Group Buddy Read (First in a Series) - Son of the Storm (The Nameless Republic #1) by Suyi Davies Okungbowa - Starting June 1, 2022

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, Son of the Storm is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forgotten magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.

"Everything I love in a fantasy novel. Damn good stuff!" —Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings.

In the ancient city of Bassa, Danso is a clever scholar on the cusp of achieving greatness—only he doesn’t want it. Instead, he prefers to chase forbidden stories about what lies outside the city walls. The Bassai elite claim there is nothing of interest. The city’s immigrants are sworn to secrecy.

But when Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets. Drawn into the city’s hidden history, he sets out on a journey beyond its borders. And the chaos left in the wake of his discovery threatens to destroy the empire.

[Ellie, Mod]

Starting today!

[Ellie, Mod]

On Chapter 5 and I'm finally able to get into the story. The beginning is quite difficult in my opinion. There are so many terms and locations that are not explained. It was a very slow start to be able to understand what the heck was going on

[Ellie, Mod]

Honestly not really liking Danso. He is very selfish and doesn't care about what consequences his actions have on others like how (view spoiler)[Zaq gets punished for his mistakes and when Zaq points that out he just whines. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[Esheme has taken over the household in replacement of her maa and she just wrote a letter to Igharo telling him to basically forget her. She is in really deep water as he maa left big shoes for her to fill. I have a feeling she is pregnant since that was hinted so hard in the love making scene. I know that Esheme is in an antagonistic position but I feel like she is a product of her upbringing. I really like her character. If she is pregnant she is going to be in a much bigger problem than she already is. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 30: The character work here is amazing. I love how each of the three (Danso, Lilong, Zaq) are each have their own dreams, struggles, and prejudice. The way they interact is just so well done. I also think Esheme's character is just as well done and complex. But honestly I feel like every character has been well developed even the side characters (Nem, Odoba, DaaHabba)

I found it a little hard to care in the beginning because their characterizations are so rooted in their place in the world and we were still familiarizing ourselves with the world, but it gets more impactful as we go on

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 35 and 36 - I'm getting annoyed at how preachy the writing is becoming. Characters are giving big monologue speeches left and right. It's quite the pet peeve of mine, I like realistic dialogue and this feels like the characters are trading speeches. These are the only two chapters I've noticed that so hopefully it gets better.

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 46- Zaq is so dumb. I don't know why he ever thought that (view spoiler)[turning himself in was a good idea. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 47 - Danso is just as dumb as Zaq

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 59 - Not to sound callous but I feel like (view spoiler)[Zaq's death fell really flat for me. We never got any on page bonding with him and Danso. I don't know. I mean I felt bad for him because he was just at the wrong place wrong time the whole book and all he wanted was to be normal, which made me really sympathize with him but he and Danso never got to talk things out with each other which I was looking forward to (hide spoiler)]

[Ellie, Mod]

Chapter 60!!!!!!!! Soooooo many questions (view spoiler)[If the Ibor bonded to Esheme's baby how come she can control Odoba. And if it is bonded to Esheme's baby is the baby going to die from the effects of using Ibor?? How is Esheme going to hide that she killed all those people and how is Esheme going to hide Odoba lifeless body following her around (hide spoiler)]

[Ellie, Mod]

I truly respect a lot of things about this book including the writing, the magic, the themes, and the world building. But there was really nothing to keep me invested. I did not connect to the characters as much as I hoped. I feel like every time the characters spoke they were giving speeches at each other and the author was beating us over the head with the themes. It was frustrating because I feel that with better dialogue I could have really connected with this.

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Started!

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "On Chapter 5 and I'm finally able to get into the story. The beginning is quite difficult in my opinion. There are so many terms and locations that are not explained. It was a very slow start to be..."


It's a lot of world building in a very short space of time

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "Honestly not really liking Danso. He is very selfish and doesn't care about what consequences his actions have on others like how [spoilers removed]"

I really sympathized with Zaq in this moment. He was trying to do the job he was given even though he used to have a more familiar relationship with Danso

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "Chapter 46- Zaq is so dumb. I don't know why he ever thought that [spoilers removed]"

I am still trying to find the logic in it.

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Eliza wrote: "I truly respect a lot of things about this book including the writing, the magic, the themes, and the world building. But there was really nothing to keep me invested. I did not connect to the char..."

Yh, I was hoping for more. But I will keep going if only to see Esheme's further descent.

[Ellie, Mod]

Dee Dee wrote: "Eliza wrote: "I truly respect a lot of things about this book including the writing, the magic, the themes, and the world building. But there was really nothing to keep me invested. I did not conne..."

Esheme was the most interesting character by far

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Truly. The others did things that didn't make sense to me

[Ellie, Mod]

Dee Dee wrote: "Truly. The others did things that didn't make sense to me"

I agree. Like Lilong (view spoiler)[when she started to tell Danso all her secrets even though she would be executed if her people ever found out. Or when Danso trusted Lilong after the Speaker died even though all evidence was against Lilong. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee, Head Nuisance in Charge]

Exactly those instances!! They don't fit with who were told the characters were supposed to be.