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The Nsibidi Scripts #2
Akata Warrior
The long-awaited sequel to the genre-breaking Akata Witch by multiple award-winner Nnedi Okorafor!
A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and struggling to unlock the secrets in her strange Nsibidi book.
Eventually, Sunny knows she must confront her destiny. With the support of her Leopard Society friends, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha, and of her spirit face, Anyanwu, she will travel through worlds both visible and invisible to the mysteries town of Osisi, where she will fight a climactic battle to save humanity.
Much-honored Nnedi Okorafor, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, merges today’s Nigeria with a unique world she creates. Akata Warrior blends mythology, fantasy, history and magic into a compelling tale that will keep readers spellbound.
A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and struggling to unlock the secrets in her strange Nsibidi book.
Eventually, Sunny knows she must confront her destiny. With the support of her Leopard Society friends, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha, and of her spirit face, Anyanwu, she will travel through worlds both visible and invisible to the mysteries town of Osisi, where she will fight a climactic battle to save humanity.
Much-honored Nnedi Okorafor, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards, merges today’s Nigeria with a unique world she creates. Akata Warrior blends mythology, fantasy, history and magic into a compelling tale that will keep readers spellbound.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
About the author
Nnedi Okorafor
152 books16.4k followersNnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more about Nnedi at Nnedi.com and follow Nnedi on twitter (as @Nnedi), Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,485 reviews
August 28, 2015
It's awesome. And I know this because I'VE actually read it. :-)
<3
August 28, 2015
<3
August 28, 2015
March 13, 2023
A year has passed since Sunny discovered she was part of a magical society known as the Leopard People.
Along with her best friends, Orlu, Sasha and Chichi, they formed the youngest Oha Coven ever, fighting an evil entity wrecking havoc on their community.
Now a little older, and a bit more experienced, each of the four kids have been selected by a powerful Leopard mentor to oversee their studies and continue strengthening their powers.
Sunny's mentor, Sugar Cream, is a wise older woman, who is tough as nails. I loved reading their interactions with one another. You can tell that Sugar Cream sees something very special in Sunny.
Through it all, Sunny continues to try to understand her visions of a coming apocalypse. What can her role possibly be in relation to these visions?
In the midst of all of this, Sunny is also trying to navigate her regular life. Her older brother departs for college. Weeks later, when he arrives home unexpectedly, late at night, bloody and battered, Sunny knows she needs to help him.
Enlisting Chichi's assistance, the two girls head off to the University to set things right. Their escapade causes Sunny to break one of the Leopard Society's rules, however, and detection is swift.
Her punishment consists of being locked in a library basement, which trust me, is not as magical as it may sound.
It is during this time of isolation, and conferences with spiders, that Sunny begins to feel more compelled towards her mysterious quest.
Along with the other members of her coven, she must find the secret town of Osisi, facing off against mortal enemies along the way, in order to stop the end of the world.
I flew through this story. There is so much going on. Sunny is basically living a dual life. She has her home life, with her family and regular school, as well as all of her dealings within the Leopard world.
I enjoyed watching her relationship with her family change as she grows more confident in herself and her powers. Particularly, her relationship with her older brother.
The friend group, again, is the highlight of this story for me. I love the way the four personalities play off of one another.
There's more drama in this installment as the relationships veer out of friendship territory and more into romance. Although this wasn't my favorite plot point, I think it was executed naturally and therefore, I didn't mind it.
In addition to the characters and relationships, I enjoy the world so much. It's actually quite dark and dangerous. Our protagonists definitely do not have an easy go at it.
Okorafor uses excerpts from books that Sunny is studying to help educate the Reader on the lore, history and magic system of the world. I thought that was such a fun way to develop the story.
I did get a little lost towards the end, but I think it was because I was reading so fast. I was anxious for everyone to be okay and I let that get the best of me!
The ending was so satisfying. Initially, before picking up this sequel, I wished there were more books in the series. Now that I have completed it, I couldn't be happier with how Okorafor left Sunny.
This is odd to say, but I am proud of Sunny. Her growth and accomplishments.
I am okay with leaving her here and moving on, but I will never forget her!
Along with her best friends, Orlu, Sasha and Chichi, they formed the youngest Oha Coven ever, fighting an evil entity wrecking havoc on their community.
Now a little older, and a bit more experienced, each of the four kids have been selected by a powerful Leopard mentor to oversee their studies and continue strengthening their powers.
Sunny's mentor, Sugar Cream, is a wise older woman, who is tough as nails. I loved reading their interactions with one another. You can tell that Sugar Cream sees something very special in Sunny.
Through it all, Sunny continues to try to understand her visions of a coming apocalypse. What can her role possibly be in relation to these visions?
In the midst of all of this, Sunny is also trying to navigate her regular life. Her older brother departs for college. Weeks later, when he arrives home unexpectedly, late at night, bloody and battered, Sunny knows she needs to help him.
Enlisting Chichi's assistance, the two girls head off to the University to set things right. Their escapade causes Sunny to break one of the Leopard Society's rules, however, and detection is swift.
Her punishment consists of being locked in a library basement, which trust me, is not as magical as it may sound.
It is during this time of isolation, and conferences with spiders, that Sunny begins to feel more compelled towards her mysterious quest.
Along with the other members of her coven, she must find the secret town of Osisi, facing off against mortal enemies along the way, in order to stop the end of the world.
I flew through this story. There is so much going on. Sunny is basically living a dual life. She has her home life, with her family and regular school, as well as all of her dealings within the Leopard world.
I enjoyed watching her relationship with her family change as she grows more confident in herself and her powers. Particularly, her relationship with her older brother.
The friend group, again, is the highlight of this story for me. I love the way the four personalities play off of one another.
There's more drama in this installment as the relationships veer out of friendship territory and more into romance. Although this wasn't my favorite plot point, I think it was executed naturally and therefore, I didn't mind it.
In addition to the characters and relationships, I enjoy the world so much. It's actually quite dark and dangerous. Our protagonists definitely do not have an easy go at it.
Okorafor uses excerpts from books that Sunny is studying to help educate the Reader on the lore, history and magic system of the world. I thought that was such a fun way to develop the story.
I did get a little lost towards the end, but I think it was because I was reading so fast. I was anxious for everyone to be okay and I let that get the best of me!
The ending was so satisfying. Initially, before picking up this sequel, I wished there were more books in the series. Now that I have completed it, I couldn't be happier with how Okorafor left Sunny.
This is odd to say, but I am proud of Sunny. Her growth and accomplishments.
I am okay with leaving her here and moving on, but I will never forget her!
February 9, 2023
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AKATA WITCH was amazing and I was so excited to read the second book in the series. In my review of the first book, I talked about how it kind of subverts a lot of the typical magical school tropes, and how much I enjoyed the world-building and transformative nature of the magic. AKATA WARRIOR starts off where the last book left off, although it does something really helpful: it has a recap of the last book in the beginning for those, like me, who haven't read the first book in a hot minute. I think if you're reading back to back, you could skip, but I found it really helpful as a reader.
AKATA WARRIOR isn't a bad book but it's much longer than it needed to be and felt draggy as a result. AKATA WITCH was about one hundred pages shorter but was a nonstop action ride of discovery and adventure. AKATA WARRIOR had the characters wandering around a lot, and way too many descriptions of the characters sitting down and reading books. I found the introduction of Nsibidi, a magical and mysterious script, interesting, as did the draining effects on the people who read it, and how the letters could move and form dream-like movie scenes, but I really could have left some of those passages behind in the dust. There were also too many scenes with characters wandering around, talking about what they were going to do. I would say AKATA WARRIOR is a mediocre sequel with some really great moments that stand out and probably make the book feel better than it really was in hindsight.
Some of my favorite moments or introductions: the idea and concept of Nsibidi, the giant flying Grasscutter, the showdown with the spider deity, Sunny's punishment for violating magic law by being thrown into a dark basement haunted by a djinn, and the way Sunny gets revenge on a group of gang leaders who are tormenting her brother. I also liked how the relationship between Sunny and her brothers seemed to deepen in this book. In the first one, the relationship felt more impartial/adversarial, but here, it started to feel like Sunny coming into her own gave her the ability to relate to her family on her own terms while also setting boundaries, and I really liked that.
So overall, not a bad book, but not a great sequel, either. I'll probably still read the third book but I hope it isn't as pointlessly long as this one was.
2.5 to 3 stars
January 18, 2023
3 stars for the story; 4 stars for the writing and the wonderful creativity - 3.5 stars overall
This is another difficult book to rate. For me, while this sequel to Akata Witch is every bit as creative and experiential as its predecessor, the actual story of Akata Warrior didn't resonate with me quite the same.
There were parts I absolutely loved, like the confrontation with the boys at the university and Sunny's subsequent time being punished in the library basement. At the same time, much of the story had a kind of meandering feel to it that I wasn't completely taken with.
What I was taken with was Okorofor's rich and layered world building, and her simple yet nuanced prose. It is a book that I enjoyed for those reasons even though the underlying story as a whole left me a bit cool.
This is another difficult book to rate. For me, while this sequel to Akata Witch is every bit as creative and experiential as its predecessor, the actual story of Akata Warrior didn't resonate with me quite the same.
There were parts I absolutely loved, like the confrontation with the boys at the university and Sunny's subsequent time being punished in the library basement. At the same time, much of the story had a kind of meandering feel to it that I wasn't completely taken with.
What I was taken with was Okorofor's rich and layered world building, and her simple yet nuanced prose. It is a book that I enjoyed for those reasons even though the underlying story as a whole left me a bit cool.
June 16, 2017
I love these books more than......almost everything else. Before I read Akata Witch back when it first came out, it had been a while since I really felt like I was reading a "Forever Book". This is an awesome sequel and if you want to get that first book love feeling again: READ THESE. Sunny and Chichi and Sasha and ORLU. *clutches chest* One of my favorite casts.
May 17, 2020
This series really shows what excellence in fantasy for young readers looks like. There's no dumbing down or hand holding: this is a brutally dark world that our young protagonists are navigating. The writing and imagination here are stellar. I did struggle a bit with pacing (which I also found in the first one), but other than that, this is really satisfying. I'm hoping we eventually get more books in this series, but considering the gap between the first two, I imagine we may be waiting for a while.
March 18, 2022
Este segundo libro también me gusto , tarde en terminarlo pero me gusto mucho la historia la magia algo diferente a lo que había leído de fantasía.
Definitivamente leeré el tercer libro .
Definitivamente leeré el tercer libro .
May 31, 2020
3.5 stars.
As soon as I finished the audiobook of Akata Witch, I knew I had to listen to the sequel too. And after a lot of starting, stopping, and continuous interruptions, I finally made it through to the end!
Akata Warrior is a longer book and audiobook than Akata Witch. Akata Witch introduces us to the characters and world of the story, and does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of setting up the story and providing an exciting and dangerous quest for the main characters as they grow into their powers.
In Akata Warrior, a year has gone by, and the four friends — Sunny, Chichi, Orlu, and Sasha — are advancing in their magical studies. Their abilities are becoming more developed as they work with their assigned mentors. Sunny, our main character whose point of view we inhabit throughout the story, is being mentored by the formidable Sugar Cream, a regal older woman with unmatched powers, who sets rigorous standards for Sunny while introducing her to esoteric powers and abilities.
Sunny continues to have visions of a coming apocalypse, but doesn’t understand why or what her role is supposed to be. Danger to her older brother forces her to break Leopard Society (magic society) rules, and the ensuing punishment pushes her forward on a path toward a quest that she doesn’t fully understand.
As in Akata Witch, seeing the four friends together is a treat. They’ve all grown up, and their interactions and roles are more mature, yet they’re still in their teens and must abide by the rules set for them. At the same time, their magical abilities mean that they’re able to take on riskier tasks, and they show examples of ingenuity again and again throughout their adventure.
As I mentioned before, Akata Warrior is considerably longer than the first book, and it shows in the pacing. While the characters spend at least half the book on their quest, each episode along the way feels very lengthy and drawn-out, to the point where the action seems to sag a bit from time to time. It’s still engaging and exciting, but I would have preferred for a faster pace and less time spent on logistics.
Still, all in all, the world of Akata Witch and Akata Warrior is rich and fascinating. The author has an amazing ability to bring the Nigerian setting to life through her descriptions of sights, smells, colors, textures, and the food. Oh, the food! So many descriptions of eating and the dishes that sound amazing!
Akata Warrior has the same audiobook narrator as Akata Witch, and I just loved listening to her voice. Her accents and intonations for the different characters are wonderful, and each person comes across as an individual. For whatever reason, every time Chichi has a line of dialogue, it instantly brought a smile to my face!
I really enjoyed both of these books. I haven’t heard that there are plans for another book in the series, but a reader can hope, right? I do love these characters, and would love to follow along on further adventures.
As soon as I finished the audiobook of Akata Witch, I knew I had to listen to the sequel too. And after a lot of starting, stopping, and continuous interruptions, I finally made it through to the end!
Akata Warrior is a longer book and audiobook than Akata Witch. Akata Witch introduces us to the characters and world of the story, and does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of setting up the story and providing an exciting and dangerous quest for the main characters as they grow into their powers.
In Akata Warrior, a year has gone by, and the four friends — Sunny, Chichi, Orlu, and Sasha — are advancing in their magical studies. Their abilities are becoming more developed as they work with their assigned mentors. Sunny, our main character whose point of view we inhabit throughout the story, is being mentored by the formidable Sugar Cream, a regal older woman with unmatched powers, who sets rigorous standards for Sunny while introducing her to esoteric powers and abilities.
Sunny continues to have visions of a coming apocalypse, but doesn’t understand why or what her role is supposed to be. Danger to her older brother forces her to break Leopard Society (magic society) rules, and the ensuing punishment pushes her forward on a path toward a quest that she doesn’t fully understand.
As in Akata Witch, seeing the four friends together is a treat. They’ve all grown up, and their interactions and roles are more mature, yet they’re still in their teens and must abide by the rules set for them. At the same time, their magical abilities mean that they’re able to take on riskier tasks, and they show examples of ingenuity again and again throughout their adventure.
As I mentioned before, Akata Warrior is considerably longer than the first book, and it shows in the pacing. While the characters spend at least half the book on their quest, each episode along the way feels very lengthy and drawn-out, to the point where the action seems to sag a bit from time to time. It’s still engaging and exciting, but I would have preferred for a faster pace and less time spent on logistics.
Still, all in all, the world of Akata Witch and Akata Warrior is rich and fascinating. The author has an amazing ability to bring the Nigerian setting to life through her descriptions of sights, smells, colors, textures, and the food. Oh, the food! So many descriptions of eating and the dishes that sound amazing!
Akata Warrior has the same audiobook narrator as Akata Witch, and I just loved listening to her voice. Her accents and intonations for the different characters are wonderful, and each person comes across as an individual. For whatever reason, every time Chichi has a line of dialogue, it instantly brought a smile to my face!
I really enjoyed both of these books. I haven’t heard that there are plans for another book in the series, but a reader can hope, right? I do love these characters, and would love to follow along on further adventures.
December 18, 2017
Where have all the editors gone?
Sadly, this book was flashes, and drags. Flashes, and draaaaags. And then a dragging, dragging flash to finish it off.
It took me three tries to get through the climax.
I still like the world, though I felt it was much more obscured this time by chronicling Sunny's every thought, feeling, and eye blink. And sometimes reiterating them. The books, the spirits, the juju... none of it is delved into. It's all window-dressing for Sunny's angst. The mechanisms by which Ekwensu acts and functions are so different from the more widespread European-influenced fantasy, and even the Japanese folklore I'm familiar with (which is a lot, thx). The descriptions of the spirits/deities' physical manifestations evoke such interesting mental images, and their role in the multi-layered world is so full of potential... but... this is 475 pages of angst. Ugh. I can't even write a private summary for myself because I've already forgotten the details of what happened, one day after finishing it.
Sadly, this book was flashes, and drags. Flashes, and draaaaags. And then a dragging, dragging flash to finish it off.
It took me three tries to get through the climax.
I still like the world, though I felt it was much more obscured this time by chronicling Sunny's every thought, feeling, and eye blink. And sometimes reiterating them. The books, the spirits, the juju... none of it is delved into. It's all window-dressing for Sunny's angst. The mechanisms by which Ekwensu acts and functions are so different from the more widespread European-influenced fantasy, and even the Japanese folklore I'm familiar with (which is a lot, thx). The descriptions of the spirits/deities' physical manifestations evoke such interesting mental images, and their role in the multi-layered world is so full of potential... but... this is 475 pages of angst. Ugh. I can't even write a private summary for myself because I've already forgotten the details of what happened, one day after finishing it.
June 5, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu.
Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and struggling to unlock the secrets in her strange Nsibidi book. When her brother gets into trouble she breaks all the rooms to set him free. This leads her to travel to the mysteries town of Osisi, where she will fight an old enemy.
The short review...
I really love Sunny! I love how African she is but how she doesn't quite fit because she's an albino and spent time in America. I love how athletic she is but how she's also quite smart and willing to learn. She is also a bit of a dummy sometimes and brings a whole load of trouble on herself (just like other punk kids)... but in spite of that she makes facing her troubles fun and fascinating.
Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha are the friends she's made in Africa and they are also Leopard Society people. I really love them! They all feel quite real to me and so full of personality. We get a ton more from her brothers in this book which was really nice, I wanted to know her family more. There is a whole mess of trouble that this group can and will get into... its full of juju, culture, masquerade demons, a secret language power and bonds that are forged through adversity!
Cover & Title grade -> A+
I've always loved the titles for both books! It makes sense she starts as a witch and grows into becoming a warrior! And having read both now it really, really makes sense. The original cover of Akata Witch was quite cute and fit the middle grade tone of the book... so when I found out about the sequel and saw the brand new covers I was totally floored! It gives life to the series in a way that I applaud. (Even though the cover models seem a tad old to be Sunny.)
Why is this series worth reading?
-African Culture.
I adored the entire Leopard People development. The juju magic and the little rituals they had, like the trust knot and the bridge that is and isn't in the physical world. The idea of leopard spirits and spirit faces was a fascinating one and the love of Nigerians for their soccer! It all came together in this African world that makes me so excited to read more!
-Dual Worlds.
There is certainly this magical world of the Leopard People with the magic and the chitins paid for learning... But there is also the real world in Africa that Sunny lives in. She goes to regular school, plays soccer with the boys and giggles with her friend Chichi over boys. Then there is her father who she must treat certain ways when his friends come over and whom sees more worth in his sons.
-World Building.
How can world building be separate from African culture when one supports the other? Well its all in the details. The book from her grandmother, the wasp artist she makes sure not to insult, her juju knife which she got to pick. Then there is her spirit face, Anyanwu whom she has a unique relationship with. While it is invested in African culture it comes together into its own little world... one I want to visit more!
As a Writer...
Much of what makes a well crafted world isn't the fancy writing style used but the details and how they come together as an experience rather than dry facts. This is something that Nnedi Okorafor is quite good at! I don't always agree with how Sunny chooses to act, but I know the details that she is reacting to and what motivates those reactions. This goes a long way into authenticating Sunny through the world that she occupies!
This is excellent world building.
One confusing aspect of the book is whether it is for middle grade readers or young adult readers. And can an adult read and enjoy the books?! Okay Akata Witch certainly reads more as a middle grade book and the fact of the matter is that Sunny is a middle grader. Akata Warrior is like the YA version of Akata Witch but Sunny has just barely made it into the teens.
At first I didn't enjoy this muddled feel to the books but the more I thought about it the more true to the protagonist age the story read! And the BEST thing about this is that young readers will feel Sunny has grown with them. And both books have appeal to adults while being written for teens (as they ought to be).
Akata Witch and Akata Warrior read as stand alone adventures, which is quite exciting! They each have a beginning, middle and end with no cliffhangers to stop the action in the story... If you want some excellent African culture mixed in with a fun and wild ride through the Leopard People world then these are the books to read!!
⋆⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⋆⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
October 18, 2017
It's good to be back, Akata Warrior is a stellar follow up. Everything is a grand improvement (yes, that's even possible). I love everything about it: the mythology, and world building. Of course, the characters ARE MY CHILDREN. They give the story a vibrant ambiance that makes this series an enjoyable ride.
The best part of reading Akata Witch is the nostalgic vibe. I feel homesick in a good way, it's like coming back after being lost elsewhere.
I would've given it 5 stars if only the last 100 pages didn't drag.
The best part of reading Akata Witch is the nostalgic vibe. I feel homesick in a good way, it's like coming back after being lost elsewhere.
I would've given it 5 stars if only the last 100 pages didn't drag.
August 19, 2017
I love this series so much. I'm already sad I have to wait so long for the next one!
April 18, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys! This book is the second of the Akata Witch duology. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the akata witch then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
This story continues the adventures of Sunny, a girl born in the U.S. but who currently lives with her family in Nigeria. A year has passed. Sunny is still dealing with the revelation that she has the magical powers of the Leopard People and with the effort of keeping that secret from her family. She has changed so much in a relatively brief time and is struggling with how those changes are reflecting across all aspects of her life.
It took me so long to pick up this second book that I was afraid I wouldn’t remember enough of the first book. Well the author does an excellent recap in the beginning in the form of a warning letter. I loved it. Plus I shouldn’t have really worried. The magic of the tale soon picked me right back up and transported me back into Sunny’s world.
I absolutely loved getting back there. I know that the book has magic and another fight to save the world. But really the highlight of this story for me was the coming-of-age portions of the tale. I loved watching Sunny grow, change, and learn. I loved watching her relationships with her family evolve especially where her brothers were involved. It was so nice to see caring and maturing sibling relationships. I continued to enjoy the friendships between Sunny, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha. I loved the new character (and transport) added in this yarn. I continue to love the wasp artist.
That said, the plot and magic involved are also very exciting. I read this in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. It just proves that I love this author’s work. Lagoon is waiting for me to pick it up. While Sunny’s adventure finished nicely in this book, there was a set-up for a potential next adventure. I do hope we get another story in this fabulous world. Arrrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
This story continues the adventures of Sunny, a girl born in the U.S. but who currently lives with her family in Nigeria. A year has passed. Sunny is still dealing with the revelation that she has the magical powers of the Leopard People and with the effort of keeping that secret from her family. She has changed so much in a relatively brief time and is struggling with how those changes are reflecting across all aspects of her life.
It took me so long to pick up this second book that I was afraid I wouldn’t remember enough of the first book. Well the author does an excellent recap in the beginning in the form of a warning letter. I loved it. Plus I shouldn’t have really worried. The magic of the tale soon picked me right back up and transported me back into Sunny’s world.
I absolutely loved getting back there. I know that the book has magic and another fight to save the world. But really the highlight of this story for me was the coming-of-age portions of the tale. I loved watching Sunny grow, change, and learn. I loved watching her relationships with her family evolve especially where her brothers were involved. It was so nice to see caring and maturing sibling relationships. I continued to enjoy the friendships between Sunny, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha. I loved the new character (and transport) added in this yarn. I continue to love the wasp artist.
That said, the plot and magic involved are also very exciting. I read this in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. It just proves that I love this author’s work. Lagoon is waiting for me to pick it up. While Sunny’s adventure finished nicely in this book, there was a set-up for a potential next adventure. I do hope we get another story in this fabulous world. Arrrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
November 7, 2017
I have been eagerly anticipating this release ever since first reading Akata Witch, which sent me down the Okorafor rabbit hole, reading everything she's published. And I reread AW before diving into this one as it had been 6 years since I first started on that journey. This, though, didn't quite hit the same high notes the first book did for me. There was *a lot* of recap throughout the book, which may have been ok if I hadn't just reread it, but as such it really slowed down the book for me. I didn't feel Sunny growing as much as the first book as a character, and there was a point about halfway through the book where I began getting lost about why things were happening the way they were. I'm a little disappointed as I'm pretty enthusiastically gaga for almost all of Okorafor's other work, but I am still interested to see what happens to Sunny and the gang in future books.
October 30, 2021
This was a great sequel.
I really do enjoy reading about Sunny and her friends. They really did grow from the last book and I was happy to see Sunny's brothers playing a bigger part in her story.
The romance is cute and I hope it picks up in the next book.
Such a good story.
I really do enjoy reading about Sunny and her friends. They really did grow from the last book and I was happy to see Sunny's brothers playing a bigger part in her story.
The romance is cute and I hope it picks up in the next book.
Such a good story.
November 20, 2018
After finding myself disappointed with the lack of character and plot development in Akata Witch, along with the rushed ending, I read the sequel in hopes I would enjoy it more. I didn't. I hate leaving negative reviews, but I do not understand how so much went unnoticed in the editing process. The plot is all over the place and the world the author is creating is poorly explained. Some of the scenes are really poorly written, for example paragraphs like "Orlu looked at Sasha, Chichi looked at Orlu and Orlu looked at Sunny, Sunny looked around and saw a mask." Just really awkward writing. The dialog is often confusing and things happen for no reason or aren't explained in any way. I've read so much fantasy/magical realism and it takes a lot of development to carry a reader through such magical worlds. I wish the author had a stronger editor. The imagination is there, the writing is not.
October 20, 2017
A warrior's journey continues...
5/5 Review to come
5/5 Review to come
October 3, 2017
I was fortunate to receive an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
4.5 Stars
It's no secret that Nnedi Okorafor has become one of my favorite authors over the past couple of years. The richly envisioned world that she has built in stories like Binti and Akata Witch leave me enthralled in a way few authors of fantasy can and have done. I was so excited to receive an ARC of Akata Warrior. I read Akata Witch after I discovered Binti and was sad that there had been no follow-up, since Akata Witch was written in 2011. Well, Reader, I am happy to tell you that not only do we have a 475+ page sequel here in Akata Warrior, it is abundantly clear that further riches lie ahead because Sunny and Chichi have some serious promises to keep by the end of this one.
The start of Akata Warrior, after a rather stern warning from the Obi Library Collective of Leopard Knocks Department of Responsibility to Lambs like you and me, finds Sunny Nwazue a little older, a little wiser and more adept in using her magical abilities. But don't worry. It's going to take all of about half an hour for everything to go totally haywire. Sunny is just not destined for a quiet life. In the course of learning Nsibidi, the Nimm heritage language of her grandmother, studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and teacher Anatov, she continues to learn more about her spirit face, Anyanwu and their connection. And then all the trouble begins, from her brother Chukwu's misfortune to meeting the fearsome Udide (an entity whose book we learned about in the first Akata novel) in order to fulfill a challenging task laid out for her in a Nsibidi postcard to the future left to her by her long dead (and murdered) grandmother. Along the way we will see frightening masquerades, more of the lovingly devoted wasp artist Della, meet a charming giant flying grasscutter (a magical giant version of the greater cane rat, you bet I looked it up and they are smaller than capybaras but no less cute if you like big rodents) named Grashcoatah, and see the Oha coven draw closer in friendship, and the sibling bonds between Sunny, Chukwu and Ugonna draw closer, as well. Most poignantly, the relationship between Sunny and Anyanwu is tested, or at least Sunny feels that it is tested. But this albino girl who can live in two worlds at once is strong enough to overcome many things, even if sometimes it's because she gets some help in doing so.
This book is filled with magic, camaraderie, humor, and whimsy. Quite a delight. I'm still chuckling over Sasha, upon their arrival in the giant magical city of Osisi, asking whether people "pay rent and have mortgages here."
4.5 Stars
It's no secret that Nnedi Okorafor has become one of my favorite authors over the past couple of years. The richly envisioned world that she has built in stories like Binti and Akata Witch leave me enthralled in a way few authors of fantasy can and have done. I was so excited to receive an ARC of Akata Warrior. I read Akata Witch after I discovered Binti and was sad that there had been no follow-up, since Akata Witch was written in 2011. Well, Reader, I am happy to tell you that not only do we have a 475+ page sequel here in Akata Warrior, it is abundantly clear that further riches lie ahead because Sunny and Chichi have some serious promises to keep by the end of this one.
The start of Akata Warrior, after a rather stern warning from the Obi Library Collective of Leopard Knocks Department of Responsibility to Lambs like you and me, finds Sunny Nwazue a little older, a little wiser and more adept in using her magical abilities. But don't worry. It's going to take all of about half an hour for everything to go totally haywire. Sunny is just not destined for a quiet life. In the course of learning Nsibidi, the Nimm heritage language of her grandmother, studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and teacher Anatov, she continues to learn more about her spirit face, Anyanwu and their connection. And then all the trouble begins, from her brother Chukwu's misfortune to meeting the fearsome Udide (an entity whose book we learned about in the first Akata novel) in order to fulfill a challenging task laid out for her in a Nsibidi postcard to the future left to her by her long dead (and murdered) grandmother. Along the way we will see frightening masquerades, more of the lovingly devoted wasp artist Della, meet a charming giant flying grasscutter (a magical giant version of the greater cane rat, you bet I looked it up and they are smaller than capybaras but no less cute if you like big rodents) named Grashcoatah, and see the Oha coven draw closer in friendship, and the sibling bonds between Sunny, Chukwu and Ugonna draw closer, as well. Most poignantly, the relationship between Sunny and Anyanwu is tested, or at least Sunny feels that it is tested. But this albino girl who can live in two worlds at once is strong enough to overcome many things, even if sometimes it's because she gets some help in doing so.
This book is filled with magic, camaraderie, humor, and whimsy. Quite a delight. I'm still chuckling over Sasha, upon their arrival in the giant magical city of Osisi, asking whether people "pay rent and have mortgages here."
June 26, 2023
Wanting to love this more than I am. The story is kind of all over the place, though. I don't feel as invested as I did with Witch
This one didn't blow me away like the first book did.
Just a 3 star for me
This one didn't blow me away like the first book did.
Just a 3 star for me
November 12, 2017
In Book #1, Sunny Nwazue was inducted into the secret Leopard Society, Nigerians with magical powers. Along with her Leopard Society friends, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha, and her spirit face, Anyanwu, Sunny will lead a dangerous mission to stop an apocalypse by a terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Along the way, Sunny finds her own path, breaking rules, having to support her older brother, who gets involved with a very bad crowd at college as well as deal with her own fears of demons.
The beauty of this book is the African mysticism in the backstories and Sunny's dreams/visions as well as the strong bonds of the main characters and their Leopard Society mentors. True fantasy, especially the grasscutter and other mysterious beings.
The beauty of this book is the African mysticism in the backstories and Sunny's dreams/visions as well as the strong bonds of the main characters and their Leopard Society mentors. True fantasy, especially the grasscutter and other mysterious beings.
July 4, 2022
when i say i don’t want to read YA fantasy out of frustration this is the exception always
July 20, 2020
Alice Walker writes, “What is always needed in the appreciation of art, or life, is the larger perspective. Connections made, or at least attempted, where none existed before, the straining to encompass in one’s glance at the varied world the common thread, the unifying theme through the immense diversity, a fearlessness of growth, of search. Of looking, that enlarges the private and the public world.” Later, in the same essay, Prof. Walker says, “To take Toni Morrison’s statement further, if that is possible, in my own work I write not only what I want to read - understanding fully and indelibly that if I don’t do it no one else is so vitally interested, or capable of doing it to my satisfaction - I write the things I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ.” (emphasis in the original; from “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” - in the essay “Saving the Life That Is Our Own” The Importance of Models in the Artist’s Life” p. 5 and p. 13)
This is the fifth book review I have written about Nnedi Okorafor’s books. It was not until I came across these passages in Prof. Walker’s essay that I realized what Prof. Okorafor’s books made me FEEL. It was a real epiphany. A sudden appreciation for that larger perspective that these books have brought me. These books make me long for more stories like this and I am sure I am going to be tracking down every book that Nnedi Okaorafor has written.
In this story we follow the protagonist Sunny Nwazue, an albino Nigerian girl whose parents are of the Igbo ethnic group on magical adventures within Nigeria and locally situated magical spaces. In Akata Warrior Prof. Okorafor develops her team of characters. They are led from one perilous event to another. They face challenges and have a road trip from the south of Nigeria to Lagos. The road trip gives the reader a lot of insights to life in Nigeria, in the context of a story. Many readers, like me, may not have had that experience before.
Some of the beautiful themes of this story are love for family, loyalty, courage and innovative thinking. While the main characters are teens they bring heroism in a way that is believable. They also carry their insecurities and vulnerabilities into their adventures. Reading this book gave me new connections. Those connections kept me coming back to this book and I would have forsaken all my other reading to finish it - but I disciplined myself because my other books had been left unfinished for far too long. To follow Alice Walker’s idea here, I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read a story like this which unifies human experiences in such an interesting and entertaining fashion. Finishing this book was my reward for my self-imposed discipline and it was worth it. I recommend this book and its predecessor, Akata Witch. I also recommend Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series as well. Even though I have yet to read them I am willing to say her other books are also safe bets for interesting and entertaining reading.
This is the fifth book review I have written about Nnedi Okorafor’s books. It was not until I came across these passages in Prof. Walker’s essay that I realized what Prof. Okorafor’s books made me FEEL. It was a real epiphany. A sudden appreciation for that larger perspective that these books have brought me. These books make me long for more stories like this and I am sure I am going to be tracking down every book that Nnedi Okaorafor has written.
In this story we follow the protagonist Sunny Nwazue, an albino Nigerian girl whose parents are of the Igbo ethnic group on magical adventures within Nigeria and locally situated magical spaces. In Akata Warrior Prof. Okorafor develops her team of characters. They are led from one perilous event to another. They face challenges and have a road trip from the south of Nigeria to Lagos. The road trip gives the reader a lot of insights to life in Nigeria, in the context of a story. Many readers, like me, may not have had that experience before.
Some of the beautiful themes of this story are love for family, loyalty, courage and innovative thinking. While the main characters are teens they bring heroism in a way that is believable. They also carry their insecurities and vulnerabilities into their adventures. Reading this book gave me new connections. Those connections kept me coming back to this book and I would have forsaken all my other reading to finish it - but I disciplined myself because my other books had been left unfinished for far too long. To follow Alice Walker’s idea here, I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read a story like this which unifies human experiences in such an interesting and entertaining fashion. Finishing this book was my reward for my self-imposed discipline and it was worth it. I recommend this book and its predecessor, Akata Witch. I also recommend Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series as well. Even though I have yet to read them I am willing to say her other books are also safe bets for interesting and entertaining reading.
January 25, 2022
I have finally read the sequel after reading Akata Witch for the 3rd time.
Akata Warrior picks up a year after the start of Akata Witch. Sunny has continued to progress in her Leopard lessons, and so have her coven mates. However, Sunny is being haunted by visions of a catastrophic future where the world is on fire. She doesn't know how to fight these visions or who to tell. She knows Ekwensu is involved somehow and that she'll have to face her at some point.
I really enjoyed this sequel! I don't know why I didn't read it sooner. I enjoyed seeing Sunny's character grow. She learns a lot in this book, both about the real world and about the Leopard world. I enjoyed the subplot about Sunny about her older brother's troubles at school. I'm hoping Chukwu have a bigger role in Sunny's life and become a confidant for her after everything that happened.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the sort of relationship between Chichi and Chukwu. I'm not sure how old Chichi is, but Sunny is 12-13 so I don't think Chichi is much older. And Chukwu is at least 17 if not 18. Bad vibes. Then there's the whole Chichi and Sasha situation. Why are these kids even worrying about dating?? You're twelve!! Calm down. I would totally be fine with them dating but like does that have to be part of the story now? Can't they wait until they're older. Dating isn't even that fun kids. Plus Orlu and Sunny have something brewing and like ugh why did this whole coven have to become romantic? Can't they just be best friends forever!?
Overall, I'm really enjoying this story and all the juju in it. I can't wait to see what happens in Akata Woman!
Rep: Albino Nigerian-American female MC, Nigerian-American male side character, Nigerian female side character, Nigerian male side character with dyslexia, Nigerian female side character with severe scoliosis.
CWs: Ableism, blood, body shaming, bullying, confinement, death, gore, injury/injury detail, violence, spiders including small and very large ones. Minor: Racism/colorism, racial slurs, misogyny, animal death.
Akata Warrior picks up a year after the start of Akata Witch. Sunny has continued to progress in her Leopard lessons, and so have her coven mates. However, Sunny is being haunted by visions of a catastrophic future where the world is on fire. She doesn't know how to fight these visions or who to tell. She knows Ekwensu is involved somehow and that she'll have to face her at some point.
I really enjoyed this sequel! I don't know why I didn't read it sooner. I enjoyed seeing Sunny's character grow. She learns a lot in this book, both about the real world and about the Leopard world. I enjoyed the subplot about Sunny about her older brother's troubles at school. I'm hoping Chukwu have a bigger role in Sunny's life and become a confidant for her after everything that happened.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the sort of relationship between Chichi and Chukwu. I'm not sure how old Chichi is, but Sunny is 12-13 so I don't think Chichi is much older. And Chukwu is at least 17 if not 18. Bad vibes. Then there's the whole Chichi and Sasha situation. Why are these kids even worrying about dating?? You're twelve!! Calm down. I would totally be fine with them dating but like does that have to be part of the story now? Can't they wait until they're older. Dating isn't even that fun kids. Plus Orlu and Sunny have something brewing and like ugh why did this whole coven have to become romantic? Can't they just be best friends forever!?
Overall, I'm really enjoying this story and all the juju in it. I can't wait to see what happens in Akata Woman!
Rep: Albino Nigerian-American female MC, Nigerian-American male side character, Nigerian female side character, Nigerian male side character with dyslexia, Nigerian female side character with severe scoliosis.
CWs: Ableism, blood, body shaming, bullying, confinement, death, gore, injury/injury detail, violence, spiders including small and very large ones. Minor: Racism/colorism, racial slurs, misogyny, animal death.
February 27, 2021
La reseña completa en https://inthenevernever.blogspot.com/...
"Ándate con cuidado lector, porque este libro contiene juju".
Magia, amistad, mascaradas, el fin del mundo… Guerrera Akata, de Nnedi Okorafor, es una novela llena de aventuras, con un mundo que vale la pena visitar y que hace alarde de un derroche de imaginación constante. Uno repleto de seres mágicos y fascinantes que poco o nada tienen que ver con la tradición occidental sobre la que estamos acostumbrados a leer. Okorafor nos lleva a explorar mitos y folclore nigeriano que para mí han sido un verdadero placer descubrir. Además, la historia de superación de Sunny es preciosa, y es emocionante verla crecer página a página.
"Ándate con cuidado lector, porque este libro contiene juju".
Magia, amistad, mascaradas, el fin del mundo… Guerrera Akata, de Nnedi Okorafor, es una novela llena de aventuras, con un mundo que vale la pena visitar y que hace alarde de un derroche de imaginación constante. Uno repleto de seres mágicos y fascinantes que poco o nada tienen que ver con la tradición occidental sobre la que estamos acostumbrados a leer. Okorafor nos lleva a explorar mitos y folclore nigeriano que para mí han sido un verdadero placer descubrir. Además, la historia de superación de Sunny es preciosa, y es emocionante verla crecer página a página.
January 28, 2022
Wow! Loved this one even more than the first one. There's so much here about the world and all the relationships that we didn't get in the first one. I'm so glad I finally got around to continuing this series!
A year and a half has passed since Sunny first learned she was a magic Leopard Person in Nigeria and took on the challenges that came with that. Since then, she's had a lot of trouble keeping things from her family, but they're learning to accept that she's different in ways she can't talk about, and she's learning to live alongside them.
The family's role in the story, especially the role of Sunny's brothers Chukwu and Ugonna, are one of my favorite new aspects in Akata Warrior. Where her older brothers were just kind of there in the first book, they play a much larger role in this one. Sunny has become closer with both of them in surprising ways, and she's able to support Chukwu as he goes off to college. Both of her brothers pick up things about Sunny's world that she doesn't want them to know, and doesn't exactly understand how they know. In this way, her brothers become more characters than the background figureheads they were in the first book.
Sunny's relationships with Sasha, Chichi, and especially Orlu have also grown a lot, especially as they are starting to explore romantic as well as platonic relationships with each other and others around them. This somewhat distracts them from their tasks, but it also adds a lot to the story. This is interesting because a lot of the times authors will sacrifice plot for romance, but Nnedi Okorafor knows how to use this to strengthen the plot instead. I love it.
One other thing I love that Nnedi Okorafor does here is that she builds the main plot for the next book, Akata Woman, from the middle of the story. This is important because, with the way Akata Warrior ends, tacking it on at the end might leave this seeming like a spinoff. Instead, she creates a strong setup from the middle of the book on what we'll be seeing, meaning that the ending of this second installment actually flows well.
As in the first book, I love that this is a fantasy world where adults listen to and believe children, which is something I see missing from a lot of the genre. As a future educator, this is absolutely the kind of fantasy I want to see in my classroom.
Even though the books will be somewhat above the level of the grades I want to teach, I would love to feature this in my classroom somehow.
I can't wait to read Akata Woman as soon as I can!
A year and a half has passed since Sunny first learned she was a magic Leopard Person in Nigeria and took on the challenges that came with that. Since then, she's had a lot of trouble keeping things from her family, but they're learning to accept that she's different in ways she can't talk about, and she's learning to live alongside them.
The family's role in the story, especially the role of Sunny's brothers Chukwu and Ugonna, are one of my favorite new aspects in Akata Warrior. Where her older brothers were just kind of there in the first book, they play a much larger role in this one. Sunny has become closer with both of them in surprising ways, and she's able to support Chukwu as he goes off to college. Both of her brothers pick up things about Sunny's world that she doesn't want them to know, and doesn't exactly understand how they know. In this way, her brothers become more characters than the background figureheads they were in the first book.
Sunny's relationships with Sasha, Chichi, and especially Orlu have also grown a lot, especially as they are starting to explore romantic as well as platonic relationships with each other and others around them. This somewhat distracts them from their tasks, but it also adds a lot to the story. This is interesting because a lot of the times authors will sacrifice plot for romance, but Nnedi Okorafor knows how to use this to strengthen the plot instead. I love it.
One other thing I love that Nnedi Okorafor does here is that she builds the main plot for the next book, Akata Woman, from the middle of the story. This is important because, with the way Akata Warrior ends, tacking it on at the end might leave this seeming like a spinoff. Instead, she creates a strong setup from the middle of the book on what we'll be seeing, meaning that the ending of this second installment actually flows well.
As in the first book, I love that this is a fantasy world where adults listen to and believe children, which is something I see missing from a lot of the genre. As a future educator, this is absolutely the kind of fantasy I want to see in my classroom.
Even though the books will be somewhat above the level of the grades I want to teach, I would love to feature this in my classroom somehow.
I can't wait to read Akata Woman as soon as I can!
November 22, 2022
I don't know if I didn't like this one because it wasn't as formative for me in YA literature or if I just am more objective now. Either way, I liked it a lot, but I definitely was a lot more confused and wasn't as fully immersed in this one than I was in Akata Witch.
Akata Warrior continues as Sunny learns more about her unique abilities and about Leopard culture. But the more she learns about her world and her spirit face, the more danger she is in and the more she feels isolated. This time she must face one of the most powerful masques to save the world from destruction by flame and pollution.
I do love that this book continues to explore the struggles of growing up and identity. It becomes even more complicated as Sunny gets older and learns more about her brothers and family, but also about her world and herself. This struggle continues and, as in life, has no real resolution. I also love the exploration of language and communication. I also always love when a novel teaches me something I didn't know about current events; Akata Warrior uses the Niger Delta oil spill as a plot point. (https://www.theguardian.com/environme...)
I'm not sure Okorafor succeeds as much in broadening the world as she did at creating the world of Akata Witch. We get entirely new dimensions that don't really get fleshed out. I also miss Sunny going to school... I miss the balance of loving learning in the regular world, and her intelligence, with learning about Leopard-dom. Sunny instead is repeatedly described as taller and stronger than she was before, and while it is true that children develop and change a lot in puberty - it feels like the sole focus of her personality.
Akata Warrior continues as Sunny learns more about her unique abilities and about Leopard culture. But the more she learns about her world and her spirit face, the more danger she is in and the more she feels isolated. This time she must face one of the most powerful masques to save the world from destruction by flame and pollution.
I do love that this book continues to explore the struggles of growing up and identity. It becomes even more complicated as Sunny gets older and learns more about her brothers and family, but also about her world and herself. This struggle continues and, as in life, has no real resolution. I also love the exploration of language and communication. I also always love when a novel teaches me something I didn't know about current events; Akata Warrior uses the Niger Delta oil spill as a plot point. (https://www.theguardian.com/environme...)
I'm not sure Okorafor succeeds as much in broadening the world as she did at creating the world of Akata Witch. We get entirely new dimensions that don't really get fleshed out. I also miss Sunny going to school... I miss the balance of loving learning in the regular world, and her intelligence, with learning about Leopard-dom. Sunny instead is repeatedly described as taller and stronger than she was before, and while it is true that children develop and change a lot in puberty - it feels like the sole focus of her personality.
March 11, 2019
Fun story, painfully bad prose
This is a fun story. I really enjoy the cultural elements that go into the magic and fantasy in this world. However, the prose itself is pretty bad. Sometimes distractingly so. During a particularly serious part near the climax something was described as resembling "a thousand farts" or something like that, to give a particularly egregious example. Some of the metaphors and similes were painful too and there were times where I was annoyed by the stereotyping of African-American characters. I finished the book but this might be my least favorite Nnedi Okorafor book I've read so far.
This is a fun story. I really enjoy the cultural elements that go into the magic and fantasy in this world. However, the prose itself is pretty bad. Sometimes distractingly so. During a particularly serious part near the climax something was described as resembling "a thousand farts" or something like that, to give a particularly egregious example. Some of the metaphors and similes were painful too and there were times where I was annoyed by the stereotyping of African-American characters. I finished the book but this might be my least favorite Nnedi Okorafor book I've read so far.
April 19, 2021
Tellement riches en aventures de toute sorte ce deuxième tome! Soyez attentifs, il s'en passe des choses dans l'univers de Sunny Nwazue ☀️ C'est intriguant, c'est chaud, ça déroute. Vraiment hâte à la suite!
March 8, 2021
As usual, the thing that shines brightest in this book is the world building, in which Okorafor skillfully and uniquely blends Africa with a magical counterpart that is interwoven with the mundane. The other strong component is the friend group/coven of Sunny (MC), Chichi, Orlu, and Sasha. I thought the story had a meandering feel to it, with bright bursts of action, real danger, and vibrant descriptions. I believe the meandering quality has to do with the art of oral storytelling that this book appears to share roots with, although in a completely creative and surprising way. Just like the last one, although in both books there are elements of true darkness, I think the most applicable descriptor is “whimsical,” and I enjoyed my time in this world once again. I’m pumped for the third one, whenever it may be published!
June 7, 2022
I found myself increasingly frustrated with this sequel, mainly because the awesome story was overshadowed by the excessive repetition. I don't think I noticed as much when I was only listening to the audio in bits and pieces, but in one long binge it's nearly painful. The author can be so incredibly inventive with locations and creatures, yet she can't seem to characterize Sunny in new and different ways. She's always exhausted, nauseated, dizzy, in tears, or enraged. Using the same phrases over and over... I hate to nitpick what is otherwise such a unique and refreshing story. I'll go away now. I'm just exhausted ;)
***
GR Personal Rating System:
★★★★★ 5 Stars ~ LOVED
★★★★☆ 4 Stars ~ ENJOYED
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars ~ LIKED
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars ~ MEH
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star ~ NOPE
***
GR Personal Rating System:
★★★★★ 5 Stars ~ LOVED
★★★★☆ 4 Stars ~ ENJOYED
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars ~ LIKED
★★☆☆☆ 2 Stars ~ MEH
★☆☆☆☆ 1 Star ~ NOPE
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,485 reviews