Review: Akata Warrior

Akata Warrior Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I was fortunate to receive an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

It's no secret that Nnedi Okorafor has become one of my favorite authors over the past couple of years. The richly envisioned world that she has built in stories like Binti and Akata Witch leave me enthralled in a way few authors of fantasy can and have done. I was so excited to receive an ARC of Akata Warrior. I read Akata Witch after I discovered Binti and was sad that there had been no follow-up, since Akata Witch was written in 2011. Well, Reader, I am happy to tell you that not only do we have a 475+ page sequel here in Akata Warrior, it is abundantly clear that further riches lie ahead because Sunny and Chichi have some serious promises to keep by the end of this one.

The start of Akata Warrior, after a rather stern warning from the Obi Library Collective of Leopard Knocks Department of Responsibility, to Lambs like you and me, finds Sunny Nwazue a little older, a little wiser and more adept in using her magical abilities. But don't worry. It's going to take all of about half an hour for everything to go totally haywire. Sunny is just not destined for a quiet life. In the course of learning Nsibidi, the Nimm heritage language of her grandmother, studying with her mentor Sugar Cream and teacher Anatov, she continues to learn more about her spirit face, Anyanwu and their connection. And then all the trouble begins, from her brother Chukwu's misfortune to meeting the fearsome Udide (and entity whose book we learned about in the first Akata novel) in order to fulfill a challenging task laid out for her in a Nsibidi postcard to the future left to her by her long dead (and murdered) grandmother. Along the way we will see frightening masquerades, more of the lovingly devoted wasp artist Della, meet a charming giant flying grasscutter (a magical giant version of the greater cane rat, you bet I looked it up and they are smaller than capybaras but no less cute if you like big rodents) named Grashcoatah, and see the Oha coven draw closer in friendship, and the sibling bonds between Sunny, Chukwu and Ugonna draw closer, as well. Most poignantly, the relationship between Sunny and Anyanwu is tested, or at least Sunny feels that it is tested. But this albino girl who can live in two worlds at once is strong enough to overcome many things, even if sometimes it's because she gets some help in doing so.

This book is filled with magic, camaraderie, humor, and whimsy. Quite a delight. I'm still chuckling over Sasha, upon their arrival in the giant magical city of Osisi, asking whether people "pay rent and have mortgages here."


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