Scan barcode
sarahbsews's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
lindsayerin's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
archaena's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This novel follows a young Nigerian-American author named Zelu as she writes a bestselling sci-fi novel that opens her access to futuristic artificial limb technology and other dreams that have seemed impossible given the disability and career failure of her past. She must navigate how these unimaginable opportunities create heavy costs in her interpersonal relationships. Zelu's story is interspersed with chapters from the sci-fi novel, which follows a post-human robot future that is under existential threat.
I was initially hesitant about this book. The first few chapters quickly presented a lot of characters with only Zelu, a deeply discouraged and almost-too-relatably flawed character, recieving close attention. It soon became apparent, however, that this was intentional. The ways in which Zelu feels disconnected from her family and her Nigerian-American family disconnected from mainstream American culture are both themes that are deeply explored throughout the book and provide the base on which the more fantastic elements that are introduced later are grounded. All of the secondary characters also receive ample development in their perspectives and relationships with Zelu.
I don't want to reveal too many spoilers for this eventful book. Overall, I deeply enjoyed both the Zelu and Rusted Robots plots. I found the characters, especially in the Zelu storyline, well-developed, realistic, and painfully relatable. There is a good mix of serious, emotional, humorous, and action elements. Both the futuristic and Nigerian-American cultural elements provide a flavorful depth to the setting, characters, and tone. The themes it explores are complex and interesting. This is my first time reading a book from Nnedi Okorafor. I am now looking forward to visiting her other works. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to William Morrow Publishing and Netgalley for providing a free Advanced Readers Copy of this book for review.
I was initially hesitant about this book. The first few chapters quickly presented a lot of characters with only Zelu, a deeply discouraged and almost-too-relatably flawed character, recieving close attention. It soon became apparent, however, that this was intentional. The ways in which Zelu feels disconnected from her family and her Nigerian-American family disconnected from mainstream American culture are both themes that are deeply explored throughout the book and provide the base on which the more fantastic elements that are introduced later are grounded. All of the secondary characters also receive ample development in their perspectives and relationships with Zelu.
I don't want to reveal too many spoilers for this eventful book. Overall, I deeply enjoyed both the Zelu and Rusted Robots plots. I found the characters, especially in the Zelu storyline, well-developed, realistic, and painfully relatable. There is a good mix of serious, emotional, humorous, and action elements. Both the futuristic and Nigerian-American cultural elements provide a flavorful depth to the setting, characters, and tone. The themes it explores are complex and interesting. This is my first time reading a book from Nnedi Okorafor. I am now looking forward to visiting her other works. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to William Morrow Publishing and Netgalley for providing a free Advanced Readers Copy of this book for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
The book follows a black Nigerian-American disabled woman who becomes a famous author. Realistic levels of racism, sexism, and ableism are displayed by her family, friends, and online public. Her medical history related to the disability and accident that caused it are also described. There are several deaths, including thetianas_littalk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Death of the Author alternates between Zelu's life of newfound success, her robot novel, and family interviews. Upon losing her job and facing rejection of her latest manuscript, Zelu initiates the writing of a science fiction novel centered on robots. Surprisingly, the book attains remarkable success.
Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of multiple POV shifts, but in this case, the narrative benefited from this approach. The interviews with Zelu's family members offered a nuanced understanding of her character, which was necessary given the dysfunctional nature of their relationships. I found their behavior towards her disturbing, but her growth and increasing assertiveness were admirable. The Rusted Robots chapters were enjoyable, although the shifts between storylines occasionally caused frustration. Nevertheless, I was fully invested in both narratives, which explored complex, yet intersecting conflicts and character arcs.
This novel is outstanding, weaving together a rich tapestry of themes and topics. It would be an excellent choice for a book club. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of multiple POV shifts, but in this case, the narrative benefited from this approach. The interviews with Zelu's family members offered a nuanced understanding of her character, which was necessary given the dysfunctional nature of their relationships. I found their behavior towards her disturbing, but her growth and increasing assertiveness were admirable. The Rusted Robots chapters were enjoyable, although the shifts between storylines occasionally caused frustration. Nevertheless, I was fully invested in both narratives, which explored complex, yet intersecting conflicts and character arcs.
This novel is outstanding, weaving together a rich tapestry of themes and topics. It would be an excellent choice for a book club. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism