husnaibrahim_'s Reviews (393)

This book was such a ride! I genuinely love African literature because they are always just so impactful! From the very beginning, I was hooked by Nena’s story; her trauma, her strength, and the way she slowly begins to take her power back. I love a main character who doesn’t just survive but rises, and Nena gave me just that and more.

Ofori’s betrayal was a bit expected if I’m being honest. You could see right from start that he was the weakest link of the brothers and he really proved it lol. Even knowing and expecting that, it was still so painful seeing him choose self-preservation over her when the others were ready, without hesitation, to gave their lives for her. Plus that whole Adam and Eve metaphor? Definitely a bit odd, I’m not going to lie. But it still doesn’t even begin to describe the emotional weight of what Nena went through or how far she’s come.

Even while knowing and recognizing that, the thing that still frustrated me, though, was her initial silence; like, why not just tell your dad or sister the truth about Smith? Why go the long way around them with with the lawyer? I’m glad she eventually told her sister, but the delay had me side-eyeing her choices. And speaking of her sister… whew. Aileen. Honestly, that girl was so so insufferable at times. From gaslighting Nena to making jokes when things were actually  really serious, and then constantly underestimating everything Nena had been through. Her lack of empathy was shocking; because she herself is African, and tbh there were multiple times I honestly wished the book would just write her out already!

On the flip side, the way Nena handled Mouiseur? 10/10 fr. I was cheering for her all through because imagine doing that to a vulnerable human - a child at that. And tbh, I lowkey loved that Lucian turned out to be Paul because I was kind of hoping Oliver would be his son too; just to add that little extra twist to the whole thing. What didn’t work for me was Nena revealing herself to Paul before doing more digging. Like, come on girl, you are supposed to be a professional! You’ve been smart this whole time, and it’s now you decide to be reckless?!

Still, the relationship between her and Court was a bit sweet. Maybe a little too fast for me, but the tension was so well done, that I was actually rooting for them by the third meeting. Plus  I loved the way he respected her boundaries. When he gave her that hug? So adorable! And I really loved his decision at the end to let her go because it was so mature and fitting. I mean he’s a lawyer; and she’s an assassin, it was bound to get complicated.

Plus I think she needed that push to get out of her shell because the ending with her going back to Ghana felt perfect. A full-circle moment. I even didn’t mind the magical realism woven in because it tied in beautifully with the cultural backdrop, the west African bits, of the book. One thing I hated about the ending tho was Aileen’s pregnancy. I honestly do not think it was needed but if it gives Nena a new purpose or helps her heal in some way, I guess I’ll have to accept it.

All in all, I think this book had some flaws, it wasn’t a perfect read. It did however give me everything I wanted in a revenge story led by an oppressed African girl child turned strong woman reclaiming her power. I was invested from start to finish and that’s all I’m always looking for. 

So, I finally got around to this book, and let’s just say my feelings about it are all over the place. The thing is, I liked this book but I’m not sure I liked it well enough to actually say I  enjoyed it. 

Honestly, there’s a lot happening in this book, maybe even too much. It’s like a whirlwind of characters, factions, and wars right from the get-go. And I have to say, it’s a bit overwhelming. Like, couldn’t we have eased into it a bit more?

I didn’t particularly like how we didn’t really get an introduction or an insight to what was really going on. Instead, the book  opened up to a full blown war with Taifa leading the charge, and it’s a struggle to keep up.  

I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are some interesting moments in there. Taifa’s journey, for one, is pretty captivating. And then there was Champion Tsiory and the rage. From nobody to frontline warrior, his evolution is intense and emotional, adding some depth to the chaos.

But man, I wish there was more of a gradual introduction to the world and its characters. Jumping in blind made it tough to really get a grip on what was going on. It took me a good few chapters to start piecing things together, and by then, I was already feeling a bit lost.

Maybe just maybe, if I had read this book before the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I would have enjoyed the latter a bit more.

I loved a lot of things about this book. Starting with Eve Benedict herself! She was a standout character, flawed yet utterly captivating. The imperfections in the narrative made it all the more compelling. It was just such a perfectly imperfect book. I didn’t really clock it from start -what was going to happen to eve- so I was really shocked and completely unprepared when it happened. Particularly with Eve’s fate and Julia’s involvement but I have to say I loved the way it went down!

Julia’s reaction felt authentic, and I love how everything became way too complicated. How traverse and Nina were brought into the mix caught me off guard, but in the best possible way? I honestly never saw it coming and I’m glad. 

I also like that this book gives you a little glimpse into the mundane and chaotic aspects of celebrity life. Because what do you mean sporting events were manipulated by death and that the people’s celebrity princess was also a home wrecker?! Overall, I think the complexities surrounding Eve’s status added so much depth to the narrative, making it such an engaging read.

I’m sorry, but a lot about this book was way too obvious to me.

Maybe it’s because I’m currently in the present, and I am reading about the future, but right from the start, right from the jump, I kept saying, “Bart was definitely killed through the holo game.” It was just glaringly obvious to me that no one broke into the apartment, no one tampered with the droid, and still, he was alone. I kept thinking, “why can’t Eve see this? It’s definitely the holo!” And the way everyone was so hesitant and surprised that it was the Holo? Come on, they were way more advanced than we currently are; because obviously, it’s the future. So why are you so surprised? It was a bit frustrating, to be honest.

Then there’s Benny. It was like he was laying it on way too thick, you know? Crying, weeping, professing his love for her—it all seemed a bit much. So imagine my surprise when it didn’t turn out to be him! I would have seen it coming if I didn’t feel he totally didn’t care much about what happened to Bart. I kept thinking, “He’s being too nonchalant and this is too much. He’s definitely the killer.” But then again, it could have also been the other guy since he wasn’t part of the group from the start. I mean, he didn’t grow up with them, and he also seemed a bit distant, so it probably is him. But then I was like, “Then it will be too obvious if it’s him because he’s the newcomer in the group.”

So I was thinking the best option Nora would’ve gone with is Benny. And I’m glad it didn’t go that way because I love it when I’m always proved wrong in crime thrillers!

And can we talk about Eve’s humor? I love it when she’s hilarious about murder. All the head jokes -seeing as Bart was literally decapitated! It was nice to move away from the trauma ones for a change.

This was such a gem of a read! It brought back memories of another book I enjoyed called "Unbury Our Dead with Song." 

I stumbled upon this book thanks to a friend's recommendation, and it really struck a chord with me. I think following the book while listening to the playlist and the audiobook was a bit of a challenge, but it added so much depth to the experience. There were times when I had to pause because it just hit me hard!  Overall, I think I'd give this book a solid 10.

Plus, I guess I guess I have to admit, I'm not quite sure I can put into words how I really feel about this book just yet. It's something I need a bit more time with to properly express my thoughts and feelings about how beautiful experiencing this book was.

I had such a great time listening to this! It's surprising that I've never tried any books by this author before, but now I'm definitely going to explore more of her work.

It's kind of crazy, but I actually finished this in under four hours during my transit. I'll definitely be listening to it again.