A review by jstilts
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Deja-vu to my last book review - this is another book that starts off 5 star rating as we see the fascinating world of the book through the eyes of a child, but when they hit adulthood the remaining two thirds of the book becomes tedious and dull.

This post-apocalyptic fantasy of hardship and magic is brilliant as we follow Onyesonwu growing up as an outcast trying to fit in to her adopted town, even volunteering to undergo a coming-of-age genital mutilation ceremony in a bid to bring less shame on her family (a tough read that chapter, but interestingly her family does NOT appreciate the gesture) and makes lifelong bonds through the shared horror of this experience. In time she also begins to exhibit amazing powers that scare and impress her, but finds a friend and - eventually, after much hardship - a mentor.

Unfortunately the book, brilliant until now, soon gives Onyesonwu a quest that sees her traverse the desert for chapter after chapter after chapter, doubting herself over and over. The end of the quest - and the book - was not worth the journey for me, but those early chapters are powerful.
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