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Fib and the Axe of Fury
“Never take your glasses off outside the walls of our home.”
When Fibikemi loses her glasses and inadvertently breaks her mother’s rule, she encounters something strange, and it is only the beginning of a weird and terrifying journey; in a matter of time, someone dangerous will come for her.
Her friend Aaron Oni has just two more months to live, and Fib’s obsession with saving Aaron pushes her to do the unimaginable.
Eventually, she discovers exactly why she must never take off her eyeglasses outside her home.
Fib and the Axe of Fury is an enthralling blend of vibrant fantasy and exotic African mythology.
When Fibikemi loses her glasses and inadvertently breaks her mother’s rule, she encounters something strange, and it is only the beginning of a weird and terrifying journey; in a matter of time, someone dangerous will come for her.
Her friend Aaron Oni has just two more months to live, and Fib’s obsession with saving Aaron pushes her to do the unimaginable.
Eventually, she discovers exactly why she must never take off her eyeglasses outside her home.
Fib and the Axe of Fury is an enthralling blend of vibrant fantasy and exotic African mythology.
- GenresFantasy
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2019
114 people want to read
About the author
Esosa Kolawole
3 books31 followersEsosa Kolawole is the founder of The Quirky Pen Girl - a blog that creates quick and easy tips from writers.
She received a bachelor's degree in Estate Management from the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
Her works include The house of tiny people and other short stories. She lives with her family in Oluyole, Ibadan where she writes stories and play games.
She received a bachelor's degree in Estate Management from the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
Her works include The house of tiny people and other short stories. She lives with her family in Oluyole, Ibadan where she writes stories and play games.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 18, 2019
Fib and the Axe of Fury is a bit nice. Some of its twists and turns were good and others were unexpected. The novel started well in the beginning and then it became exhausting.
The novel has potential and Book 2 will be better. I'm sure it will.
Four stars for effort.
The novel has potential and Book 2 will be better. I'm sure it will.
Four stars for effort.
July 28, 2019
I already had high hopes for this book before I start, book buddies una try sha...
this book was good.. fib and her glasses.. fib is a small child trying to act like an adult.. she disobeys for heart reasons and she was only able to save herself.. for me her mum was an arrogant and careless woman who deserves nothing but the death she got... for an upcoming writer this was a good work, I expect a masterpiece from esosa but this is not it, and I think she has to work with a good editor to do justice to her hard work.
this book was good.. fib and her glasses.. fib is a small child trying to act like an adult.. she disobeys for heart reasons and she was only able to save herself.. for me her mum was an arrogant and careless woman who deserves nothing but the death she got... for an upcoming writer this was a good work, I expect a masterpiece from esosa but this is not it, and I think she has to work with a good editor to do justice to her hard work.
May 18, 2019
A very awesome story from Nigeria. No live triangle which I hate. Cool African mythology story. This is one of the best stories I have read in 2019 and I wonder why it's not in popular lists already. Great read once again!
May 18, 2019
I got the arc to this beautiful story from the author and to be sincere, it was a beautiful read worthy of a five star. The best instrument for any author is the ability to grab the reader's attention from the first chapter and you did.
Fib is your normal school girl. The with the glasses. Here's another reason why I live this main character and what the author did with it. Not once did she ever make the main character a geek. Which is a common annoying troupe in young adult books. In the first chapter, she began to see strange things only for her to realize her mother has been keeping a secret from her. Yeah, yeah we all know that's more like the basic troupe of many fantasy stories. But here's a twist, her mother even went as far as fortifying the house, fortifying her eyeglasses which was a magical barrier and also as insurance did something to the poor girl's eyes. Damn this book was good. But the end was really painful. I can't wait to read more books in this series.
Fib is your normal school girl. The with the glasses. Here's another reason why I live this main character and what the author did with it. Not once did she ever make the main character a geek. Which is a common annoying troupe in young adult books. In the first chapter, she began to see strange things only for her to realize her mother has been keeping a secret from her. Yeah, yeah we all know that's more like the basic troupe of many fantasy stories. But here's a twist, her mother even went as far as fortifying the house, fortifying her eyeglasses which was a magical barrier and also as insurance did something to the poor girl's eyes. Damn this book was good. But the end was really painful. I can't wait to read more books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2019
I can see perfectly but you keep forcing me to use these things. I've obeyed your rules,always.
Overview
Fibikemi never understood why her mother made her wear glasses outside of the house. Her vision was fine. Little did Finikemi know that her glasses were a magical barrier designed to protect her from the one who was hunting her.
Fibikemi was safe until one busy platform caused her glasses to get knocked off. The creature she saw before her would haunt her for the next two months as she tried to save Aaron from himself.
Fibikemi and Morenikeji are best friends but their friendship is tested to no end during this story. Will Mo forgive Fib in time?
Review
I love most YA reads. They are easy to follow and usually a quick to read with a happy ending. This book was interesting but there were no happy endings in this story. I do wonder what will happen to Fib in the books to come.
I enjoyed this book and felt invested in the journey as we watch Fib discover who she is and how to use her powers. The story is laced with African mythology and culture. The story was well paced until the last 20% and then it felt a little rushed and missed opportunities to engage the readers imagination. I was invested in the story and plot but felt that maybe the book was two stories squished into one. The first story of Fib discovering her powers and her mission to save Aaron. The second story of Fib VS her enemy and getting the Axe of Fury.
I was surprised that the Axe of Fury was not mentioned until the last 15% of of the book, considering the title is 'Fib and The Axe of Fury'. There was no explanation as to why the axe was special or why Fibikemi needed the axe. Having finished the book I am still unsure as to why the axe was necessary. It was unclear as to what Tokunbo was or her role in the story exactly. Maybe that will be revealed in the next book?
Overall the story was good and I enjoyed reading it but the rushing of the end made this book a 3 star and not a 4.
Thank you to Esosa Kolawole for giving me a free copy of your debut book for an honest review.
July 26, 2019
Okay so I was pretty excited for this one. African fantasy is rare; rarer when it comes to Nigerian fantasy. Anyways, I was really looking forward to reading this.
And...I was a little let down.
The story started well. There was Fib and Mo then the whole losing her glasses thing and so on. But then, reading on, I found the story peppered with errors. For one, I couldn't relate to the characters. If you ask me, I'd say this story needs to be built. I saw only shallow descriptions of the characters and for someone like me that really enjoys imagination when reading, it was a problem.
Also, I didn't get a lot of world building. The places mentioned included school and Fib's house. Even when Mo'shouse was mentioned, I didn't get a description of it. What's with that?
I liked the general idea of the story but feel more work should have gone into the general editing so that the plot could be built upon. I have high hopes for Book 2 though. I hope the author delivers.
And...I was a little let down.
The story started well. There was Fib and Mo then the whole losing her glasses thing and so on. But then, reading on, I found the story peppered with errors. For one, I couldn't relate to the characters. If you ask me, I'd say this story needs to be built. I saw only shallow descriptions of the characters and for someone like me that really enjoys imagination when reading, it was a problem.
Also, I didn't get a lot of world building. The places mentioned included school and Fib's house. Even when Mo'shouse was mentioned, I didn't get a description of it. What's with that?
I liked the general idea of the story but feel more work should have gone into the general editing so that the plot could be built upon. I have high hopes for Book 2 though. I hope the author delivers.
June 18, 2019
Originally posted on the book blog Creature From the Book Lagoon.
Fib and the Axe of Fury is a beautiful novel, filled with urban fantasy and African mythology. Even though the culture maybe a little bit unfamiliar to the reader, the themes of love, friendship, family, loss, revenge, and longing to fit in are all universal. Themes everyone on the planet feels a connection with, no matter where you are from. Fib’s journey may be one filled with magic, but her raw emotions are what draw you in. You can’t help but want to cheer for her as she takes her first steps in a world filled with dangerous enchantment.
With great power comes great responsibility. Fib knows that deep in her bones, even before she is fully aware of what exactly her powers are. This is only the start of her magical journey, and she starts off small with what she can do. The power of a Seer is amazing, though, and I loved watching Fib grow in to her abilities. It will be very interesting to watch her as the series continues.
Axe of Fury is the start of a series, so expect a lot of set up in this book. With danger lurking around every corner, though, there was never a dull moment. Between school bullies, family drama, and plenty of suspicious people, the tension always remained high. I kept biting my nails with anticipation while waiting for the main bad guy to finally show up! Would Fib be ready in time?? I could hardly wait!
The big show down at the end was one epic battle! I loved all the action. It was amazing getting to see Fib carry her passion and power in to battle and kick some major butt. Extremely high tension all through the last few chapters of the book. What a cliff hanger the author leaves us with! Why kind of price will Fib have to pay for using the axe of fury? 😮
Fib and the Axe of Fury was a very entertaining read. This feels like a very promising start to an interesting series. I really enjoyed getting to experience Nigerian culture and African mythology throughout the book. That beautiful culture and mythology will really make this series stand out in the young adult fantasy genre.
Side note: Every time the author mentioned food – food I had never heard of or tasted before- my mouth began to drool!! Even when it sounded like a simply rice dish, my taste buds felt super jealous! So much yummy sounding food in this novel! Too bad Nigeria is too far away for a take out order! I would have loved to get my hands on some of that local cuisine.
Fib and the Axe of Fury is a beautiful novel, filled with urban fantasy and African mythology. Even though the culture maybe a little bit unfamiliar to the reader, the themes of love, friendship, family, loss, revenge, and longing to fit in are all universal. Themes everyone on the planet feels a connection with, no matter where you are from. Fib’s journey may be one filled with magic, but her raw emotions are what draw you in. You can’t help but want to cheer for her as she takes her first steps in a world filled with dangerous enchantment.
With great power comes great responsibility. Fib knows that deep in her bones, even before she is fully aware of what exactly her powers are. This is only the start of her magical journey, and she starts off small with what she can do. The power of a Seer is amazing, though, and I loved watching Fib grow in to her abilities. It will be very interesting to watch her as the series continues.
Axe of Fury is the start of a series, so expect a lot of set up in this book. With danger lurking around every corner, though, there was never a dull moment. Between school bullies, family drama, and plenty of suspicious people, the tension always remained high. I kept biting my nails with anticipation while waiting for the main bad guy to finally show up! Would Fib be ready in time?? I could hardly wait!
The big show down at the end was one epic battle! I loved all the action. It was amazing getting to see Fib carry her passion and power in to battle and kick some major butt. Extremely high tension all through the last few chapters of the book. What a cliff hanger the author leaves us with! Why kind of price will Fib have to pay for using the axe of fury? 😮
Fib and the Axe of Fury was a very entertaining read. This feels like a very promising start to an interesting series. I really enjoyed getting to experience Nigerian culture and African mythology throughout the book. That beautiful culture and mythology will really make this series stand out in the young adult fantasy genre.
Side note: Every time the author mentioned food – food I had never heard of or tasted before- my mouth began to drool!! Even when it sounded like a simply rice dish, my taste buds felt super jealous! So much yummy sounding food in this novel! Too bad Nigeria is too far away for a take out order! I would have loved to get my hands on some of that local cuisine.
September 2, 2019
So, Chapter 2, page 10. How did the demon vision stop?
What do I think, las las? I'm glad she wrote this book. I've never seen Yoruba magic, juju, represented in such modern form like this, (hip, if you like) and I like it.
I want traffic on this book. I want folks to buy it and read it in its entirety and make their complaints. I want them to feel that Yoruba magic and not hide from it. I want the author to prepare HARD for book 2. I want book 2 to completely blow our minds.
I have faith.
(no pressure, Ms Author)
What do I think, las las? I'm glad she wrote this book. I've never seen Yoruba magic, juju, represented in such modern form like this, (hip, if you like) and I like it.
I want traffic on this book. I want folks to buy it and read it in its entirety and make their complaints. I want them to feel that Yoruba magic and not hide from it. I want the author to prepare HARD for book 2. I want book 2 to completely blow our minds.
I have faith.
(no pressure, Ms Author)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2019
I could remember the days when Yoruba myths, gods and deities have a stronger grip on the mannerism and way of life of the average Yoruba guy. I still remember the fantastical stories and folktales we listened to at childhood. Some are absurd, some are logical, some border on the outrightly impossible, but all have one thing in common; the lore surrounding the character is always gripping.
Much of these are oral in presentation, and the few we encounter in literature are written in the Yoruba language. This dramatically limits the readership and exposure of the books to the outside world.
Fib and The Axe of Fury is an attempt to bring elements of Yoruba mythology, magic into modern literature in a modern world. For that attempt, Esosa gets a big 👍 here.
The plot is a pretty straightforward one , but I find it a bit disjointed.
Fib is the only character I resonated with (maybe because she is the voice in my head 😁); your typical annoying YA.
Mo, Aaron, Bawi and her mother all feature too prominently to not have an impact on how one views the story as a whole.
I would love to see more depth in the world building in subsequent stories. There isn't much to explore in the mind about how Fib's world looks like. Just home to school to mall and that's all.
I like the starting pace of the book. Things quickly got mystical, drawn out a bit in the middle, but picked up at the end.
Some of the fight scenes though , I think Fib and even her opponents can do better. I just didn't get the fearful vibe you get when you are walking into a powerful witch or wizard's lair.
In all, it's a decent attempt at magical fantasy. The incantations and ingredients sometimes are close to the real life thing. The way the story was eventually woven together was a good one also.
I'd give two 🌟 for effort and another 🌟 for the way it ended. I imagine Fib getting stronger and powerful on her next sojourn.
Good work, Esosa. Anticipating the next instalment will be better
Much of these are oral in presentation, and the few we encounter in literature are written in the Yoruba language. This dramatically limits the readership and exposure of the books to the outside world.
Fib and The Axe of Fury is an attempt to bring elements of Yoruba mythology, magic into modern literature in a modern world. For that attempt, Esosa gets a big 👍 here.
The plot is a pretty straightforward one , but I find it a bit disjointed.
Fib is the only character I resonated with (maybe because she is the voice in my head 😁); your typical annoying YA.
Mo, Aaron, Bawi and her mother all feature too prominently to not have an impact on how one views the story as a whole.
I would love to see more depth in the world building in subsequent stories. There isn't much to explore in the mind about how Fib's world looks like. Just home to school to mall and that's all.
I like the starting pace of the book. Things quickly got mystical, drawn out a bit in the middle, but picked up at the end.
Some of the fight scenes though , I think Fib and even her opponents can do better. I just didn't get the fearful vibe you get when you are walking into a powerful witch or wizard's lair.
In all, it's a decent attempt at magical fantasy. The incantations and ingredients sometimes are close to the real life thing. The way the story was eventually woven together was a good one also.
I'd give two 🌟 for effort and another 🌟 for the way it ended. I imagine Fib getting stronger and powerful on her next sojourn.
Good work, Esosa. Anticipating the next instalment will be better
June 9, 2020
This was enjoyable. Not the best writing, but interesting story and unique (at least from what I've read) incorporation of Nigerian mythology into YA. It wasn't my favorite book ever, but will definitely buy and read the next in the series. I think this author has great potential.
June 18, 2019
I know this might be weird but I'll just write a review about my book.
“Never take your glasses off outside the walls of our home.”
When Fibikemi loses her glasses and inadvertently breaks her mother’s rule, she encounters something strange, and it is only the beginning of a weird and terrifying journey; in a matter of time, someone dangerous will come for her.
Her friend Aaron Oni has just two more months to live, and Fib’s obsession with saving Aaron pushes her to do the unimaginable.
Eventually, she discovers exactly why she must never take off her eyeglasses outside her home.
_Fib and the Axe of Fury_ is an enthralling blend of vibrant fantasy and exotic African mythology.
I'm not sure Nigerian mythology stories are common out there, but I hope you give this a shot.
Oh, this will be a thread to post so many things about the book.
“Never take your glasses off outside the walls of our home.”
When Fibikemi loses her glasses and inadvertently breaks her mother’s rule, she encounters something strange, and it is only the beginning of a weird and terrifying journey; in a matter of time, someone dangerous will come for her.
Her friend Aaron Oni has just two more months to live, and Fib’s obsession with saving Aaron pushes her to do the unimaginable.
Eventually, she discovers exactly why she must never take off her eyeglasses outside her home.
_Fib and the Axe of Fury_ is an enthralling blend of vibrant fantasy and exotic African mythology.
I'm not sure Nigerian mythology stories are common out there, but I hope you give this a shot.
Oh, this will be a thread to post so many things about the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews