She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore

She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The settling of a new nation by free blacks, the illegal slave trade, and humans with supernatural gifts, all converge to form this fictional account of Liberia's founding during the early 1830s. Wayetu Moore's multifaceted story centers around 3 young adults who are each "gifted" with extraordinary abilities. Though from different places in the African diaspora, their destinies converge on the West African coast where they discover a plan to enslave Africans well after the international slave trade has been outlawed.

My favorite part of this book is how the author seamlessly weaves together the various strands of this story. Although the main setting is Liberia, some of the background stories take place in Jamaica and the United States. As a reader, I was not distracted by the movement from one setting to the other as I read the book. I also liked how Moore situated her main characters in fascinating individual stories; and how each of those stories helped to make the primary plot that much more interesting!

I am giving this book 4 stars. This story will definitely draw you in.


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Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I never thought I'd like Afro science fiction (or Afrofuturism), but boy was I wrong!!! Nnedi Okorafor's novel titled, Who Fears Death, is superb. The setting is a dystopian-future Sudan. The main character, Onyesonwu, is a child of rape perpetrated by an evil sorcerer. Onyesonwu's quest becomes to kill her biological father and to rewrite the "Great Book" which is the cause of turmoil among the region's people. The cast of characters who aid her on this quest (including camels) help to flesh out the story by revealing parts of the main characters personality, motives, strengths and weaknesses. Among themes explored in this work are gender, race, and religion.

My favorite part of this book is the author's portrayal of the intense love between Onyesonwu and her soulmate, Mwita. This serves to humanize an otherwise mystical character. It allows the reader to relate to her and to more easily imagine the sacrifices she must make to complete her quest.

My rating for this book is 5 out of 5 stars. The author's power of description are remarkable -- especially because she successfully describes occurrences and feelings that are completely fictional.
If you're looking for a read that is out-of-this-world, try this one.


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