She Who Knows

She Who Knows #1

by Nnedi Okorafor

Part science fiction, part fantasy, and entirely infused with West African culture and spirituality, this novella offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a teenager whose coming of age will herald a new age for her world. Set in the universe Africanfuturist luminary Nnedi Okorafor first introduced in the World Fantasy Award-winning Who Fears Death, this is the first in the She Who Knows trilogy

When there is a call, there is often a response.

Najeeba knows.

She has had The Call. But how can a 13-year-old girl have the Call? Only men and boys experience the annual call to the Salt Roads. What’s just happened to Najeeba has never happened in the history of her village. But it’s not a terrible thing, just strange. So when she leaves with her father and brothers to mine salt at the Dead Lake, there’s neither fanfare nor protest. For Najeeba, it’s a dream come true: travel by camel, open skies, and a chance to see a spectacular place she’s only heard about. However, there must have been something to the rule, because Najeeba’s presence on the road changes everything and her family will never be the same.

Small, intimate, up close, and deceptively quiet, this is the beginning of the Kponyungo Sorceress.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Novella, Africa, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy

161 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Nnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more about Nnedi at Nnedi.com and follow Nnedi on twitter (as @Nnedi), Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[EveStar91 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salt, dust, wind and a powerful will - this is Najeeba's tale.
- Nnedi

These words from the author's note are a perfect description of the novella, as well as Nnedi Okorafor's writing style. She Who Knows: Firespitter is Najeeba's origin story, as it were, and set in the same world as another series (Who Fears Death). It starts with Najeeba's Knowledge of the ancient Call to the salt mines, traditionally heard only by the men, and follows her as she faces all the consequences of answering it in the next few years. This is a standalone and I was able to follow the story even without reading Who Fears Death.

The world-building is Nnedi Okorafor's trademark africanfuturism (or africanjujuism, see Nnedi Okorafor) and I am amazed afresh at the vivid worlds she can build in just a few short pages. The book is set in a sort of post-apocalyptic world where the use of portables for communication is seen but their manufacture doesn't seem to be common. The story is steeped in myths and folklore however and it's wonderful to read such a rich story.

Nnedi's writing style is almost poetic, and describes certain moments, magic and mysticism beautifully. We see Najeeba's character arc as a response to the magic unfolding in her and all the other characters in relation to her. I did wish we could have seen more character development for Najeeba, especially in the latter half of the book (late teenage years). But I've been completely invested in this tale, as well as this world, since the first chapter of this novella and I look forward to reading more of this series, this world, and of Nnedi Okorafor's work!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the writing; One star for the world-building and description; Half a star for the characters and arcs; Half a star for the story - Four stars in total].

Thanks to NetGalley, Nnedi Okorafor and DAW Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is the back story of one of the characters from Who Fears Death. I haven’t read it, but She Who Knows stands perfectly well on its own.

The world is post-apocalyptic, afro-futuristic and fascinating. There is technology, but also strange spirits, strange creatures and things that feel like magic. The vibes are reminiscent of Binti, but the story is less emotionally wrenching (it’s not a criticism, I just mean that it has a calmer feel).

Najeeba is of the Osu-nu, the “untouchables” of the Okeke peoples. Osu-nu harvest salt, and their salt caravans travel on paths forbidden to anyone else. People Know when to go on the salt path. It’s the men who do this (because tradition!), but then the girl Najeeba Knows as well. This is the path that will lead her towards other strange talents.

The writing sparkles with sunshine, salt crystals, and mystery. Nnedi Okorafor, thank you for yet another good story.

Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-book!

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, I always like Nnedi Okorafor's writing, but this is among my favorite books I've read from her. She Who Knows follows the mother of the main character in Who Fears Death, coming of age as a young teen girl in a society where the lives of women are often constrained. It's a fascinating take on science-fiction where the collapse of society and technology has made things feel like fantasy.

Najeeba's people are social outcasts, but they are the only ones who walk the Salt Roads- retrieving precious salt to sell at the market. But only boys and men travel the Salt Roads while girls stay home to read and have babies. But Najeeba feels the call of the road and her father allows her to come along on a journey that will irrevocably transform her.

Najeeba is such a great character and while this is a short novel, I felt like I knew her and was rooting for her to upend traditions and find out more about these mysterious abilities she is discovering. I was riveted throughout the story and it makes me want to go back and read everything else set in this world. Highly recommend this one! The audio narration is great- it feels like you're being told a story. Which I realize is technically what audiobooks are, but I hope you understand what I mean. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent novella with a strong voice and fascinating world. The only small flaw is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but I still had a great time reading it and I heartily recommend it.

I received an advance copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Mitticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Digital-arc gently provided by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review-

3.8 stars

'She Who Knows' es el nombre traducido de Najeeba , la madre de la protagonista de Who Fears Death. Esta novella es parte de una nueva trilogía en este universo.

Najeeba es una adolescente de 13 años en un pueblo de intocables, los Osu-nu viven en pueblos llamados todos iguales, alejados de los Okeke. Sin embargo ellos son los que extraen la sal de un lago y lo van a comerciar al mercado por unos dias , el unico lugar donde pueden estar junto a Okeke y los Nuru (que son descendientes de arabes y de piel más clara).

Osu-nu people are untouchable Okeke people; we are the slaves who chose to be slaves to the goddess Adoro so that we could be free. You only know the depth of the story as it is shared amongst your people. That’s not the full story

Hay un tiempo para esto, y los Osu-nu lo saben. La ruta no puede ser seguida por otros pues hay peligros, y sólo los hombres van, hasta que un dia Najeeba siente también la llamada... y así comienza su transformación.



Aquí se presenta una historia de lo que bien podría ser Africa postapocaliptica, llena de folclor, misticismo, magia y elementos futuristas. Como en la mayoría de sus obras, las voces femeninas hablan de racismo y opresión de genero, y elementos religiosos culturales a abolir.

Pero... como bien menciona alguien, el final es un CUÁL FINAL? te deja muy en el aire, y bueno supongo que espera dejarte enganchado a la trilogía. Si no fuera poreso le habria dado mejor puntaje.

Me quedan muchas interrogantes: acerca de la diosa, del lago, de la luz rosa, de la casa de papel y por qué si las mujeres van a ser esposas pasan pegadas a los archivos?

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

'She Who Knows' is the translated name of Najeeba, the mother of the protagonist of Who Fears Death. This novella is part of a new trilogy in this universe.

Najeeba is a 13-year-old teenager in a village of untouchables, the Osu-nu live in villages all called the same, far from the Okeke. However, they are the ones who extract the salt from a lake and go to market it for a few days, the only place where they can be together with Okeke and the Nuru (who are descendants of Arabs and have lighter skin).

Osu-nu people are untouchable Okeke people; we are the slaves who chose to be slaves to the goddess I adore so that we could be free. You only know the depth of the story as it is shared among your people. That's not the full story

There is a time for this, and the Osu-nu know it. The route cannot be followed by others because there are dangers, and only men go, until one day Najeeba also feels the call... and thus begins her transformation.



Here is a story of what could well be post-apocalyptic Africa, full of folklore, mysticism, magic and futuristic elements. As in most of her works, the female voices speak of racism and gender oppression, and cultural religious elements to be abolished.

But... as someone mentions, the ending is a WHICH ENDING? It leaves you very much in the air, and well, I suppose it hopes to leave you hooked on the trilogy. If it weren't for that I would have given it a better score.

I have many questions left: about the goddess, the lake, the pink light, the paper house and why, if women are going to be wives, are they stuck in the archives?

[hiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

really impressed by how the author built this vivid, fantastical world in just a few short pages - i enjoyed the africanfuturistic elements, the strong narrative voice, the propulsive storytelling that had me flying through the book. i just wish the ending hadn't been so rushed.

[Allen Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a distant future Earth, Najeeba, a thirteen year old girl, feels a calling to go on the salt roads, where she must collect salt to sell at the village market. This task has historically been a male's task, so Najeeba finds herself in uncharted territory. Along her journey, she uncovers she has a magical ability. She has to navigate this new ability while confronting the consequences of her breaking social tradition.

This acts as a prequel and is the origin story for Najeeba, a character in Nnedi Okorafor's other novel, Who Fears Death. While it's not necessary to have read Who Fears Death first, I do think it provides some context to the character and some satisfaction in knowing where her story leads after this novel. That being said, you can definitely read this as a standalone and enjoy it. I loved reading about Najeeba, her family, their journeys, and Najeeba's ability. As always, Okorafor's world building is distinct and inventive. I would love to see where Najeeba's story goes after this novel and before Who Fears Death.

Thank you to Edelweiss for providing an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is well-written, and the imagery is fantastic. It’s a nice, quick read introducing you to the way of life on Earth in the future. There are mentions of ancient tech that is found and sold at markets, and people of African descent and those of Arab descent. The world described seems to be very desolate and harsh, but humans have adapted to the desert and travel long days and weeks to make their living. The novella starts when the main character is 13 years old, and she is only beginning to realize what society’s strict gender norms will mean for her personally. Cue mysticism, juju and redefining what it means to be female in a patriarchal world. I am team Najeeba, all the way, always.

It is possible to read this without having read the earlier book, “Who Fears Death”, but both stories are set in the same world, and there does seem to be a vague-ish spoiler right at the end. Just an FYI. I’m sure I will have forgotten it whenever I get around to reading about Najeeba’s daughter in said book, knowing my brain. 😁

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest feedback. I look forward to diving into more of Okorafor’s work!

4.5, rounded up.

[Mel Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl in a pseudo-dystopian desert of Africa dares to challenge cultural norms in this absolutely stunning coming-of-age novella steeped in tradition and magic.

I read it in one sitting. The world-building is beautiful, the writing is flawless, and the mysticism that feels so casual and effortless. But all of it flows together in the most epic backdrop for the protagonist to shine.

Najeeba embodies that curiousness and defiance present in every teenage girl. We follow her journey and growth over a few years as she tries to embrace a calling, only to be ostracized, berated, and gaslighted until we see the inevitable fire of feminine rage flicker to life within her.

[Sonja Arlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I always enjoy books that incorporate African mythology and magical realism.

The novel tells the story of a young girl named Mazie, who discovers she has inherited an extraordinary gift from the women in her family. The ability to see beyond the ordinary world.

While the world-building is intricately futuristic, this is a future which has regressed back to nomadic small communities that seem to live hand to mouth.

The harsh lifestyle, dessert treks to the Salt mines and markets, reminds me of images seen of the old Spice Routes.

The only reason I have not rounded up my rating is that I feel the last 2 pages of the book was overly rushed. But I am still looking forward to reading the 2nd novella, due for publication in April 2025.

[Jaden J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nnedi Okorafor does it again!

As someone who loves all of Nnedi's work, I immediately requested this as soon as I possibly could. There are no words to describe the wonder of the world building, the absolute mastery of the storytelling. In this novella we are told the story of Najeeba, a (then) 13 year old girl who receives the "Call" to go and gather salt. In this world, salt is life. Najeeba experiences a series of incredible events that culminate in the discovery of who she is, and who she will yet become. This is a story of growing into who you really are, of discovering what it means to go beyond society's boundaries, and most of all, the power that a woman holds.

I cannot recommend this novella enough, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy! As always, all my thanks to both Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, big shoutout to author Nnedi Okorafor for giving some insight/info before the start of the story via her author's note. It was seriously so great to have a bit of understanding about the world before jumping into the action. Now, this novella is branded as both sci-fi and fantasy, and I guess that is accurate, but I'd say it falls much more strongly on the side of fantasy, just with a future time/setting. And since it is a series, maybe that will change! But know that in this first installment, you're definitely getting more of a fantasy vibe.

Najeeba is an incredibly compelling character, and I adored her journey. I don't think I always understood the magic part of it, but that is probably on me more than the book. There were some twists that I hadn't expected, and the story took some very dark turns. Overall, I am definitely looking forward to the next installment to see where the story goes next.

Bottom Line: More fantasy than sci-fi, but a very good story regardless.

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

[Jessica]

Marvelous and strange. I haven't read Who Fears Death, but I didn't feel that I needed to. (Although now I really want to.)

*I'm not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

'She Who Knows' by Nnedi Okorafor was a wonderfully exciting, mysterious, and thrilling read! This story is connected to a larger work by Okorafor called 'Who Fears Death', which I have yet to read, but this short story can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.

I jumped straight into this story, not knowing its relation to a larger work or universe, getting sucked in, and adoring the work none the less!

One of the most impactful themes in this novel was the struggle between gendernorms and the role of women amongst men in this world. We followed our protagonist as she struggled to find herself in this world that orbits around men and their work.

I absolutely loved this story! It was written so beautifully, immersing the reader into this barren world with beautiful landscapes and the most well written characters! I can not express how wonderful this novel and the world building were.

I can't wait to read more of Okorafor's works, and I will be telling everyone to read 'She Who Knows'!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel (Kalanadi) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by Nnedi Okorafor and I really enjoyed it. It's a novella about a 13 year old girl, Najeeba, who receives the Call and decides to follow it, joining her father and older brothers along the salt road. By doing this, she challenges gender norms and cultural norms, however, Naj is willing to take that risk. The book has such great world-building and although I did not read the first book, I understand in this world, the characters are living in a desert land, where salt is life. Along her journey, Naj comes into her power and faces great challenges.
I enjoyed this novella a lot, however I do wish it were longer.

Thank you NetGalley, DAW, and Nnedi Okorafor for a wonderful read!

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is listed as the first in a new series but is really a prequel to She Who Fears Death. I read that book six years ago, so I am likely forgetting a lot of the context that may have made this book more meaningful. I loved the set up and the dead lake of salt. There was a lot of promise and the MC was great in what she was learning and then the book just ended. It read like a introduction to a book but the book never came. There is going to be a second novella and maybe that would give this book more plot, as it is the origin story of the MC of She Who Fears Death’s mother. As of now, I loved the world but don’t feel like this can stand on its own at all.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nnedi Okorafor has been on my radar/tbr for years, and after reading this I am truly disappointed I didn't start reading sooner. Absolutely gorgeous writing, vivid imagery, and characters I fell in love with. I can't wait to read the other books in this universe - it stood on its own, but it made me so hungry for more.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Laura Hoffman Brauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Who Knows is a novella that tells the backstory of the mother of one of the characters in Who Fears Death. While it is tied to a longer work, it stands well on its own. Najeeba is only thirteen when she first heard the call to go to the salt markets. While it isn't actually forbidden, a female going in search of salt is taboo. Her journey sets her on a path that both isolates her from those she loves as well as protects them. Once again, Okorafor demonstrates her ability to bring both a world and a character to life.

[Caroline Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

cool worldbuilding, but the ending felt rushed (until I realized this was a prequel, so it would probably have made more sense if I’d read Who Fears Death first)

[All the King's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of Who Fears Death, but this cover is pretty slick so I wanted to give Nnedi another chance. And I'm happy I did, this novella packs a punch!
Great writing and an interesting story, she really did a good job on the worldbuilding and atmosphere here.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella captures the story of Najeeba, the first girl in the memory of her village to feel the mystical call to journey to travel the Salt Roads. The story introduces a rich and complex African-futurist world: a town of a scorned people, built on the sale of salt, and the young girl who can ‘travel,’ allowing her a view of the world and of herself beyond what her family or town can understand. Though the novella is quick to read, it builds a deep and complex world and explores the intersection of gender roles and cultural norms in an engrossing coming-of-age tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading She Who Knows: Firespitter and am excited to read the rest of this trilogy as it is released.

This book is set in the same world as some of the author’s other works. After reading this novella, I certainly plan on reading more in the series. I found She Who Knows to be very approachable and complete even without reading other novels in the universe.

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It was incredibly beautifully written and a very enjoyable novella; though the ending was a tad rushed, I am excited to continue Najeeba’s story in the rest of the trilogy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an experience since I haven’t read the original book, but I trusted in Okorafor’s storytelling to get me where I needed to go. I’m still not sure if I got there, but… we traveled, for sure.

There’s a really interesting conversation about gender roles and expectations that starts early in this novella — the main character, Najeeba, looks more masculine and participates in activities that only boys/men can but still clearly identifies as a girl. What I liked most was how this was clearly acceptable in her family unit, joked about with tenderness and care. It contrasted wildly with her treatment by the community, providing a stark vision of the reality many women face for not presenting openly feminine or engaging in make-dominated spaces/activities.

Where I got lost was between the salt-selling and the shift into the magical. I still don’t really understand the purpose behind the fantasy elements — Najeeba being a firespitter after she learns to “travel” through meditation and ultimately using those powers to save herself. The disconnect between the early stages of the novella and the progression to her accepting her magical self felt wild to me.

I understand that her magic is the result of her father’s desire for retribution and vengeance, but I feel like there must have been a more cohesive way to get from point A to point B. This novella left me feeling like I had missed something, like there was a neon sign flashing a theme or idea I hadn’t grasped that knotted the narrative neatly together.

I can’t say I’ll be reaching for the original novel to fill in my blanks.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half
I must start by saying I have not read anything by this author before and this is actually a prequel to a series about this characters daughter. Najeeba is a thirteen year old when this starts living in a post apocalyptic world that takes segregation and racism to the extreme ! Her people are reviled because they apparently betrayed others by appealing to a Goddess. Now their men can sense where the most essential salt can be located but it’s only men who can or is it ?
I really liked Najeeba and thought she felt very mature and caring. I could even understand just how important salt could be in a world that has had technology and yet is now far more primitive and basic. Her hopes and dreams made sense particularly considering just how segregated and apparently abused her people are. This took colour bias and turned it in its head making it seem skin wasn’t important just everything that came before. I felt we got a lot less character development as things progressed and for this reader the spiritual side and just general paranormal aspects weren’t particularly explored. I did turn the pages eagerly I admit but for some reason the ending surprised me as it just suddenly happened ! I think my final thoughts are it definitely caught my interest and if you have read the series that follows than this is definitely worth a read but alas for me not perfect.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella is a sequel to She Who Fears Death and is the second book in the trilogy. The story is set in an earth that is basically now a desert and inhabitable, forcing humans to adapt to desert life. I haven’t read the first book yet, but was able to understand and follow the events in this book. I plan to read the first book next since enjoyed this so much.

Things I absolutely loved:
It was easy to follow and the world Nnedi created set the tone for the story beautifully. I have several questions but perhaps answers lie in the first book. I can’t wait to read the third book already!!!

Things I didn’t love as much:
I want more 😭. I wish I got to see more of Idris and how things played out once he was introduced in the book. Perhaps I feel like this because I haven’t read the first one yet, so we’ll see if my feelings change after I do. The end felt a little rushed as well. I really wouldn’t have minded some extra chapters.

In all, I enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to read the other books in the series.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Onyesonwu, daughter of Najeeba and General Daib, discovers she is a powerful sorcerer, and goes on to radically transform her world of Okekwe and Nuru, with the Nuru oppressing the Okekwe, who are former slaves.

What we don’t know, and learn in this first novella about Onyesonwu’s mother, is that Najeeba is a powerful sorcerer herself, who has her own difficult and incredible life.

We first meet twelve-year-old Najeeba, daughter of a reasonably prosperous family. They live in Adoro 5, one of several Osu-nu Okekwe villages with a similar societal structure and layout. The men of the Osu-nu have an annual tradition of walking the salt roads that lead to a gargantuan salt lake (this is the site of a massive impact many years earlier.) Here they collect salt , which they sell in market, with the resulting money shared about their respective villages.

Najeeba wakes one morning, knowing it is time to walk the salt road. Only men, up to this point, have ever awoken, "knowing" it's time to leave, so she's uncertain when she approaches her father. He's surprised, but pleased, and they head out, meeting up her two older brothers along the way.

Najeeba has a very odd experience with a 'witch' a strange device in the desert, and afterward, begins to experience an unusual ability: she is able to leave her body and fly around. She also, after the lake and in the market, unbeknownst to her father and the other men, successfully convinces men to buy up all the salt that her father and brothers have collected. Since it is longstanding tradition for women to never attend the market, it's a highly dangerous thing for Najeeba to have done, and done well. Her father can't complain too much as she ensured all their haul sold and sold very well.

Najeeba continues to bring prosperity to her family through successive trips to the Dead lake, but she loses the friendship of a close friend, and is set apart with her flying and desire to travel the road. Of course, good things don't last, and tragedies occur, and eventually these send Najeeba out of her village to the rest of her life.

I have not read "Who Fears Death" in a long time, so I was glad that this takes place years earlier, and focuses on Najeeba's youth. I love the world, se tyears before the novel, that author Nnedi Okorafor has created: the extremely harsh desert that the Osu-nu of the Okekwe people have found a way to exist I, with water capture stations, protective clothing and other technologies. There are hints of the ancient past (our time) in the remnants of computers and the like that are found in caves.

Okorafor's prose is at times poetic, other times horrifying in its mentions of brutality and bigotry. This is a fascinating novella, and world, and I love Najeeba, whose differences set her apart, but whose kindness and seeking of adventure make her an appealing protagonist.

I greatly enjoyed this start of the "She Who Knows" trilogy.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is the first in a duology centered around the mother of Onyesonwu, protagonist of Who Fears Death. Nnedi Okorafor’s work is generally something I enjoy, though never quite as much as I expect that I should or will. This was the exception to that rule; I loved it.

My memories of Who Fears Death are pretty hazy, and I don’t remember anything at all about Onyesonwu’s mother. So while I might have gotten more out of this story if that were different, I never felt the lack. (Mostly. I’ll get to that.) So I’d say this works just fine if you’ve never read anything else Okorafor has written. I’d actually say this is an excellent entry point to her work: Who Fears Death is an excellent, excellent book, but a book written on the theme of “rape as a weapon of war” isn’t exactly light reading.

Anyway, this book is set in the future of what is presently Sudan, though it’s long enough after the apocalypse that name doesn’t come up any time. Najeeba is a girl on the cusp of womanhood, and living in a village with fellow members of her untouchable caste. The village survives on the salt trade; nearby is the remains of a lake long since dried up, leaving behind a vast field of salt crystals. Once a year, the men of her village will receive a kind of supernatural calling, and know that it’s the time to go to the lake and harvest salt. This happens one-family at a time; there is never overlap, and no one besides these untouchables can ever find the salt lake. None of this is explained, it simply is.

I said “the men of the village” deliberately; it’s the men who do this. Women aren’t exactly forbidden, but they never receive the call and do not go. Except Najeeba does receive the call and her father permits her to come. This starts Najeeba off on a path where she pushes the boundaries of both her gender and her caste, bringing both prosperity and persecution. Najeeba also discovers her own powers as a sorceress, but that aspect of things isn’t thoroughly explored though it’s highly present. I expect it’ll be a big role in the sequel. Very much Afrofuturism, like everything Okorafor does.

So what about my earlier comment about how Who Fears Death “mostly” isn’t relevant to this? This is, as I said, about Onyesonwu’s mother, and as such is a prequel. But there’s a little coda scene at the end that takes place after the end of Who Fears Death that leaves me suspecting that the events of that book will matter very much going forward. Might have to reread before the sequel to this comes out.

My blog

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This novella is enchanting. I always enjoy post-the-apocalypse with rebuilt society stories that include some of the same technology as the past. This novella also has an intriguing concept that is based on a bit of magic. In this way, the novella is a blend of magical realism, afrofuturism, and sci-fi fantasy.

Najeeba herself is tough and resourceful, yet, because the novella is quite short with a lot going on, I didn’t feel I got to know her too deeply, but I sympathized with her plight. While the magic aspect is pretty integral to certain plot points, magical realism, versus straight-up fantasy, is not a preferred sub-genre of mine, so I did have questions about unexplained aspects (like what the ”witches” actually are?). Yet, I was absolutely entranced by the wonderfully flowing narrative, the descriptions of the landscape, and the story itself.

While “teenage girl subverts gender norms” is a very common story (this is not a YA though, to be clear), it’s always one I’m on board for. Yet, I found the world-building aspect not entirely fleshed out. In truth, this is one of those novellas that could have easily been a full novel given the potential depth of the various components. For example, we’re never really told in detail - at least I don’t think - why the salt road and market aspects are so sexist, because other aspects of her society don’t seem sexist. Najeeba’s mom is some sort of town leader, women appear to have a choice as to who they marry, and birth control is readily available (meaning women have control over their sexuality), so why there is sexism around the salt road in particular was something I could have used more background in. This wasn’t something that I noticed at the time of reading, just upon reflection. Did this affect my enjoyment of the story? Absolutely not.

Basically, if you want a quick read that’s very addictive and fun, you should check this out, as the prose is fluid, quick-paced, and very immersive.

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mysterious and exciting Africanfuturist novella, She Who Knows tells the origin story of a character from an earlier novel Who Fears Death, but it also stands proudly on its own. I have read and enjoyed much of Nnedi Okorafor’s short fiction, particularly the Binti trilogy, and this new novella contained many of the themes I’ve come to expect from her work: strong-willed girls, desert societies, spirits and technology, and mystical powers that manifest in unexpected ways.

In She Who Knows, young Najeeba wakes up one morning imbued with knowledge that has only ever come to the men of her town; the call to walk the salt roads and mine from the dead lake. Her father is reluctant to bring her along at first, but as she travels with him and her brothers, encountering dust witches and glowing orbs, Najeeba discovers unique and unusual strengths within her that change her community’s way of life.

Great pacing and evocative writing, and my only complaint is that the story left me wanting more (often my issue with novellas!) but I will gladly dive into Who Fears Death to find out more about these characters and their journeys into the unknown.

Thanks to DAW Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Soila Kenya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I can do this thing," I said. It's a thing, but it has forms...Sometimes I am this glowing beast. Other times I am just the wind. And at the market, I can project a deep part of myself until it is loud and clear, and forceful...but it's all part of the same thing, I believe."

As an Igbo girl/woman in the diaspora (my mum is Nigerian, my dad is Kenyan and I live in Kenya) reading Nnedi's books always feels like coming home. Who fears Death showed me my Nigerian name in book for the first time (Ifunanya) and She Who Knows has now shown me my mother's middle name in a book for the first time as well (Unoma).

This book has powerful female characters and is set within the africanjujuism and africanfuturism worlds we've come to know and love. This is a great read for those who want to dip their toes once more in the mystical world of Who fears Death as it tells the story of Onyesonwu's mother and how she discovered she was a sorceress. I actually don't think it'll be thrilling enough for those who haven't read that yet.

Short, clean writing, almost slice-of-life. It was clearly a set up for a greater tale. I look forward to the rest of the story.

Thank you, Daw Books and Netgalley, for the review copy.