The four-chapter sampler was definitely enough to catch my interest. I’ve already requested the full book from my library to see if I need to be pre-ordering book 2.


(I don’t post reviewers for samplers on good reads,)

I received a sampler ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest opinion.

I have to say, the worldbuilding is unlike anything I've seen before in such a fascinating way. Personally, it was interesting without dumping a bunch of information at a time, but still gave enough to understand along the way. I didn't feel like there were any gaps or things that were particularly abstract to work my mind around, which helped because the characters themselves are complex themselves.

I absolutely loved the characters. Their emotional development was refreshing as well as how they developed in this environment. I think the added complexity of Enyemaka, the android who takes care of Ify, is especially interesting because of its relationship with Ify. Ify often believes Enyemaka to have feelings or facial expressions when she talks, and I think for a child, it's reminiscent of having a friend who helps sort through learning to understand more abstract ideas of perception. This relationship in particular was very clever and made me really excited to read the finished product.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi is perfect for fans of dystopian books, and Black Panther! It would be super compatible for those who love Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi or A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown!
The paperback version will be released on Amazon on September 8th.

This book is set in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria, in which young girls are fighting for survival in a world torn by war and its aftermath: widespread nuclear fallout.

Based on the excerpt I got to read (up to the end of Chapter 4), this book is set up so uniquely in points of view from multiple characters. Onyii is the eldest of her survivalist community at only 15. She may have to get used to her bionic body, but at least the world is advanced enough for her now to stay alive...for now. Ify, "little one", is the young girl Onyii has taken under her wing. She is BRILLIANT with technology, and might just be the key to bringing their community a better way of life.
I did NOT see that cliff-hanger at the end of my excerpt at Chapter 4 coming!! I am interested to see where the story goes from there on out!

I encourage all to take a look into what is sure to be a unique, and deeply moving, dystopian sci-fi that touches on the important topics of war (paralleled to the Nigerian Civil War in the 1960's), climate change, technology advancement, and equality for all.

Received a sampler of War Girls on behalf of Netgalley. After reading the first four chapters of the book I can say that it has my attention to want to know more about the story. Since I was not provided with the entire book, I will give this book a rating of 3 stars. I do plan to read the entire book and provide an overall rating and review.

This book is a dystopia sci-fi novel based in Africa, and it's centered around the Nigerian and Biafra Civil War of the 60s (a part of history that I'd never heard about, in all honesty). The year is 2172 and the world has been ravaged by climate change catastrophies. Some lucky people have managed to escape Earth in favor of life in space. Others are struggling to survive on the dying planet. We follow two girls, Onyii and Ify, who are sisters, and we see how their relationship with each other develops and changes when Ify is captured by Nigerians after an attack and both sisters end up split on different sides of the war.

As mentioned, the Nigerian-Biafra war is a part of history I was never aware of, and so the education this book gave me was well worth the read. It was a very brutal time for the people of Nigeria and Biafra, and it's something that still affects many people today. The author explained at the end of the book how his mother had grown up during that time, and her experiences influenced his writing in this book. He also mentioned how he took inspiration from other wars in Africa's history, especially recent ones in the early 2000s, and included the use of child soldiers and slaves in his story to really highlight how horrific those wars were.

As much as I enjoyed this story, there are elements in it that left me underwhelmed. The sci-fi elements weren't really explained. They have synths, mechs, all this different technology, and I struggled to find the context as to why these things now exist in this world. Yeah, okay, it's set in the future, but I would have liked a little backstory into that. For that reason, those elements felt rather misplaced in this story.

The first half of the book was great. Fast paced. Captivating. But it kind of fell apart by the end. The plot isn't simple, lots of things going on, but sometimes I found it was rather repetitive and meandered about too much to keep me hooked. I became disengaged in the middle, and that's a shame. I didn't feel as emotionally invested in the story or as emotionally connected to the characters as I would have liked. I really liked the characters of Onyii and Ify - both very strong, female characters and it's refreshing to see a male author write women so honestly and respectfully. It was interesting to see how their relationship developed over time, but it lacked some emotion and I was left underwhelmed by the end.

That's not to say this isn't a good book. The first 100 or so pages are some of the best action scenes I've read in a while. Again, it's educational and I think it's something everyone should read and know about. It has some fun dialogue. And, that cover is to die for! If that's not a fantastic representation of black female power, then I don't know what is.

I must have this book in its entirety immediately. The worldbuilding is absolutely stunning. I need this Nigerian inspired dystopian in my life. Onyebuchi immediately pulls you in with her writing and her unique world. I have to know more. This sampler ended on a cliffhanger, so I'm so curious as to what happens next. 

The characters also immediately pulled me in. I love the relationship between Onyii and Ify, and I can't wait to see how their bond grows. The only slight issue I have is the age of the characters. They were a lot older in my brain, but it doesn't make the book less great. It's a YA book, so I'm not complaining too much. 

This book deserves so much more hype and I will be giving it that hype. READ THIS.

War Girls (SAMPLER)
by Tochi Onyebuchi
What a start, would love to read the whole book. Its an interesting concept of the apocalyptic world. The idea that modern conflicts in Nigeria will lead to racial cleansing that will destroy the ruminates of humanity. very timely book for the current atmosphere of racial equality and equity. The characters are well developed and the idea of technology enhancing and shaping the future are just as interesting.

An incredibly suspenseful teaser. The world seems so full of imagination as well as technology. The two main characters seemed complex and powerful. I'm really excited to read the full book soon.

I loved the originality of the world built by Tochi Onyebuchi and now I can't wait to read the whole book. I felt I connected with the sister characters Of Onyii and Ify who have their own distinct personalities. The pace in the sample was just right, fast enough to keep me glued to the book, but measured enough to allow for the build up of the background and the characters.
Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read a sample of this fascinating book.

This sampler was amazing and I'm definitely adding the book to my immediate TBR because I want to know how this story ends.

ARC sampler provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

While I’ve only read the first 33 pages (provided by NetGalley) I am very excited to go out and buy this book. It is the story of two sisters, set in a Futuristic Black Panther-inspired Nigeria. Onyii and Ify dream of peace and will just about anything to make it happen.
This story jumps straight into the action, which I completely love.

my average rating is a 3, however since I am very excited to read this, I will give it a 4. (rating might change after I have finished and reviewed the full book)
I can’t wait to buy it and leave a full review in a couple of weeks.

From the moment I started this chapter sampler, I felt so connected to the characters. I felt like I've known them all my life. The characters are wonderfully written and so full of life. The Nigerian setting feels so familiar to my own country, South Africa. The technology combined Nigerian culture is so interesting and Onyebuchi seamlessly woven together. I cannot wait to read the rest of this book, and eventually the sequel. I need to know what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for a chance to read a sample!

I'd heard a lot of great buzz about this book, and its striking cover (though why is only one of the two protagonists featured?). Try as I might, though, I just don't connect with YA at this point in my life. Everyone seems so young, Ify especially, and I couldn't invest myself in this army of teenage girls. I have to admit, though, the cutoff point of this sampler was clever.

SO GOOD!!!! Loved the sampler, have already bought the ebook to keep reading it. The characters and the world building have me intrigued and I'm interested to read more about Nigeria with this backdrop.

I got a sample from this book and it left me very curious about it. Definitely getting it as soon as it's out!

I´ve read a SAMPLER of this book and I must say that it looks very intriguing. This scifi world is very interesting. It is action-packed and I want to learn more about the characters. So far they seemed likeable.

I am gonna read the whole thing.

Tochi Onyebuchi does it again! This book seems amazing. With the story of two sisters separated who must fight to get back to each other. I love how beautifully Onyebuchi weaves Nigerian culture into his books. I can't wait to read this book and it's sequel that I recently got the e-ARC for!

the first few chapters of this book really set you up for an action-packed story. two sisters who share a rather unique bond and because of reasons outside of their control they are separated and must reunite. seeing the dynamics of the sisters and their other sisters in the base I hope we can see other bonds in this story also. this sample stops at such a cliffhanger that I can't wait to finish the rest of the book and see the journey continue.

I am definitely interested in picking up this book now! The premise of War Girls is really interesting and it drew me in right away.

I got this ARC in return of a honest review.

This story gave me chills, the characters were well made, and the plot was interesting, this book really got my attention by his cover and also for it's description but it didn't disappoint me until I noticed it was a sampler, but it was great.

Thanks Netgalley