Steeped in Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, the world Deborah Falaye creates is immersive, graphic and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the extensive history and culture that unapologetically showcases the Yoruba language. While there is no avoiding the wealth of information needed to establish this complex world, I love that Deborah takes her time to gradually weave this information into the story. This allows the fast pace of the story to be maintained and presents the details in manageable pieces.
Almost 5-stars
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REDEMPTOR by Jordan Ifueko
Wow. Just wow!
Jordan Ifueko did not play around with this sequel!
“You don’t get to choose why people love you. But what you do with the love you receive . . . that’s a choice you make every day.”
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THE JASMINE THRONE by Tasha Suri
I see you, Tasha Suri! Tasha has written a really amazing high fantasy book and made it look ridiculously easy! In fact, Tasha’s vivid and captivating writing is one of the things I love most about this book. Each detail is brought to life with such clarity that I could not help but be absorbed by the fascinating world and tale that unfolds. There are no mountains of information or excessive details for readers to wade through. Instead, both the world-building and magic system are gently introduced throughout the book in a manner that is not overwhelming or confusing.
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A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Holly Jackson
Truth be told, the premise of a teenager resolving a five-year-old murder did not elicit much excitement from me. I expected ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ to be unrealistic, predictable and chock-full of cliques. However, this book surprised me by smashing its way through my low expectations to a spot as one of my favourite reads this year.
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THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forna
As someone who is utterly shameless about her love for books with pretty covers, I must first mention that this book looks beautiful! The melanin POPPING on the cover plus the gold accents and the green edges have me completely mesmerised. To make things even better, this book proves to be far more than a pretty cover as it delivers great content.
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Simply Esther’s MY SISTER THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite
I must start this review off by congratulating Oyinkan Braithwaite for the immense success she has achieved on her debut novel. Reminiscent of Chimamanda’s ‘Americanah’ in how it made me feel, the telling of black stories that go beyond the typical narrative is always so refreshing especially as an African in diaspora and this novel is no exception. I clearly remember sending my sister a screenshot of the cover and knowing that, I HAD TO READ THIS!
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Just JJ’s MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER by Oyinkan Braithwaite
This book captures the dysfunctional relationship a nurse (Korede) has with her younger sister (Ayoola) who is a serial killer. Now, although this sounds fairly dark and unsettling, Korede’s morbidly funny narrative makes this book surprising entertaining. In fact, the satirical nature of her narrative completely changes the tone of the book from a thriller into an amusing beach read.
THIS IS GOING TO HURT: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
In this painfully funny book, Adam Kay shares tales from his experience training as a junior doctor for the NHS. I laughed, cringed and held back tears; but mainly I laughed. Adam’s writing style is absolutely comical and witty. Even the constant commentaries and explanations in the footnotes were not annoying!