The Monsters We Defy (2022)

Washington, DC, in 1925 gives Clara Johnson's supernatural heist its particular opportunities and barriers. Her ability to speak to spirits has left her owing a dangerous debt, and the crew she gathers belongs to the city's Black social and artistic world. Penelope puts magical bargains beside segregation, wealth and the labour of making a living. The heist supplies an easy route into the period; notice how differently a charm works for someone who already has power.