thedragonsden_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
lostcanticles's review
3.0
I wasn’t aware this was a planned series before starting. This was a quick read with a good cast of characters, though I was left with a lot of questions still. It could have been a little bit longer to provide more details to the story but maybe it’ll be expanded further in future books.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the arc!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the arc!
mrlzbth's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jashanac's review
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
3.75
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc for review!
I want more of this world...! Novellas tend to be a little hard for me to really get invested in, but I did find myself pretty invested in these characters and what happened to them. Watching the mysteries being unraveled was fascinating and I think the author did a great job building out this world in a short amount of time.
I want more of this world...! Novellas tend to be a little hard for me to really get invested in, but I did find myself pretty invested in these characters and what happened to them. Watching the mysteries being unraveled was fascinating and I think the author did a great job building out this world in a short amount of time.
library_baker's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
librariann's review
4.0
**I received an DRC from the publisher because I am a librarian and librarians are awesome**
I think I love novellas. They are just perfect for my attention span right now, and a good one - a really good one - in the sci fi genre is better in some ways than a novel for me.
This was spare and interesting Afrofuturism that ALMOST felt like it should have been a novel. The scope was grand enough, and there were characters that we didn't really get to spend enough time with (the Blind Man, in particular). The concept of Seers was well done but also felt magically rushed when it came to Tutu's evolution. It's not that I wanted a full novel so much as maybe an extra 10k words.
But as a fable on the hidden power of the ruling class and how they wield that power for deception and oppression? Ooof.
I think I love novellas. They are just perfect for my attention span right now, and a good one - a really good one - in the sci fi genre is better in some ways than a novel for me.
This was spare and interesting Afrofuturism that ALMOST felt like it should have been a novel. The scope was grand enough, and there were characters that we didn't really get to spend enough time with (the Blind Man, in particular). The concept of Seers was well done but also felt magically rushed when it came to Tutu's evolution. It's not that I wanted a full novel so much as maybe an extra 10k words.
But as a fable on the hidden power of the ruling class and how they wield that power for deception and oppression? Ooof.
vampiresessah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
adhd_reader's review
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is carried by its premise. It’s such a simple premise, yet surprisingly original! I loved that the world felt so expansive. The book is brought down by its length though, as i was not able to connect to any of the characters very well
kbbru's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
the_mad_bird_diaries's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really grateful to Netgalley, the author of the story - Moses Ose Utomi, and the publisher for providing me with this free advanced reading copy in exchange for the honest review.
It was an unusual and interesting experience for me. The Lies of Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi is more a fable than a fantasy adventure. It follows our main character Tutu on his quest of finding water for his city and saving his mother.
But it's not a fun adventurous story though we had some adventures and a lot of action in it. But it has more symbolism and metaphoric moments than anything else. Nothing as it seems. This novella has an interesting contrast between its rather naive tone(because of a young and inexperienced main character) and a rather brutal story. I was really surprised by it, by for me it works great.
This is a story about growing up and understanding the world as it is without childish delusions and belief in right and good, and ultimate justice and truthfulness of the world. It's interesting that the writing felt for me both fresh and traditional. Fresh because I haven't read such stories for ages and traditional because it reminded me about the times I read fables and legends. The character work was appropriate for the genre. Nothing too deep, but with the right depth to play the role and to show the meanings of the story - it reminded me of old myths as well.
I'm a little bit afraid for the marketing of this novella - it's really important to show what it is to readers before they start this book. The ones who expect an epic and light adventure could be left disappointed even though it isn't the book's fault.
I hope it will work out well because I'm always here for something new and unusual in the genre, the mix of genres, and using absolutely different settings and storytelling techniques. It really helps to develop the fantasy genre and make it bigger and more apealing to more and more readers every year.
It was an unusual and interesting experience for me. The Lies of Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi is more a fable than a fantasy adventure. It follows our main character Tutu on his quest of finding water for his city and saving his mother.
But it's not a fun adventurous story though we had some adventures and a lot of action in it. But it has more symbolism and metaphoric moments than anything else. Nothing as it seems. This novella has an interesting contrast between its rather naive tone(because of a young and inexperienced main character) and a rather brutal story. I was really surprised by it, by for me it works great.
This is a story about growing up and understanding the world as it is without childish delusions and belief in right and good, and ultimate justice and truthfulness of the world. It's interesting that the writing felt for me both fresh and traditional. Fresh because I haven't read such stories for ages and traditional because it reminded me about the times I read fables and legends. The character work was appropriate for the genre. Nothing too deep, but with the right depth to play the role and to show the meanings of the story - it reminded me of old myths as well.
I'm a little bit afraid for the marketing of this novella - it's really important to show what it is to readers before they start this book. The ones who expect an epic and light adventure could be left disappointed even though it isn't the book's fault.
I hope it will work out well because I'm always here for something new and unusual in the genre, the mix of genres, and using absolutely different settings and storytelling techniques. It really helps to develop the fantasy genre and make it bigger and more apealing to more and more readers every year.