Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn

Onyeka #3

by Tọlá Okogwu

Onyeka and her superpowered friends set off to England on a rescue mission in this third installment in the Onyeka middle grade series, perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, The Marvellers , and X-Men .

Solari—children with superpowers—have always been native to Nigeria, but Onyeka and her friends have been alerted to one hidden in England. Tasked with retrieving the young Solari, they successfully complete their mission, arriving safe and sound back at the Academy of the Sun with Tobi in tow.

Tobi’s identity and superpower remain a mystery, until a breadcrumb trail leads Onyeka to the truth. But someone else has uncovered the secret, and unlike Onyeka, they don’t have Tobi’s best interests at heart. Can our superhero save the day once again?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Fantasy, Superheroes, Science Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2024

About the author

Tọlá Okogwu was born in Lagos, Nigeria before moving to England at the age of six. After graduating with a degree in journalism, Tọlá spent far too much time trying to figure out what she wanted to do before realising her true passion was hair care and writing. When she isn’t engrossed either of these things, she can be found in Kent with her family and also writes under the pen name Lola Morayo.

Reviews

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliantly action packed, fast paced and twist riddled instalment in this sensational MG series. I can’t wait to see where Onyeka’s story goes next!

[Nadja · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was better than book 2, but I wasn't convinced by it as a whole.
I'm not sure if the series is officially over, but for me it is. (2.5 stars)

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun, action-packed entry in the series, with a lot of heart. The author is ageing up her characters well. I enjoy the setting and the characters, and the narration for the audiobook too.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONYEKA AND THE HEROES OF THE DAWN is a nice third instalment that explores leadership and what it takes to make those decisions.

I really liked the leadership and mentoring aspect of this book. Onyeka and her friends are challenged to become the leader of their little squad, and quickly learn just how much there is to leadership. The journey Onyeka in particular takes with respect to the idea of leadership is very unusual but a perspective fiction needs.

She also finds herself connecting to a young, isolated boy called Tobi. It lets her play the role others did for her when she arrived, role model, friend, guide, and so on. It was nice to see the Academy through her as a tour guide in full circle from when she was the newbie.

A nuclear fusion device is at the heart of the story. It gets basics right, like the coils and the basic mechanism by which energy is generated. However, as with pretty much all media, it massively overstates the energy it can provide to the grid (this confusion comes from mixing net energy/efficiency of production with nuclear reaction energy). There are some sci-fi elements added to it as well, to fit the advanced technology slant of the series.

I don't know of there will be any more books in this series. It ends in a place where progress is being made and Onyeka feels very settled, however the world has lots more challenges that could be faced. It's a nice balance of satisfying place to end emotionally but also leaving it open for more stories.

[Tim O'neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this is the last book in the series—the ending seems unwilling to commit to concluding the whole narrative and leaving the door open for one(?) more romp—it’s a fitting one. My objexions to the previous volumes almost don’t apply here, as Okogwu seems t’have figured out which characters belong in the story and which ones belong, for the most part, offstage/screen in the capital working on the more political-minded fallout of the events of the second book. We keep an eye on those politics, tho, thru the new(ish) character of the leader of Nigeriä (for some reason I cannot find her title on Google; something very close to “Lamu Ezeoba Okonjo”), who is perhaps the one character who dœsn’t have a consistent characterization, especially in a whiplash-recharacterization in the final scene that very well might catch you as offguard as it did I. Aside from her, tho, Onyeka, her vision of herself, and her relationship grow in earned, meaningful ways in this volumes and leave her in a appropriäte place if this is indeed the end of the whole story.

We listened to both the audiöbook and the dead-tree version, and the accent work in the former is excellent, well worth choosing that option if you’re not sure which one to go for. It is hard to find, tho: I had to ILL the printed version from halfway across the country and the audio from clear across the country! Why is this great series so hard to track down?

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love these books i love these books everyone should read these books
in my personal opinion onyeka is so much cooler than percy jackson or harry potter or any of the rest of them. read now!!!!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onyeka and her group of superpowered friends do several missions in this book. First, they go to England to retrieve Tobi, a young boy who belongs at the academy. After that, they find out that there's a big problem with power sources in Nigeria, and they are tasked with finding some missing parts of a device that will help with it.

There are several intersecting plot lines. Onyeka is asked to be a mentor to Tobi, and she and her family fall in love with him. But his origin, parents, and powers are a mystery that needs to be solved. It's possible that the only one who has answers is the bad guy who got locked away after the previous book. Onyeka really doesn't want to talk with him. Meanwhile, Onyeka's team is told they need to select a leader, and there is drama about that. And while getting the parts needed for the power source, Onyeka and others notice that the head of the Nigerian government, who is spearheading the project, seems kind of shifty; she even takes Tobi out of the academy, and Onyeka is desperate to find him.

About three quarters of the way through the book, I wondered whether all these plot elements could come together in the short space left. They did, very nicely.

I didn't like this book as well as the previous two for a couple of reasons. One, adults put the kids into hazardous situations without enough oversight or backup. I mean, they are superkids, but they don't have their leadership and protocols figured out. The other, I don't like fusion shown as the clean energy ideal. It's not, and advancing that idea is problematic.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Onyeka and four other students from the Academy of the Sun are on their way to London in the supersonic jet Gyrfalcon to retrieve a boy who is a Solari. Tobi's parents are dead, and he's with foster parents in Bristol, but when Onyeka, Adanna, Hassan, Zahrah, and Niyi arrive, they have to hunt him down, since people have broken into the house and attacked the adults. They get him back to Nigeria, where he enjoys being with Onyeka and her family. Onyeka's father is a bit demanding, and when he wants her to take more responsibility, she fights back, but eventually takes the test to become an Olori. When Nigeria's solar technology is failing, she is called in to help, but wants to quit after she messes up. It also upsets her that Tobi will be leaving her family to go into foster care elsewhere. When she finds out that Laamu-Ezeoba has evil plans for Tobi, she has to look within herself to harness her powers rather than giving in to her self-doubt.

This could be the end to the series, but there also could be another book. Trilogies are perfect, so I'm okay if Okogwu moves on to writing different series. My students don't usually want to commit to more than three books; it takes an entire quarter for them to read a trilogy, and if readers start a series in 6th grade as it's being published, they may age out of a longer series before it is completed.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

So here we have the last installment of Onyeka and her adventures. This time, she and her friends are tasked with finding a young Solari who has been hidden in England (vs. Nigeria). Onyeka and the gang bring back Tobi, whose powers and identity are a mystery. On their return, Onyeka now has to solve the mystery of the power source on top of trying to help Tobi figure out who and what he is.

As with the previous entries, I overall wasn't feeling the entire series. Loved the concept, loved the power system/magic/etc. but it felt like one great big shrug. I did appreciate Onyeka's character growth and maturity (which YMMV) but ultimately I'm not sure there was enough story to sustain a trilogy and it showed. The end left the opportunity for more, which really felt like "eh."

Of course, the series has its place and I'm sure it has its fans. It might make for a fun adaptation (either as 3 movies or a show/miniseries, etc.) for younger audiences who might be too young for many of the comics movies that are currently out there, etc. Overall I would say I am probably not interested in anything else this author writes unless it is something that really grabs my interest.

Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.

[trijnewijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik las net ongeveer 200 pagina’s in een dag, wat alleen maar kan betekenen dat het én vlot geschreven is én je smeekt om verder te lezen. Deel drie is wat minder verrassend, maar dat is vooral omdat de nieuwe tegenstander redelijker leek dan de grote slechterik uit deel één en twee. En ook al zorgt dat ervoor dat dit voelt als een goed moment om de reeks te stoppen, het voelt heerlijk verfrissend dat een auteur er voor een keer niet voor kiest om een nóg grotere slechterik te verzinnen.

Er komt zoveel aan bod over leiderschap, een voorbeeld zijn, moeilijke beslissingen nemen, hoe de beste beslissing niet automatisch ook juist voelt,… Je merkt aan alles dat dit deel geschreven is voor lezers die met Onyeka mee aan het opgroeien zijn en nu stilaan tieners worden. En wat krijgen die prille tieners met dit boek weer waardevolle lessen mee ❤️

[Cristina Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS SERIES!! I am so glad it ended well—still hoping there’s more to come from this series, even though this is supposed to be the conclusion. This book was better than book 2, as Onyeka kept less secrets from her friends & other plot lines felt as though they resolved themselves faster, or at least everyone had the same information on it. It felt like a conclusion to this wonderful series that genuinely makes me want to visit Nigeria some day (I know this book is a more futuristic take with the Solari and all, but still interested in seeing Lagos one day in person). I love this series💛☀️ Hope to read about Onyeka, her friends, & the Solari again in the future, as a reread or a new book.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

After nearly botching the retrieval of young Solari Tobi from England, the Nchebe must decide on a leader, despite Onyeka's misgivings - but as she balances keeping the team together and helping Tobi fit in, the secrets to his past unveil dangers to both the Solari and all of Nigeria! Okogwu will sweep readers along with another exciting mystery, packed with the series' familiar heart and humour for fans of all ages. Onyeka isn't so sure that all these changes in and out of the team are for the better...

[gowri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really not impressed with the first half of this book, but once I got past that halfway mark, I got back the feeling I had when I was reading the first book of the series. I'm glad the book ended with the better half because I'm back to being interested in what else this universe might expand on, but I also think it ended on a good note so.

[Jiyah Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the first two really hit the bull’s eye but this one was very far off. It didn’t really have a strong plot. I couldn’t really read it. It just overall was not good as the first ones. Maybe by itself but not compared to the others

[Samantha Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: THERE'S ANOTHER ONE?!?!?!? Yes there is and it might be the best one yet. Aside from all the Kenyan words I don't understand, there's a dictionary in the back for you to catch up! Gotta read ittttt

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I like this series, great for middle grades.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Randi · Rating 3 out of 5]

66/150 for Mama in 2024

[Aaliyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book the cover makes Toby look younger then they describe him in the book.

[Petraq · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice installment to the series. I really enjoyed the adventures that Onyeka and the rest of the group got into.

[Tjerria · Rating 5 out of 5]

🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬Yes! @tolaokogwu finished this series exceptionally well. I love how Onyeka matures through each book, especially in becoming a heroic leader after learning to trust adults again. Toni is such a blessing in this books as his presence pulls out such a warm and loving feeling in me. The little one is powerfully! Again, I love Okogwu analyzes the levels of leadership and what it means to be a leader through Onyeka. Each book instills a lesson for young readers to abide by. Excuse me, @tolaokogwu , but if I could get you to come visit our school in Atlanta, GA soon for an author visit and discussion with students regarding the Onyeka series, I’d be so happy to welcome you! #nigeria #childrensbooks #lagos #africanpride #superpowers #schoollibrarian #schoollibraries

[Gabriel Little · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot find it in myself to believe that this book is one of the greatest in the Onyeka series.
I believe that something like that shouldn't even exist in the first place. Tọlá specifically wrote Rise of the Rebels to be the conclusion of the entire series. The main villain, Dr. Dòyìnbó, has been defeated, there's a happy ending, Onyeka finally starts embracing her hair, and it looks like there is nothing plot-relevant that can happen at any moment.
But lo and behold, we have this one. The third (and thankfully final) book of the series, Heroes of the Dawn. A sequel we don't even need, and Tọlá knows it. I doubt she even passionate about working on it when comparing it to her two previous books. In her official website, she doesn't say it won some book award like her other Onyeka books. Also, the trailer for Heroes of the Dawn is a bit shorter (0:24) than the ones for Academy of the Sun and Rise of the Rebels (0:30).
The book itself isn't even good. It's got a bare-bones plot and some reused tropes like the miscommunications conflict and characters being mean to each other.
The plot itself mainly consists of "rescuing" a boy who is a Solari but doesn't know it yet, but the Academy of the Sun does, just because his body is purple in their lens which usually tells them that the person is a Solari. Not only that, but they don't seem to tell him exactly what his powers are when he's a Solari. How would you feel when an institution kidnaps you, tells you that you're a mutant, metahuman, whatever, and yet not tell you exactly what powers you have. You'll experience high levels of stress. You'll be homesick. You'll express distrust of that institution. Eventually, you'll speak out about their questionable actions. That wouldn't look good on the institution now, does it? Add to that the fact that your beloved aunt and uncle are not your real aunt and uncle; they're just researchers working for Dr. Dòyìnbó.
I wouldn't say the book is a mess. More like an unneeded sequel to the Onyeka series.