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carolineroche's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful magical realism/fantasy set in an African village. Sheba comes from a long line of royalty, and her village has always been known as one which provides protection to women in distress. However, Sheba's mother is a powerful force for evil, and Sheba needs to draw out the magic within her in order to make the village safe again. Suitable for year 7's and above.
adamskiboy528491's review against another edition
4.0
Arise, arise, O sons of Ghana land,
And under God march on for evermore!
Arise, arise, O sons of Ghana land,
And under God march on for evermore!
[b:Lionheart Girl|58361928|Lionheart Girl|Yaba Badoe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623949883l/58361928._SY75_.jpg|91522270] by [a:Yaba Badoe|2892443|Yaba Badoe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1555070197p2/2892443.jpg] takes you places you don't expect them to go. An utterly immersive and evocative account of a young girl's rite of passage within her life, own femininity, body, heritage and connection to the land and her ancestors tangled with magic on her ascent to the future Queen Mother of the village with no name.
Sheba is a descendant of West African Witches, and magic runs through her veins. As she grows up, she starts to discover her powers - her touch allows her to view other people's thoughts, memories and secrets. Oh, and Sheba's a shape-shifter too. But she also learns about her mother and her prophesied destiny which brings conflict to her life. The story moves along nicely as Sheba grows and learns about herself and her family. We meet her friends, her aunts and grandmothers and her absent father, about whom her mother is unwilling to talk. We learn about her heritage and her growing powers.
This book makes me curious about the country it was set in and the mythology that goes along with it. Like their history, African people's traditional beliefs and practices remain largely unfamiliar and unknown to the European and American public compared to more popular worldwide mythologies like the Greco-Roman, Norse, Celtic, Aztec and Mayan pantheons. Though it's a mildly developing country, Ghana has been growing steadfastly in the later years, especially the tourism branch, which attracts all kinds of wealthy Americans, Europeans and others. It also has a bit of a computer industry developing, thanks to many charities sending computers to the country. It's pretty fascinating understanding this country.
bookymac95's review against another edition
I felt that there should have been more to it but I felt that there wasn’t a lot of magic feeling to it and not a lot of action in the book. I think I was expecting to much which was a shame. Also didn’t like the main character’s mum who was really awful to her own child. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for it either.
beelovesreading's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC for Lionheart Girl.
Summary:
Born into a family of West African witches, Sheba's terrified of her mother who can turn into a crow. But like mother, like daughter – magic runs through her blood and Sheba discovers powers of her own.
Her touch can unravel people's innermost thoughts; their hopes, their fears – their secrets. Sheba too can shape-shift. Through the communion of ancient magic, blood and friendship, she slowly uncovers the murderous truth about her stolen childhood and steels herself for the future. She must protect the hunted from the hunter – her mother.
My thoughts:
Lionheart Girl was an interesting read, although slightly boring. I liked the book, I liked the plot but it fell a little short for me. I wasn't left with a lasting impression, but that's simply my opinion and I'm sure other people will love it. I went in expecting her mother to be this big bad woman and what I found mostly was a woman who stomped around a lot, smoked, and complained about her family. She acted more like a child than an antagonist and I found myself annoyed by her, rather than concerned for Sheba and her family.
Summary:
Born into a family of West African witches, Sheba's terrified of her mother who can turn into a crow. But like mother, like daughter – magic runs through her blood and Sheba discovers powers of her own.
Her touch can unravel people's innermost thoughts; their hopes, their fears – their secrets. Sheba too can shape-shift. Through the communion of ancient magic, blood and friendship, she slowly uncovers the murderous truth about her stolen childhood and steels herself for the future. She must protect the hunted from the hunter – her mother.
My thoughts:
Lionheart Girl was an interesting read, although slightly boring. I liked the book, I liked the plot but it fell a little short for me. I wasn't left with a lasting impression, but that's simply my opinion and I'm sure other people will love it. I went in expecting her mother to be this big bad woman and what I found mostly was a woman who stomped around a lot, smoked, and complained about her family. She acted more like a child than an antagonist and I found myself annoyed by her, rather than concerned for Sheba and her family.
romanegrand's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
justgeekingby's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content warnings:
I wanted to like Lionheart Girl a lot more, however, it’s another book listed as fantasy when it is more accurately magical realism. The fantasy elements are wrapped up within realism, hidden in word play rather than just coming out and saying exactly what is happening. It’s exhausting to read at times because I had to try to work out exactly what was being said.
I had thought that this was a book about shapeshifters, or at the very least, witches that could change shape. It’s not, which was disappointing. I enjoyed the folklore and the world building, I just wish the author had come out and said this was this and that was that. It’s explained that there is an evil, yet the evil is never given a name. It’s just danced around.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
Content warnings:
Spoiler
There are scenes of emotional abuse, domestic abuse, animal abuse, alcoholism, and a character suffers loss of vision.I wanted to like Lionheart Girl a lot more, however, it’s another book listed as fantasy when it is more accurately magical realism. The fantasy elements are wrapped up within realism, hidden in word play rather than just coming out and saying exactly what is happening. It’s exhausting to read at times because I had to try to work out exactly what was being said.
I had thought that this was a book about shapeshifters, or at the very least, witches that could change shape. It’s not, which was disappointing. I enjoyed the folklore and the world building, I just wish the author had come out and said this was this and that was that. It’s explained that there is an evil, yet the evil is never given a name. It’s just danced around.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
mitcheljhunter's review against another edition
Nothing against the book. I just don't think audiobooks are for me
mekeisha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
writeronherway's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love Yaba Badoe's writing and I really hope this book gets the recognition it deserves! A shapeshifting lioness, a boy with his dead-departed and a village kept hidden, safe as a sanctuary for the desperate. What more do you want? Lionheart Girl is powerful, expressive, full of heart and soul.
Sheba is a fantastic character. You love her from the beginning with her headstrong charge into the forest to find her father, then as she begins to explore the power in her touch that reveals people's inner truths to her and even more as she unearths her shapeshifting heritage. Her relationships with Nana, Grandma Baby and her aunts are full of unspoken understandings, tender moments, support and unconditional love. Her friendship with Maybe is full of warmth and mutual respect. They see things in each other no one else can see.
Sheba's mother is pretty terrifying! I completely understood Sheba's need to withdraw but also her growing need to escape. I really liked how Sheba followed her own intuition and was compassionate even when faced with dark truths.
My only criticism is that at times major reveals or turning points were dropped in rather casually and I found myself flicking back to check I understood correctly as the character didn't have much reaction to a reveal. At one point I felt a little lost because I think we skipped several years and the ending was quite abrupt. That said I loved the setting and atmospheric quality of the story as a whole. I felt like I was in a liminal space with Sheba somewhere between her reality and a more spiritual realm of existence amongst a pride of shapeshifting lions.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I love Yaba Badoe's writing and I really hope this book gets the recognition it deserves! A shapeshifting lioness, a boy with his dead-departed and a village kept hidden, safe as a sanctuary for the desperate. What more do you want? Lionheart Girl is powerful, expressive, full of heart and soul.
Sheba is a fantastic character. You love her from the beginning with her headstrong charge into the forest to find her father, then as she begins to explore the power in her touch that reveals people's inner truths to her and even more as she unearths her shapeshifting heritage. Her relationships with Nana, Grandma Baby and her aunts are full of unspoken understandings, tender moments, support and unconditional love. Her friendship with Maybe is full of warmth and mutual respect. They see things in each other no one else can see.
Sheba's mother is pretty terrifying! I completely understood Sheba's need to withdraw but also her growing need to escape. I really liked how Sheba followed her own intuition and was compassionate even when faced with dark truths.
My only criticism is that at times major reveals or turning points were dropped in rather casually and I found myself flicking back to check I understood correctly as the character didn't have much reaction to a reveal. At one point I felt a little lost because I think we skipped several years and the ending was quite abrupt. That said I loved the setting and atmospheric quality of the story as a whole. I felt like I was in a liminal space with Sheba somewhere between her reality and a more spiritual realm of existence amongst a pride of shapeshifting lions.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating and riveting story, a mix of fantasy/coming of age/magic realism with an African setting and an interesting cast of characters.
World building and character development are excellent, I had some issues with the storytelling as the plot does not always flows, seems to jump at times, and some important events just happen and there's no surprise.
It was a good read and I think there's a lot of potential.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
World building and character development are excellent, I had some issues with the storytelling as the plot does not always flows, seems to jump at times, and some important events just happen and there's no surprise.
It was a good read and I think there's a lot of potential.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine