElizabethHandforFantasy&ScienceFiction
