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The Return of the Earth Mother #1
Daughters of Nri
A gruesome war results in the old gods' departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls. Twins, separated at birth. Goddesses who grow up believing that they are human. Daughters Of Nri explores their epic journey of self-discovery as they embark on a path back to one another.
Strong-willed Naala grows up seeking adventure in her quiet and small village. While the more reserved Sinai resides in the cold and political palace of Nri. Though miles apart, both girls share an indestructible bond: they share the same blood, the same face, and possess the same unspoken magic, thought to have vanished with the lost gods.
The twin girls were separated at birth, a price paid to ensure their survival from Eze Ochichiri, the man who rules the Kingdom of Nri. Both girls are tested in ways that awaken a mystical, formidable power deep within themselves. Eventually, their paths both lead back to the mighty Eze.
But can they defeat the man who brought the gods themselves to their knees?
Strong-willed Naala grows up seeking adventure in her quiet and small village. While the more reserved Sinai resides in the cold and political palace of Nri. Though miles apart, both girls share an indestructible bond: they share the same blood, the same face, and possess the same unspoken magic, thought to have vanished with the lost gods.
The twin girls were separated at birth, a price paid to ensure their survival from Eze Ochichiri, the man who rules the Kingdom of Nri. Both girls are tested in ways that awaken a mystical, formidable power deep within themselves. Eventually, their paths both lead back to the mighty Eze.
But can they defeat the man who brought the gods themselves to their knees?
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 1, 2019
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19715 people want to read
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Want to read
July 3, 2019EXCUSE ME HAVE YOU SEEN THIS COVER?
GLORIOUS
GLORIOUS
March 22, 2021
I was caught between giving two or three stars, but ultimately decided on the higher score after reading Amayo's inspiration behind the book. It is important for me, as an African lover of fantasy and sci-fi, to have books about African characters that aren't rooted in colonialism or slavery. However, this noble endeavour doesn't mean the book is without flaws.
My first issue actually stems from the whole black African concept. If we know that every single character is black, WHY are we constantly reminded of that. The Eze has "black skin" that blends with the darkness of a cave, Sinai has "dark brown legs", Eni has "pecan skin", one of the goddesses is "carob-coloured". If it was said once in a way that lets us know skin tone, okay, I could deal with it, but it's brought up again and again and again. I've always thought that repeatedly mentioning the skin colour of characters implies how unusual the very idea of their existence in that particular context is. I usually read it in books by white authors, and it comes off as performative. "Look at me and my black book characters doing black book character things with their blackness." This type of approach doesn't make any sense in the context of Daughters of Nri.
My other issue is that the book kind of dragged. It took a long time to get to the point of why the twins are special, and by the time their actual twin action happened, it was a rushed conclusion that's only a little satisfying. Added to that is the fact that the Eze's villainy is pretty passive for most of the book. We get reports on what people do on his behalf, we're told how "scary" he is, but we're not actually shown him doing all of these horrible things. He's just some powerful asshole who fits the role of the necessary antagonist in a sort of remote way.
My last problem is about the characterisation of the Ndu crystal. We know it's important, but why is it important? What powers does it bestow? Does it bestow them on just anyone who picks it up or does it have to be a specific person? What powers do such people even end up having? What are the rules?? We only find out how important the crystal is in the middle of the book, which isn't a great technique. You don't create an Infinity Gauntlet-style weapon and make acquiring it a Plan B or something that the characters stumble into in the middle of the book.
The issues I've raised don't mean I won't read the sequel. I definitely will. The story is intriguing enough to pull me back notwithstanding these flaws I've identified.
My first issue actually stems from the whole black African concept. If we know that every single character is black, WHY are we constantly reminded of that. The Eze has "black skin" that blends with the darkness of a cave, Sinai has "dark brown legs", Eni has "pecan skin", one of the goddesses is "carob-coloured". If it was said once in a way that lets us know skin tone, okay, I could deal with it, but it's brought up again and again and again. I've always thought that repeatedly mentioning the skin colour of characters implies how unusual the very idea of their existence in that particular context is. I usually read it in books by white authors, and it comes off as performative. "Look at me and my black book characters doing black book character things with their blackness." This type of approach doesn't make any sense in the context of Daughters of Nri.
My other issue is that the book kind of dragged. It took a long time to get to the point of why the twins are special, and by the time their actual twin action happened, it was a rushed conclusion that's only a little satisfying. Added to that is the fact that the Eze's villainy is pretty passive for most of the book. We get reports on what people do on his behalf, we're told how "scary" he is, but we're not actually shown him doing all of these horrible things. He's just some powerful asshole who fits the role of the necessary antagonist in a sort of remote way.
My last problem is about the characterisation of the Ndu crystal. We know it's important, but why is it important? What powers does it bestow? Does it bestow them on just anyone who picks it up or does it have to be a specific person? What powers do such people even end up having? What are the rules?? We only find out how important the crystal is in the middle of the book, which isn't a great technique. You don't create an Infinity Gauntlet-style weapon and make acquiring it a Plan B or something that the characters stumble into in the middle of the book.
The issues I've raised don't mean I won't read the sequel. I definitely will. The story is intriguing enough to pull me back notwithstanding these flaws I've identified.
February 14, 2020
I really enjoyed reading Daughters of Nri! The cover art is stunning! It is based in the Kingdom of Nri which is now Nigeria. So in a way it is a historical fiction I think? The story involves a lot of political and religious elements along with some fantasy. The nature and people are described colorful, I loved Amayo's writing it made everything spring to life. The story follows Naala and Sinai, twins seperated at birth. They grow up thinking they are human. But in truth they are Goddesses and the ones left to defeat Eze Ochichiri, the ruler of Kingdom of Nri who is mighty and caused the Gods to leave. He does everything to keep his position safe, lives don't matter.
It is quite a slow paced story where we follow Naala and Sinai on a day to day basis. Going through hardships and finding out slowly about their powers.They are both fierce and you see them grow. The friendship bonds in this book grow in unlikely places and I love how they are portrayed. Some genuine some through traumatic occurrences. There is some romance in the book that is not the center point and feels natural. I appreciate that a lot!
I also loved the Igbo words throughout the story, there is a glossary at the back. I love when writers do that, it enriches the story even more in my opinion.
It is quite a slow paced story where we follow Naala and Sinai on a day to day basis. Going through hardships and finding out slowly about their powers.They are both fierce and you see them grow. The friendship bonds in this book grow in unlikely places and I love how they are portrayed. Some genuine some through traumatic occurrences. There is some romance in the book that is not the center point and feels natural. I appreciate that a lot!
I also loved the Igbo words throughout the story, there is a glossary at the back. I love when writers do that, it enriches the story even more in my opinion.
August 6, 2020
I did really enjoy being in this world and the writing is fantastic. But I found myself being slightly bored with the majority of this book and I was hoping for a bit more in terms of story progression and character development. There really was a lot of telling rather than showing, which is a shame considering this is beautifully written. I’m still extremely interested in reading more from the series though as I love this world, and really do enjoy the characters.
April 10, 2024
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Rating: 3.5 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This captivating design uses a stunning brown and gold colour scheme that complements the beautiful illustrations of the main characters. The elaborate text font further elevates the design and conveys the fantasy genre of the story.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The rich descriptions, touches of humour and cliffhanger chapter endings made it incredibly easy for me to lose myself in this story. I also loved the smooth world-building and fascinating world, even though some aspects were confusing and underdeveloped.
“we live because we die”
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
Hints of mystery and danger as the characters and world were introduced created tension and quickly reeled me in. Sadly, this tension gradually dissipated in the second half of the story as the storyline focused on the internal struggles of the main characters, and the pace dragged. It was mainly the exploration of complex themes, such as patriarchy, rape and grief, that kept me interested, but the rushed climax only made the storyline more underwhelming.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
Smart, fierce, and eager to make a difference, Naala is the opposite of her sweet and timid twin, Sinai. This contrast, along with their complex backstories and different struggles, made their points of view distinct and engaging. However, the basic tropes used for their characterisation (chosen ones, orphans, hidden powers) made them fairly forgettable despite the heartwarming growth they experienced.
“You cannot buy life, you cannot hide and wait to live it later; you must live and you must live now”
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Various secondary characters help drive the storyline, and while some were memorable due to their roles, most were one-dimensional. In particular, the villain seemed painfully underdeveloped, as his main contribution was a cliche monologue towards the end and much of his characterisation is told, not shown.
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟
The natural, slow-burn connection that unfurls gives some cute moments but makes up very little of the storyline. It also had little impact on the story and could have used more depth to make it substantial.
“everyone, even the tiniest otomys, has power. The trouble is we are all too quick to give it away.”
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Weruche Opia gives an immersive performance that is perfect for this story! I especially loved the vocal effects and character voices skillfully used to bring the story to life.
In summary, 'Daughters of Nri' started strong, but the slow pace and cliché characters gradually wore down my interest. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron is a similar young adult fantasy to check out if you enjoyed this book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This captivating design uses a stunning brown and gold colour scheme that complements the beautiful illustrations of the main characters. The elaborate text font further elevates the design and conveys the fantasy genre of the story.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The rich descriptions, touches of humour and cliffhanger chapter endings made it incredibly easy for me to lose myself in this story. I also loved the smooth world-building and fascinating world, even though some aspects were confusing and underdeveloped.
“we live because we die”
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
Hints of mystery and danger as the characters and world were introduced created tension and quickly reeled me in. Sadly, this tension gradually dissipated in the second half of the story as the storyline focused on the internal struggles of the main characters, and the pace dragged. It was mainly the exploration of complex themes, such as patriarchy, rape and grief, that kept me interested, but the rushed climax only made the storyline more underwhelming.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
Smart, fierce, and eager to make a difference, Naala is the opposite of her sweet and timid twin, Sinai. This contrast, along with their complex backstories and different struggles, made their points of view distinct and engaging. However, the basic tropes used for their characterisation (chosen ones, orphans, hidden powers) made them fairly forgettable despite the heartwarming growth they experienced.
“You cannot buy life, you cannot hide and wait to live it later; you must live and you must live now”
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Various secondary characters help drive the storyline, and while some were memorable due to their roles, most were one-dimensional. In particular, the villain seemed painfully underdeveloped, as his main contribution was a cliche monologue towards the end and much of his characterisation is told, not shown.
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟
The natural, slow-burn connection that unfurls gives some cute moments but makes up very little of the storyline. It also had little impact on the story and could have used more depth to make it substantial.
“everyone, even the tiniest otomys, has power. The trouble is we are all too quick to give it away.”
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Weruche Opia gives an immersive performance that is perfect for this story! I especially loved the vocal effects and character voices skillfully used to bring the story to life.
In summary, 'Daughters of Nri' started strong, but the slow pace and cliché characters gradually wore down my interest. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron is a similar young adult fantasy to check out if you enjoyed this book.
December 31, 2020
I finally got around to reading this story even though it's been sitting on my Kindle since the release date back in October. I just couldn't resist picking up this story after seeing such a striking cover. I decided to do something different for once an added Whispersync to my copy so I could switch between listening to the audiobook and reading the words on my Kindle app. The actress, Weruche Opia who narrators the audiobook has a great voice which makes for a smooth listening experience.
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physical-tbr
March 20, 2021i bought this purely for the cover.
i have no regrets.
i have no regrets.
Read
October 7, 2019DNF'ed at page 161 or so.
The way of writing is beautiful, although sometimes repetitive, but the characters don't exactly show their feelings, instead we are constantly told how they feel.
The story has spark, but for me it failed to ignite and ended up losing the initial curiosity I had going on.
The way of writing is beautiful, although sometimes repetitive, but the characters don't exactly show their feelings, instead we are constantly told how they feel.
The story has spark, but for me it failed to ignite and ended up losing the initial curiosity I had going on.
Want to read
May 7, 2019THIS COVER!!!!! I can't!
June 4, 2020
12/03/2020
This sadly did not live up to my expectations at all. The plot in itself was okay, the story moved slow but at the same time things happened way too fast? i liked Sinai as a character, I felt like she had such great growth in the book
The ending was super rushed, I thought the twins would meet way sooner but it takes such a long time. I also wasn't convinced by the villain. We constantly get told that the Eze is such a terrible human being, but we never actually see him doing anything villainous? His subjects, yes. Him? no. Why did he do what he did? what makes the Ndu chrystal so special and powerful? It just fell flat for me.
24/09/2019
Why haven't I heard anything about this yet?? This sounds amazing...
This sadly did not live up to my expectations at all. The plot in itself was okay, the story moved slow but at the same time things happened way too fast? i liked Sinai as a character, I felt like she had such great growth in the book
The ending was super rushed, I thought the twins would meet way sooner but it takes such a long time. I also wasn't convinced by the villain. We constantly get told that the Eze is such a terrible human being, but we never actually see him doing anything villainous? His subjects, yes. Him? no. Why did he do what he did? what makes the Ndu chrystal so special and powerful? It just fell flat for me.
24/09/2019
Why haven't I heard anything about this yet?? This sounds amazing...
December 22, 2023
I love the characters in this book! As soon as I got halfway through I had to go and purchase book number two! I love the world it’s so similar to ours so not too hard to understand, Naala & Sinai are so different but both amazing in their own stories, I do wish they met a little bit earlier on in the book but overall a great read!
Want to read
August 28, 2019Don't care what this book is about, I'm here for the cover.
December 13, 2019
This book is AH.MAY.ZING. I don’t like to compare books but if you loved Children of Blood and Bone, you’ll love this. But the only similarities is that the lead characters are black girls, they have magic, and the king is out to get them. That’s where it stops.
The colourful descriptions of the characters and the elegant way in which the author writes them almost makes her a painter. And because the story is African (although West African) there are enough similarities that I can relate to. I didn’t even need to check the glossary sometimes because I could almost guess the what they were talking about through the context. My favourite chapter is actually the description of a tree and I love it simply because of the emotions in the scene and the simple and elegant way Amayo is able to weave the colours in.
The themes of the complexity of black female relationships, how weak men and patriarchy pervade and try to suppress our desires, dreams, ambition, black girl magic, beauty and our need for justice are prevalent. Our fullness as humans is represented, our weakness and our strengths are recognised and celebrated. Our beauty is recognised as power, and is wielded by characters when they do not even have magic or any other ‘skills’, and that is okay. The writer contrasts the beginnings of what a healthy hetero relationship should look like contrasted with what happens when toxic masculinity and selfishness take the lead. We are able to exist in a world of fantasy untouched by slavery and colonialism and dream of the magic that we could have wielded in an alternate reality. We support each other immensely in this world but that doesn’t come easily, it is a journey to get there. Our best parts and worst parts of us are presented without judgment. And best of all, majority of the sisterhood in this book was not even blood related.
Listen, I could go on and on and on about this book, I have a few issues here and there that have to do with personal preferences (mainly to do with the resolution of the villain’s arc, the POV style of writing that switches every time in the very short chapters and the slow start), but Ms Amayo did what she had to do. And I will definitely read the next book. In fact I need it yesterday. This book could inspire everyone, but as another reviewer said, black teenagers need to read this. I know I could have definitely used a book like this growing up.
The colourful descriptions of the characters and the elegant way in which the author writes them almost makes her a painter. And because the story is African (although West African) there are enough similarities that I can relate to. I didn’t even need to check the glossary sometimes because I could almost guess the what they were talking about through the context. My favourite chapter is actually the description of a tree and I love it simply because of the emotions in the scene and the simple and elegant way Amayo is able to weave the colours in.
The themes of the complexity of black female relationships, how weak men and patriarchy pervade and try to suppress our desires, dreams, ambition, black girl magic, beauty and our need for justice are prevalent. Our fullness as humans is represented, our weakness and our strengths are recognised and celebrated. Our beauty is recognised as power, and is wielded by characters when they do not even have magic or any other ‘skills’, and that is okay. The writer contrasts the beginnings of what a healthy hetero relationship should look like contrasted with what happens when toxic masculinity and selfishness take the lead. We are able to exist in a world of fantasy untouched by slavery and colonialism and dream of the magic that we could have wielded in an alternate reality. We support each other immensely in this world but that doesn’t come easily, it is a journey to get there. Our best parts and worst parts of us are presented without judgment. And best of all, majority of the sisterhood in this book was not even blood related.
Listen, I could go on and on and on about this book, I have a few issues here and there that have to do with personal preferences (mainly to do with the resolution of the villain’s arc, the POV style of writing that switches every time in the very short chapters and the slow start), but Ms Amayo did what she had to do. And I will definitely read the next book. In fact I need it yesterday. This book could inspire everyone, but as another reviewer said, black teenagers need to read this. I know I could have definitely used a book like this growing up.
September 12, 2022
THREE STARS
I loved Naalas part, Sinai's..not so much. NaalaxEni forever.
Review to come
I loved Naalas part, Sinai's..not so much. NaalaxEni forever.
Review to come
October 3, 2020
Omg so so beautiful. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Weruche Opia and I loved it so much. Her pronunciation of the words and the names were so good, and the Nigerian accent she did was also very amazing. She performed the story in a way that really carried the listener I long.
This was a fantasy book heavily set in a version of Eastern Nigeria (mostly in 944 AD, and some years before then). Our protagonists, twin sisters separated very early in their lives - Naala and Sinai - are two very powerful and loveable heroines. I enjoyed reading about each girl on her journey towards the resurrection of the Earth Mother. One of my favorite things about this book is that the sisters weren't just dumped together and expected to work/figure things out together. We were able to see each sister as an individual, in separate situations and with different people. It was impossible not to root for these girls, and the writing was also very amazing.
The pacing in this book really varied. While some things moved along fast and some events happened at a fast pace, there were still some points where the story seemed to drag and it seemed like the sisters would never meet. The world building was very good but not also extremely detailed. We were able to understand some parts of their world but there were still some lingering questions. I hope these questions will be answered in book 2.
This was dubbed as an epic feminist fantasy and after reading this, it's not hard to see why. There were so many feminist things in this book, and there were some sexist and patriarchal problems in the kingdom. There was an instance of sexual assault(happened off page), and instances of sexist practices. It was so refreshing to see how the strong female characters were in the face of all the adversities they faced.
If I'd known that book 2 wouldn't be out till March '21, I probably would have waited to read this. At the same time, I also wish I hadn't waited so long before reading this! It was such a good book, even though they were some things I didn't really like.
This was a fantasy book heavily set in a version of Eastern Nigeria (mostly in 944 AD, and some years before then). Our protagonists, twin sisters separated very early in their lives - Naala and Sinai - are two very powerful and loveable heroines. I enjoyed reading about each girl on her journey towards the resurrection of the Earth Mother. One of my favorite things about this book is that the sisters weren't just dumped together and expected to work/figure things out together. We were able to see each sister as an individual, in separate situations and with different people. It was impossible not to root for these girls, and the writing was also very amazing.
The pacing in this book really varied. While some things moved along fast and some events happened at a fast pace, there were still some points where the story seemed to drag and it seemed like the sisters would never meet. The world building was very good but not also extremely detailed. We were able to understand some parts of their world but there were still some lingering questions. I hope these questions will be answered in book 2.
This was dubbed as an epic feminist fantasy and after reading this, it's not hard to see why. There were so many feminist things in this book, and there were some sexist and patriarchal problems in the kingdom. There was an instance of sexual assault(happened off page), and instances of sexist practices. It was so refreshing to see how the strong female characters were in the face of all the adversities they faced.
If I'd known that book 2 wouldn't be out till March '21, I probably would have waited to read this. At the same time, I also wish I hadn't waited so long before reading this! It was such a good book, even though they were some things I didn't really like.
October 1, 2019
Daughters of NRI is the story of twins separated shortly after birth because of a cruel law and their parallel journeys to find each other while figuring out their magics and potentials. Because of their powers and who they really are threatens the power of the ruler who happens to be a demon in denial of who his is and the role he plays both girls suffer tragedy, loss, and physical dangers. This is a YA story I'd recommend for teen readers and YA fans.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
February 8, 2022
I picked this up on audio for #Blackathon and I was glad to finally get around to trying out this series and this new-to-me author.
I have to first give credit to the author for her descriptions of the characters who are black. She doesn't shy away from describing the colours and tones of the skin, nor the way that hair textures and practices differ, and I loved to see this representation as a strong stable of the whole book.
This book is a tale about two twins who get separated at birth but who were born goddesses. They don't know about their heritage, but they live in vastly different places when the story starts and they have to gradually unlock their powers and find their way back to one another. One lives in a tiny village and the other as an orphan in the palace.
Esinaala (called Naala in the book) is easy to root for as she's keen to stay true to herself and say things how she sees them. She doesn't shy away from fighting for herself and others and she's always trying to be helpful to others around her.
Sinaikuku (called Sinai in the book) is a different kind of character who likes to take her time and think more before rushing headlong into action. She felt a little harder for me to connect to and I did find her plot to be a bit slower and lower stakes at first.
Eze Ochichiri is the 'big bad; in this book. He's supposed to be a ruler who wants justice but in actuality he's trying to achieve this by ordering people to kill innocents. I disliked him intensely throughout.
Meekulu Kaurandua was a cool character who plays the role of a kind of mentor for Sini. She is a tough older lady character who has more knowledge than she first lets on and I think she came into her own as the book progressed. I liked her odd detours in conversation to prove a point.
The magic of this world is small and I wanted more. Though the characters do discover their magic and potential I felt like for me it was a bit too little explanation and a bit low impact but I think this is probably going to be expanded in book #2.
In the end, a solid 3*s for me, a very likeable ready and some very good points, but in terms of the story it's a little predictable and the pacing felt a bit slow overall to me.
I have to first give credit to the author for her descriptions of the characters who are black. She doesn't shy away from describing the colours and tones of the skin, nor the way that hair textures and practices differ, and I loved to see this representation as a strong stable of the whole book.
This book is a tale about two twins who get separated at birth but who were born goddesses. They don't know about their heritage, but they live in vastly different places when the story starts and they have to gradually unlock their powers and find their way back to one another. One lives in a tiny village and the other as an orphan in the palace.
Esinaala (called Naala in the book) is easy to root for as she's keen to stay true to herself and say things how she sees them. She doesn't shy away from fighting for herself and others and she's always trying to be helpful to others around her.
Sinaikuku (called Sinai in the book) is a different kind of character who likes to take her time and think more before rushing headlong into action. She felt a little harder for me to connect to and I did find her plot to be a bit slower and lower stakes at first.
Eze Ochichiri is the 'big bad; in this book. He's supposed to be a ruler who wants justice but in actuality he's trying to achieve this by ordering people to kill innocents. I disliked him intensely throughout.
Meekulu Kaurandua was a cool character who plays the role of a kind of mentor for Sini. She is a tough older lady character who has more knowledge than she first lets on and I think she came into her own as the book progressed. I liked her odd detours in conversation to prove a point.
The magic of this world is small and I wanted more. Though the characters do discover their magic and potential I felt like for me it was a bit too little explanation and a bit low impact but I think this is probably going to be expanded in book #2.
In the end, a solid 3*s for me, a very likeable ready and some very good points, but in terms of the story it's a little predictable and the pacing felt a bit slow overall to me.
October 31, 2020
I'm. 😬😬😬
February 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I found the language and scenery to be very rich and vivid. I thought that the characters were well thought out and believable.
About half of this book was world building, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by that at all but sometimes I did want the pace of the plot to pick up slightly. I do think though that this means the second book will have more action.
I love the two storylines and different perspectives on each chapter.
About half of this book was world building, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by that at all but sometimes I did want the pace of the plot to pick up slightly. I do think though that this means the second book will have more action.
I love the two storylines and different perspectives on each chapter.
October 21, 2020
had promise, but ultimately i got stuck on the writing style (also it should have been gay! ina x sinai was right there!)
Rep: Black cast
CWs: gender violence
Rep: Black cast
CWs: gender violence
May 23, 2021
I genuinely have no words to convey how incredible this book was. Oh my fucking GOD.
Want to read
July 24, 2020I would gladly let these two stunning goddesses on the cover MURDER ME and I'll die with a smile
September 30, 2021
*Thank you to Onwe for sending me a copy of this book to review!*
Ugh I feel like this is one of those times where I’m speechless about a book. Like it just astounded and entertained me completely. I don’t even know how to describe it. I loved this story, I think it was beautifully done, and if you’re a fan of strong female-led fantasy rich in culture and history, this one's for you. It’s a dream.
The writing was immaculate, the world building was really gradual and well paced, the magic system was also really gentle and easy to understand. I loved the plot and the set of characters we had were so vibrant and headstrong, I was obsessed. The dual narrative/perspectives really worked well here and we got enough time with each character to fall in love with them both as individuals. Someone tell Naala I would actually die for her please, she is such an angel.
I devoured the first half of this book literally in one sitting, I didn’t wanna put it down, I was so intrigued and invested in the story from the get go. Considering it had quite small font well as being fantasy, my intimidation was completely irrational - it was really easy to read and get through in next to no time.
I don’t have a single bad thing to say about this book, like I genuinely can’t think of a criticism or a fault. I can’t even think of anything tiny to nitpick that I didn’t like. Absolutely stellar. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.
Ugh I feel like this is one of those times where I’m speechless about a book. Like it just astounded and entertained me completely. I don’t even know how to describe it. I loved this story, I think it was beautifully done, and if you’re a fan of strong female-led fantasy rich in culture and history, this one's for you. It’s a dream.
The writing was immaculate, the world building was really gradual and well paced, the magic system was also really gentle and easy to understand. I loved the plot and the set of characters we had were so vibrant and headstrong, I was obsessed. The dual narrative/perspectives really worked well here and we got enough time with each character to fall in love with them both as individuals. Someone tell Naala I would actually die for her please, she is such an angel.
I devoured the first half of this book literally in one sitting, I didn’t wanna put it down, I was so intrigued and invested in the story from the get go. Considering it had quite small font well as being fantasy, my intimidation was completely irrational - it was really easy to read and get through in next to no time.
I don’t have a single bad thing to say about this book, like I genuinely can’t think of a criticism or a fault. I can’t even think of anything tiny to nitpick that I didn’t like. Absolutely stellar. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.
September 2, 2025
I enjoyed this! The world and the concept; I thought everything was built up so nicely and subtley. The magic of this world is so subtle and breathtakingly beautiful that magic almost feels like the wrong word to use because of the images it conjures up. I did have some qualms about minor writing things, but this prose has a lot of beauty in it, especially when describing the women of this novel and the magic/world. As for characters, I particularly really loved Sinai and her plotline; I wished Naala had a little bit more development as I felt I didn’t know her as deeply as I knew Sinai. Likewise, I would’ve liked to know the secondary characters better, especially the Eze. The pacing also didn’t entirely work for me, and I personally wished for the main characters to have a little bit more agency over the plot. They definitely had their big moments where they pushed the plot forward, but I do think a lot was attributed to outside feelings/events pushing them forward. I have a feeling, though, once they learn about their magic (which I’m dying to see more of) this will fix itself. As it is, the chapters were so short it sometimes felt like not much got done within them, and the plot would stop and start jarringly. The ending begins and ends quite abruptly, but I am very excited for book 2 and excited to see if it expands on the things I liked.
May 9, 2020
This was an interesting read for me. I enjoyed the story overall but the pace of it was a little hard to focus on. I enjoyed the two main characters but there were certain times where each perspective hit a slow patch and I wanted it to speed up a little. I don't know what is going to happen after that ending since it seemed to finish so smoothly, I am slightly intrigued but also confused on what could end up taking place in book 2. Overall, it was a 3 star read for me, which isn't bad, and hopefully I will pick up the second book when it comes out.
Want to read
August 16, 2019i know i’m late to the party but
LOOK AT THE COVER. MY EYES HAVE BEEN BLESSED.
LOOK AT THE COVER. MY EYES HAVE BEEN BLESSED.
June 6, 2021
3.5 stars
This book was enjoyable, but it felt very debut-ish to me. There were a lot of times I just felt the writing didn't quite flow, and it was hard for me to become immersed in the story. The ending was pretty good though, and I think the sequel will be much better.
To be entirely honest, I think a lot of the issues I had with this book mostly resulted from the fact that I'm currently editing a project of my own, so I've been coming at a lot of my recent reads with a very critical eye. That means that there were just a lot of odd choices I noticed that really took me out of the story and prevented me from being fully taken in. A lot of the dialogue feels a little clunky, and there were some scenes that I wasn't quite sure had to be there.
I think this might even be more of a problem with the editor, because I think if I read this as a manuscript in maybe its fourth draft, I'd think it was great. I genuinely had to just keep telling the editing side of my brain to shut up and let me enjoy the story, but it just felt rough around the edges. What I wouldn't give to go at this book with an editing pen! That isn't to say there weren't plenty of scenes that were great, but then I felt like I was noticing the fact that it was a good scene instead of just experiencing the story.
The overall concept and plotline is great, and although it isn't the most out-of-the-box storyline I've ever read, it definitely hits on some unique ideas. I do think the plot is a bit tropey... At times, the main characters fall into the "special snowflake"/chosen one trope pretty heavily, but I guess doesn't bother me as much as it would other times. Maybe it's the Black female characters' turns to be the chosen ones, I don't know.
The setting is incredibly engrossing, and since I'm not very familiar with the part of history the world was based on (medieval Nigeria I believe), it was fascinating to learn about. The god system hasn't been heavily developed in this first book, but it's interesting and unique so far- I always love mythology in fantasy. I think the world was by far the best aspect of this book. World-building isn't always the most important element to me personally, but when you do the research and put effort into your world, it shows.
I definitely think the sequel will work a lot better because now the stage is set, and the last few scenes were really ramping up to some good action. Hopefully Amayo's writing can mature a bit too. Although I wasn't absolutely thrilled with this book, it's absolutely worth a read, and I have every intention of continuing with this series.
Content Warnings: rape (not shown), grief, depression, extreme bullying, massacre scene
This book was enjoyable, but it felt very debut-ish to me. There were a lot of times I just felt the writing didn't quite flow, and it was hard for me to become immersed in the story. The ending was pretty good though, and I think the sequel will be much better.
To be entirely honest, I think a lot of the issues I had with this book mostly resulted from the fact that I'm currently editing a project of my own, so I've been coming at a lot of my recent reads with a very critical eye. That means that there were just a lot of odd choices I noticed that really took me out of the story and prevented me from being fully taken in. A lot of the dialogue feels a little clunky, and there were some scenes that I wasn't quite sure had to be there.
I think this might even be more of a problem with the editor, because I think if I read this as a manuscript in maybe its fourth draft, I'd think it was great. I genuinely had to just keep telling the editing side of my brain to shut up and let me enjoy the story, but it just felt rough around the edges. What I wouldn't give to go at this book with an editing pen! That isn't to say there weren't plenty of scenes that were great, but then I felt like I was noticing the fact that it was a good scene instead of just experiencing the story.
The overall concept and plotline is great, and although it isn't the most out-of-the-box storyline I've ever read, it definitely hits on some unique ideas. I do think the plot is a bit tropey... At times, the main characters fall into the "special snowflake"/chosen one trope pretty heavily, but I guess doesn't bother me as much as it would other times. Maybe it's the Black female characters' turns to be the chosen ones, I don't know.
The setting is incredibly engrossing, and since I'm not very familiar with the part of history the world was based on (medieval Nigeria I believe), it was fascinating to learn about. The god system hasn't been heavily developed in this first book, but it's interesting and unique so far- I always love mythology in fantasy. I think the world was by far the best aspect of this book. World-building isn't always the most important element to me personally, but when you do the research and put effort into your world, it shows.
I definitely think the sequel will work a lot better because now the stage is set, and the last few scenes were really ramping up to some good action. Hopefully Amayo's writing can mature a bit too. Although I wasn't absolutely thrilled with this book, it's absolutely worth a read, and I have every intention of continuing with this series.
Content Warnings: rape (not shown), grief, depression, extreme bullying, massacre scene
January 17, 2024
4.5 stars. Wow, just wow. This was so good. I really enjoyed seeing how different yet the same both girls life was. I loved how we got to see them grow as people. The storytelling was very compelling. The only thing that frustrates me is that they didn’t meet until the end of the book, I was dying for them to meet already. Definitely starting book two asap.
January 4, 2024
Lovely world building. Yet the magic system gave...magic because it's magic vibes
July 18, 2020
This cover art needs to be made into a poster. It's fucking stunning.
As for the actual story...little less so. I did really like both sisters, and that they had clearly distinguished characterizations and motivations and personalities. I appreciated watching both of them deal with the struggles and dangers they faced, and how brave they both were. I also enjoyed the setting and the author did a terrific job of putting us in this physical world, and loved how we start to see these flashes of magic and the truth that the sisters have yet to discover for the first.......way too many pages.
Which was my main issue here--it is very slow. The story really plods along for a long time, and chapter to chapter it feels like the characters' arcs are just inching forward. It takes until very late in the book for them to even come together, and I honestly found myself a bit...not bored but just wanting more to happen, wanting these girls to be together. And then the ending felt pretty rushed, and while this is the first in a series, I'm not sure how the second book will pick up after this one. I also wished the world-building and explanations of the magic/religion/political systems were a little clearer and more in-depth.
There was also a little too much telling rather than showing, particularly around Eze's character. He's supposed to be this horrible villain, but we don't really see all that much of his being horrible; rather, we're told that he is, or we pick up on it from the way people react to him and think about him.
So I liked this well enough, didn't love it, and think it definitely had room for improvement. But the basis of the story was a great one, and I will probably read on in the series because I'd like to see more from Naala and Sinai, for sure.
As for the actual story...little less so. I did really like both sisters, and that they had clearly distinguished characterizations and motivations and personalities. I appreciated watching both of them deal with the struggles and dangers they faced, and how brave they both were. I also enjoyed the setting and the author did a terrific job of putting us in this physical world, and loved how we start to see these flashes of magic and the truth that the sisters have yet to discover for the first.......way too many pages.
Which was my main issue here--it is very slow. The story really plods along for a long time, and chapter to chapter it feels like the characters' arcs are just inching forward. It takes until very late in the book for them to even come together, and I honestly found myself a bit...not bored but just wanting more to happen, wanting these girls to be together. And then the ending felt pretty rushed, and while this is the first in a series, I'm not sure how the second book will pick up after this one. I also wished the world-building and explanations of the magic/religion/political systems were a little clearer and more in-depth.
There was also a little too much telling rather than showing, particularly around Eze's character. He's supposed to be this horrible villain, but we don't really see all that much of his being horrible; rather, we're told that he is, or we pick up on it from the way people react to him and think about him.
So I liked this well enough, didn't love it, and think it definitely had room for improvement. But the basis of the story was a great one, and I will probably read on in the series because I'd like to see more from Naala and Sinai, for sure.
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