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And So I Roar
A stunning, heartwrenching new novel from Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice
When Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother—terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria—and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades.
Back home in Lagos a few days later, Adunni, a plucky fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia’s guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she’s finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It’s always been Adunni’s dream to get an education, and she’s bursting with excitement.
Suddenly, there’s a horrible knocking at the front gate. . . .
It’s only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the truth behind the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her “louding voice,” as she calls it, is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save not only herself but all the young women of her home village, Ikati.
If she succeeds, she may transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve—and shout their stories to the world.
When Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother—terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria—and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades.
Back home in Lagos a few days later, Adunni, a plucky fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia’s guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she’s finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It’s always been Adunni’s dream to get an education, and she’s bursting with excitement.
Suddenly, there’s a horrible knocking at the front gate. . . .
It’s only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the truth behind the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her “louding voice,” as she calls it, is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save not only herself but all the young women of her home village, Ikati.
If she succeeds, she may transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve—and shout their stories to the world.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
710 people are currently reading
24569 people want to read
About the author
Abi Daré
8 books1,886 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abi Daré grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and has lived in the UK for eighteen years. She studied law at the University of Wolverhampton and has an M.Sc. in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University as well as an MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck University of London. The Girl with the Louding Voice won The Bath Novel Award for unpublished manuscripts in 2018 and was also selected as a finalist in 2018 The Literary Consultancy Pen Factor competition. Abi lives in Essex with her husband and two daughters, who inspired her to write her debut novel.
Abi Daré grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and has lived in the UK for eighteen years. She studied law at the University of Wolverhampton and has an M.Sc. in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University as well as an MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck University of London. The Girl with the Louding Voice won The Bath Novel Award for unpublished manuscripts in 2018 and was also selected as a finalist in 2018 The Literary Consultancy Pen Factor competition. Abi lives in Essex with her husband and two daughters, who inspired her to write her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 947 reviews
August 9, 2024
4.5/5
I don't think I expected a follow up book to The Girl With The Louding Voice so what an unexpected joy it was to see this novel on Netgalley.
And what a book! It starts with Adunni living with Miss Tia and her husband Ken in Lagos having escaped the clutches of Big Madam (Florence), who treated her as a slave. Tia is also recovering from her trouble with her mother in law still blaming her for the lack of children, despite knowing it is not Tia's fault.
We join the new family as Tia is about to go to school having won a scholarship. However the plans are destroyed when men from Adunni's village, Ikati, come to take Adunni back to answer for her part in the death of her friend, Khadija. But Tia won't let Adunni face the music alone.
The story follows what happens after Adunni's return and there are a lot of surprises along the way. We also have a secondary plot dealing with Tia's past and her relationship with her parents.
I knocked the half point off because the start of the book seems pretty slow and a little unrealistic at points but when the action begins in Ikati you will find yourself breathless trying to keep up. I had to force myself not to rush through what was happening at times.
As I say, some of the story seems a little unrealistic to me but the suffering of women and girls has been going on for centuries and made me so angry. There are a lot of heavyweight issues dealt with (very sensitively) such as baby factories, child brides, rape, female genital mutilation along with the usual tropes of women generally being sidelined in favour of men, of having their dreams ended because they are expected to care solely for children.
There is also a sub-plot dealing with environmental issues that the African sub-continent is coping with - deforestation, drought, floods etc.
Abi Daré is certainly not shy about tackling all these in this book, but they dovetail very well. She is the girl with the louding voice and she has given Adunni (and perhaps more girls and women like her) the chance to roar.
An excellent sequel to her first novel and I'd highly recommend it. I can't say whether you could read it without first having read "... Louding Voice" but if you haven't I would urge you to read that too.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
I don't think I expected a follow up book to The Girl With The Louding Voice so what an unexpected joy it was to see this novel on Netgalley.
And what a book! It starts with Adunni living with Miss Tia and her husband Ken in Lagos having escaped the clutches of Big Madam (Florence), who treated her as a slave. Tia is also recovering from her trouble with her mother in law still blaming her for the lack of children, despite knowing it is not Tia's fault.
We join the new family as Tia is about to go to school having won a scholarship. However the plans are destroyed when men from Adunni's village, Ikati, come to take Adunni back to answer for her part in the death of her friend, Khadija. But Tia won't let Adunni face the music alone.
The story follows what happens after Adunni's return and there are a lot of surprises along the way. We also have a secondary plot dealing with Tia's past and her relationship with her parents.
I knocked the half point off because the start of the book seems pretty slow and a little unrealistic at points but when the action begins in Ikati you will find yourself breathless trying to keep up. I had to force myself not to rush through what was happening at times.
As I say, some of the story seems a little unrealistic to me but the suffering of women and girls has been going on for centuries and made me so angry. There are a lot of heavyweight issues dealt with (very sensitively) such as baby factories, child brides, rape, female genital mutilation along with the usual tropes of women generally being sidelined in favour of men, of having their dreams ended because they are expected to care solely for children.
There is also a sub-plot dealing with environmental issues that the African sub-continent is coping with - deforestation, drought, floods etc.
Abi Daré is certainly not shy about tackling all these in this book, but they dovetail very well. She is the girl with the louding voice and she has given Adunni (and perhaps more girls and women like her) the chance to roar.
An excellent sequel to her first novel and I'd highly recommend it. I can't say whether you could read it without first having read "... Louding Voice" but if you haven't I would urge you to read that too.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
August 17, 2024
This pains me to rate and review this so low. The Girl with the Louding Voice is one of my favorite books I've ever read: Adunni is one of my all-time favorite characters- her perseverance and resilience is admirable, the trials and trauma that she had to overcome were difficult to read, but made the story easy to fly through, not to mention the extremely unique narrating style as Adunni learns English. I HIGHLY recommend that book, it's an incredible debut.
Unfortunately, this did not make me feel nearly the same way. I think most of my disappointment stems from the fact that Adunni & this story really did not need another book- when Louding Voice ended, I felt like it was the perfect end for Adunni & Tia and I was happy to let these characters have their happy endings. This book picks up right where Louding ends and the plot made little to no sense to me.
I absolutely will still be reading Abi Daré's work, I just wish she had decided to write a new story instead of continuing the same one when it already felt complete
Unfortunately, this did not make me feel nearly the same way. I think most of my disappointment stems from the fact that Adunni & this story really did not need another book- when Louding Voice ended, I felt like it was the perfect end for Adunni & Tia and I was happy to let these characters have their happy endings. This book picks up right where Louding ends and the plot made little to no sense to me.
I absolutely will still be reading Abi Daré's work, I just wish she had decided to write a new story instead of continuing the same one when it already felt complete
June 21, 2024
I eagerly anticipated this second novel from Abi Daré and was thrilled to be granted an ARC to review ahead of publication. The Girl with the Louding Voice was a debut roundly applauded and much loved by everyone in my book club and I couldn’t wait to read its sequel.
It is with some trepidation, then, that I have to confess that I just didn’t enjoy this book half as much. My issues with it began on the first page where the narration begins with Ms Tia rather than Adunni. For me, Adunni is such a beloved character and I wanted to hear her distinctive voice again from the get-go.
In TGWYLV, it is the clever evolution of Adunni’s English in the narrative which really adds to the story. Here though the narrative switches back and forth between Tia and Adunni and I found this made the book feel disjointed.
I also found that I just didn’t care enough about Tia which meant I couldn’t invest fully in these parts of the story.
When Adunni is forced to return to her village, a whole host of other characters are introduced - all with their own unique back stories. The novel attempts to incorporate so much and to me the plot felt melodramatic and all over the place at times.
I think telling one girl’s story well is more than enough and Daré accomplished this so brilliantly in her debut. Perhaps she should have let Adunni have her happy ending and instead passed the megaphone to another new character from the start of this book. There are certainly plenty of interesting candidates in the Circle of Forest.
With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for kindly granting me the ARC for this review.
It is with some trepidation, then, that I have to confess that I just didn’t enjoy this book half as much. My issues with it began on the first page where the narration begins with Ms Tia rather than Adunni. For me, Adunni is such a beloved character and I wanted to hear her distinctive voice again from the get-go.
In TGWYLV, it is the clever evolution of Adunni’s English in the narrative which really adds to the story. Here though the narrative switches back and forth between Tia and Adunni and I found this made the book feel disjointed.
I also found that I just didn’t care enough about Tia which meant I couldn’t invest fully in these parts of the story.
When Adunni is forced to return to her village, a whole host of other characters are introduced - all with their own unique back stories. The novel attempts to incorporate so much and to me the plot felt melodramatic and all over the place at times.
I think telling one girl’s story well is more than enough and Daré accomplished this so brilliantly in her debut. Perhaps she should have let Adunni have her happy ending and instead passed the megaphone to another new character from the start of this book. There are certainly plenty of interesting candidates in the Circle of Forest.
With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for kindly granting me the ARC for this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2024
The writing deserves a 5, but the novel struggled with too many themes and story lines. I think Dare tried to do too much.
December 20, 2024
i hate rating this so low bc i loved the girl with the louding voice so much, but this was so underwhelming and repetitive 😭. i will still read whatever abi dare has next
August 9, 2024
How can we not fall in love with the charismatic teen, Adunni, all over again - ‘The girl with the louding voice’ from the Nigerian village Ikati, whom gets her chance ‘to roar’ and teach us the reader, oh so much.
To receive a formal education is Adunni’s ultimate dream, and the book opens with the imminent promise of her starting a new school in Lagos, under the new care of Tia. Everything is prepared for her attendance the next day and Adunni’s excitement is palpable, until the fated knock on the gate throws everything and everyone into jeopardy. Lives are literally at stake.
The story is largely told from the perspectives of Adunni and Tia, but we also hear from a number of smaller, but very important female voices with their own stories to tell (via the ‘Zee Zee’ show) relaying the often traumatic and brutal treatment they have received from the hands of men in control / power.
There are some hefty subjects dealt with here - rape, female genital mutilation, grief, tribal tradition and superstition, climate change, violence, childhood marriage, motherhood and identity. There are also numerous lighter moments of heartfelt humour, when I literally laughed out loud; Adunni’s broken English and misinterpretation of English, often adds to this.
It’s through the course of the novel that we truly come to further appreciate how crucial education is; in preventing catastrophes and cruelties toward women and girls, particularly in third world countries where misogyny and ignorance is rife.
As Adunni declares - ‘Our land is bleeding, the world is bleeding, and it is the girls that are suffering the most’.
With Adunni’s roar, will she attain the freedom and justice she deserves, along with her fellow female companions? You must read it to find out.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for providing an ARC. I absolutely loved it!
To receive a formal education is Adunni’s ultimate dream, and the book opens with the imminent promise of her starting a new school in Lagos, under the new care of Tia. Everything is prepared for her attendance the next day and Adunni’s excitement is palpable, until the fated knock on the gate throws everything and everyone into jeopardy. Lives are literally at stake.
The story is largely told from the perspectives of Adunni and Tia, but we also hear from a number of smaller, but very important female voices with their own stories to tell (via the ‘Zee Zee’ show) relaying the often traumatic and brutal treatment they have received from the hands of men in control / power.
There are some hefty subjects dealt with here - rape, female genital mutilation, grief, tribal tradition and superstition, climate change, violence, childhood marriage, motherhood and identity. There are also numerous lighter moments of heartfelt humour, when I literally laughed out loud; Adunni’s broken English and misinterpretation of English, often adds to this.
It’s through the course of the novel that we truly come to further appreciate how crucial education is; in preventing catastrophes and cruelties toward women and girls, particularly in third world countries where misogyny and ignorance is rife.
As Adunni declares - ‘Our land is bleeding, the world is bleeding, and it is the girls that are suffering the most’.
With Adunni’s roar, will she attain the freedom and justice she deserves, along with her fellow female companions? You must read it to find out.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for providing an ARC. I absolutely loved it!
May 2, 2025
And So I Roar by Abi Daré is the sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice. In this novel Adunni continues her journey to become educated and to be an advocate for women and girls who suffer unbelievable abuse. This novel is difficult to read and imagine there are still communities in Africa that mutilate young girls, firce child marriages and condone rape and abuse of women. Adunni is a Nigerian girl committed to educating women of their right and to stand up to the abuse. During her journey, Adunni encounters many women living in societal injustices, including child marriage and resistance to female genital mutilation. She helps them challenge the oppressions of their village, while she faces her own charges of murder in her rural village Ikati. It is Adunni’s dream that all girls could live in a world that allows them peace and education they deserve.
August 21, 2024
4.5/5 stars
I don’t quite know where to begin to sum up my thoughts about this book. I love the themes of forgiveness and trying to understand a person’s ‘why’. In this book we are told the story through both Tia and Adunni’s points of view.
'Of all the things inside here, only the books have been able to last forever, passing from one hand and mine to another, from age to age, city to city. Books have a special gift of not ever dying. The words in the book have wings that can travel far, reach the minds and hearts of people in countries and cities throughout the world.’
‘Forgiveness is the door to that tiny passage of your heart where healing lives. And the key to open the door of it is to say yes to a sorry you may not ever get.’ —THE VERY IMPORTANT SMALL BOOK OF LIFE’S LITTLE WISDOMS BY ADUNNI
I tabbed so many quotes from this book. It did leave me feeling emotional and heavy. It’s a great follow-up to the first book, yet didn’t quite give me the same feeling. I’d recommend a combination of the audio and physical book. It’s one that will sit with me.
⚠️ | Contains a few instances of strong language. Attempted rape, not overly descriptive.
I don’t quite know where to begin to sum up my thoughts about this book. I love the themes of forgiveness and trying to understand a person’s ‘why’. In this book we are told the story through both Tia and Adunni’s points of view.
'Of all the things inside here, only the books have been able to last forever, passing from one hand and mine to another, from age to age, city to city. Books have a special gift of not ever dying. The words in the book have wings that can travel far, reach the minds and hearts of people in countries and cities throughout the world.’
‘Forgiveness is the door to that tiny passage of your heart where healing lives. And the key to open the door of it is to say yes to a sorry you may not ever get.’ —THE VERY IMPORTANT SMALL BOOK OF LIFE’S LITTLE WISDOMS BY ADUNNI
I tabbed so many quotes from this book. It did leave me feeling emotional and heavy. It’s a great follow-up to the first book, yet didn’t quite give me the same feeling. I’d recommend a combination of the audio and physical book. It’s one that will sit with me.
⚠️ | Contains a few instances of strong language. Attempted rape, not overly descriptive.
September 15, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. I absolutely adored the narration of Adjoa Anode - I actually can't believe that a single narrator can do so many accents and voices. This is a very realistic look at the lives of many women in Africa, including all the horrors they have to deal with on a daily basis - being sold off as child brides, genital mutilation, rape, baby factories and being blamed and punished for droughts etc.
What makes And So I Roar unique is that Abi Dare is able to share these horrors while including many humorous moments and keeping the tone of the story hopeful. Obviously there also many hearbreaking incidents, but I think it's very important that we are reminded that there are still too many girls/women who have no control over their lives. Adduni is an unforgettable and inspiring character with a very unique voice, and I hope there will be more books in the series.
The Story: Plucky fourteen-year-old Adunni is in Lagos, excited to finally enrol in school. Having escaped her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's found refuge with Tia, a kind and brilliant woman on her own troubled journey of self-discovery. But it's not so simple to run away from your past.
What makes And So I Roar unique is that Abi Dare is able to share these horrors while including many humorous moments and keeping the tone of the story hopeful. Obviously there also many hearbreaking incidents, but I think it's very important that we are reminded that there are still too many girls/women who have no control over their lives. Adduni is an unforgettable and inspiring character with a very unique voice, and I hope there will be more books in the series.
The Story: Plucky fourteen-year-old Adunni is in Lagos, excited to finally enrol in school. Having escaped her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's found refuge with Tia, a kind and brilliant woman on her own troubled journey of self-discovery. But it's not so simple to run away from your past.
December 18, 2024
I absolutely loved The Girl With The Louding Voice. I can not believe that this book was written by the same author. I wish we could have ended with book 1 and left it at that.
This book was extremely long, and I just wanted it to end. I tried very hard not to give up. I understand the message the author wanted to portray but not with a sequel to something that should've been left where it was.
This book was extremely long, and I just wanted it to end. I tried very hard not to give up. I understand the message the author wanted to portray but not with a sequel to something that should've been left where it was.
September 12, 2024
4.5 stars. Abi Daré has done it again. And, Adunni is back!!
This story picks up where THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE left off. Adunni has found her louding voice, is living with Tia and her husband and is ready to go to school in Lagos. But quickly those plans are upended and we not only follow Adunni in the aftermath but also find out about Tia’s story.
To be perfectly transparent, this book started very slow for me but I trust this author and my goodness was the second half of this book horrific and phenomenal and so emotional.
I love that Daré uses this story to shine a light on issues within current day Nigeria (and many other countries.) Specifically, horrors and inequalities that affect women and girls.
“You see, I had always vocalized my belief that a woman is valuable and worthy irrespective of if she has children. That who we are inside, the light we carry, the hope we share, the dreams we build, the future we desire and how we shape that future, are some of what defines us. Not children. Not marriage. But who you are, the essence of your goodness.”
The sisterhood in this book was EVERYTHING and I think I felt every emotion under the sun.
Thank you @duttonbooks for the gifted book!! #duttonpartner
This story picks up where THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE left off. Adunni has found her louding voice, is living with Tia and her husband and is ready to go to school in Lagos. But quickly those plans are upended and we not only follow Adunni in the aftermath but also find out about Tia’s story.
To be perfectly transparent, this book started very slow for me but I trust this author and my goodness was the second half of this book horrific and phenomenal and so emotional.
I love that Daré uses this story to shine a light on issues within current day Nigeria (and many other countries.) Specifically, horrors and inequalities that affect women and girls.
“You see, I had always vocalized my belief that a woman is valuable and worthy irrespective of if she has children. That who we are inside, the light we carry, the hope we share, the dreams we build, the future we desire and how we shape that future, are some of what defines us. Not children. Not marriage. But who you are, the essence of your goodness.”
The sisterhood in this book was EVERYTHING and I think I felt every emotion under the sun.
Thank you @duttonbooks for the gifted book!! #duttonpartner
January 10, 2025
The “Girl With The Louding Voice” is one of the best books I have ever read so I couldn’t wait to read this sequel. Similar to the first book, “And So I Roar” has themes of strength, perseverance, and sisterhood. I enjoyed having Tia’s perspective in this book and I love how much she loves Adunni. And of course, Adunni remains as lovable and brave as ever.
This book continues right where “Girl With The Louding Voice” leaves off and unfortunately this was not the story I was expecting. There was way too much happening and this one did not grip me in the same way. I really wanted to love this.
I will still read whatever Abi Daré writes! The writing was incredible but this story didn’t work for me.
This book continues right where “Girl With The Louding Voice” leaves off and unfortunately this was not the story I was expecting. There was way too much happening and this one did not grip me in the same way. I really wanted to love this.
I will still read whatever Abi Daré writes! The writing was incredible but this story didn’t work for me.
January 12, 2025
This is the sequel to 'Girl with the louding voice' and it is magnificent. Set both in Lagos and rural Nigeria, the story describes the next stage of Adunni's perilous life as she tries to make her way to becoming the person she wants to be.
The characters are exceptionally well developed and the dialogue for each of them is written differently to identify their backgrounds and personalities which allows the reader to get to know them better. Tia is the other main character whose life experience is markedly different to Adunni's yet she too has had to suffer hardships that will affect her future and her links to Adunni. There are several other characters too, each with hard lives and less than secure futures and each is treated with great empathy.
This book does not shy away from the horrors inflicted on the lives of girls and women in Nigeria. Ultimately, it is about the extreme inequality and abuse that impacts on their daily lives. The plot covers child marriage, FGM, rape and the vastly unfair culture of blaming women for the bad fortunes that affect communities.
Yet, in Adunni's case, despite running away from a marriage to a man old enough to be her father, and finding herself in the employ of a brothel madam, she still finds hope and remains an ultimately optimistic presence, even when she is dragged back to her village to pay her penance for a past wrong. It is this cheerfulness that binds the reader to Adunni and has you hoping for a good outcome for her.
I heartily recommend this book to readers wanting to learn something of a different culture. Well written plot and characters that stay with you well after the read. Excellent.
The characters are exceptionally well developed and the dialogue for each of them is written differently to identify their backgrounds and personalities which allows the reader to get to know them better. Tia is the other main character whose life experience is markedly different to Adunni's yet she too has had to suffer hardships that will affect her future and her links to Adunni. There are several other characters too, each with hard lives and less than secure futures and each is treated with great empathy.
This book does not shy away from the horrors inflicted on the lives of girls and women in Nigeria. Ultimately, it is about the extreme inequality and abuse that impacts on their daily lives. The plot covers child marriage, FGM, rape and the vastly unfair culture of blaming women for the bad fortunes that affect communities.
Yet, in Adunni's case, despite running away from a marriage to a man old enough to be her father, and finding herself in the employ of a brothel madam, she still finds hope and remains an ultimately optimistic presence, even when she is dragged back to her village to pay her penance for a past wrong. It is this cheerfulness that binds the reader to Adunni and has you hoping for a good outcome for her.
I heartily recommend this book to readers wanting to learn something of a different culture. Well written plot and characters that stay with you well after the read. Excellent.
September 23, 2024
I really wanted to love And So I Roar, especially after enjoying The Girl with the Louding Voice. Sadly, it didn’t live up to my expectations. While the themes are important—patriarchy, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and more—Abi Dare tries to pack too many issues into the story, leaving most of them underdeveloped. Adunni, who I adored in the first book, feels sidelined, and the shift between her and Tia’s points of view didn’t work for me. Tia’s character, in particular, felt scattered and hard to connect with.
I also struggled with the writing style. The prose is beautiful but overly flowery and slowed down the pacing for me. The Nigeria in this book also felt like it was written for a Western audience, making it hard to fully connect with the setting and characters.
While And So I Roar has a lot of potential, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. 2/5 stars.
I also struggled with the writing style. The prose is beautiful but overly flowery and slowed down the pacing for me. The Nigeria in this book also felt like it was written for a Western audience, making it hard to fully connect with the setting and characters.
While And So I Roar has a lot of potential, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. 2/5 stars.
dnf
July 18, 2025DNF at 40%. I love Adunni and I missed her but in my opinion, I don’t think a second book for her story was needed. This was just dragging and I felt myself losing interest. I still love this author and her writing style but this was just not needed.
August 1, 2025
A follow-up to Girl with the Louding Voice, we return to find Adunni and Miss Tia in Lagos just before Adunni is set to start school, when a knock on the door throws their lives into a tailspin.
This book frustrated me.
First, because it feels like it is trying to pack too much in: Tia's relationships with her mother, her husband Ken, Boma. Forced marriage, child marriage, education for girls, sex work, FGM, tribal practices towards women and girls. Climate change and drought and deforestation. There are so many stories of so many girls, but not in a way that felt natural and flowing. Instead, it felt scattered and unfocused.
I also felt like I was being hit on the head over and over with the messages of this book. It was like the author started with the nuggets of wisdom she wanted to relay, then worked backward to force a story around that. The result was a didactic book that lacked nuance and complexity, with characters written for the purpose of highlighting specific different societal issues.
The plot mostly focused on people telling each other stories, which didn't draw me in. Also, the weird talk show thing? Did not work for me as a format.
And I would love to hear from Nigerian readers about what thought of this book, because it struck me as being written for a "western gaze" if that makes sense. I don't know how to explain it, other than to say that it feels like a Nigeria written for Americans rather than for Nigerians. I'll come back and edit if I can find the words to explain why it feels that way. If anyone else got that vibe, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
This book frustrated me.
First, because it feels like it is trying to pack too much in: Tia's relationships with her mother, her husband Ken, Boma. Forced marriage, child marriage, education for girls, sex work, FGM, tribal practices towards women and girls. Climate change and drought and deforestation. There are so many stories of so many girls, but not in a way that felt natural and flowing. Instead, it felt scattered and unfocused.
I also felt like I was being hit on the head over and over with the messages of this book. It was like the author started with the nuggets of wisdom she wanted to relay, then worked backward to force a story around that. The result was a didactic book that lacked nuance and complexity, with characters written for the purpose of highlighting specific different societal issues.
The plot mostly focused on people telling each other stories, which didn't draw me in. Also, the weird talk show thing? Did not work for me as a format.
And I would love to hear from Nigerian readers about what thought of this book, because it struck me as being written for a "western gaze" if that makes sense. I don't know how to explain it, other than to say that it feels like a Nigeria written for Americans rather than for Nigerians. I'll come back and edit if I can find the words to explain why it feels that way. If anyone else got that vibe, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
June 16, 2025
I rated this book two stars because I love Adunni, the idea of her from the first book. The Adunni in this book sounds like she’s been hanging out with motivational speakers and she now acts like one. I honestly did not like her that much. Too pretentious!
The additional characters such as Iya felt forced. Her chapters were just too wordy, there was absolutely no need for those chapters. I understand that the author wanted to give the rest of the characters from the first book voices but I don’t think it was neccesary.
Ade? Honestly, that was a very bad idea! Zaneb? Another bad idea! Everyone else except for the girl we bought this book for, was just a bad idea.
There were too many stories in this book. I was under the impression that we will enjoy our Adunni again, but the author focused on tighten “loose ends” which I personally didn’t need.
I wish Adunni had just gone to school, realized her dream but with some challenges for the dramatic element and be done with this series!
The additional characters such as Iya felt forced. Her chapters were just too wordy, there was absolutely no need for those chapters. I understand that the author wanted to give the rest of the characters from the first book voices but I don’t think it was neccesary.
Ade? Honestly, that was a very bad idea! Zaneb? Another bad idea! Everyone else except for the girl we bought this book for, was just a bad idea.
There were too many stories in this book. I was under the impression that we will enjoy our Adunni again, but the author focused on tighten “loose ends” which I personally didn’t need.
I wish Adunni had just gone to school, realized her dream but with some challenges for the dramatic element and be done with this series!
August 20, 2024
I've read some great books so far this year. Some solid page turners created by the most brilliant minds that prompted many sleepless nights and self reflections, both fiction and non fiction.
But this book my friends, this book, And So I Roar will be the best book of 2024 for me!
But this book my friends, this book, And So I Roar will be the best book of 2024 for me!
September 17, 2024
And So I Roar
By Abi Daré
I requested this ARC because like almost everyone else, I fell in love with Adunni in The Girl With the Louding Voice back during one of the lockdowns when she accompanied my limited walks in circles while trying to observe the 2km range.
I loved the freshness of her voice, watching her grow from strength to strength, all while she expanded on her self taught English language.
I think I realised from the first chapter that this sequel would not work for me. Maybe I didn't notice this on GWTLV, but it feels very YA, dare I say Middle Grade in parts. The action is overly melodramatic and I found the split narrative annoying.
Considering I usually read a book in anything from 1 to 3 days, this one took me 7 weeks to plough through.
All this to say, this book was not for me, but would probably suit anyone looking for a Nigerian setting or a coming of age, feminist romp.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC
By Abi Daré
I requested this ARC because like almost everyone else, I fell in love with Adunni in The Girl With the Louding Voice back during one of the lockdowns when she accompanied my limited walks in circles while trying to observe the 2km range.
I loved the freshness of her voice, watching her grow from strength to strength, all while she expanded on her self taught English language.
I think I realised from the first chapter that this sequel would not work for me. Maybe I didn't notice this on GWTLV, but it feels very YA, dare I say Middle Grade in parts. The action is overly melodramatic and I found the split narrative annoying.
Considering I usually read a book in anything from 1 to 3 days, this one took me 7 weeks to plough through.
All this to say, this book was not for me, but would probably suit anyone looking for a Nigerian setting or a coming of age, feminist romp.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC
August 19, 2024
🎧4.25⭐️
And So I Roar was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. If you fell in love with Adunni after reading The Girl With the Louding Voice, you are likely excited about this book too!
🤐It’s hard to say much about the story without giving away some of the plot, but here’s what you need to know:
-This story explores Tia’s background along with that of Adunni’s parents.
-Much of the story’s events take place in a 24 hour period.
😓This story is much sadder and harder to read than TGWTLV, so be prepared. The content is even more difficult.
❤️The writing is absolutely beautiful! Tia’s conversation with Iya was my favorite section.
😕Why not five stars? The social commentary (about the plight of women in Africa) felt very heavy handed in some places, and I didn’t care for a couple of things that happened towards the end. Also, the heaviness and sadness was hard to read.
🎧🤷🏼♀️Should you read a physical copy or the audiobook? The audio narration by Adjoa Andoh was truly impressive, but I think having a book to highlight Adunni’s wonderful quotes would have been nice.
❓Should you read/reread Louding Voice first? Yes!
✝️While there was no overt mention of Jesus or the Bible, Christian themes of forgiveness, hope, and redemption were present here.
🥰I loved buddy reading this with Renee and Kristen and our discussion. @
⚠️Profanity: 2/5 (infrequent- one f-word and several milder instances of profanity)
Sexual content: 2/5 (attempted rape, sex between a man and child referenced, etc.)
Triggers: Lots of triggers that may be potential spoilers. DM me for details.
And So I Roar was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. If you fell in love with Adunni after reading The Girl With the Louding Voice, you are likely excited about this book too!
🤐It’s hard to say much about the story without giving away some of the plot, but here’s what you need to know:
-This story explores Tia’s background along with that of Adunni’s parents.
-Much of the story’s events take place in a 24 hour period.
😓This story is much sadder and harder to read than TGWTLV, so be prepared. The content is even more difficult.
❤️The writing is absolutely beautiful! Tia’s conversation with Iya was my favorite section.
😕Why not five stars? The social commentary (about the plight of women in Africa) felt very heavy handed in some places, and I didn’t care for a couple of things that happened towards the end. Also, the heaviness and sadness was hard to read.
🎧🤷🏼♀️Should you read a physical copy or the audiobook? The audio narration by Adjoa Andoh was truly impressive, but I think having a book to highlight Adunni’s wonderful quotes would have been nice.
❓Should you read/reread Louding Voice first? Yes!
✝️While there was no overt mention of Jesus or the Bible, Christian themes of forgiveness, hope, and redemption were present here.
🥰I loved buddy reading this with Renee and Kristen and our discussion. @
⚠️Profanity: 2/5 (infrequent- one f-word and several milder instances of profanity)
Sexual content: 2/5 (attempted rape, sex between a man and child referenced, etc.)
Triggers: Lots of triggers that may be potential spoilers. DM me for details.
April 2, 2025
“Something powerful about saying your dream to yourself, to force your own ears to hear it loud.”
I had expected this sequel after how The Girl with the Louding Voice ended, I had hoped to see Adunni flourish after winning the scholarship. But yhuu even in this book it was not a smooth ride for her. I was hoping that the book will focus more on her journey as she navigates school but it took a turn where she had to go back to her village to give the other girls a voice hence the title “And So I Roar”. The author explored the challenges faced by girls in Nigeria, including limited access to education simply because they are girls, forced childhood marriages (sometimes through family coercion or even abduction), genital mutilation, and rape. Another theme the author highlighted is climate change and its cultural interpretation. In the book, it is believed that the village’s misfortunes, such as drought, are caused by the wrongdoing of girls, leading to the practice of offering them as sacrifices to appease the ancestors and bring rain. This passage in the book raises an important question: “When will the world see us women with our own hopes and dreams? When will society stop dictating what we can or cannot do with our lives, our career, our everything?”
I loved Adunni’s optimism and sense of humour throughout the book, she will be going through the most but how she would respond would really crack me. One of her dreams was to fly on a plane, and Ms Tia made that dream come true, which was truly heartwarming to read through🥺. Ms Tia’s story also dominated in the book. I was glad that, in the end, her husband was willing to work on their marriage, which had been strained by her past. Her mother had hidden the fact that the child she gave birth to as a teenager was still alive, and her father never even knew she had a child.
There were parts that really dragged and the book could have been shorter. Otherwise I enjoyed the book especially Adunni’s voice. I saw the author hinting on the acknowledgements that there’s so many parts to Adunni’s story but I’m good with the closure that I needed🫣
These are some of the fave quotes:
“why is a clock so slow to run fast when you are in a hurry?”
“'Whether you believe in the sun, it will still shine.”
“I have been through many troubles, and I come out of them all. I will come out of this one too.. A person important enough
- because my tomorrow will be better than today.”
“Faith is the knowing that somehow, tomorrow will be better than today.
Even if today doesn't make much sense.”
I had expected this sequel after how The Girl with the Louding Voice ended, I had hoped to see Adunni flourish after winning the scholarship. But yhuu even in this book it was not a smooth ride for her. I was hoping that the book will focus more on her journey as she navigates school but it took a turn where she had to go back to her village to give the other girls a voice hence the title “And So I Roar”. The author explored the challenges faced by girls in Nigeria, including limited access to education simply because they are girls, forced childhood marriages (sometimes through family coercion or even abduction), genital mutilation, and rape. Another theme the author highlighted is climate change and its cultural interpretation. In the book, it is believed that the village’s misfortunes, such as drought, are caused by the wrongdoing of girls, leading to the practice of offering them as sacrifices to appease the ancestors and bring rain. This passage in the book raises an important question: “When will the world see us women with our own hopes and dreams? When will society stop dictating what we can or cannot do with our lives, our career, our everything?”
I loved Adunni’s optimism and sense of humour throughout the book, she will be going through the most but how she would respond would really crack me. One of her dreams was to fly on a plane, and Ms Tia made that dream come true, which was truly heartwarming to read through🥺. Ms Tia’s story also dominated in the book. I was glad that, in the end, her husband was willing to work on their marriage, which had been strained by her past. Her mother had hidden the fact that the child she gave birth to as a teenager was still alive, and her father never even knew she had a child.
There were parts that really dragged and the book could have been shorter. Otherwise I enjoyed the book especially Adunni’s voice. I saw the author hinting on the acknowledgements that there’s so many parts to Adunni’s story but I’m good with the closure that I needed🫣
These are some of the fave quotes:
“why is a clock so slow to run fast when you are in a hurry?”
“'Whether you believe in the sun, it will still shine.”
“I have been through many troubles, and I come out of them all. I will come out of this one too.. A person important enough
- because my tomorrow will be better than today.”
“Faith is the knowing that somehow, tomorrow will be better than today.
Even if today doesn't make much sense.”
October 1, 2024
The Girl With the Louding Voice was one of my very favorites when it was published, and Adunni remains one of my favorite characters. So when I saw Abi Dare had written a follow up to that story, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed.
The story picks up after Adunni escapes her abusive employer, Big Madam, and finds refuge with Tia and her husband Ken. Tia's mother is dying, and Tia is traveling back and forth between her mother and her home in spite of their difficult relationship throughout Tia's life. And Adunni is ready to start school where she's received a scholarship. When men from Adunni's home village of Ikati show up, however, they demand Adunni return to the village to be tried in the death of her friend Khadija. In spite of Tia's tenuous relationship with Ken, she is determined that Adunni will not face her fate alone.
The bulk of the story follows Adunni's return to Ikati where she is reunited briefly with her father and brother, and her best friend as well as others from the village. The story alternates between Adunni and Tia's points of view as they separately try to untangle not just Adunni's fate but those of several other girls as the drought-stricken village is driven to try anything to bring back the rain.
The story did seem to start a bit slow, but once the story shifts to Ikati, the pace picks up as we learn more about Adunni's family as well as Tia's life leading up to this point. There are so many moments of grief and despair countered beautifully by Adunni's compassion and determination, that once again this 14-year-old girl wormed her way into my heart.
Life is not too much about what happened to you, but about how you answer the question of what happened to you. - The Very Important Small Book of Life's Little Wisdoms by Adunni
Along the way, both Tia and Adunni learn the importance of forgiveness and grace and that sometimes letting go is the best way to heal your heart. 4.5 stars
The story picks up after Adunni escapes her abusive employer, Big Madam, and finds refuge with Tia and her husband Ken. Tia's mother is dying, and Tia is traveling back and forth between her mother and her home in spite of their difficult relationship throughout Tia's life. And Adunni is ready to start school where she's received a scholarship. When men from Adunni's home village of Ikati show up, however, they demand Adunni return to the village to be tried in the death of her friend Khadija. In spite of Tia's tenuous relationship with Ken, she is determined that Adunni will not face her fate alone.
The bulk of the story follows Adunni's return to Ikati where she is reunited briefly with her father and brother, and her best friend as well as others from the village. The story alternates between Adunni and Tia's points of view as they separately try to untangle not just Adunni's fate but those of several other girls as the drought-stricken village is driven to try anything to bring back the rain.
The story did seem to start a bit slow, but once the story shifts to Ikati, the pace picks up as we learn more about Adunni's family as well as Tia's life leading up to this point. There are so many moments of grief and despair countered beautifully by Adunni's compassion and determination, that once again this 14-year-old girl wormed her way into my heart.
Life is not too much about what happened to you, but about how you answer the question of what happened to you. - The Very Important Small Book of Life's Little Wisdoms by Adunni
Along the way, both Tia and Adunni learn the importance of forgiveness and grace and that sometimes letting go is the best way to heal your heart. 4.5 stars
November 5, 2024
I was so excited to discover Abi Dare had written a sequel to her incredible debut novel The Girl With The Louding Voice. Adunni is one of my all time favourite and inspirational literary characters and I couldn’t wait to read this one.
Sadly it did not live up to my expectations. It began with promise. Adunni was about to start school, but quickly and in a rather unbelievable manner she’s forced to return to her village to face trial for murder. The remainder of the book takes place over 48 hours and as much as it is Adunni’s story it is also Miss Tia’s back story. It felt like it had been written quickly to highlight all the negative issues that surround African tribal life.- global warming, destruction of forests, child marriage, female genital cutting, abuse after abuse. The
Lowest part of the read for me was when one of the other girls up for trial set up an interview in the style of a TV talk show, to highlight each of the girls tragic stories. It just didn’t work.
I read at the end that the author found writing this novel a tough journey and was suffering loss through bereavement. Maybe it explains why this sequel , despite all the important social issues it highlights did not pack the punch of her first book. Maybe it was rushed out to capitalise on that success? I don’t know but I feel there is a definite opening for a third story and I hope that if it happens it can be less sensational, a slower build and in so being, more realistic, because the issues need to be heard and the characters of Adunni and Tia deserve to tell them.
Sadly it did not live up to my expectations. It began with promise. Adunni was about to start school, but quickly and in a rather unbelievable manner she’s forced to return to her village to face trial for murder. The remainder of the book takes place over 48 hours and as much as it is Adunni’s story it is also Miss Tia’s back story. It felt like it had been written quickly to highlight all the negative issues that surround African tribal life.- global warming, destruction of forests, child marriage, female genital cutting, abuse after abuse. The
Lowest part of the read for me was when one of the other girls up for trial set up an interview in the style of a TV talk show, to highlight each of the girls tragic stories. It just didn’t work.
I read at the end that the author found writing this novel a tough journey and was suffering loss through bereavement. Maybe it explains why this sequel , despite all the important social issues it highlights did not pack the punch of her first book. Maybe it was rushed out to capitalise on that success? I don’t know but I feel there is a definite opening for a third story and I hope that if it happens it can be less sensational, a slower build and in so being, more realistic, because the issues need to be heard and the characters of Adunni and Tia deserve to tell them.
July 21, 2024
I was fortunate to be able to read an
advance copy of this book with Netgalley.
I was a huge fan of The Girl With The Louding Voice and keen to find out what happened next in Adunni's story. This sequel follows on directly from the first novel, with Adunni on the eve of starting her schooling. However, she is summoned back to her village, Ikati, where she meets other girls and women who have also been captured to take part in a ceremony. Each character is undergoing some form of oppression due to their sex, often (but not always) further exacerbated by a lack of education or wealth. Many chapters are from the point of view of Ms Tia, who rescued Adunni in the first novel, and many loose ends are tied up.
For me, the book had a few too many voices to deeply connect to every character. I found the story line a little melodramatic at times and would have preferred a simpler but deeper plot. Whilst the topic matter was, quite rightly, intentionally shocking, the storyline seemed a little contrived and convenient in some sections.
Although not the gem of its prequel, I enjoyed this book and was once again charmed by the resilient and resourceful Adunni.
advance copy of this book with Netgalley.
I was a huge fan of The Girl With The Louding Voice and keen to find out what happened next in Adunni's story. This sequel follows on directly from the first novel, with Adunni on the eve of starting her schooling. However, she is summoned back to her village, Ikati, where she meets other girls and women who have also been captured to take part in a ceremony. Each character is undergoing some form of oppression due to their sex, often (but not always) further exacerbated by a lack of education or wealth. Many chapters are from the point of view of Ms Tia, who rescued Adunni in the first novel, and many loose ends are tied up.
For me, the book had a few too many voices to deeply connect to every character. I found the story line a little melodramatic at times and would have preferred a simpler but deeper plot. Whilst the topic matter was, quite rightly, intentionally shocking, the storyline seemed a little contrived and convenient in some sections.
Although not the gem of its prequel, I enjoyed this book and was once again charmed by the resilient and resourceful Adunni.
September 10, 2024
I was excited about this because I loved the first book. There were too many story lines and all wrapped up because Adunni had enough and roared into the microphone and gave a speech and tias phone that spent the entire how many days, dying and not having cell service, had enough to record and post and go viral. Zenabs dad came with the army and police and saved them all.
It was such a disservice to the other story lines and characters. I skipped most of Iya’s info about Adunnis mom - that dragged on. I scanned the ZeeZee show stuff to get the “important” things but that was so annoying.
I’m a mood reader so maybe this wasn’t the right time to read it but I don’t think I could read this at another time and feel much different ...
It was such a disservice to the other story lines and characters. I skipped most of Iya’s info about Adunnis mom - that dragged on. I scanned the ZeeZee show stuff to get the “important” things but that was so annoying.
I’m a mood reader so maybe this wasn’t the right time to read it but I don’t think I could read this at another time and feel much different ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2024
Gifted by the publisher.
Love that we reunite with Adunni! The pacing is phenomenal with even higher stakes this time. Darè raises a lot of important issues about modern Nigeria, especially how women and girls are the most affected with climate change.
The middle could be a bit awkward for some readers due to its multi-POV structures. But it acts as an important element to offer different aspects of violence against women and girls. It absolutely broke my heart 💔
I’m not sure how readers will associate with Adunni & Tia without reading LOUDING VOICE first. I think some refresher of book 1 could be useful, but it might not be necessary (you might just not feel as connected to Adunni)
Love that we reunite with Adunni! The pacing is phenomenal with even higher stakes this time. Darè raises a lot of important issues about modern Nigeria, especially how women and girls are the most affected with climate change.
The middle could be a bit awkward for some readers due to its multi-POV structures. But it acts as an important element to offer different aspects of violence against women and girls. It absolutely broke my heart 💔
I’m not sure how readers will associate with Adunni & Tia without reading LOUDING VOICE first. I think some refresher of book 1 could be useful, but it might not be necessary (you might just not feel as connected to Adunni)
July 23, 2025
4⭐️
- love being back with Adunni; she has to be one of my favorite main characters of all time ❤️
- a girl fighting for her education? Teachers need to read this series!!
- enjoyed learning more about Tia’s story
- highlights the gender inequities that still exist in the world (specifically in remote Nigeria)
- mentions the Western world’s impact on climate & how it impacts African communities
- One of the storylines was a little slow for me, but it was still a quick read
- love being back with Adunni; she has to be one of my favorite main characters of all time ❤️
- a girl fighting for her education? Teachers need to read this series!!
- enjoyed learning more about Tia’s story
- highlights the gender inequities that still exist in the world (specifically in remote Nigeria)
- mentions the Western world’s impact on climate & how it impacts African communities
- One of the storylines was a little slow for me, but it was still a quick read
January 6, 2025
Just way too many plot points
Read
January 4, 2025Another gut wrencher from Abi Daré
November 17, 2025
What. A. Story. So powerful
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