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sunflower_fantasy's reviews
46 reviews
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma
3.25
Where do I begin with The Fishermen without giving any spoilers? Put simply, it's a good book, but unfortunately I liked it less the more I read. I preferred the first half to the latter, as it's where I fell in love with the brothers' relationships. I also loved the way Obioma used time and appreciated the role that language had to play (Igbo, Yoruba & English), but sadly the things I loved most weren't written into the second half. I'II explain... Set in Akure, Nigeria, in the 1990s, The Fishermen Is told from the perspective of Beniamin who recalls memories of a series of events from when he was 9 years old (when most of the story is set) & younger. When their Father moves away for work, Benjamin and his three older brothers - Obembe 11, Boja 14, and Ikenna 15 - sneak out to fish in a local river that is forbidden. One day they encounter the "madman" Abulu who has a prophecy that Ikenna will be killed by one of his brothers. This changes their whole reality. The book spans themes of brotherhood, fate, choice & inevitability, and revenge. It also weaves Nigerian politics, superstition and religion throughout.
Although the first half of the book jumps through vignettes and telling the story in a non-linear narrative, I think Obioma misses an opportunity to play with memory. The reliability of memory; misremembering and unremembering. I also have an issue with the way women characters were written.
TW: **There were some scenes that are uncomfortable/ unsettling / triggering to read
(TW: sexual violence, necrophilia, mental health)
Although the first half of the book jumps through vignettes and telling the story in a non-linear narrative, I think Obioma misses an opportunity to play with memory. The reliability of memory; misremembering and unremembering. I also have an issue with the way women characters were written.
TW: **There were some scenes that are uncomfortable/ unsettling / triggering to read
(TW: sexual violence, necrophilia, mental health)
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
emotional
reflective
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Enjoyed this book and the ways it explores the afterlives of colonialism, indigenous belonging, and island life.
Pros: Loved the way she explored the land and history of the Caribbean. The writing style was very enjoyable too. It was like a song.
Cons: Love story was a bit too sex heavy, in a way that it became an indicator for love. I didn’t enjoy this, especially as “youth” and virginity felt like indicators of love. I also didn’t appreciate the treatment of Black women in the book.
Pros: Loved the way she explored the land and history of the Caribbean. The writing style was very enjoyable too. It was like a song.
Cons: Love story was a bit too sex heavy, in a way that it became an indicator for love. I didn’t enjoy this, especially as “youth” and virginity felt like indicators of love. I also didn’t appreciate the treatment of Black women in the book.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. The blend of historical fiction with fantasy, legend & folklore was captivating. The characters were interesting and surprising. The love story was gentle and heartbreaking. A wonderful read.
Pros: unconventional love, tapestry of Mexico, challenged family dynamics, strong protagonist
Cons: none
Pros: unconventional love, tapestry of Mexico, challenged family dynamics, strong protagonist
Cons: none
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
5.0
This book has stolen my heart.
An epic adventure, worthy of all the time poured into reading it. It has everything I would want in an epic fantasy novel, from traumatising battles to complex love stories, from stunning landscapes to magnificent kingdoms, and from a strong-willed protagonist, to a genuinely scary antagonist. The story is crafted so delicately beautiful, with such charm and love, it was hard not to fall in love too. It was always exciting.
I don’t want to reveal too much as I hope I re-read this one day and get swept up in its enchanting world again and again.
An epic adventure, worthy of all the time poured into reading it. It has everything I would want in an epic fantasy novel, from traumatising battles to complex love stories, from stunning landscapes to magnificent kingdoms, and from a strong-willed protagonist, to a genuinely scary antagonist. The story is crafted so delicately beautiful, with such charm and love, it was hard not to fall in love too. It was always exciting.
I don’t want to reveal too much as I hope I re-read this one day and get swept up in its enchanting world again and again.
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
5.0
I couldn’t put this Jamaican fantasy novel down!
Brown Girl in the Ring tells the story of Ti-Jeanne, a new mother who must learn how to welcome and lean into her ancestral Caribbean abilities while living in dystopian Toronto. It was an unexpected story that manages to pack a rich narrative into less than 250 pages. Every moment of it felt intentional, beautifully showcasing Hopkinson’s masterful storytelling.
Some quick notes of the things I loved:
• This was written for Caribbean people. We are the intended audience. The patois is beautiful.
• The characters aren’t without their flaws, which makes me drawn to them even more.
• The villain is genuinely terrifying and times, I genuinely felt scared reading it. I couldn’t sleep, nor could I imagine how some of the plot lines would be resolved.
• It shows the complexities in families, desire, and memory.
• The Caribbean/African folklore was outstanding! The imagery visceral and the sounds captivating.
• It’s a story that celebrates women and matriarchal families, but also explores the harm that men inflict upon women as well as generational trauma.
• There’s fully fledged character development that doesn’t feel rushed, nor does it leave me feeling confused.
This will go down as one of my faves and I can’t believe it was on my shelf for so long before I picked it up!
Brown Girl in the Ring tells the story of Ti-Jeanne, a new mother who must learn how to welcome and lean into her ancestral Caribbean abilities while living in dystopian Toronto. It was an unexpected story that manages to pack a rich narrative into less than 250 pages. Every moment of it felt intentional, beautifully showcasing Hopkinson’s masterful storytelling.
Some quick notes of the things I loved:
• This was written for Caribbean people. We are the intended audience. The patois is beautiful.
• The characters aren’t without their flaws, which makes me drawn to them even more.
• The villain is genuinely terrifying and times, I genuinely felt scared reading it. I couldn’t sleep, nor could I imagine how some of the plot lines would be resolved.
• It shows the complexities in families, desire, and memory.
• The Caribbean/African folklore was outstanding! The imagery visceral and the sounds captivating.
• It’s a story that celebrates women and matriarchal families, but also explores the harm that men inflict upon women as well as generational trauma.
• There’s fully fledged character development that doesn’t feel rushed, nor does it leave me feeling confused.
This will go down as one of my faves and I can’t believe it was on my shelf for so long before I picked it up!
Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo
2.0
Rounded down from 2.5.
“Unmasking what you need in order to discover your divine purpose will always be overwhelming.”
Daughters of Nri tells a story of fate, belonging, & destiny. It’s a plot driven narrative that follows the separate lives of twins Naala & Sinai and pieces together how they find one another. It’s a conclusive book, with only a few loose strings at the end.
Pros: twin trope, Igbo/Yoruba languages woven through
Cons: lack of character development & personalisation, inconsistencies with characters, SA as a clumsy character arch
“Unmasking what you need in order to discover your divine purpose will always be overwhelming.”
Daughters of Nri tells a story of fate, belonging, & destiny. It’s a plot driven narrative that follows the separate lives of twins Naala & Sinai and pieces together how they find one another. It’s a conclusive book, with only a few loose strings at the end.
Pros: twin trope, Igbo/Yoruba languages woven through
Cons: lack of character development & personalisation, inconsistencies with characters, SA as a clumsy character arch
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
4.0
Glad to finally finish this series. While not as amazing as the first book, it’s definitely better than the second. The world was fleshed out, the ending felt satisfying, and it made me want to go back and read it all again with a deeper insight.
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
5.0
Redemptor is the stunning finale to Ifueko’s duology. It really did all it needed to do to redeem all of my concerns about the previous book (see what I did there). It had political intrigue, horror, twisted fate, and gorgeous descriptions. The worldbuilding is immaculate. Definitely going down as one of my favourites.