Who Fears Death by Nnedi OkoraforMy 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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