I very much appreciate being gifted this copy of Shadow Speaker, and the opportunity to read & review it. Thanks to the publisher. Nnedi Okorafor is an amazing writer & storyteller, and I truly enjoyed this book.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I usually love Okorafor's work so I was extremely surprised at how hard it was to finish this duology.  I got both books from the publisher back in 2023.  I managed to read and enjoy about half of Shadow Speaker before I stalled.  I tried multiple times to finish part one and just couldn't get back into the story.  That brings us to 2025.  I decided to get copies of the audiobooks and try again.  Dele Ogundiran's narration was excellent and helped me finish the series but I ended up being lukewarm about the duology after completing it.

Part One deals with Ejii Ugabe whose father is killed when she is 9 due to his backward politics.  He wants the world to harken to "traditional" values where men dominate and women are second-class citizens and magic of all types is forbidden.  The problem is that the Great Change brought magic into the world and magic doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  Later Ejii is 15 and has developed shadow speaker abilities.  Ejii goes on an adventure to figure out her powers and gets drawn into helping avert war.

Part Two deals with Dikéogu Obidimkpa.  He and Ejii became friends in part one.  Several years have passed and Dikéogu has to deal with his rainmaker powers.  The first section of the book explains the his history of the past several years.  The current problem is that the former slave seems to be losing his mind.  The temporary peace is about to end and magic users are being slaughtered.  Dikéogu decides to fight back.

One of the major problems I had with this duology was connecting to the characters.  I often liked them but more often had a hard time sympathizing with them.  Both Ejii and Dikéogu can be extremely violent and hurt a lot of people.  I get when it is self-defense but lots of times, the two of them just lose control.  There did not seem to be enough self-awareness psychologically.  Of course they were just struggling to survive.  I also thought the romantic relationship between Ejii and Dikéogu was awful.  I wish they just would have stayed best friends.

Perhaps some of this comes down to world building in general.  Niger in 2074 is not very nice.  There are tribal disputes, gender disparages, prejudice about magic users, child slavery, and immense poverty.  These elements have also existed as long as humans have but reading about them in this duology set far into the future was unsettling.  Also the magic did not make sense a lot of the time.  Meditation seemed to be important but a lot of it seemed intuitive with no real rules.  This magic exists in other Okorafor books but only bothered me in this one.  Then there were the interconnected universes.  I am still unclear about how they worked or really related to each other.

I did like some aspects of these books.  I loved the personalities of the camels and the bird friends.  I liked the developments between Dikéogu and Arif.  I really appreciated Ajii's mother.  I liked Dikéogu's brief happy relationship though I was sad it ended for the plot romance with Ajii.  I appreciated Dikéogu getting to fight the slavers and save children.  I always appreciate strong willed women in Okorafor's stories.

Unfortunately I felt underwhelmed and ultimately confused at the conclusion of the duology.  I am glad to have finally completed it though.  Arrrr!

3.5 rounded up

I'm not sure why, but as a lifelong Okorafor fan, I've been noticing some fatigue with her storytelling. It's all starting to feel the same, the quests that her characters have to take and honestly they're all starting to meld together in my mind. A bit disappointing.

I honestly think that Nnedi Okorafor can write anything. Every piece of hers that I've read has just blown me away. I first read Binti a few years ago and I still think about it. I think that this duology will stick with me the same way. The worlds that she creates are so rich in detail that I feel like I could take a step and be there. I can't wait to keep reading her books for a long, long time.

In her latest offering, *Shadow Speaker*, Nnedi Okorafor invites readers into a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world of West Africa, where magic and science intertwine in an imaginative exploration of survival, identity, and community. The novel centers around Ejii, a teenage girl who discovers her abilities as a Shadow Speaker—someone capable of communicating with shadows—and embarks on an adventure alongside the fierce Queen Jaa and a motley crew that includes magical beings and talking animals. With its rich world-building and diverse characters, the novel presents a tapestry of themes that resonate deeply within contemporary fantasy, though it also reveals a few cracks in its construction.

Okorafor’s strength lies in her ability to create compelling characters. Ejii is a relatable protagonist, grappling with her newfound powers and the weight of expectations thrust upon her. Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is both nuanced and endearing, reflecting the often tumultuous path of adolescence. The presence of Queen Jaa, a non-traditional leader with a complex family dynamic, adds depth to the narrative and serves as a powerful role model for Ejii. Their relationship is a highlight of the book, showcasing themes of mentorship and empowerment in a world rife with danger and uncertainty.

However, while the characters shine, the novel's prose occasionally stumbles. Some readers that I know thought that the writing lacked the sophistication required to carry the weight of its ambitious story. This dissonance can be jarring, detracting from the otherwise engaging plot. Additionally, the magic system—while intriguing—sometimes feels overly convenient, undermining the stakes of the narrative. Magic in *Shadow Speaker* is powerful to the point of being almost omnipresent, leading to a lack of tension in critical moments.

The world-building in *Shadow Speaker* is one of its most fascinating aspects. Set in a future Sahara, the landscape is imbued with a blend of juju (the African term for magic) and science, resulting in a unique post-apocalyptic setting that diverges from Western tropes. Okorafor’s vision is rich with cultural references and magical realism, presenting a world where ancient beliefs and contemporary issues coexist. However, some readers may find the world-building to be a bit scattered, lacking the cohesive structure that often characterizes high fantasy. The feeling of “anything goes” can lead to disjointed moments that distract from the narrative flow.

Critically, the book does confront certain problematic elements. Notably, the portrayal of the villain, characterized by his fatness, perpetuates harmful stereotypes. This aspect, along with instances of potential fatphobia and transphobia, highlights a need for greater sensitivity in character construction. While the intention may not have been to promote these ideas, their presence is unsettling, especially in a work that otherwise champions diversity and complexity.

Despite these critiques, *Shadow Speaker* delivers moments of genuine joy and excitement. Readers have praised the strong female representation, with Ejii navigating her relationships with mentors and peers in a refreshing manner that avoids the common pitfalls of romance tropes. The absence of a typical love triangle in favor of friendship and camaraderie is a significant triumph, allowing the story to focus on personal growth and adventure instead.

The re-issue of *Shadow Speaker* comes at an exciting time, with the anticipation of a sequel, *Like Thunder*. This continuation promises to delve deeper into the universe Okorafor has created, and many readers express hope that the narrative will evolve alongside its characters.

In conclusion, *Shadow Speaker* is a captivating read that showcases Nnedi Okorafor’s imaginative storytelling and ability to weave complex themes into a fantasy narrative. While it may not fully realize its potential due to uneven prose and some problematic elements, the book's vibrant characters and unique world-building make it a worthy addition to the fantasy genre. For fans of speculative fiction looking for fresh perspectives and rich cultural backgrounds, *Shadow Speaker* is an adventure worth embarking on, despite its imperfections.

I truly enjoyed the futuristic African setting along with the combination of culture with sci-fi/fantasy! That is honestly what originally drew me in and it’s definitely what made me stay. I really enjoyed diving into this world and I’m excited to read the next book!

This is a reprint of an earlier novel and it shows. It lacks much of the character and world development that I have come to love in Okorafor's stories. It is a standard Chosen One story line with wonderful world detail that never quite seems to make entire sense on what is going on and this is especially true for the ending. The fat shaming for the antagonist is painful to read and feels very outdated. As this is a re-editing and re-publishing, I was surprised this had not been removed or updated. This got published as far as I understand because of the sequel being written which required this one to be back out. As that is a new one, I will likely read it as I enjoyed most of Okorafor's work that I have read. If you are new to Okorafor as an author, I would not start here. I will update this review when I get around to the sequel to see if it makes it worth reading this one.

It took me exactly two lines to fall in love with this book and by that time I hadn't even reached the prologue! The opening chapter is the Desert Magician talking to us, the readers, and his voice is an utter delight! I was almost a bit sad that the rest of the book is a third person narration because, man, would I listen to stories upon stories told by that mysterious, mercurial voice that begins this book.

In a way I consider pretty perfect for a YA novel, we are introduced to our protagonist Ejii, a Shadow Speaker with quite the past for a 15-year-old. First, there is the world's past, the big Change that happened after humanity tried to bomb itself to pieces, instead getting hit by something called Peace Bombs. I'll let you discover the details yourself, but these Peace Bombs were the beginning, or the catalyst, for changes that happened not only to landscapes (the Sahara is quite green in places), but also to people. We've encounterd Windsingers in Okorafor's work before, Ejii herself is a Shadow Speaker, and there are various other people with abilities that we in our world would consider magical. It's a great setting and I can't wait to discover even more of that world.

But Ejii herself also has an impactful past, what with her father having been killed after taking over command of their home, enforcing strict laws that especially restrict women's lives. The burqa/hijab was the smallest price to pay for his rule. By the time the novel opens, something resembling equality has been restored for a while and Ejii gets to study alongside the boys her age and, more importantly, alongside the other Shadow Speakers.
But when the Shadows finally start talking to her in a comprehensible way and tell her to leave town alongside their ruler Jaa, Ejii needs to make some difficult decisions.

What follows is a trip through the desert with a trusted (and talkative!) camel called Onion, where Ejii meets friends and foes, as well as the Desert Magician that gives the duology its name. But the world is much bigger than Niger, even bigger than the Sahara, because there have always been rumors that there are other worlds, adjacent to ours, where strange creatures and people live. Jaa is on her way to just one such world to negociate peace and keep the Earth from being destroyed by the other worlds' superior technology. Ejii is supposed to join this mission and help keep everyone she knows and loves alive. You know, just regular teenage stuff...

I already mentioned how much I loved the world building, now let me gush about the characters for a second. Ejii is a great protagonist, not only because she is easy to root for, but especially because she isn't perfect and doesn't always think before she acts. In fact, she does a whole lot of acting/speaking before her brain can catch up. But she has a good heart and that is just one reason why the boy she meets on her journey, Dikéogu, decides to stick with her, despite plans to the contrary. I'm not sure how much of a romantic sub-plot was intended, but it's very, very subtle, if it turns into a romance at all. I appreciated these two for their interactions and how they slowly learn to trust each other, confide in each other, and turn into friends.

Jaa, this larger-than-life character who is actually smaller than most people around her, was not my favorite character, but she definitely was the most interesting! She and her two husbands travel together, she has this charisma, she has this certainty of what she needs to do. She is the one who killed Ejii's father, all those years ago, and didn't even flinch. For fear of spoilers, I won't say much more about Jaa, only that I found her to be super intriguing and I appreciate complicated women showing up in YA books.

A couple of things did not work so well for me, and the most important one is pacing. While the book starts out at a great and mostly even pace, with quieter moments and action-packed scenes balancing out, once Ejii reaches Ginen, it feels like everything happens all at once. A ton of characters are introduced at breakneck speed, there's a whole world to set up, with its own politics and creatures and tech, then there are several more worlds that we need to learn about in order for the negotiations to make sense. It all felt a bit too much for me and I couldn't really get to know any of the characters I would have liked to. This detracted from the impact certain events might have had and which I can no further describe, because spoilers.

The book ends in a way that lets you close its pages with satisfaction, while still looking forward to the sequel and the tale's conclusion. I appreciate when authors manage to tell a story without cliffhangers. The second part is already out, however, so I will not wait long to pick it up and see what Like Thunder is about. The cover gives a big fat clue and I am here for it. :)

MY RATING: 6.5/10 - Very good

The story was engaging. I love a good journey, odyssey story. This is the journey of Ejii, a 15-year old shadow speaker set in Niger in the year 2074. It was interesting but not the best sci-fi work I’ve read. I love the African and Muslim elements. This something we rarely come across in science fiction books.

Thank you Netgalley and Daw books for the copy.

Nnedi Okorafor once again delivers a fascinating tale about change, heritage, culture, and what it means to embrace those ideas while remaining true to yourself.

The book has African mysticism, a post-apocalyptic world where anything is possible depending on the gifts you have, and really excellent characters. There is a true sense of wonder running throughout this book, as the protagonist and her friend discover their places in the world, and find ways to stand up for themselves and their people.

So, this is a reprint of one of Ms. Okorafor's earlier novels, and unfortunately, that fact is a bit obvious. The characters, while interesting, don't entirely gel together, and there's a lot of hand waving as to what's going on and why, and what the ultimate goal of everything is here. It's definitely interesting to have read the earlier part of Ms. Okorafor's works.

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this DRC before the archive date. However, I was able to recommend it for the bookstore, as we carry many of her other works.

Nnedi Okorafor does it again! Okorafor is a master of writing amazing characters and being able to masterfully interrogate the harm society causes. An amazing dystopia from an amazing author!

This book is a great introduction to Afrofuturism. We're in 2074, following a great "Change" that shook up Earth to the extent that portals to other worlds have opened, some people born at the time of the Change have developed unusual and super powers, and Africa has advanced to seize its own destiny. Into this we introduce a common, but still powerful, trope. Namely, the spunky girl with a special power who must travel the Earth to meet her destiny. Along the way she has adventures, overcomes obstacles, finds friends and foes, and comes face to face with difficult choices. It all works because our heroine, Ejii, is smart, spunky and engagingly human, (warts and all), because of the rich background of Nigerian culture and customs, and because the book is briskly paced and set in a world that is well constructed but not fussy or over described. This is a nice find, and has been reprinted now in anticipation of an imminent sequel.

5/5 Stars This is Excellent sci-fantasy. Though I didn't realize this is a reprint with new art? Interested to read the whole collection and see what changes were made from the original draft. Highly recommend for those intrigued by dystopia scifi with afrofuturism vibes and exquisite prose.

Nnedi is a masterful storyteller. I love the use of familiar and technology in Shadow Speaker. Nnedi has a way of keenly dismantling oppressive and antiquated patriarchal ideology in her books. The world building is amazing.

This is an inventive dystopian book that explores heavy themes through the eyes of younger characters. I enjoyed following Ejii's journey. I just had an issue with the pacing.

I have had this author on my to-be-read list for a while, and with the beautiful reprinting of this story and the new book coming out, I decided to give it a try. This story follows Ejii and is set on Earth following a nuclear war and a peace bomb that changes some humans and opens a rift to different worlds. This is a quest story and explores war versus peace. One complaint I have is it felt like the story just ended. It hinted at some turmoil in Ejii's village but was not resolved. Also, I did not understand the different powers or even how Ejii's shadow speaker powers worked. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will read the next one.

Sometimes I get so excited by a book that I feel that I have not enough words to express (keep in mind that English is not my first language). It happens a lot when I'm trying to write abou Nnedi's books.
Shadow speaker was an absolute delight, I loved the characters, the baddies, Onion!!!, the world building is amazing, the backstories!
I can't wait to read the sequel.

This is a newer addition, the original book was published in 2007. It now includes a new forward by the author.

In a strange post apocalyptic Niger Ejii witnesses her father's sudden beheading. In most ways he deserves it, but does that mean his killer, the powerful and progressive Queen Jaa is is good? At 15 Ejii follows Jaa on a quest and meets a friend along the way.

This is a Chosen One story. Ejii is coming into her powers and trying to control them. She is a very thoughtful girl and quick thinking. She and Dikeogu have many adventures before catching up with Jaa. The books have complex themes beyond the main trope. Ejii knows she needs to find Jaa and help avert a war, but is hesitant about leaving her home.