Mage of Fools Lib/E

by Eugen Bacon, Kofi Boakye (Reading)

In the dystopian world of Mafinga, Jasmin must contend with a dictator's sorcerer to cleanse the socialist state of its deadly pollution ...

Mafinga's malevolent king dislikes books and, together with his sorcerer Atari, has collapsed the environment to almost uninhabitable. The sun has killed all the able men, including Jasmin's husband Godi. But Jasmin has Godi's secret story machine that tells of a better world, far different from the wastelands of Mafinga. Jasmin's crime for possessing the machine and its forbidden literature filled with subversive text is punishable by death.

Fate grants a cruel reprieve in the service of a childless queen who claims Jasmin's children as her own. Jasmin is powerless--until she discovers secrets behind the king and his sorcerer.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction, Dystopia, Speculative Fiction

Audio CD

First published March 15, 2022

Reviews

[Nuzo Onoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the final chapter of a book ends with the heading “DENOUEMENT” you know instinctively that you are in the presence of a master—or in this case, a mistress of words! Armed with her all-conquering sword for carving unforgettable, lyrical and magical prose, Dr. Eugen Bacon has, yet again, delivered in her latest book, Mage of Fools.

A dystopian story, set in a mystical African kingdom manipulated by “Menticides” (a bunch of tech-savvy teenagers sequestered in a castle set high above the village), Mage of Fools is a cautionary tale for every age. The all-seeing and all-pervasive Ujamaa conglomerate rules everything in this bleak kingdom—Ujamaa Factory, Ujamaa Tech, Ujamaa Medic, Ujamaa Yaya…the list is endless and the misery Ujamaa brings is relentless. As a powerful idiom in the story goes, “The cockroach that wants to rule the chickens, hires the pale fox as a bodyguard” and Mafinga Kingdom is indeed labouring under the unremitting misery of pale foxes and their vile cockroaches.

I invite you to experience the magical gift that is Mafinga Kingdom, and the wizardry of the stranger Atari, the Rasputinian demon? Golem? Sorcerer? Alien? Or perhaps, something more sinister and diabolic? I’ll leave you, my fellow enthralled readers, to discover the thrilling and gripping truth for yourselves, as you join me in praising this brilliant, powerful, and mind-blowing Dystopian novel by the unrivalled Dr Eugen Bacon.

[Kristenelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an African dystopia with aliens and the most poetic, beautiful prose ever. The prose is noteworthy. It is excessively poetic...to the point of sometimes obscuring the meaning. However, I still found it very readable and really enjoyed my time with it.

There are themes of rising up and fighting back, particular through the power of story and books. The mind must be free before the body can be free.

The characters were fascinating and I really enjoyed the world building and descriptions. Overall, this was a really enjoyable and solid read.

Sexual violence? I don't remember any. Other content warnings? Grisly death scenes, torture, dysfunctional family, child loss, miscarriage.

[Alison C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmin is the mother of two small children living in Mafinga, a country where all the men have been killed by the sun and the King has decreed a socialist state where everybody is equal (though some more than others) and everybody must contribute to the whole by working in their assigned places. But Jasmin has a secret, a story machine, and if the authorities catch her with it, she might be killed; and in the meantime, the Queen has such a longing for children…. I hesitate to call this story a science fiction tale (although aliens and alien technology are involved), a fantasy (although there are many magical elements), perhaps even horror (there’s a lot of torture included); no, it’s really an invented folk tale, something that seems as old as the oldest story you’ve ever heard and at the same time is sparkling new. I raced through the book, wanting to know what happened next; but now I will need to return to it in order to read it slowly, giving myself time to savour Ms. Bacon’s absolutely poetic writing, her dazzling imagery and her way of creating characters who live and breathe and suffer without ever feeling invented; brilliant. Highly recommended. (This book will be released in March of 2022; I received an ARC from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review.)

[Cait]

I'm calling it at 15%. I've been on the lookout for this one for a while, ever since reading and being impressed by a eugen bacon short story in an anthology (I thought "the devil don't come with horns" was one of the better offerings in other terrors), but I've finished like two other books since starting this one after I realized that I was wasting wayyyyy more time on social media because I just plain did not want to go back to the ebook. my library loan expired, and I could check it back out again today (5/3/25)—there's no line—but I just...don't want to.

mostly it's that the prose is a little too abstractly flowery in a way that doesn't align with my tastes right now, but another part of it is also the maddening writing choices/craft issues that pop up here and there (PUBLISHING INDUSTRY GIVE YOUR WRITERS BETTER EDITING I BEG, AS I HAVE BEGGED BEFORE AND WILL BEG AGAIN), and a third part of it is just plain that I'm not really in the headspace (slash material reality lol) to be reading a book that so far seems to be sort of suggestion that...socialism is inherently dystopian? maybe this would become clearer if I finished, but so far we've got the "well, this society POSITS itself as socialist, but that's just the ruling class's mask over the extremely hierarchy and stratification that still exists" animal farm–y sort of thing (I mean, I wasn't expecting so direct an allusion/homage/lifting as because, in ujamaa, everyone was equal. but some were more equal than others, but bacon went for it lol) on the one hand alongside, um, this on the other:

baba gambo's crime? he said to a socialist state: "you stole everything. but I'm a thinker and everything I need is in my head."

atari crushed his head.

like gïrl whät? and keep in mind!!!!!!! that baba gambo is described as a man who was wealthy before the new regime!!!!!! so sorry if I guess I don't have a lot of sympathy for gusanos??????

caveat disclaimer inb4 blah blah etc. that yes I knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I as a USian have no clue what it's actually like to live in a socialist or communist society but also like that's my exact point lol. in a crumbling empire on a dying planet in an impossible universe in which parasitic countries have thrived by stealing the labor of and sucking the blood from the people and resources of the global south, I already know from lived experience that capitalism is a heinous and grotesque evil, a death cult limp-marching onward through its end stages, determined to keep poisoning others even when that means poisoning itself, the snake eating its own tail as the horsechickens of he apocalypse come home to roost—so I'm not necessarily in the mood to read about a speculative world in which it is individualism and not collectivism that is the secretly valiant value that is being brutally suppressed. or again, maybe that's not actually where the book is going, and maybe I would be more willing to stick around to find out were it not for the other issues I'm having with the writing. blah blah don't get stuck in an echo chamber read things with different political beliefs than your own blah blah and YES THAT'S TRUE but also I just plain don't want to in this particular instance, sooooooooooo... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ sorry about it!

idk man it's that time of year where I give the honors students the option to read "on violence" from fanon's wretched of the earth (don't worry, there's also the option of not reading fanon for those who would prefer not to for whatever reason), and I am delighted to report that a number of these extremely mild-mannered and compliant nerds, many of whom are [still but maybe not forever] extremely christian in the unexamined way of "good kids" from religious families living in our christian-centric society, told me that it's their favorite text we've read all year. so ummmmm....arise, convicts of hunger? 🫢 and as usual, for l3g4l r34s0ns....this is a joke!!!!! 🤭

OH, AND: it seems like it's going in a story-about-stories direction, and, just...I'm tired, y'all. I'm burnt out on stories-about-stories for now lmao.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alchemy can be defined as the process of taking something ordinary and transforming it into something extraordinary and, in a nutshell, this captures the essence of Eugen Bacon’s totally enthralling storytelling. Since first being introduced to it when I read Claiming T-Mo (her 2019 debut novel) and then my subsequent reading of various collections of her short stories and other novels, I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate her eloquent, lyrical and passionate use of language, her portrayals of convincing, memorable characters, her ability to create stories within stories, to seamlessly blend genres and to inexorably draw me into her fictional world-building.
These previous experiences meant that not only was I feeling excited about reading Mage of Fools, but that my expectations were already high! So, I’ve been delighted to discover that not only has she lost none of her magic touch, but I think that this is her finest novel yet. As I think the publisher’s synopsis gives enough clues to intrigue potential readers, I don’t want to risk introducing spoilers by going into too much detail about how the story unfolds so will focus my reflections on what made it such a rewarding, and enchanting, a read for me.
The story is divided into eight sections (Prologue, Jasmin, Ujamaa [the omnipresent corporation which controls all aspects of life for the citizens of Mafinga] The Royal Household, Atari, The Resistance, Denouement and Epilogue) and each of the main sections is divided into short chapters. I found that this construction worked very effectively to tell Jasmin’s story through a gradual portrayal of the background to the horrors she, her children and fellow-citizens are facing in the dark, dystopian world of Mafinga. Although it’s clear from the beginning of the story that Atari, the mysterious sorcerer, is an all-powerful, malign character who wields enormous influence over the king, it isn’t until more than halfway through the story, that the reader discovers who he is and how he ended up in Mafinga. In less confident hands this sudden switch from sections which had Jasmin at their heart, to one in which she didn’t appear, could have felt disruptive but instead felt perfectly timed.
The tension-inducing two-page prologue begins at a future point in Jasmin’s story before pausing to rewind and offer snapshots of what has already happened and what is yet to come. This powerful and intriguing introduction immediately drew me into her world, the remaining chapters kept me there and, finally, the one-page epilogue served as a reminder that good stories can never truly end because the reader will continue to wonder what the future holds for the characters.
Brave, resourceful Jasmin is a wonderful character who, even though she struggles to remember what life was like before, and is still mourning the loss of her husband Godi, is determined to continue using his now forbidden story machine to remind herself, and tell her much-cherished children, stories of a better world. I loved all the literary allusions which threaded their way through the storytelling, the blend of contemporary literature with ancient folklore providing a reminder that storytelling is ageless and serves many functions. The descriptions of her interactions with four-year-old Omar, in his ‘all-over flying dragon jammies’, and two-year-old Mia in her two-piece unicorn ones, provided not only some delightful moments of lightness, but also served as a reminder of the lengths a mother will go to protect her children.
Although the author’s dystopian world of Mafinga is an imaginary one, much of the power of her story lies in the fact that, with its depictions of a totalitarian regime which pays lip-service to equality whilst practising menticide (be warned, some of the descriptions of the brutality employed to control the population and discourage rebellion are truly horrific), of the devastating effects of climate change, of the inequalities in society (most of the citizens are living in shipping-containers whilst a small, elite group enjoys a life of palatial luxury), it is a depressingly recognisable one.
The marketing categories are listed as ‘Afrofuturist, fantasy, dark fantasy, science fiction and dystopian’ but whilst it’s true that there are elements of all these genres in Eugen Bacon’s novel, it’s the creative skill with which she weaves them together which make this such an affecting story to read. Yes, it’s dark and disturbingly brutal at times but it’s not without moments of humour, hope and a belief that a better future is possible and I have no hesitation in recommending it. If you’re already familiar with the author’s writing you’ll need no persuading but if you aren’t, I think Mage of Fools would make good introduction to her captivating storytelling.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dystopian world where women function nocturnally to escape the harmful effects of a brutal sun, a unified society reaches a breaking point in Mage of Fools by Eugen Bacon.

To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.

In Mafinga, a place ruled by the decrees of a dictator king who strives for the unity of his people with the assistance of a mysterious sorcerer, the women work tirelessly in the mines and factories to meet the needs of their ruler as their men have been killed by the sun and pollution. Jasmin struggles to remember what life was like before and questions the way her world works now, defying the rules quietly as she tells stories to her children from the machine her husband had made that speaks of a better world. But questioning the world’s structure could mean a severe punishment, such as death, as those who dissent or pose a threat to the status quo previously have been publically killed. When Jasmin and her children are taken to the queen for her transgression she feels powerless, but when offered a different form of servitude instead of death there’s an opportunity to learn from the inside and Jasmin soon discovers secrets about the king and his sorcerer that prove invaluable for the resistance to act upon.

Composed of brief chapters that quickly move the reader through the story, it is vividly written and filled with layers of stories, with their importance and relevance to a situation, woven intricately throughout the text. There are allegories, idioms, and pearls of wisdom peppered throughout, most frequently in relation to the tales being told to the children within the narrative, which cleverly and powerfully underscore points raised by the characters. While the text was segmented clearly into sections that help orient the reader to the setting, it was rather jarring to suddenly be thrust into space for one section and focused on a character other than Jasmin, though it provided clarity regarding a mysterious character. The world presented within these pages blends genres and seems simultaneously as both in the realm of the outlandish or fantastic with the technologically advanced and dystopian society under alien influence it portrays and grounded in reality with the topics it addresses; as is common with narratives that have a science fiction or fantasy component to it, the story incorporates contemporary social and political issue commentary as a driving factor for the actions of the characters, highlighting the relevance of these for readers while using genre features that may make the content more palatable for some by placing it at a slight remove from “real” life.

Overall, I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Meerkat Press for a copy of the eArc of Mage of Fools by Eugen Bacon. Bacon's prose is unique in that I've never read another style like it. At the same time, it is precise. The world crafted by Bacon is new, but familiar. Her characters are believable and uncomfortable. All these are great reasons for you to read this novella.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Eugen Bacon, so when Mage of Fools showed up in my inbox, going on tour, I hoped on the opportunity to read it. The writing is absolutely poetic. It’s unique and unlike anything else I’ve read. I am in awe with the way this was written and I was sad when it ended!

This story blends together many genres to create a unique plot and scenery. As I stated, the poetic nature of the prose already made Mage of Fools unique, but the plotline adds to that uniqueness. What really drew me into this story was the fact that it didn’t feel like the same dystopian plot done again.

I could go on and on with this review but I think the key takeaway is that Mage of Fools is absolutely incredible and blew me away. I highly, highly recommend giving this a read. I knew it was going to be five stars from almost the beginning. Don’t miss this one!

Thank you to Meerkat Press for the free review copy of this book. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lyrical Gritty Dystopia, 3 for me, could be a 4 or better for you.

Full Disclosure: I was fortunate to win a copy of this novel through a Goodreads giveaway.

My average rating for “Mage of Fools” derives not from a lack of quality but that it simply turned out to be a book of my taste. It is, however, a work of merit and craft.

The story follows Jasmin, a mother in a world in which a community has become a singular mechanic unit, highly regulated, after a climate disaster claims their land and a mysterious illness takes the lives of all them men of the community save their leader and the very young. Discontent with the formulaic and unbalanced nature of her life she yearns for the memories she has that are now dulled of abundance, variety, and her husband. Only the stories he taught her of with the assistance of his own genius mechanics, forbidden now, tether her to the life before. Her children a reminder of what once was. Refusing to give up these memories leads to the peeling away at the cracks and revealing the true structure of this new life she and her neighbors live.

The book is broken into short chapters, filled with prose that I'm certain would be magnificent in spoken form as they have the rhythm of being in verse. Not having a talent for poetry sometimes these were a bit too heavy for my brain to process in the flow that was intended making some of these early parts disjointed. I can't help appreciate that the author chose to embellish Jasmin's life with such intense description the more bleak her surroundings were. And yet when you reach the second act, when Jasmin reaches a location of opulence, the language becomes much more direct following a style closer to a general novel.

I also must praise how vivid the author made the environment, describing smells, sounds, and tastes.

Additionally there were some directions I did not expect and when there is an element of mystery in a setting that can be fairly familiar to genre fans, isn't always so. The antagonist is also one of the most complex I've seen. As a subject to much trauma (For those who appreciate trigger warnings: there is child abuse/neglect) it would be easy to sympathize except that they show tendencies towards corruption and vile acts before any abuse of various sorts occurs. This was difficult to swallow as a reader, but certainly makes them memorable.

What detracted me from completely investing in this novel came down to three aspects. Minimal element that follow some may consider slight spoilers to explain potential trigger warnings. In fairness I must also acknowledge that I started this book while I was already unsettled due to recent personal losses. This undoubtedly effected my reading experience.

Perhaps it was the time that had passed between entering the contest and reading this novel, but I recalled it being marketed as a dystopian-fantasy. I was not anticipating the horror genre to be included as well. Now I occasionally do enjoy horror and I love horror elements. I do not, however, care for body horror. There is an extensive segment of the novel that deals with medical experimentation which takes gruesome measures that I was very uncomfortable with.

I will say that this may have been an allusion to the atrocities done to people of color by the scientific and medical community of a time (mostly) past, as they were seen as 'not human/lesser' by those inflicting such horror, in that the subject is literally not human. however the comparison fails for me in that the subject being put through these trials was voluntarily and eagerly given. But I am not an expert on this matter or a part of the community that these real life things happened to. However, I desperately was trying to find a 'reason' as I was very disturbed but owed it to the author and this site to finish and review.

The second element is very niche, but I'd like to caution the author and readers. The antagonist who acts with great brutality is at one time referred to as 'asexual'. Now I do not think for a moment that the author intended to say that those who identify as asexual as an orientation are unfeeling or capable of these same things. It was a simple concise synonym for summary. Yet already trying to balance my discomfort with the body horror, as someone of the ace community I admit it hurt a little. I don't consider myself a very oversensitive person when it comes to books, I don't generally 'need' trigger warnings. I don't believe in self censorship in that regard, but this mix really dug into me.

The third issue was the physical and romantic relationships in the novel. There is a character that depicts jealousy over a revelation , proceeds to engage in the same behavior they're hurt by when under the circumstance that are similar to the element that hurt them, and suddenly starts yearning again, before things being unsettled again. Now, I know people act irrationally. But given how strongly and vivid the prose can be concerning one interaction the whiplash just left me irritated. I do appreciate what was agreed upon between the individuals but I remember just feeling angry at the whirlwind of it all that may have been different if the novel was longer.

Similarly, possibly due to the length, I never got a good sense of our lead character. I never got into who they were, felt the shift as their world became clearer, or a solid grasp of who they ended up being.
No matter how you react to the novel, it will be one to be remembered. I wish that I had been in a better head space before starting this journey. I am very thankful for the copy and hope others can appreciate this work more than I. It is, if nothing else, exceptionally unique. I would absolutely be interested in reading more from this author.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Miscarriage
Death of a child
Torture

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Meerkat Press for sending me an Arc of Mage of Fools. When I saw Eugen Bacon had another book coming out I knew I had to read it. Her writing style is creative and interesting. The story for most of it kept me interested, as did the characters and the storyline. 


I enjoyed the world building and the prose, for the most part. Sometimes I got lost in the meaning, but I am not well versed in poetry. Definitely a good read though. Everyone should read at least one of her books. Speculative Fiction is a cool, not so well known genre. Eugen does speculative fiction so well, with her skillful writing, world building, and attention to detail. 

[CorrieGM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a book by Eugen Bacon before: The Road to Woop Woop @ other Stories, a collection of short stories.
I loved it.
She showed me a completely different part of the world, I read about flowers and animals I had never heard about, I read poetic stories.
Then I got another of her books, in which she was a co-writer: Eugen Bacon & Dominique Hecq, Speculate: A Collection of Microlit. This one was too difficult for me. I am not a native speaker of English and poetic language is simply more difficult than prose.

Now I finished a third book, not a collection of short stories, but a novel. And I liked it less.
It started wonderfully: a dictator, a woman who yearns for the past, her trying to cope with a changed world. Again fauna and flora of another world, and a poetic language.
But, halfway the story changed into a horror story. I was not prepared for that. What’s more: I did not like it. Then the pace of the book got too fast.
Such a pity,
I think I will return to her short stories, because I loved those.
Three stars, because I loved the first half of the book.

[Clare Rhoden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bacon never ceases to amaze. I was immediately transported and captivated by this world, where an alien has infected society - not with a pandemic disease - but with a kind of madness that mirrors some of the extremes of political notions of today. Futuristic, heart-rending, poetic, emotionally and intellectually satisfying - this is the whole deal. Read it now! Your eyes and your heart will open in equal measure.

[Angela Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dystopian story of struggle and mystery. Wonderfully strange and original.
And yet, I struggled with it. The literary style is masterful but doesn't lend itself to extended reading. Mostly I could only tackle one chapter at a time. The descriptive prose is wonderful, but overwhelming when used to this degree in a long work.

[Hypatia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit odd. The writing is indeed beautiful, but in a way that sometimes makes it very hard to follow what's actually going on. Definitely an interesting read, and not at all what I was expecting. The title made me think it would be high fantasy ish, but it's really almost sci-fi instead.

[H.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mage of Fools is an often surreal read which plays with genre and narrative to tell a story about cruelty, courage, and overcoming an oppressive regime. This speculative fiction novel has elements of horror, sci-fi, and dystopian fiction. It’s also a literary novel which delves into the importance of stories to both individual and community identity.


Synopsis:
Jasmin’s home used to be beautiful and prosperous, but now Mafinga’s environment is poisoned. Most men, including her husband, Godi, are dead, and she and the other women must work in a repressive state controlled by a reclusive King, vicious guards, and the sorcerer, Atari. Although Jasmin tries to keep her head down for the sake of her young children, Mia and Omar, she secretly listens to stories on a solar-powered story machine which Godi designed. This is a serious crime, and the punishment is execution, but when Jasmin is caught with the story machine and other contraband, she becomes a servant in the palace instead. Using her new position, Jasmin must figure out what Atari has planned for Mafinga and how to stop him.

Bacon’s dystopia has both literary and historical influences. I couldn’t help but think of 1984, We, and especially Fahrenheit 451 (in which books are banned and the government constantly feeds the citizens propaganda). Additionally, as she discusses in our recent interview, Bacon was influenced by the history of The United Republic of Tanzania, which adopted socialist policies after gaining independence from British Colonial rule.

The most direct reference to this is the term “Ujamaa,” which appears throughout Mage of Fools, and originates from former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere’s political philosophy and policies. Ujamaa is a socialist ideology which emphasizes community and “cooperative economics” (due to time and space constraints, I’m vastly simplifying all of this: please read the linked articles for more information).

In theory, Ujamaa suggests shared prosperity and purpose in a self-sufficient community. But in Mage of Fools, the people of Mafinga are not united by this principle; it was created and imposed upon them by Atari, and Atari’s interests are selfish and self-serving. The entire system is upheld by cruel guards, propaganda, and drugs that interfere with people’s memories. Jasmin’s challenge in this world is to fight for a true community in which the people can actively participate.

In such a dystopian state, story machines seem like a small defiance at first. However, stories are extremely significant throughout this book. Atari has outlawed story machines precisely because stories give people a connection to a shared past and heritage, which empowers a community to imagine other ways of living. In this way, stories help people view themselves as active protagonists in their own lives. Our past is really a string of interconnected stories, and, without a past or a memory of self, people lose much of their ability to actively participate in the world. Without a past, it’s hard to imagine and fight for a new future.

In a repressive regime reliant on control masquerading as togetherness, the true community is the enemy and must be destroyed. Only the state with its propaganda machine can be allowed to control the narrative. Thus, Jasmin’s initial, quiet defiance is deeply revolutionary and essential for her and her community to retake control of their lives and Mafinga.

Structurally, Mage of Fools plays with the very nature of narrative. The book is broken into several sections composed of smaller chapters. Each chapter tells a smaller story within the framework of the overall novel, but the sections and chapters are not strictly linear. For example, the novel starts in medias res with Jasmin at the palace, and then takes a step back into the past to explain how she arrived there.

The section which discusses Atari’s origins may be the biggest detour from the main narrative. I don’t want to give much away, but I will say that this section masterfully complicates Atari while also making him, and his purpose in Mafinga, more horrific and unforgivable. Bacon has a rare talent for contextualizing a villain while making him more villainous.

Each section in a novel like Mage of Fools has to work perfectly, or the whole thing falls apart. In our interview, Bacon mentioned that she is “mostly a short story writer,” and it’s clear that years spent honing her craft in short fiction have contributed to her success in this novel. It’s expertly structured like a series of panels in a tapestry woven together to tell a larger story.

I could go on, but I don’t want to spoil anything for you. I’ll end with a few other things I loved about this book: the subtle humor, the descriptions of food (both delicious and vile), the sudden moments of terrible violence, and Jasmin’s determination. I also loved the inclusion of a brief epilogue which asks the reader to reconsider what “the end” of a story even means.

Overall, a unique and compelling book you’ll want to add to your collection!

[Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting dystopia carried by lush language

[Gena Kukartsev · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5. Dnf at 8%. I could not get through the exposition overflowing with purple prose.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: In the dystopian world of Mafinga, Jasmin must contend with a dictator’s sorcerer to cleanse the socialist state of its deadly pollution.

Mafinga's malevolent king dislikes books and, together with his sorcerer Atari, has collapsed the environment to almost uninhabitable. The sun has killed all the able men, including Jasmin’s husband Godi. But Jasmin has Godi’s secret story machine that tells of a better world, far different from the wastelands of Mafinga. Jasmin’s crime for possessing the machine and its forbidden literature filled with subversive text is punishable by death. Fate grants a cruel reprieve in the service of a childless queen who claims Jasmin’s children as her own. Jasmin is powerless—until she discovers secrets behind the king and his sorcerer.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Lyrical prose...maybe sometimes too lyrical for its own good...telling a tale of monopoly, abuse of power, an apartheid of haves and have-nots, that not coincidentally resembles the modern technological world metastasizing across the agrarian peasantry of Africa and keeping its fruits entirely apart from those who feed them.

The worldbuilding is *stellar*, the narrative drive does not let up, and the plot speaks to my Social Justice Warrior soul. So what happened to that fifth star, you wonder. The story is told in eight parts, each of many chapters, and in almost as many viewpoints. I get that this is a choice made to facilitate the slightly seasick sense of the story’s walled-off world, where nothing is shared, nothing is given away, and the walls that enclose you form strict limits that are transgressed at the greatest possible risk to life and limb. When we learn that technology emanates from actual aliens, it comes less as a surprise than as a peek over a wall...not, for this reader, the best way to induce full investment. The upside of the structure for me was that I was always in a state of readiness for the next shift, the next magical revelation, and the horrors that always lurk where magic and technology collide. But I was always riding along, moving forward, keeping up...never getting to know anyone well enough to feel deeply with them in their tragedies, not even Jasmin.

In a time where the tsunami of Information is drowning the wisdom and the guidance humans need by replacing stories with infotainment, this book’s lushness of both imagination and prose, its demand for you to pay attention to where you are, who is speaking to you, and what they want you to know, is very evocative. It summons darkness, it rings the feeding bell for the monsters implicit...even inherent...in totalitarian systems. Learn what those who least want you to resist least want you to know if you plan to live instead of exist.

Resistance is not, in fact, futile.

Costly. Dreadfully painful. But never futile. Villains can, and must be, fought at every level and with every atom of one’s being. The price is awful, but the price of submission is even worse.

[Runalong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable thought provoking SF drama. Exploring how countries can be corrupted and revolutions take over

Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...