Fantasy set in late 1700s Africa, with a young woman obliged to marry the chief's son from the warring tribe, but also struggling with a magical gift Fantasy set in late 1700s Africa, with a young woman obliged to marry the chief's son from the warring tribe, but also struggling with a magical gift of vision that could change history.
Loved the idea and wow, the cover, but the writing style isn't doing it for me: it's flat, with little description and a lot of 'as you know' exposition, and the heroine feels a lot younger than 16 in her naivety and behaviour. Wonder if it was written as YA? In any case, IMO it needed a stronger edit to bring out the voice and ground the story, but YMMV here as YA never works for me. ...more
Lagos-set murder mystery with a forensic psychologist detective, investigating the disappearance of the wife of a megachurch's evangelical bishop.
It'Lagos-set murder mystery with a forensic psychologist detective, investigating the disappearance of the wife of a megachurch's evangelical bishop.
It's a great premise and there's a lot to like in this series but there's a kind of cumulative attitude to women throughout that made it a bit draining as a read. Lavishly detailed accounts of the wife's abuse, an insistence on the formidable brilliance of the hero's wife that doesn't translate into letting her do anything at all, a really incredibly unconvinving teen girls sub plot. It's not that it feels misogynistic per se, it's just the women in this book have zero agency in either public or private spheres except as expressed in self harm, and...you know, if you want to read a book about Nigerian women clawing for agency, I strongly recommend The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives and Dazzling and You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty. ...more
This is absolutely fantastic. It's about two barely pubescent girls but absolutely not YA: it's very much grappling with growing up in an intensely miThis is absolutely fantastic. It's about two barely pubescent girls but absolutely not YA: it's very much grappling with growing up in an intensely misogynist work where girls are commodified, bullied, disregarded, and seen as sexual objects from a young age. Both the MCs have lost their fathers and are mistreated for it: Treasure's uncles basically raided the house and threw out her and her mother to starve as soon as the father died; Ozoemena's father has left the family for what looks like an episode of mental illness and she is being sneered at.
The book starts a bit slow, and a little confusing because it's split between Treasure's narrative ('then'), Ozoemena 'then', and Ozoemena 'now', and it's unclear at first how far apart the stories are and how they intersect. Stick with it. Everything ratchets into place absolutely perfectly, I felt genuinely awed as I realised how it was unfolding.
Plus the voices are great, the descriptions vivid, the emotions chokingly relatable. A really powerful piece of writing and a compellingly told story. Highly recommended. ...more
Murder mystery with a Nigerian born, US educated psychologist dragged unwillingly into a cold case involving the necklacing (mob murder) of three studMurder mystery with a Nigerian born, US educated psychologist dragged unwillingly into a cold case involving the necklacing (mob murder) of three students. Fairly brutal in its depiction of Nigerian politics and corruption, and the gross inequality, as well as showing the human cost of a non functioning system and the different ways it hurts people.
I loved a lot about this, except the murderer, whose motivation honestly ended up feeling like a bit of a sideshow to the story. That can work very well--the truth of what happened spools out a lot further than a simple whodunnit--but I almost wanted less of him in that case, and I was a bit uncomfortable with elements of the story relating to abuse and mental illness. The good stuff is great and I'm absolutely getting the next one, the plotting just needed another shake. ...more
Litfic with a Gothic house built by an Indian in South Africa, on a dual time scheme, where a lonely girl discovers secrets of the past. Indian/South Litfic with a Gothic house built by an Indian in South Africa, on a dual time scheme, where a lonely girl discovers secrets of the past. Indian/South African Gothic sounded irresistible and I am a sucker for djinn.
Regrettably, it's hard to see why there is a djinn in this, it's weirdly irrelevant to the plot or even themes. TBH the interspersed timelines don't really disguise that this is two separate stories: one a highly compelling 1930s family Gothic melodrama which I thoroughly enjoyed, the other a sequence of events depicting the people now living in the house, of which I just couldn't see the point--none of them were terribly interesting, none of their stories had much resolution. The 1930s story is terrific, and I wished it had been the full novel. ...more
Second in this terrifically imagined alt-African set fantasy series. And may I say how much I appreciated the detailed multi-page synopsis of book 1 aSecond in this terrifically imagined alt-African set fantasy series. And may I say how much I appreciated the detailed multi-page synopsis of book 1 at the start. Jeez, SFF authors, I'm old, just give me a The Story So Far instead of making me spend the first 15% of the book playing catch up!
It was especially needed because this series is complex. Lots of characters, lots of motivations and factions and history and politics, tons of worldbuilding. The atmosphere is fabulous, the descriptions vivid to the point of tangible without being overdone.
It's quite a dark world. Everyone is flawed in the extreme, motives shift. I did feel as with book 1 that I'd have liked someone to root for in a more unequivocal way, but it's literally the point of the series that we don't get that. Complex, intelligent, absorbing, and once again, the cover slaps....more
An absolute stormer of Afrofantasy, somewhere between fable and fantasy, with a tremendous premise, haunting writing, superhero-esque magic, and a bruAn absolute stormer of Afrofantasy, somewhere between fable and fantasy, with a tremendous premise, haunting writing, superhero-esque magic, and a brutal message. Really excellent. I'm kind of surprised it's not standalone, it wraps up so perfectly, but am nevertheless delighted there will be more, and will swoop on the next from this author. Tor knock it out of the park once again....more
Rowan is a single dad living with the mother of his baby (they had a ONS, tried dating, and are now coparenting and living in the sameGorgeous cover.
Rowan is a single dad living with the mother of his baby (they had a ONS, tried dating, and are now coparenting and living in the same house. Can we give it up for a really adult relationship between parents who aren't together with no evil exing.). He's also an anxiety basket case because of parents who never loved him and left him feeling unworthy. Delilah was brought up by wealthy, unforgiving parents as a party girl until her mum got done for embezzlement; she's reinvented herself as a Nice Person but without really addressinng her deep seated guilt.
Which is to say they both have Issues. This book is very much about them working that out, thinking and talking it through: there's not an awful lot in the way of external plot, though we do meet a very nice supporting cast (all of whose stories would be welcome). It's classic Therese Beharrie: decent but damaged people using their mutual liking and desire as a spur and aid to sorting themselves out (which is not at all the same thing as having the other person sort you out, still less being Healed By Sexing).
That does mean the pace is leisurely, and the romance quite careful and tentative. If you want wildly overblown drama and angsty swoons, you've come to the wrong shop. Rather, it's very engaging and likeable and...grown-up, really, with a clear-sighted view of how we tie ourselves in knots and how we might go about untying them. Also more open-door than much of her work, with lots of UST and a well-done scene. If you like character work and want a book that reinforces a fundamental faith in humanity, you'll love this. ...more
Good God, this was incredible fun. Absolutely cracking. A sort of take on Sinbad but with more historical accuracy (apart from the demons, marids, etcGood God, this was incredible fun. Absolutely cracking. A sort of take on Sinbad but with more historical accuracy (apart from the demons, marids, etc), with a middle-aged retired lady pirate getting the crew back together to take on a Frankish coloniser/sorceror/baddie.
It's just fabulous exuberant fun. Amina's narrative is beautifully balanced between elaborate 1001 Nights description and extreme sweary bluntness. The framing device with the scribe works perfectly. The adventure is terrifically paced, with again a great balance of power and agency (Amina is good but not that good, makes mistakes, is sometimes way outclassed, and depends on her talent for friendship and loyalty, not on herself alone). Also, a middle aged heroine with a dodgy knee and a sex life, and plenty of queer rep.
Vastly entertaining. I can't wait for the next. If you want to be swept away to the Indian Ocean instead of sogging in grey rain, this is your book. ...more
That was a very odd reading experience. It's a mixture: we get brutal realism about life in Lagos, the profound social injustice and wealth gap, the pThat was a very odd reading experience. It's a mixture: we get brutal realism about life in Lagos, the profound social injustice and wealth gap, the pernicious effects of organised religion, pervading misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and violence against women and queer people of all stripes. But there's also an intermittent fantastical element, with a narrator who serves the spirit of the city, possession by demons, and an uprising of the dead. It's told in a lot of separate stories covering a *lot* of characters, without much effort to remind you of who a person is when they return 200 pages later. If I'd read it in a sitting that wouldn't have been a problem, but over four days I got lost, honestly.
The writing is genuinely incredible at points, the imagination soaring, the rage at injustice palpable. It's a super queer book, with incredible tenderness, vulnerability, pain, defiance, and hope. I kept reading when I was baffled what was going on because of that, and the writer is wildly talented and has a lot to say, but for me, it really needed an editor to pull it together into a more cohesive whole. ...more
Novella set in Kenya, about a family whose 19 year old son has just killed himself, and whose sister is tantalised by the possibility of turning back Novella set in Kenya, about a family whose 19 year old son has just killed himself, and whose sister is tantalised by the possibility of turning back time to save him. The magical element is there but really it's a meditation on grief, loss, family, memory. And the importance of showing kindness now, not putting 'what people will think' or other priorities first, because there may not be more chances later. Lovely writing.
Merged review:
Novella set in Kenya, about a family whose 19 year old son has just killed himself, and whose sister is tantalised by the possibility of turning back time to save him. The magical element is there but really it's a meditation on grief, loss, family, memory. And the importance of showing kindness now, not putting 'what people will think' or other priorities first, because there may not be more chances later. Lovely writing....more
Preordered this and was really looking forward but very much not for me; clearly is very much for an awful lot of people. I just stuck really badly onPreordered this and was really looking forward but very much not for me; clearly is very much for an awful lot of people. I just stuck really badly on a couple of aspects of the world building to the point where I couldn't go on, and in general it gave me more of an NA feel than I enjoy. An entirely YMMV DNF....more
Romance with Black Muslim MCs, set mostly in Uganda. Extremely soft and fluffy: heroine is a struggling graphic designer single mum, hero is a billionRomance with Black Muslim MCs, set mostly in Uganda. Extremely soft and fluffy: heroine is a struggling graphic designer single mum, hero is a billionaire single dad (who has clawed his way up after a traumatic childhood as a Somali refugee and has fairly reasonable issues based on that). Their kids were swapped in the hospital at birth, as they discover when the boys are 3. Events unfold fairly predictably but no less pleasantly for that. It's extremely low angst, with a lot of kindness and consideration going on on all sides, and the hero very ready to acknowledge when he's wrong. ...more
A Nigerian story of a breakaway orisha (once a little god of nightmares, now kind of freelance) who teams up with a succubus, and then gets forced intA Nigerian story of a breakaway orisha (once a little god of nightmares, now kind of freelance) who teams up with a succubus, and then gets forced into doing a heist on the British Museum to steal back an ancient African artefact I do not know how anyone could resist this summary.
It's a bit of a chaotic book. Partly because the actual heist takes place over a very short time, so we do a lot of jumping back and forth in the timeline and between backstories. It's very much about capitalism (the various pantheons are basically predatory and selfishly run companies) and colonialism, and about defining and having faith in yourself. Plus, massive spectacular fights involving lightning bolts, and Aleister Crowley. I thoroughly enjoyed hanging on for the ride, but it is definitely chaotic.
I wasn't a million per cent sure about the succubus ("woman uses sex to drain men's souls" is not a myth I find easy to separate from the associated misogyny) but Talabi makes a pretty good stab at pulling it off, giving her her own strong character and feelings, and not demonising her worse than the other soul-stealing gods because she does it through sex.
Exuberant writing and ebullient imagination made this a lot of fun. It needed a better line editor, but so many books do now. Gorgeous cover. ...more
A very entertaining satirical look at Nigeria, with side jabs at the UK, US, NGOs and white saviours while we're at it. It's darkly funny about power,A very entertaining satirical look at Nigeria, with side jabs at the UK, US, NGOs and white saviours while we're at it. It's darkly funny about power, corruption and hypocrisy, written with oomph and vigour, and barely a wasted word. I want his novel. ...more
A m/m contemporary set in a UK Bachelor-type dating show. Obiora is a second generation Nigerian Brit, proudly bisexual, still struggling to see a wayA m/m contemporary set in a UK Bachelor-type dating show. Obiora is a second generation Nigerian Brit, proudly bisexual, still struggling to see a way forward after the devastating death of the woman he loved years ago. Ejiro is a recent immigrant whose abusively controlling and homophobic mother is trying to make him return to Nigeria. Ejiro considers himself straight in a not-thinking-about-it way but turns out to be demisexual and biromantic, both things he needs to come to terms with as he falls for Obiora.
That’s a lot of backstory angst. However, the actual romance is almost completely angst-free. There’s a looooong slow burn with lots of pining in the first half (if you like pining you will be in heaven because this is Pine Forest), and then lots of mutual adoration and endearments when they get together. There’s basically no internal conflict—Obiora is very patient with Ejiro’s need to take his time before a sexual relationship, Ejiro understands Obiora’s bereavement, and they are both immensely kind to each other.
I have to say, I found it a bit rose-tinted, in large part because of the implausibly nice British setting which seems frankly a bit too optimistic about this goddamn country's racism and homophobia and xenophobia. It's very much how things ought to be, but that just kind of made me think about how they are. It's possible I've been reading too much news for my own good.
The world of the book is a super positive one. Ejiro’s mother is awful, but she’s a long way away, and the actual environment they live in, both on and off TV, is super queer friendly, such that they both feel safe with coming out on TV and with public PDAs. Ejiro lives really quite well on the salary of an assistant chef in his uncle’s restaurant, and Obiora can afford lavish balloon rides as a personal trainer, and being wildly visible contestants on a popular reality show talked about on social media has no downsides. Basically, it's *extremely* soft and sweet and gentle to its leads. I would have liked a bit more tonal variation in the second half even with that, but if what you want is a long wallow and total escape, this will float your boat perfectly. ...more
Terrific book discussing various facets of Africa. Obviously this is a huge subject, but this book gives a good sense of the breadth by cherry-pickingTerrific book discussing various facets of Africa. Obviously this is a huge subject, but this book gives a good sense of the breadth by cherry-picking examples from different countries and histories, and focusing on a particular set of topics. It covers colonialism and the scramble for Africa, the mass theft of cultural heritage for museums (it is really embarrassing to read this book as a white Brit), how Hollywood portrays Africa, current issues like strongmen/dictators, success stories, white saviours and unhelpful charity, and behaviour which is somewhere between ignorance and appropriation (jollof rice and the Jamie Oliver nonsense).
My knowledge of African history is pathetic--for some reason we don't learn about that at school, can't think why--so this was hugely informative and helped slot a lot of things together. I particularly liked the sections on strongmen and wealth-hoarding grossly privileged leaders that included pieces on Johnson and Trump, written in the style in which people write about African despots.
It's very well written: evocative, vivid, often extremely funny, with biting sarcasm but also immense generosity of spirit, which really makes you read with a sense of hope as well as fury. Compelling reading, highly informative, and highly recommended....more
A fake-relationship romance between a serious professor and an internet influencer. Very much on the 'rolling around in luxury' side of things (I wasnA fake-relationship romance between a serious professor and an internet influencer. Very much on the 'rolling around in luxury' side of things (I wasn't entirely clear if Alexander had tons of money or no money) while also holding that a life spent in pursuit of luxury and wealth is shallow and unfulfilling. AKA the eternal contradiction of the millionaire romance, ahaha.
This is a debut, and the plot/structure kind of shows that (it's rather a sequence of events) but the writing is assured, and the main characters likeable, with depth and individuality and a nice slow burn between them. ...more
Second chance romance as a pair of high school lovers (she from a rich family, he a street hawker on a scholarship) are reunited after twelve years.
ISecond chance romance as a pair of high school lovers (she from a rich family, he a street hawker on a scholarship) are reunited after twelve years.
It alternates 'now' chapters (they meet by chance at a wedding and start to rekindle their relationship, although she's engaged to another man) with 'then' chapters telling us about their falling in love and being separated by their families. There's a lot of 'then', taking us to approx 2/3 of the way through the book.
The problem for me was, that's a lot of '17yos in love' and when they reunite after 12 years, they kind of still felt like 17yos in love. It's very easy to believe they fall for each other at first sight all over again, but because so much page time is given to them being, basically, teens, we don't really get the sense I needed of a dependable adult relationship developing--so the love affair felt wildly emotional, but not really very grounded. Which is fine if you like a wildly emotional love affair, but didn't quite work for me because (view spoiler)[at like 80% of the way through we learn Dunni had Obinna's baby who is now 11. This is completely sprung on us, the reader, and indeed Obinna but I'm afraid I couldn't really cope with the existence of an 11yo--about whom Dunni had apparently not thought in all her 'now' page time?--as a plot twist. In particular because Dunni makes an unscheduled stay in Nigeria to bonk Obinna, which is exactly the kind of 'abandon your kids' jetsetting she complains about her own mother doing through the book. (We also see Obinna dress down the father who abandoned his family to get rich, like he didn't do *exactly the same thing* when he ghosted Dunni to get rich, albeit not knowing she was pregnant.) (hide spoiler)]
If you like high-drama romance with Plot Twists and passionate unreasoning love and dramatic families and soapiness, this will absolutely ring your bell. It didn't quite work for me, but I'm in a very low angst/drama reading place at the moment (and I was still compelled to finish it, so there you go.) Wonderfully depicted Nigerian setting, with some fabulous food and lovely use of dialogue, also very good cover....more
Second in a duet after The Royal Baby He Must Claim although goodness knows what's going on with the series listings for both of these on GR.
ThoroughSecond in a duet after The Royal Baby He Must Claim although goodness knows what's going on with the series listings for both of these on GR.
Thoroughly enjoyable category romance that does exactly what you hope category romance will. There's a brooding hero who isn't generally a dick, and who realises and apologises when he is dickish (the author seems to make a speciality of this and I applaud), and a heroine who is determined without being "feisty" (I hate that word) and who makes mistakes and picks herself up again. Immense sense of place in the African small-kingdom setting. I did feel we needed more exploration of the hero's backstory, which is obviously severely traumatic, mostly hinted at, and understanding of his family background. But the central romance is great and I wolfed this down....more
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