Who Fears Death in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jan 21, 2019 Marta rated it really liked it

Shelves: race, poc-author, female-author, fantasy, library, feminism, region-africa

This is a tough book; it is a coming of age story, but its main themes are genocide, weaponized rape, genital mutilation, systemic abuse and oppression of women. This heavy dose of reality is interwoven with stories of friendship, love, family, growing up and learning; and blended with the mysticism and spirit world of West Africa. The book takes place both in the deserts of Africa and the magical world of powerful sorcerers and wise women.

Onyesonwu is Ewu, a child of rape; forever marked as an This is a tough book; it is a coming of age story, but its main themes are genocide, weaponized rape, genital mutilation, systemic abuse and oppression of women. This heavy dose of reality is interwoven with stories of friendship, love, family, growing up and learning; and blended with the mysticism and spirit world of West Africa. The book takes place both in the deserts of Africa and the magical world of powerful sorcerers and wise women.

Onyesonwu is Ewu, a child of rape; forever marked as an outcast by her lighter color of skin and different facial features. The raped women, if they survive, are rejected by their husbands and family; forever outcasts, hated everywhere they go. Onyesonwu however is not only Ewu: she has powerful talent passed onto her by her rapist father, and also from her mother. She is the chosen one, who must end the genocide, the hate between Nuru and Okeke, and the oppression of women - but she must pay a high price that she knows from the beginning.

Okorafor’s writing is action and dialog-driven, rapidfire. She does not dwell on long descriptions, instead shows people in action. It is easy to read, and a page-turner, despite the heavy topics. We see quite a bit of young-adult oriented problems between friends; a lot of the book is wandering in the desert, or telling stories inspired by West African mythology.

I have finished the book a week ago, but had trouble formulating coherent impressions - possibly because the book is a unique mix of tough reality, fantasy, and young adult, in an African setting. “Enjoyed” it is not the right word - so much hate and anger is wrapped up in it - but it is captivating and highly original. I have only slight criticisms: I feel that Nnedi Okorafor has a tendency to undo undoable things; that her climactic events are over too quickly; and that the ending is ambiguous in a way that does not fit with the rest of the book. But those are minor problems; overall this is a good read and I recommend it to anyone but those who are put off by graphic depictions of rape. ...more

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Aug 12, 2021 Jen K rated it liked it

In the future in a place that was once called Sudan, there are two groups of people, the Nuru and the Okeke. The Okeke are destined to be slaves to the Nuru but even that is not enough and a General is carrying out a plan to exterminate all Okeke through genocide. As part of the plan, the General uses juju (magic) to give his soldiers stamina to rape and impregnate all Okeke women resulting in their isolation as the Okeke community shuns the women and their mixed babies. One such baby, now young ...more

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Mar 16, 2021 Charlotte Burt marked it as abandoned-did-not-finish · review of another edition

Well written with engaging characters but I got to the chapter about female circumcision and I just couldn't go on. ...more

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Nov 02, 2017 Amber rated it liked it

Mixed feelings.

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Jun 23, 2020 Dixie rated it really liked it

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, read-the-world

3-1/2 stars. It was imaginative and interesting, but imo not quite up to the level of the Akata Witch books, while having a great deal in common with them.

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Apr 25, 2014 Brooke rated it really liked it

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Dec 11, 2014 Karen Witzler marked it as interested-in

Shelves: africa, fantasy-folk-fairy

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Jan 08, 2015 Cait rated it really liked it

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Apr 29, 2015 Erica marked it as to-read

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Jul 29, 2015 Joy marked it as tbr-kindle · review of another edition

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Jan 20, 2016 Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction marked it as to-read

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Jan 16, 2018 Lindsy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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Sep 18, 2018 Kristin marked it as to-read

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Mar 03, 2019 Hitzuji rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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Feb 05, 2019 Steven McCreary marked it as to-read

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Mar 09, 2019 Laura is currently reading it · review of another edition

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Oct 02, 2019 Theresa Wright marked it as to-read

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Jan 01, 2020 Lexi V. marked it as to-read

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Oct 07, 2023 Anna rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, fantasy, action-adventure, dystopian-fiction, family-drama, coming-of-age, adult-fiction, fiction, poc-author, women-authors

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