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Abeni’s Song #1
Abeni's Song
On the day of the Harvest Festival, the old woman who lives in the forest appears in Abeni's village with a terrible
You ignored my warnings. It’s too late to run. They are coming.
Warriors with burning blades storm the village. A man with a cursed flute plays an impossibly alluring song. And everyone Abeni has ever known and loved is captured and marched toward far-off ghost ships set for even more distant lands.
But not Abeni.
Abeni is magically whisked away by the old woman. In the forest, Abeni begins her unwanted magical apprenticeship, her journey to escape the witch, and her impossible mission to bring her people home.
Abeni’s Song is the beginning of a timeless, enchanting fantasy adventure about a reluctant apprentice, a team of spirit kids, and the village they set out to save.
You ignored my warnings. It’s too late to run. They are coming.
Warriors with burning blades storm the village. A man with a cursed flute plays an impossibly alluring song. And everyone Abeni has ever known and loved is captured and marched toward far-off ghost ships set for even more distant lands.
But not Abeni.
Abeni is magically whisked away by the old woman. In the forest, Abeni begins her unwanted magical apprenticeship, her journey to escape the witch, and her impossible mission to bring her people home.
Abeni’s Song is the beginning of a timeless, enchanting fantasy adventure about a reluctant apprentice, a team of spirit kids, and the village they set out to save.
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First published July 25, 2023
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About the author
P. Djèlí Clark
58 books6,140 followersPhenderson Djèlí Clark.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
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September 24, 2024Abeni's Song is the Middle Grade Fantasy debut of beloved and award-winning SFF-author, P. Djèlí Clark. I love reading Middle Grade and have found a lot of joy over the years within the genre.
As soon as I heard about this, I knew I had to read it. I've really enjoyed Clark's writing in the past and was super interested to see what he would do in the MG-space.
In this story we follow Abeni, a young girl, who on Harvest Festival day, loses everyone in her village to raiders and a man playing a cursed flute. The villagers are marched away, lured by the song, to ghost ships set for distant lands.
Abeni isn't sucked in by the spell though. Instead she is whisked away by the old woman who lives in the forest abutting her village, reputed to be a witch.
Although Abeni feels like the witch's prisoner, she has in a way been saved and her unwanted magical apprenticeship begins. Still, even though she isn't being harmed, Abeni is distraught and heartbroken over what happened to her village and her loved ones.
Over the course of the story, Abeni learns about magic, history and herself, all while focusing on her mission to rescue her people and bring them home.
Abeni's Song is a solid story, with plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
I love and respect P. Djèlí Clark tremendously as a Fantasy writer. He's incredibly imaginative and I love some of the dark imagery he conjures up through his stories. There's definitely some of that beautiful, darker imagery here.
I am also excited he's branching out into the Middle Grade space for the first time. It's important to have this type of representation and culturally-influenced stories for young people to discover, but overall, this one was just okay for me.
IMO, this didn't feel like a Middle Grade Fantasy. It read more like an Adult Fantasy with a young protagonist. The chapters were quite long and more heavy-handed in the settings, descriptions and inner thoughts of our MC, than with action, witty dialogue or fantastical elements.
Because of this, I didn't find myself enjoying this as much as I have some other Middle Grade Fantasies. It's still a great, well-developed story, with strong character work, but just in comparison with other stories in the space, it was a little more challenging to work through.
With this being said, there is so much to love about this book. Abeni is a memorable character, who really matured over the course of the story. I know so many Readers are going to love and connect with this.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Starscape and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Clark is such a phenomenal writer and I look forward to picking up more of his work in the future!
As soon as I heard about this, I knew I had to read it. I've really enjoyed Clark's writing in the past and was super interested to see what he would do in the MG-space.
In this story we follow Abeni, a young girl, who on Harvest Festival day, loses everyone in her village to raiders and a man playing a cursed flute. The villagers are marched away, lured by the song, to ghost ships set for distant lands.
Abeni isn't sucked in by the spell though. Instead she is whisked away by the old woman who lives in the forest abutting her village, reputed to be a witch.
Although Abeni feels like the witch's prisoner, she has in a way been saved and her unwanted magical apprenticeship begins. Still, even though she isn't being harmed, Abeni is distraught and heartbroken over what happened to her village and her loved ones.
Over the course of the story, Abeni learns about magic, history and herself, all while focusing on her mission to rescue her people and bring them home.
Abeni's Song is a solid story, with plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
I love and respect P. Djèlí Clark tremendously as a Fantasy writer. He's incredibly imaginative and I love some of the dark imagery he conjures up through his stories. There's definitely some of that beautiful, darker imagery here.
I am also excited he's branching out into the Middle Grade space for the first time. It's important to have this type of representation and culturally-influenced stories for young people to discover, but overall, this one was just okay for me.
IMO, this didn't feel like a Middle Grade Fantasy. It read more like an Adult Fantasy with a young protagonist. The chapters were quite long and more heavy-handed in the settings, descriptions and inner thoughts of our MC, than with action, witty dialogue or fantastical elements.
Because of this, I didn't find myself enjoying this as much as I have some other Middle Grade Fantasies. It's still a great, well-developed story, with strong character work, but just in comparison with other stories in the space, it was a little more challenging to work through.
With this being said, there is so much to love about this book. Abeni is a memorable character, who really matured over the course of the story. I know so many Readers are going to love and connect with this.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Starscape and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Clark is such a phenomenal writer and I look forward to picking up more of his work in the future!
June 20, 2023
A really fantastic start to an African-inspired middle-grade fantasy adventure story that is grappling with some heavy issues albeit metaphorically. By the end of the book, it's clear that Clark is using the story to talk about the Atlantic slave trade, child soldiers in Africa, blood diamonds, and environmental degradation due to mining.
That's a lot but it's seamlessly woven into this fantasy story about a young girl who is the only person in her village to escape being taken because an old woman who might be a witch whisks her away. Abeni is coming of age, learning to use magic, and finding the courage (and friendships) she needs to save her people. This leans a little dark and heavy at times, but it's also whimsical and has great found family and friendships. The way Clark tackles these really big and difficult issues is so smart and age appropriate. This book could be used as a jumping off point to discuss the real world parallels to the story. I definitely recommend it. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
That's a lot but it's seamlessly woven into this fantasy story about a young girl who is the only person in her village to escape being taken because an old woman who might be a witch whisks her away. Abeni is coming of age, learning to use magic, and finding the courage (and friendships) she needs to save her people. This leans a little dark and heavy at times, but it's also whimsical and has great found family and friendships. The way Clark tackles these really big and difficult issues is so smart and age appropriate. This book could be used as a jumping off point to discuss the real world parallels to the story. I definitely recommend it. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
October 17, 2023
Loved it. I felt the way a Miyazaki film makes me feel, spirited away to another world.
I disagree with reviews that the voices were shrill and hard to understand. Yes, the narrator speak in a West African accent, but I had no trouble ever understanding something. The kids voices were high pitched, not shrill. I question the bias of those reviews. 🙃
I disagree with reviews that the voices were shrill and hard to understand. Yes, the narrator speak in a West African accent, but I had no trouble ever understanding something. The kids voices were high pitched, not shrill. I question the bias of those reviews. 🙃
October 28, 2023
4.0 Stars
I love this author's adult fiction so I was excited to read their debut middle grade novel. This one did not disappoint. I love the rich worldbuilding and dynamic characters.
This book is technically classified as middle grade but I actually would recommend it to older young adult readers. It's not inappropriate for younger readers but there is a lot of complexity to the themes and writing style that I feel will work best for older readers.
I would recommend this one to adult and young readers alike who are looking for a smart powerful story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I love this author's adult fiction so I was excited to read their debut middle grade novel. This one did not disappoint. I love the rich worldbuilding and dynamic characters.
This book is technically classified as middle grade but I actually would recommend it to older young adult readers. It's not inappropriate for younger readers but there is a lot of complexity to the themes and writing style that I feel will work best for older readers.
I would recommend this one to adult and young readers alike who are looking for a smart powerful story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 29, 2023
Aunque siempre disfruto de Clark es verdad que en este libro me faltó algo de la originalidad que siempre encuentro en sus libros. Es una novela middle grade super entretenida y con cosas muy chulas, una aventura con un argumento y personajes MUY clásicos pero con esa ambientación africana que rompe con todo lo que suelen mostrar este tipo de historias.
Lo mejor es todo el tema de los espíritus y desde luego mi parte preferida fue la de la bruja. Tiene momentazos pero como decía al principio, me resultó un poco demasiado típico la evolución de los personajes y su camino personal, por lo que no me llegó tanto como esperaba.
Lo mejor es todo el tema de los espíritus y desde luego mi parte preferida fue la de la bruja. Tiene momentazos pero como decía al principio, me resultó un poco demasiado típico la evolución de los personajes y su camino personal, por lo que no me llegó tanto como esperaba.
January 1, 2025
I have received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through a giveaway hosted by the publisher. This has not affected my rating or review in any way.
Abeni's Song is an epic of a novel. That is to say, I had a bit of a hard time with this one.
Firstly, this novel felt like it was written as an adult fantasy and later dumbed down into a middle grade novel. I understand that Clark is coming from an adult fantasy background but this hardly felt like something for younger readers at all. There was an intense amount of world building, too much for a middle grade novel. The intensity of the world building eventually took away from the story itself, as I found myself growing bored and uninterested around the midway point.
I wanted to like this novel so badly, but I just couldn't find it in myself. The characters weren't intriguing enough for me to attach to or care about them, with the world building taking precedence in this story. I also wasn't a fan of Clark's writing style, as for example, too many times I noted his overuse of exclamation points similar to Sarah J. Maas's writing in the first Throne of Glass novels- almost as if he were trying to sound condescending or patronizing. I wasn't a fan of the overly long chapters, finding myself fatigued after reading so many longer paragraphs with so little dialogue and scene or chapter breaks.
Now these are some minor personal issues I had with the book; considering this is an Advance Reader's Copy I found many spelling and punctuation errors which I hope to see fixed in the final version. Also, my copy was so poorly printed that some of the words were cut off at the top or bottom of the page. It was still readable but it certainly wasn't easy and it somewhat affected my reading experience.
Overall, I was disappointed to find that I didn't like Abeni's Song. I believe this novel just wasn't for me.
Abeni's Song is an epic of a novel. That is to say, I had a bit of a hard time with this one.
Firstly, this novel felt like it was written as an adult fantasy and later dumbed down into a middle grade novel. I understand that Clark is coming from an adult fantasy background but this hardly felt like something for younger readers at all. There was an intense amount of world building, too much for a middle grade novel. The intensity of the world building eventually took away from the story itself, as I found myself growing bored and uninterested around the midway point.
I wanted to like this novel so badly, but I just couldn't find it in myself. The characters weren't intriguing enough for me to attach to or care about them, with the world building taking precedence in this story. I also wasn't a fan of Clark's writing style, as for example, too many times I noted his overuse of exclamation points similar to Sarah J. Maas's writing in the first Throne of Glass novels- almost as if he were trying to sound condescending or patronizing. I wasn't a fan of the overly long chapters, finding myself fatigued after reading so many longer paragraphs with so little dialogue and scene or chapter breaks.
Now these are some minor personal issues I had with the book; considering this is an Advance Reader's Copy I found many spelling and punctuation errors which I hope to see fixed in the final version. Also, my copy was so poorly printed that some of the words were cut off at the top or bottom of the page. It was still readable but it certainly wasn't easy and it somewhat affected my reading experience.
Overall, I was disappointed to find that I didn't like Abeni's Song. I believe this novel just wasn't for me.
August 1, 2023
DNF at 43%.
The writing is lovely and I would have enjoyed finishing this had it not been for the narration.
Funmi James' natural voice was enchanting and worked well as the overall narrator of the story.
The issue I had was that for nearly every character she changed her voice to this whiney high pitched screech of sorts. It had me cringing constantly and began giving me a headache.
I could not continue, I will probably revisit this in a physical format.
Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my ALC.
The writing is lovely and I would have enjoyed finishing this had it not been for the narration.
Funmi James' natural voice was enchanting and worked well as the overall narrator of the story.
The issue I had was that for nearly every character she changed her voice to this whiney high pitched screech of sorts. It had me cringing constantly and began giving me a headache.
I could not continue, I will probably revisit this in a physical format.
Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my ALC.
July 25, 2023
Thankyou Netgalley and Tor for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic African inspired middle grade novel. It has everything a middle grade book needs like adventure, magic, found family, fun characters, innocence, loyalty and friendship. At the same time, it also has incredible world building and some heavy themes which makes it work for all ages. I recommend it for everyone, not just kids.
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL4tV...
Fantastic African inspired middle grade novel. It has everything a middle grade book needs like adventure, magic, found family, fun characters, innocence, loyalty and friendship. At the same time, it also has incredible world building and some heavy themes which makes it work for all ages. I recommend it for everyone, not just kids.
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL4tV...
July 26, 2023
P. D’jeli Clark is a master of world building in his Dead Jinn Universe.
So it should be no surprise that his debut middle grade novel would be any different. If anything, Clark’s whimsy and creative imagination, for me, was even more impressive.
If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely loved Abenis Song!
One day during the Harvest Festival, a tragedy occurs when an entire village is captured and carried off in ghost ships toward an unknown land.
Well, not quite an entire village.
Abeni, a twelve year old villager, is magically whisked away by an older woman the community has long believed to be a witch. Longing to find out what happened to her friends and family, Abeni must grow up quickly if she wants to find a way to save her village.
From the sensory descriptions of the Harvest Festival and a magical hut in the forest with dozens of ever-changing rooms, to talking pots and straw men, you’ll be enchanted with the world Clark’s created. It was one my favorite parts of this book! I was always surprised and delighted to see where his imagination took the story.
The character relationships were wonderful, too. Lots of found family goodness! Abeni changes from hot-tempered and rash to someone who develops self-control, responsibility and compassion.
The ending was very satisfying, with a completed arc of its own which is refreshing. But it left just enough of a plot tease for the sequel that I’m very much anticipating it!
I’d highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy highly whimsical middle grade novels such as The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, if you enjoy African inspired folktales and myths, or Western African inspired fantasy.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Starscape for the digital acr. All opinions are my own.
So it should be no surprise that his debut middle grade novel would be any different. If anything, Clark’s whimsy and creative imagination, for me, was even more impressive.
If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely loved Abenis Song!
One day during the Harvest Festival, a tragedy occurs when an entire village is captured and carried off in ghost ships toward an unknown land.
Well, not quite an entire village.
Abeni, a twelve year old villager, is magically whisked away by an older woman the community has long believed to be a witch. Longing to find out what happened to her friends and family, Abeni must grow up quickly if she wants to find a way to save her village.
From the sensory descriptions of the Harvest Festival and a magical hut in the forest with dozens of ever-changing rooms, to talking pots and straw men, you’ll be enchanted with the world Clark’s created. It was one my favorite parts of this book! I was always surprised and delighted to see where his imagination took the story.
The character relationships were wonderful, too. Lots of found family goodness! Abeni changes from hot-tempered and rash to someone who develops self-control, responsibility and compassion.
The ending was very satisfying, with a completed arc of its own which is refreshing. But it left just enough of a plot tease for the sequel that I’m very much anticipating it!
I’d highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy highly whimsical middle grade novels such as The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, if you enjoy African inspired folktales and myths, or Western African inspired fantasy.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Starscape for the digital acr. All opinions are my own.
December 27, 2023
Ahoy there me mateys! This is the start to a new series and I think it is lovely even if it has dark themes. The world building is wonderful. Abeni is a fantastic main character. She loses her family when her village is destroyed and all the people kidnapped. Abeni is determined to find them. The interesting part for me is that there is no simple magical fix even if magic is real. Abeni is continually learning and growing and works hard. She has to rely on the help of her friends. She finds new family while never forgetting about her old one. She has prejudices about others that she has to overcome. She has to learn that adults don't always have the answers. Abeni is certainly someone to root for. I also loved Asha and the other secondary characters. I think this is a great book for younger readers and older ones alike. Highly recommended and look forward to reading more of Abeni's journey. Arrr!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for me honest review.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for me honest review.
July 10, 2024
The audiobook narration was just awful. She did way too many annoying voices that hurt my ears. I don’t know why, it was so unnecessary and really took away from the story. The book itself isn’t bad, I thought it was alright but it’s definitely too long and maybe a bit complicated to be called middle grade. Maybe my review would’ve been hire if it weren’t for the audiobook but I don’t think I’ll continue the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
December 29, 2023
Mmoatia are not demons. Not men, true. But not demons. Some can even be pleasant."
"But you said they eat people," Abeni reminded.
"Well... yes. There's that." The witch moved on, as if people-eating was a matter up for debate.
This isn't my favourite book by Clark, that's for sure. The beginning was very slow and the pacing felt a bit of, but once I got into the book, I started to enjoy the worldbuilding very much and the characters were pretty delightful too. I don't really have much more to say about this one - I mostly just felt that it could have been shorter and it was a bit of a chore coming back to it, but it's still written by P. Djèlí Clark and therefore beautifully written with a focus on women/girl (in this case) characters. I especially appreciated the witchy elements and the magical house. I won't lie though, I'm a bit salty that this will surely be a series while I'm praying for more books in A Dead Djinn in Cairo universe! I would prefer more Fatma books! Sorry, Abeni!
To sum it up, not that much for me, even though I'll read the second book, but I think the targeted audience will appreciate this more.
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
April 21, 2025
The narration is truly awful.
I could not get into this on audio at all and didn't like it. I kept going because I already agreed to review book 2 in this series for NetGalley. Eventually I just started reading an ebook copy and got sucked right into the story.
The narrator uses cartoon style voices and it truly detracts from the story. The voice used for the main character, Abeni. sounds like the narrator inhaled helium before voicing her. It's extremely irritating and honestly gave me a headache.
The narrators natural speaking voice is lovely, sure wish it had been used to narrate this. It's truly awful and ruins the story. I would've just quit this after starting the audiobook if I hadn't wanted the context to review book 2. I see there's a new narrator for book 2, so I'm relieved.
This is a fascinating story that felt very fairy tale like in construction. This is heavily influenced by West African mythology and it helps the story feel very unique to me. Once I stopped listening to the audiobook, I quite enjoyed this.
The beginning with Abeni & Aunt Asha in tone kinda reminded me of Anyanwu from Octavia Butler's Wild Seed novel. There's no connection between stories other than my own mind making random connections.
This is a wonderful middle grade fantasy but steer clear of the audiobook for this. It's absolutely tragic.
I could not get into this on audio at all and didn't like it. I kept going because I already agreed to review book 2 in this series for NetGalley. Eventually I just started reading an ebook copy and got sucked right into the story.
The narrator uses cartoon style voices and it truly detracts from the story. The voice used for the main character, Abeni. sounds like the narrator inhaled helium before voicing her. It's extremely irritating and honestly gave me a headache.
The narrators natural speaking voice is lovely, sure wish it had been used to narrate this. It's truly awful and ruins the story. I would've just quit this after starting the audiobook if I hadn't wanted the context to review book 2. I see there's a new narrator for book 2, so I'm relieved.
This is a fascinating story that felt very fairy tale like in construction. This is heavily influenced by West African mythology and it helps the story feel very unique to me. Once I stopped listening to the audiobook, I quite enjoyed this.
The beginning with Abeni & Aunt Asha in tone kinda reminded me of Anyanwu from Octavia Butler's Wild Seed novel. There's no connection between stories other than my own mind making random connections.
This is a wonderful middle grade fantasy but steer clear of the audiobook for this. It's absolutely tragic.
August 14, 2023
I normally love everything P. Djèlí Clark writes. Unfortunately, I had a tough time getting into this book, which is surprising as this has so much that I love: a kind and tough main character in Abeni, who must find her strength to save the people she loves, while learning magic and dealing with spirits.
Abeni's entire village is kidnapped one night by warriors with blades and fire, led by a mysterious figure with a flute whose music captures the minds of the village children.
Abeni is rescued by a tough old woman, who teaches her magic and some martial skills. When the old woman is killed, Abeni sets off on a journey to save a young spirit and save her people. She meets various spirits who help her, argue, and motivate her. Abeni also learns some shocking things about the warriors, and knows that her journey is not done by the end of this book, as there are still ghost ships further westwards that she must learn more about and more people to save.
I'm not sure what happened with this book and me; I just kept finding my interest waning every so many chapters, and while I loved the sheer variety of spirits and the magical world Abeni was brought into, I did not enjoy this as much as I wanted to.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Abeni's entire village is kidnapped one night by warriors with blades and fire, led by a mysterious figure with a flute whose music captures the minds of the village children.
Abeni is rescued by a tough old woman, who teaches her magic and some martial skills. When the old woman is killed, Abeni sets off on a journey to save a young spirit and save her people. She meets various spirits who help her, argue, and motivate her. Abeni also learns some shocking things about the warriors, and knows that her journey is not done by the end of this book, as there are still ghost ships further westwards that she must learn more about and more people to save.
I'm not sure what happened with this book and me; I just kept finding my interest waning every so many chapters, and while I loved the sheer variety of spirits and the magical world Abeni was brought into, I did not enjoy this as much as I wanted to.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 2, 2023
Abeni’s Song is the first middle grade novel by P. Djèlí Clark. This is a great book that I think 11+ year olds would have a lot of fun reading. It has adventure, magic, found friends, and spirit animals! For anyone looking for a coming-of-age middle grade book, I would recommend this. I have read almost all of P. Djèlí Clark’s works and love his world-building. I look forward to the next quest with Abeni and her friends.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Starsscape, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Starsscape, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2024
very well written, lovely story and interesting world, very likeable characters. i might not have loved a the lecture-wise voice of the story, though it could have been only my imagination and being super depressed by all the real world happenings. i would recommend this middle grade book and i would definitely be reading the next one in the series.
March 1, 2023
I requested this ARC because I absolutely love P. Djèlí Clark’s work and I will read absolutely everything he publishes. I read exclusively adult fiction 99.99% of the time so I will say in rating this, I really can’t compare it to what middle grade fiction tends to be like and I certainly can’t speak for the book’s intended audience.
Abeni’s Song follows a young girl, Abeni, who sets out on an adventure to rescue her village thwart a Witch King. Along the way, Abeni meets and befriends spirits, develops her magical and fighting abilities, and learns a lot about herself. A lot of what I love in Clark’s adult fiction is present here: a complex, multi-faceted female protagonist, a well developed and compelling world, and an exciting plot. The book tackles intense themes mindfully, and is a great adventure story that I think middle graders will really enjoy. I particularly love the cast of girls, their friendship dynamic and their bravery - Abeni, Asha, Nyomi, and Zaneeya - and think many young readers would too. One of the things that really stands out to me in Clark’s adult fiction is that he’s written some female characters I’m truly, truly grateful for, and I’m so happy to see this in his middle grade debut as well. I would absolutely buy this book for young readers in my life, and if this is going to be a series, I’d happily read a sequel.
Content warnings: references to slavery, colonialism, violence, grief
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing / Starscape for providing an ARC in exchange for this review.
Abeni’s Song follows a young girl, Abeni, who sets out on an adventure to rescue her village thwart a Witch King. Along the way, Abeni meets and befriends spirits, develops her magical and fighting abilities, and learns a lot about herself. A lot of what I love in Clark’s adult fiction is present here: a complex, multi-faceted female protagonist, a well developed and compelling world, and an exciting plot. The book tackles intense themes mindfully, and is a great adventure story that I think middle graders will really enjoy. I particularly love the cast of girls, their friendship dynamic and their bravery - Abeni, Asha, Nyomi, and Zaneeya - and think many young readers would too. One of the things that really stands out to me in Clark’s adult fiction is that he’s written some female characters I’m truly, truly grateful for, and I’m so happy to see this in his middle grade debut as well. I would absolutely buy this book for young readers in my life, and if this is going to be a series, I’d happily read a sequel.
Content warnings: references to slavery, colonialism, violence, grief
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing / Starscape for providing an ARC in exchange for this review.
June 23, 2023
Rating: 4.5
I really loved this book. I loved the characters, especially Asha and Obi. The only complaint that I have is that it got a little bit slow and boring in the middle. I would recommend this book, even if you don't typically read middle grade.
I really loved this book. I loved the characters, especially Asha and Obi. The only complaint that I have is that it got a little bit slow and boring in the middle. I would recommend this book, even if you don't typically read middle grade.
September 14, 2025
Stars: 5 out of 5
I don't usually read YA as a rule, probably because I am a few decades past the age when those particular stories were interesting to me. However, I had fun reading this one because it's very well-written and avoids the pitfalls of other young adult books - insufferable heroines, children who seem to be smarter and better at everything than adults, or dreaded love triangles.
This is more of a fairy tale and a coming-of-age story or even a hero's journey story, and it plays by the rules of those genres. Yes, Abeni can be annoying and quick to judge others, brash and even stupid at times, especially at the beginning of the story, but she grows and matures as we follow along. This is very much a journey of self-discovery for her. It's also a story of found family, of seeing past differences and finding friends in unexpected places. And about courage as well. Not only the courage to confront an evil that terrifies you because it's the right thing to do, and there is nobody else to do it, but also the courage to take a long, hard look at your own motivations and shortcomings and acknowledge that you were wrong.
I like how we see Abeni growing up and assuming the role of protector for the newly reborn Asha, even though she is still a child herself. Yes, it's terrifying, and Abeni tries to pass that duty to others, like Asha's sister, but she still does what she feels is right in the end.
And no hero's journey would be complete without trials and adventures. Some are scary, some are sad, and some are there to remind us that there is always a light even in the darkest places. I loved the episode in the Vale of Lost Things. It is an amazing place to visit, though I wouldn't want to stay there permanently.
I also liked that Abeni had to confront how anger and resentment can warp people when she confronted the Goat Man. In a way, she could have chosen the same path. He'd even said that she had a lot of anger burning inside her, and that the Witch King could use that anger. I think it's one of the reasons why she was so upset about how the villagers treated Songu and why she agreed for him to come with them at the end of the book.
Abeni started this book losing everything - her family, her friends, her home. She ended the book having found new friends as well as a purpose in life. And I think she also learned several valuable lessons.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't usually read YA as a rule, probably because I am a few decades past the age when those particular stories were interesting to me. However, I had fun reading this one because it's very well-written and avoids the pitfalls of other young adult books - insufferable heroines, children who seem to be smarter and better at everything than adults, or dreaded love triangles.
This is more of a fairy tale and a coming-of-age story or even a hero's journey story, and it plays by the rules of those genres. Yes, Abeni can be annoying and quick to judge others, brash and even stupid at times, especially at the beginning of the story, but she grows and matures as we follow along. This is very much a journey of self-discovery for her. It's also a story of found family, of seeing past differences and finding friends in unexpected places. And about courage as well. Not only the courage to confront an evil that terrifies you because it's the right thing to do, and there is nobody else to do it, but also the courage to take a long, hard look at your own motivations and shortcomings and acknowledge that you were wrong.
I like how we see Abeni growing up and assuming the role of protector for the newly reborn Asha, even though she is still a child herself. Yes, it's terrifying, and Abeni tries to pass that duty to others, like Asha's sister, but she still does what she feels is right in the end.
And no hero's journey would be complete without trials and adventures. Some are scary, some are sad, and some are there to remind us that there is always a light even in the darkest places. I loved the episode in the Vale of Lost Things. It is an amazing place to visit, though I wouldn't want to stay there permanently.
I also liked that Abeni had to confront how anger and resentment can warp people when she confronted the Goat Man. In a way, she could have chosen the same path. He'd even said that she had a lot of anger burning inside her, and that the Witch King could use that anger. I think it's one of the reasons why she was so upset about how the villagers treated Songu and why she agreed for him to come with them at the end of the book.
Abeni started this book losing everything - her family, her friends, her home. She ended the book having found new friends as well as a purpose in life. And I think she also learned several valuable lessons.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2023
I loved it! There is something about the way Djeli creates and shapes a story, infusing it with history, mythology, fun, and compassionate characters that just make me fall for his books every time. Abeni's Song was no different and holds teaching moments for both young and old.
April 11, 2023
4.5 stars
Effortlessly beautiful world building, exciting plot, and complex characters combine to make this a fantastic middle grade novel. There's definitely some light social commentary, but deep mythology and adventure to keep kids reading. I bought into everything and look forward to the sequel.
Effortlessly beautiful world building, exciting plot, and complex characters combine to make this a fantastic middle grade novel. There's definitely some light social commentary, but deep mythology and adventure to keep kids reading. I bought into everything and look forward to the sequel.
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January 2, 2024
I want Phenderson's books to get more buzz... why does this have less than 400 reviews when it was soooo good? This man is incapable of writing a bad book, regardless of genre -- I am convinced.
I don't usually LOVE middle grade books. For me, they have to hit a certain sweet spot! They need to be palatable for the kiddos, because they are the primary audience (obvi) but they also need to be enjoyable for my old a**. And that is where the dilemma lies lol.
Needless to say, Abeni's Song hit that sweet spot wonderfully. We follow our main, Abeni, who is on a mission to save her family and friends who have been taken captive by the "Witch Priest". This is an African-inspired fantasy novel that is both action packed and fast paced from the very first chapter. Abeni, at twelve years old, is a very likeable character. And what I appreciated most with this story, was the fact that we get to see her sensibilities age with her as the story progressed. At the beginning of the book, she is clearly naive and inexperienced (which is reflective of her age) but as the story goes on, we see her grow up, become more introspective, mature and much more aware of herself and her decision making as a tween. I think this is what is usually missing in middle grade books for me, and I must commend the author for ensuring that the main character's voice "grew up" with her.
I would recommend this book to folx who enjoyed books like Percy Jackson and the blah blah and Amari and the Night Brothers. I look forward to seeing where this story goes as the series continues!
I don't usually LOVE middle grade books. For me, they have to hit a certain sweet spot! They need to be palatable for the kiddos, because they are the primary audience (obvi) but they also need to be enjoyable for my old a**. And that is where the dilemma lies lol.
Needless to say, Abeni's Song hit that sweet spot wonderfully. We follow our main, Abeni, who is on a mission to save her family and friends who have been taken captive by the "Witch Priest". This is an African-inspired fantasy novel that is both action packed and fast paced from the very first chapter. Abeni, at twelve years old, is a very likeable character. And what I appreciated most with this story, was the fact that we get to see her sensibilities age with her as the story progressed. At the beginning of the book, she is clearly naive and inexperienced (which is reflective of her age) but as the story goes on, we see her grow up, become more introspective, mature and much more aware of herself and her decision making as a tween. I think this is what is usually missing in middle grade books for me, and I must commend the author for ensuring that the main character's voice "grew up" with her.
I would recommend this book to folx who enjoyed books like Percy Jackson and the blah blah and Amari and the Night Brothers. I look forward to seeing where this story goes as the series continues!
July 24, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group/Starscape for the eARC. This is an honest review.
I typically do not pick up much middle grade, but I love Clark's writing and couldn't resist this one. "Abeni's Song" by P. Djèlí Clark is a captivating middle-grade fantasy novel that weaves together African-inspired elements into a lush and magical story. The story follows Abeni, a young girl who embarks on an unexpected magical apprenticeship after her village is attacked and her loved ones are captured. Abeni's journey is filled with danger, mystery, and the bravery of a young girl determined to save her people.
Clark's storytelling is enchanting, and his world-building immerses readers in a rich and vibrant setting. Though young and at times foolish, the characters are relatable and endearing, making it easy for readers to root for Abeni and her friends. The representation of a low-vision character adds even more diversity to the narrative.
The book may be darker than expected for a middle-grade novel (in a positive way), but it is suitable for young readers who enjoy thrilling adventures. Clark's writing is engaging and able to capture the sense of community, making it a heartwarming and empowering read.
This will sweep young readers away into a world of magic, courage, and the power of friendship.
I typically do not pick up much middle grade, but I love Clark's writing and couldn't resist this one. "Abeni's Song" by P. Djèlí Clark is a captivating middle-grade fantasy novel that weaves together African-inspired elements into a lush and magical story. The story follows Abeni, a young girl who embarks on an unexpected magical apprenticeship after her village is attacked and her loved ones are captured. Abeni's journey is filled with danger, mystery, and the bravery of a young girl determined to save her people.
Clark's storytelling is enchanting, and his world-building immerses readers in a rich and vibrant setting. Though young and at times foolish, the characters are relatable and endearing, making it easy for readers to root for Abeni and her friends. The representation of a low-vision character adds even more diversity to the narrative.
The book may be darker than expected for a middle-grade novel (in a positive way), but it is suitable for young readers who enjoy thrilling adventures. Clark's writing is engaging and able to capture the sense of community, making it a heartwarming and empowering read.
This will sweep young readers away into a world of magic, courage, and the power of friendship.
June 13, 2023
I'm a huge fan of P. Djèlí Clark's work, so I was very excited to pick up Abeni's Song. This middle grade adventure follows our heroine, Abeni, who is a very believable preteen who has big feeling, quick reactions, and tons of agency. I liked how we followed her storyline and character development, and how through it all she knew what her end goal was, even if she wasn't sure how to get there. We meet more characters along the way that support and guide Abeni, and each of them felt in depth and genuine, and I loved the found-family aspect that was felt at the end. The plot carries the characters all over their known world and beyond, and leaves a lot of room for a sequel. A huge thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an eArc in exchange for my thoughts!
August 28, 2024
Great characters, world and themes but the middle grade writing style didn’t work for me at all. Too much telling. I also think I was just not the right age-set for this one, but I’m so happy it exists and I wish I could like it more.
January 6, 2023
Abeni is twelve years old when the witch women destroy her village and take away her people. Though her village was warned by their local witch of the coming danger, they refused to believe her- and stay where they are.
The witch had been taking care of the village for many centuries and now asked for the village to fullfil their part of an age-old deal: giving up one of their children in return for everything the witch has done for them.
This, they also refuse. Only one person sneakily ends up giving away her child to the witch- Abeni's mother. When the village is destroyed, Abeni is the only one who remains. She is bedrugdingly taken in by the witch and so begins a coming-of-age journey of a small girl with a big past. At the beginning, it was reminiscent of A Wizard of Earthsea- a reluctant hero very eager to learn magic but not ready for it.
I had some gripes with this novel, at first. I realize I'm not the target audience for this! But I was still sometimes annoyed at the short sentences and abundance of exclamation marks! I'm not sure how well Clark's prose translates to a middle grade audience; it becomes a lot more generic and lacks imagination.
But prose is not everything. The story got better as it went on, with a real sense of adventure harboring animal spirits which reminded me of Darcie Little Badger's A SNAKE FALLS TO EARTH. There are some good, positive themes in this, and though it felt a bit black-and-white at times, I would heartily recommend this for the age group- and even for some diehard fans of Clark.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The witch had been taking care of the village for many centuries and now asked for the village to fullfil their part of an age-old deal: giving up one of their children in return for everything the witch has done for them.
This, they also refuse. Only one person sneakily ends up giving away her child to the witch- Abeni's mother. When the village is destroyed, Abeni is the only one who remains. She is bedrugdingly taken in by the witch and so begins a coming-of-age journey of a small girl with a big past. At the beginning, it was reminiscent of A Wizard of Earthsea- a reluctant hero very eager to learn magic but not ready for it.
I had some gripes with this novel, at first. I realize I'm not the target audience for this! But I was still sometimes annoyed at the short sentences and abundance of exclamation marks! I'm not sure how well Clark's prose translates to a middle grade audience; it becomes a lot more generic and lacks imagination.
But prose is not everything. The story got better as it went on, with a real sense of adventure harboring animal spirits which reminded me of Darcie Little Badger's A SNAKE FALLS TO EARTH. There are some good, positive themes in this, and though it felt a bit black-and-white at times, I would heartily recommend this for the age group- and even for some diehard fans of Clark.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2023
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the ARC.
As a huge fan of his grownup books it is fun to see Clark's take on a book for younger audiences.
He is a master of world building, and everything is so vibrant and visual.
The whole story had a very adventure feel to it, maby a bit classic at times, but it was super charming and sometimes a little dark.
Abeni, although a little annoying at first, quickly becomes a really great character, and it's exciting to dive into African folklore and myth.
This is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward reading the rest.
I will reccommend this to every parent and child that comes into my store.
As a huge fan of his grownup books it is fun to see Clark's take on a book for younger audiences.
He is a master of world building, and everything is so vibrant and visual.
The whole story had a very adventure feel to it, maby a bit classic at times, but it was super charming and sometimes a little dark.
Abeni, although a little annoying at first, quickly becomes a really great character, and it's exciting to dive into African folklore and myth.
This is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward reading the rest.
I will reccommend this to every parent and child that comes into my store.
January 15, 2024
Actual rating 3.5★
Abeni’s Song is a Middle grade African-inspired Fantasy. We follow Abeni, young girl whose entire village was taken by the mysterious Witch King. Saved by an old woman that her townsfolk call a witch, she begins a reluctant magic apprenticeship and sets out on a mission to save her friends and family.
What I loved most about this book is the setting and the very rich way the world was built. The book is very plot heavy, although not extremely action packed – it felt more quest-like with a steady thrum of a sense of adventure. I quite enjoyed the different places Abeni found herself in and the vivid way Clark illustrated them.
Abeni’s character arc was really lovely to read too. It was a very gradual progression where she grew into herself and learned to to care for more than her own wants. She nicely stepped up into a more responsible role that the plot forced her into. She met a gaggle of girls along the way and it was really lovely to read the friendship that blossomed between them. I do wish the secondary characters were more concretely characterized as I feel like their personalities were very surface level.
This is Clark’s first Middle Grade book and unfortunately it is very telling as there were certain times that it felt a little too mature as well as having certain points in the novel that felt as if it was just a little bit contrived for its middle grade audience. Middle graders would definitely have a lot more trouble following the lengthy prose-heavy novel compared to other middle grade books.
This problem lent itself a little more clearly in terms of structure- for example, chapter length seemed targeted to a more adult audience. It took me close to 5 hours of read time to finish the book and chapter length averaged 20 minutes of read time. I doubt a 10-year-old would enjoy sitting and reading a chapter for that long. Additionally, there was A LOT of exclamation points. If I read the book out loud to a child I’d read it with all the inflection that the exclamation points imparted but I do not think that the abundance of punctuation was necessary to make the book appealing to a middle grade audience.
Overall, I enjoyed the story but I do think there’s quite a bit to improve on for its target audience., The world building, our main character, and the plot intrigues me enough I am excited to find out what happens next. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Abeni’s Song is a Middle grade African-inspired Fantasy. We follow Abeni, young girl whose entire village was taken by the mysterious Witch King. Saved by an old woman that her townsfolk call a witch, she begins a reluctant magic apprenticeship and sets out on a mission to save her friends and family.
What I loved most about this book is the setting and the very rich way the world was built. The book is very plot heavy, although not extremely action packed – it felt more quest-like with a steady thrum of a sense of adventure. I quite enjoyed the different places Abeni found herself in and the vivid way Clark illustrated them.
Abeni’s character arc was really lovely to read too. It was a very gradual progression where she grew into herself and learned to to care for more than her own wants. She nicely stepped up into a more responsible role that the plot forced her into. She met a gaggle of girls along the way and it was really lovely to read the friendship that blossomed between them. I do wish the secondary characters were more concretely characterized as I feel like their personalities were very surface level.
This is Clark’s first Middle Grade book and unfortunately it is very telling as there were certain times that it felt a little too mature as well as having certain points in the novel that felt as if it was just a little bit contrived for its middle grade audience. Middle graders would definitely have a lot more trouble following the lengthy prose-heavy novel compared to other middle grade books.
This problem lent itself a little more clearly in terms of structure- for example, chapter length seemed targeted to a more adult audience. It took me close to 5 hours of read time to finish the book and chapter length averaged 20 minutes of read time. I doubt a 10-year-old would enjoy sitting and reading a chapter for that long. Additionally, there was A LOT of exclamation points. If I read the book out loud to a child I’d read it with all the inflection that the exclamation points imparted but I do not think that the abundance of punctuation was necessary to make the book appealing to a middle grade audience.
Overall, I enjoyed the story but I do think there’s quite a bit to improve on for its target audience., The world building, our main character, and the plot intrigues me enough I am excited to find out what happens next. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2023
First I want to start by saying I would have given this book 4.5 stars if I could do so on Goodreads!
Although I don't do a lot of middle grade reading, this book was instantly captivating. We enter into the story through a dream that Abeni has. When she wakes up we find ourselves getting ready to celebrate her 12th birthday and the adventures start from there.
I enjoyed exploring the mythology of the African diaspora through this story. While there were our tried and true tropes of found family and the wise person doing the training, the results were turned on its ear and unexpected. That kept me engaged as the twists were pleasantly unexpected. I really wish I had a middle grader that I could share this book with so I could re-read it through their eyes.
Although I don't do a lot of middle grade reading, this book was instantly captivating. We enter into the story through a dream that Abeni has. When she wakes up we find ourselves getting ready to celebrate her 12th birthday and the adventures start from there.
I enjoyed exploring the mythology of the African diaspora through this story. While there were our tried and true tropes of found family and the wise person doing the training, the results were turned on its ear and unexpected. That kept me engaged as the twists were pleasantly unexpected. I really wish I had a middle grader that I could share this book with so I could re-read it through their eyes.
March 3, 2023
A great read! The story is always moving forward and hits all the fantasy beats that you love in an adventure like this. Funny and sad at the same time. The characters are well-written and interesting. This will appeal to many different types of fantasy, middle grade readers. At times I was reminded of Narnia and Tolkien. The world building made the world and forest feel worn and lived in. Overall a fantastic story.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
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