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Dazzling
The Girl with the Louding Voice meets The Water Dancer in Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ’s magical, award-winning literary debut, Dazzling, offering a new take on West African mythology.
Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure’s father died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a man who promises to change their fortunes, but his feet are hovering just a few inches above the ground. He’s a spirit, and he promises to bring Treasure’s beloved father back to life if she’ll do one terrible thing for him first.
Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back. It’s an itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, an honor never before bestowed upon a girl, to defend the land and protect its people by becoming a Leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honor this was before he vanished, but it’s one she couldn’t want less—she has enough to worry about as she tries to fit in at a new boarding school.
But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their missing fathers, Ozoemena’s fellow students start to vanish. Treasure’s obligations to the spirit escalate, and Ozoemena’s duty of protection as a Leopard grows. Soon the girls’ destinies and choices alike set them on a dangerous collision course. Ultimately, they must ask themselves: in a world that always says no to women, what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs?
Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure’s father died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a man who promises to change their fortunes, but his feet are hovering just a few inches above the ground. He’s a spirit, and he promises to bring Treasure’s beloved father back to life if she’ll do one terrible thing for him first.
Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back. It’s an itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, an honor never before bestowed upon a girl, to defend the land and protect its people by becoming a Leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honor this was before he vanished, but it’s one she couldn’t want less—she has enough to worry about as she tries to fit in at a new boarding school.
But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their missing fathers, Ozoemena’s fellow students start to vanish. Treasure’s obligations to the spirit escalate, and Ozoemena’s duty of protection as a Leopard grows. Soon the girls’ destinies and choices alike set them on a dangerous collision course. Ultimately, they must ask themselves: in a world that always says no to women, what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2023
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June 24, 2024This is absolutely fantastic. It's about two barely pubescent girls but absolutely not YA: it's very much grappling with growing up in an intensely misogynist work where girls are commodified, bullied, disregarded, and seen as sexual objects from a young age. Both the MCs have lost their fathers and are mistreated for it: Treasure's uncles basically raided the house and threw out her and her mother to starve as soon as the father died; Ozoemena's father has left the family for what looks like an episode of mental illness and she is being sneered at.
The book starts a bit slow, and a little confusing because it's split between Treasure's narrative ('then'), Ozoemena 'then', and Ozoemena 'now', and it's unclear at first how far apart the stories are and how they intersect. Stick with it. Everything ratchets into place absolutely perfectly, I felt genuinely awed as I realised how it was unfolding.
Plus the voices are great, the descriptions vivid, the emotions chokingly relatable. A really powerful piece of writing and a compellingly told story. Highly recommended.
The book starts a bit slow, and a little confusing because it's split between Treasure's narrative ('then'), Ozoemena 'then', and Ozoemena 'now', and it's unclear at first how far apart the stories are and how they intersect. Stick with it. Everything ratchets into place absolutely perfectly, I felt genuinely awed as I realised how it was unfolding.
Plus the voices are great, the descriptions vivid, the emotions chokingly relatable. A really powerful piece of writing and a compellingly told story. Highly recommended.
January 27, 2023
4.5 Stars
A rich and thoroughly bewitching debut steeped in magical realism and Nigerian mythology that genuinely ensnared me— so much so the hours flew by without my noticing!
Set in Nigeria, Dazzling follows the POVs of two girls, Ozoemena and Treasure-who,despite living vastly different lifestyles, find their fates intertwined when students disappear at their Nigerian Boarding School. With the stakes higher than ever before, both girls must make some difficult choices
Ozoemena, newly arrived at the school is learning to deal not only with a whole new social environment (which puts her own sister’s teasing to shame) but also the knowledge of her patrilineal legacy, to defend her people by turning into leopards.
Treasure, having lived in abject poverty since her father’s death, unwittingly struck a deal with a spirit, in order to bring her father back…no matter the cost.
It’s a story that explores the lengths two girls are willing to go (and what they’re willing to sacrifice) to survive in a world that’s increasingly determined to see them both fail.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first started reading this-as magical realism isn’t something I read very much of (I tend to read more YA, historical or epic fantasy than anything contemporary.) But the world building and complex characters really made this a standout and memorable read!
I loved how visceral and detailed the descriptions were which really added depth to the narrative. There is some gore however it’s pretty mild in comparison to a lot of contemporary horror novels (Grady Hendrix’s for example) so if you’ve read those then you’ll probably be fine here. Though I do recommend checking TWs just to be on the safe side.
What I can say, however, is that adult fantasy fans will almost certainly love the uncanny intensity and vividness of Emelumadu’s gorgeous prose.
Our main characters, Ozoemena and Treasure both have such strong narrative voices and I loved how easy it was to distinguish between them both (a pet peeve of mine is reading multiple POV books and getting confused on who perspective I’m currently reading.)
Both girls were incredibly well written and endearingly complex, though in different ways. And some of their experiences (particularly Treasure’s experiences) were so incredibly heart wrenching that I stayed up into the early hours, devouring whole chapters in the hope of finding out whether both Ozoemena and Treasure got some semblance of happiness, justice or satisfaction by the end. Though if you want to know the outcome to this, you’re gonna have to read for yourselves.
I also enjoyed the similarities we see in the struggles and upheavals both girls face (Treasure in the literal loss of her father and Ozoemena in the absence of hers—it’s one of many instances that really highlights just how intrinsically tied they both are to each other and the roles they have to play.
The theme of ancestral legacy was also incredibly fascinating—through Ozoemena and her gift we see the physical presence of generational heritage and how at odds those traditional practices have become in the advent of more ‘western’ cultural practices. But through the Spirits that Treasure encounters we also see a darker side to their (the spirits) need for survival.
The mystery aspect surrounding Treasure’s school identity was fabulously intriguing and I have to admit my guess for who she is was soo unbelievably wrong. But despite not having a clue who she was, it did mean the twist we encounter at the end—which was *chef’s kiss* perfection— was something I didn’t see coming AT ALL.
Overall, this was a breathtakingly imaginative and powerfully feminist debut that lovers of magical realism and contemporary fantasy simply don’t want to miss!
Also a massive thank you to headline for the stunning proof.
A rich and thoroughly bewitching debut steeped in magical realism and Nigerian mythology that genuinely ensnared me— so much so the hours flew by without my noticing!
Set in Nigeria, Dazzling follows the POVs of two girls, Ozoemena and Treasure-who,despite living vastly different lifestyles, find their fates intertwined when students disappear at their Nigerian Boarding School. With the stakes higher than ever before, both girls must make some difficult choices
Ozoemena, newly arrived at the school is learning to deal not only with a whole new social environment (which puts her own sister’s teasing to shame) but also the knowledge of her patrilineal legacy, to defend her people by turning into leopards.
Treasure, having lived in abject poverty since her father’s death, unwittingly struck a deal with a spirit, in order to bring her father back…no matter the cost.
It’s a story that explores the lengths two girls are willing to go (and what they’re willing to sacrifice) to survive in a world that’s increasingly determined to see them both fail.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first started reading this-as magical realism isn’t something I read very much of (I tend to read more YA, historical or epic fantasy than anything contemporary.) But the world building and complex characters really made this a standout and memorable read!
I loved how visceral and detailed the descriptions were which really added depth to the narrative. There is some gore however it’s pretty mild in comparison to a lot of contemporary horror novels (Grady Hendrix’s for example) so if you’ve read those then you’ll probably be fine here. Though I do recommend checking TWs just to be on the safe side.
What I can say, however, is that adult fantasy fans will almost certainly love the uncanny intensity and vividness of Emelumadu’s gorgeous prose.
Our main characters, Ozoemena and Treasure both have such strong narrative voices and I loved how easy it was to distinguish between them both (a pet peeve of mine is reading multiple POV books and getting confused on who perspective I’m currently reading.)
Both girls were incredibly well written and endearingly complex, though in different ways. And some of their experiences (particularly Treasure’s experiences) were so incredibly heart wrenching that I stayed up into the early hours, devouring whole chapters in the hope of finding out whether both Ozoemena and Treasure got some semblance of happiness, justice or satisfaction by the end. Though if you want to know the outcome to this, you’re gonna have to read for yourselves.
I also enjoyed the similarities we see in the struggles and upheavals both girls face (Treasure in the literal loss of her father and Ozoemena in the absence of hers—it’s one of many instances that really highlights just how intrinsically tied they both are to each other and the roles they have to play.
The theme of ancestral legacy was also incredibly fascinating—through Ozoemena and her gift we see the physical presence of generational heritage and how at odds those traditional practices have become in the advent of more ‘western’ cultural practices. But through the Spirits that Treasure encounters we also see a darker side to their (the spirits) need for survival.
The mystery aspect surrounding Treasure’s school identity was fabulously intriguing and I have to admit my guess for who she is was soo unbelievably wrong. But despite not having a clue who she was, it did mean the twist we encounter at the end—which was *chef’s kiss* perfection— was something I didn’t see coming AT ALL.
Overall, this was a breathtakingly imaginative and powerfully feminist debut that lovers of magical realism and contemporary fantasy simply don’t want to miss!
Also a massive thank you to headline for the stunning proof.
April 4, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this eARC!
This was a really interesting read, and also a difficult one for me; not just because of the content at times, but because of the very distinct voices of some of the characters, and the native Nigerian language and colloquialisms used. I think this is a story I would need to read a few times over to truly ensure that I am understanding and getting everything out of it, but that's not a bad thing.
With strong themes of witchcraft/country specific folklore, this was as educational as it was fascinating! The writing itself is very strong; emotive, mostly accessible, descriptive, but also accurate for the voices it portrays, namely the two main characters, young girls of only about 10 years old.
There were some really graphically disturbing moments of gore/horror that I didn't expect going into the book, and I think it's a testament to the writing that I had an actual physical reaction to some of these parts. There was an ominous tone throughout the novel that just built and built until culminating in that ending - the twist not something I saw quickly at all, only realising what was happening just before it actually happened. I loved the twist, especially, and it was done SO well.
I think I enjoyed this? I definitely didn't read it as quickly as I might have, mostly because it wasn't the easiest read for me, but I do think this is a really good novel for that nu-wave horror/fantastical vibe, and I always love reading books where the setting is part of a culture or heritage that I am not as familiar as perhaps I ought to be.
This was a really interesting read, and also a difficult one for me; not just because of the content at times, but because of the very distinct voices of some of the characters, and the native Nigerian language and colloquialisms used. I think this is a story I would need to read a few times over to truly ensure that I am understanding and getting everything out of it, but that's not a bad thing.
With strong themes of witchcraft/country specific folklore, this was as educational as it was fascinating! The writing itself is very strong; emotive, mostly accessible, descriptive, but also accurate for the voices it portrays, namely the two main characters, young girls of only about 10 years old.
There were some really graphically disturbing moments of gore/horror that I didn't expect going into the book, and I think it's a testament to the writing that I had an actual physical reaction to some of these parts. There was an ominous tone throughout the novel that just built and built until culminating in that ending - the twist not something I saw quickly at all, only realising what was happening just before it actually happened. I loved the twist, especially, and it was done SO well.
I think I enjoyed this? I definitely didn't read it as quickly as I might have, mostly because it wasn't the easiest read for me, but I do think this is a really good novel for that nu-wave horror/fantastical vibe, and I always love reading books where the setting is part of a culture or heritage that I am not as familiar as perhaps I ought to be.
October 17, 2023
I selected this book based on the publisher’s blurb which likened it to The Girl with the Louding Voice and The Water Dancer. Unfortunately, I enjoyed those two novels much better than this one. In fairness, it is a solid offering, steeped in the growing pangs of childhood angst (sibling rivalry, social acceptance, etc), family obligations, love and loss – all with a touch of magical realism inspired by Nigerian folklore and myth. Many might say it holds its place amongst the two novels heralded in the promotion material. However, each book stands alone and in an effort not to compare, this one just didn’t “wow” me and I closed the book a bit disappointed as I wanted it to be true to the title.
It centers on two teen girls from two different walks of life and the strange and ethereal circumstances that merge their worlds. Ozoemena becomes an unwilling Famous First of her kind in her family and grapples with the responsibility that it entails almost by trial and error. Treasure, mourns the loss of her father, dabbles with a demanding and manipulative spirit who promises the desires of her heart - the reunification of her beloved (but deceased) father.
This is a personal issue, but I struggled with Treasure’s “voice,” which was written in Nigerian patois. Some passages, phrases, and words were difficult for me to comprehend, so I relied heavily on deduction via context. And because of this, the cadence was disruptive; overall, it was not enjoyable to me from the beginning and didn’t get better or easier as the novel progressed. It didn’t take long to realize that I dreaded whenever the story shifted to her plotline (which in essence, is half the book) and skimmed through those sections (as it could be quite wordy). I wanted to appreciate this aspect of the novel and the character; however, it was more of an impediment than an attribute, in my opinion.
The story itself is fine - the author has twists and turns to avoid any assumptions of predictability. I’m sure some will become endeared to the girls; I did not. No doubt, those who don’t share my forementioned struggles may find it to be a good read of teens grappling with the challenges entering adulthood: wanting to be loved and liked, the realities of sexism in a patriarchal society, trying to comprehend the world and their place in it, making life-changing choices and dealing with the consequences, etc. Continued success and warm wishes to the author.
Thanks to the publisher, Abrams, The Overlook Press, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
It centers on two teen girls from two different walks of life and the strange and ethereal circumstances that merge their worlds. Ozoemena becomes an unwilling Famous First of her kind in her family and grapples with the responsibility that it entails almost by trial and error. Treasure, mourns the loss of her father, dabbles with a demanding and manipulative spirit who promises the desires of her heart - the reunification of her beloved (but deceased) father.
This is a personal issue, but I struggled with Treasure’s “voice,” which was written in Nigerian patois. Some passages, phrases, and words were difficult for me to comprehend, so I relied heavily on deduction via context. And because of this, the cadence was disruptive; overall, it was not enjoyable to me from the beginning and didn’t get better or easier as the novel progressed. It didn’t take long to realize that I dreaded whenever the story shifted to her plotline (which in essence, is half the book) and skimmed through those sections (as it could be quite wordy). I wanted to appreciate this aspect of the novel and the character; however, it was more of an impediment than an attribute, in my opinion.
The story itself is fine - the author has twists and turns to avoid any assumptions of predictability. I’m sure some will become endeared to the girls; I did not. No doubt, those who don’t share my forementioned struggles may find it to be a good read of teens grappling with the challenges entering adulthood: wanting to be loved and liked, the realities of sexism in a patriarchal society, trying to comprehend the world and their place in it, making life-changing choices and dealing with the consequences, etc. Continued success and warm wishes to the author.
Thanks to the publisher, Abrams, The Overlook Press, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
March 1, 2023
I feel like I need to make a point of seeking out and reading more non-Western literature this year; I think it's so easy to become distracted by the bestsellers and any highly-anticipated debuts without exploring works from further afield. While I wasn't completely blown away by Dazzling, I did really enjoy it and found that it told a much more unique story than most of the other works I've read so far this year. I did enjoy all of the different narratives that this book was written in the perspective of, as it allowed for multiple stories to be told in the space of one novel. I was pleasantly surprised by how intelligent both of the girls sounded in their turns as narrator, I felt that their voices were very strong and they did a great job in telling their stories. Unfortunately I do feel as though my attention wavered towards the end, and I wasn't as invested as I had been in the beginning.
March 2, 2023
Full of expression, full of zest! Chikodili Emelumadu’s sparky novel totally hooked me. It is juicy, it is dark and it is dizzying. The native Nigerian language suffusing this novel is just beautiful too 🐆🧡🌞
A story of two pre-teen girls, Treasure and Ozoemena, that weaves together African mythology and magical realism. The book culminates so much tension and exudes an ominous feeling throughout. You can feel it dripping through the pages. It also introduces the reader to Igbo spirituality and culture, with a moving Nigerian landscape. Truly a powerful book on girlhood and feminism. What does a young girl’s destiny mean? 💫
Treasure’s Daddy is dead, but after she meets an ancestral spirit in the marketplace promising to resurrect him, things take a bizarre turn. Ozoemena is a young schoolgirl upholding a family dynasty of Leopards. Yes her family has a history of transforming into leopards. She can also see ghosts. It is a burdening gift that completely transforms her and everything she knows as children go missing and she is driven to protect her people from the grasps of the supernatural 💛
It took me a good while to wrap my head around the blend of realism and magic, as I felt the writing was quite choppy and unusual in places. However, what a punchy story! Totally not what I was expecting at all. Experimental, funny, gory. Cleverly done. I highly highly recommend ✨
A story of two pre-teen girls, Treasure and Ozoemena, that weaves together African mythology and magical realism. The book culminates so much tension and exudes an ominous feeling throughout. You can feel it dripping through the pages. It also introduces the reader to Igbo spirituality and culture, with a moving Nigerian landscape. Truly a powerful book on girlhood and feminism. What does a young girl’s destiny mean? 💫
Treasure’s Daddy is dead, but after she meets an ancestral spirit in the marketplace promising to resurrect him, things take a bizarre turn. Ozoemena is a young schoolgirl upholding a family dynasty of Leopards. Yes her family has a history of transforming into leopards. She can also see ghosts. It is a burdening gift that completely transforms her and everything she knows as children go missing and she is driven to protect her people from the grasps of the supernatural 💛
It took me a good while to wrap my head around the blend of realism and magic, as I felt the writing was quite choppy and unusual in places. However, what a punchy story! Totally not what I was expecting at all. Experimental, funny, gory. Cleverly done. I highly highly recommend ✨
February 16, 2023
Following two girls, Treasure and Ozoemena. After the death of Treasure's father, they could barely get by. To save them, she makes a deal with a spirit who promises to bring her father back. At the same time, we see Ozoemena, whose family has a history of turning into leopards. To change is an honour, as her father told her before he vanished. Soon, their life intertwined as students began to vanish at Ozoemena school. With such intense prose and vividly impressive landscape, Chikodili presents the power of family, heritage & legacy, the strength and need for justice, and the will to do anything to save the ones we care about.
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FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW.
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Thanks to @headlinebooks for sending this book to me.
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FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW.
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Thanks to @headlinebooks for sending this book to me.
June 16, 2023
This was bit of a struggle to get through because the dual POV and dual timelines never left me enough time to invest in the two main characters.
The stories are told beautifully and the way they come together at the end is really nice.
Magical realism plays a heavy part in this story and the author did a great rooting it in Nigerian folklore.
The stories are told beautifully and the way they come together at the end is really nice.
Magical realism plays a heavy part in this story and the author did a great rooting it in Nigerian folklore.
December 25, 2023
Wow, what an amazing book. Definitely one of my favorites of 2023 so don't save your "best of" lists for November. This is the kind of book that reminds me why my love of reading inspired me to become a writer. That's my alter ego. But it's been a rough year this year; I've written a lot of words but haven't finished anything yet, and have muddled through my creative vision. This is the kind of book that reminds me that even though our cultural and religious experiences may be vastly different, words bring us together with the communal spiritual experience of reading.
This is advertised as horror but it's one of those supernatural books I'd like to read more of, not just inspired by African mythology but the old gods and the vengeful spirits and ghosts are very much rooted in the real world and people's everyday lives and decisions, not just external dread. This is similar to Saints of Bright Doors and the Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. I need to read more African and Asian authors next year.
"Dazzling" is her daddy's name for Treasure, a girl who makes a bargain with a spirit whose feet don't touch the ground who she meets at market day. Treasure came from a life of poverty and pickpocketing after her beloved father dies. Distraught with grief, she just wants her father back, and is willing to do whatever the spirit asks, even as it takes her dazzling innocence on the way and twists her mother into a greedy opportunist who uses her daughter to gain wealth for herself in a Nigeria on the precipice of civil war.
It is also the story of Ozoemena, who just wants to be a normal girl and fit in with her new circle of friends at boarding school. But her family's legacy of leopard shifters will catch up to her in the end as girls start to go missing from the school. Ozoemena's and Treasure's destinies are on a collision course and they just don't know it yet.
The story was slow to start and I worried this would be another book with beautiful sentences and a boring story, but I stuck with it because of the prose and the narrative style is very much not the familiar Western three-act structure. It started off with hypnotic scenes to establish the characters. The very real, complicated characters were what kept me reading. I loved how this was a coming of age story and one of the fragility and betrayals of female friendship, a universal experience despite the supernatural elements.
But this wasn't a story without the supernatural elements; they were not just there for show or a gimmick or a scare factor. They were intrinsic parts of these characters' lives and motivations, part of their culture, the old world strangled by a new one of a Christian god, money and temptation amid the bush.
Despite the high concept backdrop, this was also just a story about a girl mourning a father she never really knew, and another girl who just wanted to belong, as well as the choices we make that have devastating consequences but also make us human, whether or not we're a leopard or a spirit's wife too.
This is advertised as horror but it's one of those supernatural books I'd like to read more of, not just inspired by African mythology but the old gods and the vengeful spirits and ghosts are very much rooted in the real world and people's everyday lives and decisions, not just external dread. This is similar to Saints of Bright Doors and the Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. I need to read more African and Asian authors next year.
"Dazzling" is her daddy's name for Treasure, a girl who makes a bargain with a spirit whose feet don't touch the ground who she meets at market day. Treasure came from a life of poverty and pickpocketing after her beloved father dies. Distraught with grief, she just wants her father back, and is willing to do whatever the spirit asks, even as it takes her dazzling innocence on the way and twists her mother into a greedy opportunist who uses her daughter to gain wealth for herself in a Nigeria on the precipice of civil war.
It is also the story of Ozoemena, who just wants to be a normal girl and fit in with her new circle of friends at boarding school. But her family's legacy of leopard shifters will catch up to her in the end as girls start to go missing from the school. Ozoemena's and Treasure's destinies are on a collision course and they just don't know it yet.
The story was slow to start and I worried this would be another book with beautiful sentences and a boring story, but I stuck with it because of the prose and the narrative style is very much not the familiar Western three-act structure. It started off with hypnotic scenes to establish the characters. The very real, complicated characters were what kept me reading. I loved how this was a coming of age story and one of the fragility and betrayals of female friendship, a universal experience despite the supernatural elements.
But this wasn't a story without the supernatural elements; they were not just there for show or a gimmick or a scare factor. They were intrinsic parts of these characters' lives and motivations, part of their culture, the old world strangled by a new one of a Christian god, money and temptation amid the bush.
Despite the high concept backdrop, this was also just a story about a girl mourning a father she never really knew, and another girl who just wanted to belong, as well as the choices we make that have devastating consequences but also make us human, whether or not we're a leopard or a spirit's wife too.
March 9, 2023
Dazzling; what I loved & disliked in this surreal, intense, magical work of fiction.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5 stars
Isn’t this cover dazzling?
Even more so in person.
✨You should know that this is magical realism, Igbo mythology and has bits of fantasy, so it isn’t for everyone but it worked for me✨
✨It’s told in two points of views: Ozoemena’s & Treasure’s. Girls who have dealt with grief and pain. Whose paths will cross in the most unpredictable ways. One, discovering her powers passed down from her ancestors, trying to create a form of balance. The other, striking a deal with a spirit, getting herself mixed up in chaos. ✨
📕 What I loved 📕
The writer was in total control. A genius. The way she built this world of dazzling and her characters. The boarding house setting for the girls and their shenanigans, including bullying. Especially the bathroom scene is written well with vivid imagery. Ozoemena’s character development is brilliant. I also enjoyed Treasure’s POV. At first it was challenging but she’s a child; the Nigerianness of her hard English got me laughing especially when she was full of spite even though I wanted to scream at her decisions and actions. I like the switch from human to spirit world. And the cover is more beautiful in person! The details!
📕 What I didn’t like 📕
The build up to the main action stretched out until towards the very end. This made me long for it to the point where I was impatient with the POVs, had to pause out of the delay of getting that action I was being seduced with.
✨ Overall, every chapter is crucial to the climax of this piece.; a crazy beautiful read. One of my favourite reads in February ✨
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5 stars
Isn’t this cover dazzling?
Even more so in person.
✨You should know that this is magical realism, Igbo mythology and has bits of fantasy, so it isn’t for everyone but it worked for me✨
✨It’s told in two points of views: Ozoemena’s & Treasure’s. Girls who have dealt with grief and pain. Whose paths will cross in the most unpredictable ways. One, discovering her powers passed down from her ancestors, trying to create a form of balance. The other, striking a deal with a spirit, getting herself mixed up in chaos. ✨
📕 What I loved 📕
The writer was in total control. A genius. The way she built this world of dazzling and her characters. The boarding house setting for the girls and their shenanigans, including bullying. Especially the bathroom scene is written well with vivid imagery. Ozoemena’s character development is brilliant. I also enjoyed Treasure’s POV. At first it was challenging but she’s a child; the Nigerianness of her hard English got me laughing especially when she was full of spite even though I wanted to scream at her decisions and actions. I like the switch from human to spirit world. And the cover is more beautiful in person! The details!
📕 What I didn’t like 📕
The build up to the main action stretched out until towards the very end. This made me long for it to the point where I was impatient with the POVs, had to pause out of the delay of getting that action I was being seduced with.
✨ Overall, every chapter is crucial to the climax of this piece.; a crazy beautiful read. One of my favourite reads in February ✨
August 17, 2024
This book is a bit slow-moving, shifting between the perspectives of two characters who don’t initially seem to have any connection, but it’s thematically rich with exploration of family, heritage, and the interplay between the modern and the mythic. The world-building is lush with detail—mundane, magical, linguistic (I quite enjoyed and appreciated Treasure’s dialect), and sometimes gross or gory. I was a bit unsatisfied with the ending, but overall, would recommend.
November 14, 2022
Emelụmadụ’s gripping debut, 'Dazzling,' smoulders and scorches as we enter the lives of two girls who are coming of age too fast.
Ozoemena has a new life at boarding school. Here, she has little protection from the casual violence of other students, the menace of the supernatural, and the dangers posed by those adults in wider society who might seek to criminally exploit children. This cocktail of threats grows headier still as the ancestral seed of leopard-power begins to grow inside her, equal parts wild and noble. Some of the most dazzling passages in the novel – and there are many – evoke Ozoemena’s struggle with this vast and terrifying force, her transformation, complicated by the urge to please her critical family, and honour her forebears.
Treasure, meanwhile, has been living in poverty since her father’s death. She makes supernatural bargains in the hope of bringing him back, her story leaving me on the very edge of my seat as her longing, inexperience and perilous power combine to increasingly dangerous effect.
'Dazzling' crackles with beautifully controlled energy as Emelụmadụ tackles themes of justice in a world that cares little for fairness – especially for girls. Ozoemena & Treasure are vulnerable, but potent, each girl’s potential a depth charge rumbling at the core of this novel. And the ending for them – no spoilers – is nothing short of immense.
The novel heralds a huge new talent. The language and imagery in 'Dazzling' are exceptional, making even the mundane shine, as if seen through magical eyes. And sensational Nigerian mythology is knitted, utterly convincingly, into the fabric of its characters, their world, and our universe.
Original, beautiful, exciting and moving, this novel carried me off from the first to the last page. I can't wait to read more from this author!
With thanks to Wildfire Books for an advance copy.
Ozoemena has a new life at boarding school. Here, she has little protection from the casual violence of other students, the menace of the supernatural, and the dangers posed by those adults in wider society who might seek to criminally exploit children. This cocktail of threats grows headier still as the ancestral seed of leopard-power begins to grow inside her, equal parts wild and noble. Some of the most dazzling passages in the novel – and there are many – evoke Ozoemena’s struggle with this vast and terrifying force, her transformation, complicated by the urge to please her critical family, and honour her forebears.
Treasure, meanwhile, has been living in poverty since her father’s death. She makes supernatural bargains in the hope of bringing him back, her story leaving me on the very edge of my seat as her longing, inexperience and perilous power combine to increasingly dangerous effect.
'Dazzling' crackles with beautifully controlled energy as Emelụmadụ tackles themes of justice in a world that cares little for fairness – especially for girls. Ozoemena & Treasure are vulnerable, but potent, each girl’s potential a depth charge rumbling at the core of this novel. And the ending for them – no spoilers – is nothing short of immense.
The novel heralds a huge new talent. The language and imagery in 'Dazzling' are exceptional, making even the mundane shine, as if seen through magical eyes. And sensational Nigerian mythology is knitted, utterly convincingly, into the fabric of its characters, their world, and our universe.
Original, beautiful, exciting and moving, this novel carried me off from the first to the last page. I can't wait to read more from this author!
With thanks to Wildfire Books for an advance copy.
January 4, 2024
First off - this cover is stunning. It’s what made me pick this book up in the first place 😍😍😍.
Okay so the story is centred around two girls - Treasure and Ozeomena - who occupy and must navigate two worlds; while dealing with forces much greater than them.
Even though this is kind of used as a catch-all term now, I think this book fits firmly in a magical realist frame. It’s rooted in elements of Nigerian cultural mythology that are firmly rooted in the present. This is typical of African literature that has elements of “magic” - because often these stories and beliefs are very real to the people who believe them. I think Emelumadu did a great job of weaving the story and making it contemporary and present. I do think though that there could have been more mythological ‘rooting’ - The Bone Woman, The Leopard Lore, The Spirits…they all needed more explanation and to be centered more in the book.
My main critique of this book is that the two narrative streams could have been better melded. At times I felt like I was reading two separate books that had nothing to do with each other. The coming together of Treasure and Ozeamena’s stories only really happens in the last 50 pages or so - which is too late. While I enjoyed the prose and the two girls stories (especially Treasure), I felt unrooted the whole time. I kept wondering when the author would get to the point 🤷🏾♀️
Oh also, the audiobook? Fantastic. The two narrators did such a good job of embodying the characters - so I definitely recommend going the audiobook route if you want to read this!
All in all - I enjoyed this and think it’s a solid debut novel.
Okay so the story is centred around two girls - Treasure and Ozeomena - who occupy and must navigate two worlds; while dealing with forces much greater than them.
Even though this is kind of used as a catch-all term now, I think this book fits firmly in a magical realist frame. It’s rooted in elements of Nigerian cultural mythology that are firmly rooted in the present. This is typical of African literature that has elements of “magic” - because often these stories and beliefs are very real to the people who believe them. I think Emelumadu did a great job of weaving the story and making it contemporary and present. I do think though that there could have been more mythological ‘rooting’ - The Bone Woman, The Leopard Lore, The Spirits…they all needed more explanation and to be centered more in the book.
My main critique of this book is that the two narrative streams could have been better melded. At times I felt like I was reading two separate books that had nothing to do with each other. The coming together of Treasure and Ozeamena’s stories only really happens in the last 50 pages or so - which is too late. While I enjoyed the prose and the two girls stories (especially Treasure), I felt unrooted the whole time. I kept wondering when the author would get to the point 🤷🏾♀️
Oh also, the audiobook? Fantastic. The two narrators did such a good job of embodying the characters - so I definitely recommend going the audiobook route if you want to read this!
All in all - I enjoyed this and think it’s a solid debut novel.
December 5, 2023
Happy Publication Day!
I really enjoyed this book. It stands out, even from other mythologically-based magical realism books. That's how much the story establishes its independence. It drew me in and I had to know what would happen in the crescendo, so I read it all in one sitting.
The author keeps the reader a bit off-balance at first, with shifting POV from very different characters whose paths seem unlikely to cross. But, of course, you know that they will. And there will be an unexpected twist. This is my kind of set-up.
If there is a pattern in the early pages, it is the juxtaposition of opposites, particularly right and wrong, but also arrogance and humility, rich and poor, generous and stingy, highly educated and barely schooled, faithful in all things and faithful in nothing. We, the readers, become increasingly aware of the pain of injustice, and of the righteous involvement of magical spirits.
Some Igbo people of Nigeria incorporate West African mythology into their daily lives and culture, even in this modern day. It's fascinating, and it's consistent with other cultures. Think of how much ancient beliefs are threaded through your cultural practices and observances. You may not even realize how much of what you do is influenced by what your ancestors believed.
The author takes care to explain to non-Nigerians several common points of practice. Even though I'd noticed the specific closely-cropped hair of secondary schoolgirls in places like Malawi, I didn't realize that the practice is common in other locales as well. These details are fascinating and give each stage of the unfolding story (not only from different POV, but dual timelines as well) a focal point to pin and center it.
Some things are universal to people all over the world, like trying to hide from the landlady, because your rent is late, wishing your parents weren't so critical, or wishing you could be more attractive like the exotic members of [fill-in-the-blank] place, whom you idolize.
It is refreshing to see how as much as things seem so different, often they're the same all over.
From previous reading, I knew a little of West African water spirit mythology. In this story, these spirits of the land seem a lot trickier, not necessarily malevolent, but hardly trustworthy, and even harder to please than water spirits. In this tradition, how do you know a spirit is not simply another human? For one thing, their feet hover above the ground. This is a terrifying thing, because you don't want a spirit attached to you.
We are introduced to the two main characters early on, and they seem to be from different worlds, though they are actually near each other. Ozoemena and Treasure could not have more opposite circumstances. Even their speech patterns are City Mouse/Country Mouse. Still, they have several key points in common: they've unconsciously tapped into the spiritual realm, they've experienced the mysterious loss of someone close to them, and they're unsure how to break out of their perceived constraints.
As much as we are charmed by, and feel for, both main characters, our introductory lulled state as a reader of this story does not last. Apparently, Ozoemena has a sixth sense, and this reality strikes her with disturbing clarity and terror. At the same time, Treasure is equally unnerved and frightened by her ability to see and interact with spirits. Initially, I feel more protective of Treasure than anyone else. She is the most vulnerable, and as she slides toward a Faustian bargain, I want to shout to her "No! Don't do it! The bargain won't be in your favor!" But she is a powerless starving girl in a cruel world which has forgotten her. How can I blame her? It is a hard bargain, one that preys upon her one great wish. Nearly all of the supporting characters are so mean and greedy, I nearly want to call the spirits to lay them low myself.
Some of Treasure's descriptions are both philosophical and poetic: "Fear is trying to catch me, but if I allow it, I will be stuck inside trouble." Treasure's mother speaks in the same way: "The cold is feeling me" which is such a great construction, kind of like Yiddish "You want I should . . . " This style of speaking grabs your attention.
Details are very important in this story. The name given to the priest in the beginning of the novel reappears again, a quarter of the way in. It's our first clear connection between two disparate worlds, and the second major reference to the damage caused by white colonialism. The imperialists, as always, are the real *savages*.
Meanwhile we learn more and more about the magic of the leopard spirit given to the few, the chosen, the not just touched but rather scorched. A Leopard can even time-travel. Their secret powers can be used for protection or even revenge. The best leopards know how to keep their power in check, how to enforce the rules, and how to only use their influence for the good and the just. The leopard usually has a helper, one who reminds them of who they are, who keeps them from morphing into a beast in both body and mind.
The periodic dives into magical realism are a welcome break from the world of the meanest of the mean girls. But as the powers, bargains, and revenge plans heat up, people begin to notice that an unusual number of people have gone missing. Even in an election year with a corrupt government, this seems unusual. This extra scrutiny about the disappearances, and the fact that things are not exactly going to plan, are a combination volatile enough to blow the lid off everyone's secrets. How long can everyone pretend that everything is normal and okay? The showdown is unstoppable.
Throughout, Emelumadu presents a tactile background and foreground. You feel it and hear it, more than you see it in your mind's eye, and somehow the effect is more powerful. It's positively primal, the kind of descriptions you can feel, in the air, and on your own skin.
And that end reveal was definitely satisfying. Don't worry. No spoilers here.
Dazzling has good pacing, captivating characters, and an intriguing story, all the elements to make it a solid reading choice. I recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and to The Overlook Press, an imprint of ABRAMS, for providing an early proof of this novel (originally published by Wildfire, an imprint of Headline Publishing Group).
I really enjoyed this book. It stands out, even from other mythologically-based magical realism books. That's how much the story establishes its independence. It drew me in and I had to know what would happen in the crescendo, so I read it all in one sitting.
The author keeps the reader a bit off-balance at first, with shifting POV from very different characters whose paths seem unlikely to cross. But, of course, you know that they will. And there will be an unexpected twist. This is my kind of set-up.
If there is a pattern in the early pages, it is the juxtaposition of opposites, particularly right and wrong, but also arrogance and humility, rich and poor, generous and stingy, highly educated and barely schooled, faithful in all things and faithful in nothing. We, the readers, become increasingly aware of the pain of injustice, and of the righteous involvement of magical spirits.
Some Igbo people of Nigeria incorporate West African mythology into their daily lives and culture, even in this modern day. It's fascinating, and it's consistent with other cultures. Think of how much ancient beliefs are threaded through your cultural practices and observances. You may not even realize how much of what you do is influenced by what your ancestors believed.
The author takes care to explain to non-Nigerians several common points of practice. Even though I'd noticed the specific closely-cropped hair of secondary schoolgirls in places like Malawi, I didn't realize that the practice is common in other locales as well. These details are fascinating and give each stage of the unfolding story (not only from different POV, but dual timelines as well) a focal point to pin and center it.
Some things are universal to people all over the world, like trying to hide from the landlady, because your rent is late, wishing your parents weren't so critical, or wishing you could be more attractive like the exotic members of [fill-in-the-blank] place, whom you idolize.
It is refreshing to see how as much as things seem so different, often they're the same all over.
From previous reading, I knew a little of West African water spirit mythology. In this story, these spirits of the land seem a lot trickier, not necessarily malevolent, but hardly trustworthy, and even harder to please than water spirits. In this tradition, how do you know a spirit is not simply another human? For one thing, their feet hover above the ground. This is a terrifying thing, because you don't want a spirit attached to you.
We are introduced to the two main characters early on, and they seem to be from different worlds, though they are actually near each other. Ozoemena and Treasure could not have more opposite circumstances. Even their speech patterns are City Mouse/Country Mouse. Still, they have several key points in common: they've unconsciously tapped into the spiritual realm, they've experienced the mysterious loss of someone close to them, and they're unsure how to break out of their perceived constraints.
As much as we are charmed by, and feel for, both main characters, our introductory lulled state as a reader of this story does not last. Apparently, Ozoemena has a sixth sense, and this reality strikes her with disturbing clarity and terror. At the same time, Treasure is equally unnerved and frightened by her ability to see and interact with spirits. Initially, I feel more protective of Treasure than anyone else. She is the most vulnerable, and as she slides toward a Faustian bargain, I want to shout to her "No! Don't do it! The bargain won't be in your favor!" But she is a powerless starving girl in a cruel world which has forgotten her. How can I blame her? It is a hard bargain, one that preys upon her one great wish. Nearly all of the supporting characters are so mean and greedy, I nearly want to call the spirits to lay them low myself.
Some of Treasure's descriptions are both philosophical and poetic: "Fear is trying to catch me, but if I allow it, I will be stuck inside trouble." Treasure's mother speaks in the same way: "The cold is feeling me" which is such a great construction, kind of like Yiddish "You want I should . . . " This style of speaking grabs your attention.
Details are very important in this story. The name given to the priest in the beginning of the novel reappears again, a quarter of the way in. It's our first clear connection between two disparate worlds, and the second major reference to the damage caused by white colonialism. The imperialists, as always, are the real *savages*.
Meanwhile we learn more and more about the magic of the leopard spirit given to the few, the chosen, the not just touched but rather scorched. A Leopard can even time-travel. Their secret powers can be used for protection or even revenge. The best leopards know how to keep their power in check, how to enforce the rules, and how to only use their influence for the good and the just. The leopard usually has a helper, one who reminds them of who they are, who keeps them from morphing into a beast in both body and mind.
The periodic dives into magical realism are a welcome break from the world of the meanest of the mean girls. But as the powers, bargains, and revenge plans heat up, people begin to notice that an unusual number of people have gone missing. Even in an election year with a corrupt government, this seems unusual. This extra scrutiny about the disappearances, and the fact that things are not exactly going to plan, are a combination volatile enough to blow the lid off everyone's secrets. How long can everyone pretend that everything is normal and okay? The showdown is unstoppable.
Throughout, Emelumadu presents a tactile background and foreground. You feel it and hear it, more than you see it in your mind's eye, and somehow the effect is more powerful. It's positively primal, the kind of descriptions you can feel, in the air, and on your own skin.
And that end reveal was definitely satisfying. Don't worry. No spoilers here.
Dazzling has good pacing, captivating characters, and an intriguing story, all the elements to make it a solid reading choice. I recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and to The Overlook Press, an imprint of ABRAMS, for providing an early proof of this novel (originally published by Wildfire, an imprint of Headline Publishing Group).
April 3, 2024
this book is evocative, magical and beautifully written. Emelumadu doesn't shy away from the nastier aspects of poverty and disease, and the book is better for it.
the last few pages, I was speeding through trying to guess what would happen (and the twist made me gasp out loud). this author can certainly spin a yarn.
the only thing I'll say is that the book is slow to start - the story only kicked off around halfway through, although by the end of the book you'll be riveted and thoroughly invested.
the last few pages, I was speeding through trying to guess what would happen (and the twist made me gasp out loud). this author can certainly spin a yarn.
the only thing I'll say is that the book is slow to start - the story only kicked off around halfway through, although by the end of the book you'll be riveted and thoroughly invested.
December 3, 2023
I’m not sure I can appropriately encapsulate what I just read. I enjoyed a lot of it but was a bit lost for some of it. I appreciated the female empowerment and the exploration of familial legacy. I really liked both girls and felt like we got a good view of the different classes in Nigeria and how that impacted the maturing of these girls. Lots of boarding school rules and mean girl antics.
I’m not sure who I’d recommend this book for though. I don’t agree that it strikes the same note as The Girl with the Louding Voice (an all time favorite of mine), I think it was a bit more like Wahala or Maame with magical realism thrown in.
Thanks to Booksparks for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
I’m not sure who I’d recommend this book for though. I don’t agree that it strikes the same note as The Girl with the Louding Voice (an all time favorite of mine), I think it was a bit more like Wahala or Maame with magical realism thrown in.
Thanks to Booksparks for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
June 11, 2025
I was expecting to love this one based on its description and focus on Igbo traditional mythos. However, it just wasn’t for me. I could not resonate with any of the characters and found the world-building very surface level, especially for such a mythos-heavy novel. I was lost during much of the story and feel like the author could have done a better job explaining and with the pacing too.
Read
February 4, 2023Set in Nigeria and steeped in Igbo spirituality, Dazzling is another strong debut with a language and flavour all of its own. It’s about two twelve-year-old girls, one, Treasure, makes a deal with a spirit to have her father returned from the afterlife, while the other Ozoemena, is marked by the spirit of her Uncle to adopt the role of leopard and defend her people. Their stories converge when they attend a boarding school built on sacred grounds. The singular voice that Emelumadu brings to the novel, which vividly portrays the beauty and flaws of Nigerian society, affords the narrative a rhythm that has a short learning curve. But once you’re attuned to the richness of the language, you realise that Emelumadu isn’t interested in the typical “coming of age / young person gets powers” trope. Instead, we are confronted with a visceral, complex story about the wildness of girlhood and the legacy left behind by estranged and deceased fathers.
August 8, 2025
This is the story of two girls who made deals, one with good and one with evil.
Although I didn't understand some of Dazzling's pidgin English, I loved her story and in the end dinor mind the language at all.
Ozoemena's story was a little disappointing. It was difficult to track with her --- in one paragraph she's at school, in the next she's at home annoying her sister.
Sometimes I found the writing unnecessarily complicated, yet, at the same time, not fully fleshing out what was happening. The encounter with Benjamin comes to mind. Having just read it again, I still don't know if there was a fight or not. I also thought some important storylines were left hanging.
3.5 stars.
Although I didn't understand some of Dazzling's pidgin English, I loved her story and in the end dinor mind the language at all.
Ozoemena's story was a little disappointing. It was difficult to track with her --- in one paragraph she's at school, in the next she's at home annoying her sister.
Sometimes I found the writing unnecessarily complicated, yet, at the same time, not fully fleshing out what was happening. The encounter with Benjamin comes to mind. Having just read it again, I still don't know if there was a fight or not. I also thought some important storylines were left hanging.
3.5 stars.
February 18, 2023
Rating: 3.5⭐️ (rounded up to 4⭐️)
Dazzling follows the POV of two young girls, Ozoemena and Treasure who live in Nigeria, who find their lives intertwined when mysterious things begin to happen. It explores how far both of the girls are willing to go (as well as what they are willing to sacrifice) in order to survive in a world that is out to get them.
I quite liked Chịkọdịlị's writing style - I especially liked how she would describe things as I found the comparisons to be so interesting. I found the story quite interesting too as it is different to the genres that I usually read, as well as it being rich in Nigerian mythology and magical realism.
I love how the two main characters were written - there was so much to them and I loved how their flaws were also explored. I loved seeing how different they were to each other, which made it quite easy to distinguish between the two. I felt like the different POVs really highlighted the difference between the rich and poor (Ozoemena and Treasure, respectively). Ozoemena has access to anything she wants as well as education but she has issues with her family bu the community are respectable towards her because of her family's wealth and status. Whereas, Treasure who after her father died, everyone started treating her family differently (like laughing at them in the streets and getting their share from the father passing to then abandoning Treasure and her mother). Treasure often had to fend for herself and find ways to stay hydrated and fed as her mother has some kind of sleeping condition where she can sleep for weeks or even months. She does not have access to education (until things change) but she would like to go to school like other children her age.
This book is a slow burner - it does not really pick up until the ending where a lot more things begin to happen and things become to somewhat come together, which I think is why it took me so long to get through this book. The ending feels rushed and like it is trying to tie up some of the loose ends whilst leaving others unanswered. The book made quite a big deal about a lot of things but then when you get to the end, they seemed meaningless and pointless as to why they were given so much meaning and attention.
Thank you so much to Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
⚠️ TWs: slavery, physical assault, imprisonment, death, gun violence, blood, grief, murder, animal murder and death, prostitution, derogatory language, profanity, alcohol use, bullying, suicide, sexual situations, poverty, child abuse, colonialism, torture, vomiting, ableism, sexual harassment; mentions indecent exposure, immolation, burns, lynching, whipping, ritual killing, fertility issues, depression, gambling, abortion, pregnancy, cheating, human sacrifice, disappearance, absent parent and fatphobic comment ⚠️
Dazzling follows the POV of two young girls, Ozoemena and Treasure who live in Nigeria, who find their lives intertwined when mysterious things begin to happen. It explores how far both of the girls are willing to go (as well as what they are willing to sacrifice) in order to survive in a world that is out to get them.
I quite liked Chịkọdịlị's writing style - I especially liked how she would describe things as I found the comparisons to be so interesting. I found the story quite interesting too as it is different to the genres that I usually read, as well as it being rich in Nigerian mythology and magical realism.
I love how the two main characters were written - there was so much to them and I loved how their flaws were also explored. I loved seeing how different they were to each other, which made it quite easy to distinguish between the two. I felt like the different POVs really highlighted the difference between the rich and poor (Ozoemena and Treasure, respectively). Ozoemena has access to anything she wants as well as education but she has issues with her family bu the community are respectable towards her because of her family's wealth and status. Whereas, Treasure who after her father died, everyone started treating her family differently (like laughing at them in the streets and getting their share from the father passing to then abandoning Treasure and her mother). Treasure often had to fend for herself and find ways to stay hydrated and fed as her mother has some kind of sleeping condition where she can sleep for weeks or even months. She does not have access to education (until things change) but she would like to go to school like other children her age.
This book is a slow burner - it does not really pick up until the ending where a lot more things begin to happen and things become to somewhat come together, which I think is why it took me so long to get through this book. The ending feels rushed and like it is trying to tie up some of the loose ends whilst leaving others unanswered. The book made quite a big deal about a lot of things but then when you get to the end, they seemed meaningless and pointless as to why they were given so much meaning and attention.
Thank you so much to Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
⚠️ TWs: slavery, physical assault, imprisonment, death, gun violence, blood, grief, murder, animal murder and death, prostitution, derogatory language, profanity, alcohol use, bullying, suicide, sexual situations, poverty, child abuse, colonialism, torture, vomiting, ableism, sexual harassment; mentions indecent exposure, immolation, burns, lynching, whipping, ritual killing, fertility issues, depression, gambling, abortion, pregnancy, cheating, human sacrifice, disappearance, absent parent and fatphobic comment ⚠️
January 1, 2023
Ozoemena and Treasure are 2 young Nigerian girls who initially appear to have little in common.
When Treasure’s father dies, her mother sinks into depression and her family spirals downwards until they are scrabbling for food. Treasure would do anything to get her father back but as her mother gradually recovers she shows a determination to move on, doing whatever she needs to in order to achieve it.
Ozoema’s beloved father disappears and yet her mother doesn’t seem to care. Only her grandmother talks to her of what Ozoema must do and introduces her to the way of the leopard, a hidden family heritage that will require sacrifice.
The novel merges magical realism with Nigerian folklore and current politics to great effect, with each girl treading her own path to womanhood in a way that collides with societal values. Both girls fight for their fathers but in a society where girls are commodities, are either worth the battle?
I listened to the audiobook of this novel and, although it was beautifully read and convincingly brought to life, it also made it a little confusing at times if you needed to break off between listens, since both girls were dealing with spirits. Overall it was a compelling and engrossing listen.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Headline audio for an audiobook arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When Treasure’s father dies, her mother sinks into depression and her family spirals downwards until they are scrabbling for food. Treasure would do anything to get her father back but as her mother gradually recovers she shows a determination to move on, doing whatever she needs to in order to achieve it.
Ozoema’s beloved father disappears and yet her mother doesn’t seem to care. Only her grandmother talks to her of what Ozoema must do and introduces her to the way of the leopard, a hidden family heritage that will require sacrifice.
The novel merges magical realism with Nigerian folklore and current politics to great effect, with each girl treading her own path to womanhood in a way that collides with societal values. Both girls fight for their fathers but in a society where girls are commodities, are either worth the battle?
I listened to the audiobook of this novel and, although it was beautifully read and convincingly brought to life, it also made it a little confusing at times if you needed to break off between listens, since both girls were dealing with spirits. Overall it was a compelling and engrossing listen.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Headline audio for an audiobook arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
This is a particular type of book for a particular audience, but I cannot truly pinpoint what that audience would be. This book is literary fiction with a bit of magical realism, but I didn't understand the magical realism. Is it supposed to be a metaphor? Is it meant to be taken literally? Or is it just a fantasy/mythology novel? I have realized I am a reader that likes to have a lot of answers - and this book is not one that will necessarily give them to you.
I was very intrigued in the beginning and at the end - but I almost DNFed about 70% through. I just wasn't getting it. I was very interested in seeing what happened, but I still don't get it. Also, there's a lot of bodily fluids in this that just did not work for me.
I really recommend listening to this book in audio if you're not well acquainted with different forms of Nigerian slang or pidgen. As many have said in other reviews, Treasure's narration is written in a way that I did not fully understand, though this is likely just from lack of awareness of this form of English. The audio really helped - I was able to tell when certain writing techniques were meant as emphasis as opposed to a fully different meaning.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB media for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was very intrigued in the beginning and at the end - but I almost DNFed about 70% through. I just wasn't getting it. I was very interested in seeing what happened, but I still don't get it. Also, there's a lot of bodily fluids in this that just did not work for me.
I really recommend listening to this book in audio if you're not well acquainted with different forms of Nigerian slang or pidgen. As many have said in other reviews, Treasure's narration is written in a way that I did not fully understand, though this is likely just from lack of awareness of this form of English. The audio really helped - I was able to tell when certain writing techniques were meant as emphasis as opposed to a fully different meaning.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB media for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 17, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an eARC of this novel. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really appreciate that I was given a chance to read this, however, something about it didn't work for me and I think it is a me thing. This books is well written with interesting and distinctive characters, but for me there was an emotional disconnect that I didn't expect going in. I was interested in the subject matter and the Nigerian mythology/spirituality aspects of it. However, I was just not invested in the characters and how their lives were progressing. I think this is just not a book for me, however, I think when it finds its audience it will soar. It's unfortunately not me.
I really appreciate that I was given a chance to read this, however, something about it didn't work for me and I think it is a me thing. This books is well written with interesting and distinctive characters, but for me there was an emotional disconnect that I didn't expect going in. I was interested in the subject matter and the Nigerian mythology/spirituality aspects of it. However, I was just not invested in the characters and how their lives were progressing. I think this is just not a book for me, however, I think when it finds its audience it will soar. It's unfortunately not me.
Read
October 23, 2023I loved the folklore and horror aspects of this, but I never really got into it the way I'd hoped to. I think it might've been the three different perspectives (Treasure then, Ozomena then, Ozomena now) that made it hard to keep everything straight. I usually like shifting perspectives, and Treasure's and Ozomena's voices are so different that they were easy to keep straight, but something about this just didn't hold my interest and took me way longer to read than it should have.
I do plan to read more from this author in the future!
Thank you to Netgalley and ABRAMS Books!
I do plan to read more from this author in the future!
Thank you to Netgalley and ABRAMS Books!
January 11, 2024
This is a beautifully written and narrated audiobook. It's highly descriptive with metaphorical prose and magical realism. I appreciated following both main character's experiences through their POV's, which are both very different and very similar. I wish I had dual-read this, with the audiobook playing along with the written text. I think I could have followed the story and characters better. Overall would recommend this novel for those who love being transported to a different place. I felt I was there!
November 11, 2024
I'm trying really hard not to fall prey to the classic "I really didn't like the first two thirds of this book, but the end really brought it together, 5 stars."
I wanted to like this book, but the mix of specific dialects, the jumping back and forth in time and multiple perspectives honestly made this such a hard read. I spent the first half of the book thinking one MC was in the past and one in the present (not the case).
But, the lore was fascinating and the characters were interesting AND it did come together at the end. Just not enough to make me really love it.
I wanted to like this book, but the mix of specific dialects, the jumping back and forth in time and multiple perspectives honestly made this such a hard read. I spent the first half of the book thinking one MC was in the past and one in the present (not the case).
But, the lore was fascinating and the characters were interesting AND it did come together at the end. Just not enough to make me really love it.
February 8, 2024
Dazzling held promise but did not deliver for me. I read this for a book club and likely would have quit reading it if not for that. I found the jumping back and forth in time disorienting and good chunks of the plot could have been cut altogether. Dialect is always challenging for me to read and this was even more so because of the alternating perspectives.
If you speak Igbo and English, read this book. It will likely conjure Nigeria for you in a way that I struggled to relate to.
If you speak Igbo and English, read this book. It will likely conjure Nigeria for you in a way that I struggled to relate to.
February 7, 2024
So unique and descriptive. I'd call it fantasy over magical realism, but it was definitely worth the read.
March 2, 2024
This gives heavy #BenOkri influences.
Gosh!
She takes every day occurrences and turns it into magic!
The twists that make you want to go back and start again so you can experience (and better understand) the revelation again...magical!
One forgets that the topic and events that may have inspired this story are tragic.
What a journey!
It is indeed #Dazzling
Gosh!
She takes every day occurrences and turns it into magic!
The twists that make you want to go back and start again so you can experience (and better understand) the revelation again...magical!
One forgets that the topic and events that may have inspired this story are tragic.
What a journey!
It is indeed #Dazzling
October 2, 2024
Review to follow.
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