3.5/5 This was a West African folklore story! I do like the female empowerment of fighting for your own path and journey where you’re not subjected to just being betrothed and having children! Every woman has a voice! The battle scenes were okay! The writing I think I’m having a hard time grasping because while I do like the story at times it felt boring to me! And it could very well be my mindset at the moment!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was fun, but it took me forever to get through. I feel like it was the result of a book slump, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and the main character!

A wonderful Western African story with beautiful writing. It reads more like younger YA/older MG, but definitely worth a read.

A magical story about a girl being guided by the gods on a quest to rescue a boy she sees in visions and also avert a continent-wide war? Yes, please! Honestly, this is such a great take on the hero's journey. Naborhi is a wonderful heroine, and I admired so much about her: her loyalty to her friends and family, intelligence, ambition, courage, and determination, both in her divinely guided quest and her personal mission to live life on her own terms. Yes, she makes mistakes, but she learns and grows steadily throughout the story, and gains a lot more confidence by the end, which I loved to see. Her traveling companions, Atai and her cousin Tamunor, were also endearing, and I enjoyed reading about their growth through the story as well.

This story also weaves in elements of Urhobo and West African folklore, which I found very interesting. I honestly enjoy learning more about folklore through stories like this, because being wonderful stories in themselves, they are also delightful jumping-off points. Admittedly, I don't know much about Urhobo and West African folklore, but I am now interested in learning more. Stories like these are valuable, necessary, and wonderful. I look forward to what Erhu Kome writes next!

I ended up really enjoyed this one, I loved west African folklore setting. We learn a lot about the background and world building, however while some world building is confusing, this one was not. I tried to read this a few times before actually getting through the book, however I think that was a me problem. I ended up listening to the audiobook and I really liked it and ended up liking the story more.

This book was fantastic. I think Naborhi 's desire to forge her own path will resonate with teen and adult readers. I really liked the worldbuilding and the plot really appealed to my thirst for adventure. I would love to read another book set in this world.

Actual Rating 2.5

Naborhi is sixteen years old and finds herself facing a betrothal to an arrogant man who is planning on her becoming the perfect wife. But an unexpected event causes Naborhi to become bonded to a mysterious creature and she begins having visions. Eager for answers, Naborhi finds herself on a quest where she meets many new people and learns that more than her personal freedom is at stake.

There were some aspects the writing style that didn’t work for me. The writing often felt more MG in level than I expected, which led to things feeling a little unbalanced especially since there were some darker themes addressed in the book (including on-page domestic abuse). The simplistic and repetitive sentence structure also contributed to this. There was also much more telling than showing – this kept things from feeling as immersive and well-developed as I usually prefer in a fantasy book.

The worldbuilding was decent overall. There were details included throughout the text that added some interesting depth to the world and the setting, and I enjoyed the lore that was incorporated throughout.

Unfortunately, the characters left me wanting more. This was especially true of Naborhi, who felt like an overused YA protagonist (e.g., not like other girls). Part of the issue came from the fact that things continually happened to Naborhi, but it never really felt like she was in charge of her own destiny or had any agency.

While I wanted to love this one, it felt unbalanced and I couldn’t stay interested in it. My thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

An absolutely stunning lower YA novel about a young child’s adventurous quest full of Nigerian mythology. I was immersed from page one and simply couldn’t get enough. This is a must-read debut and I seriously cannot wait for more from this author.

Review made possible thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Thanks for access tot his eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Smoke That Thunders was such a fun read! It’s over 300 pages but doesn’t feel like a long read. Honestly, it isn’t. It’s super easy to read so you’ll find yourself flying through the pages.

We follow Naborhi, a young woman who is of age to be married. She has a younger sister and they live with their aunt and uncle after the passing of their father, then mother.

The thing is, Naborhi doesn’t want to be married. She wants to be free to travel the world, to live her life the way she wants. And it causes a bit of tension between her and her sister and their aunt.

Not only that but she’s been secretly taught to read and write. It’s not something the women of her village are permitted to do. She’s even been hiding away money so that she can leave with her sister. But her sister doesn’t want to. She’s looking forward to when she can be married and doesn’t want to leave.

The Smoke That Thunders follows a young girl who knows what she wants and isn’t willing to let it pass her by. She also ends up on a journey to save someone she’s never met.

While the story reads simply, it is not a simple story. This young girl clings to her desire for freedom the entire time. At no point in the book does she put that want aside. It is her driving factor.

Something I truly loved about this book was the fact that yes, it is a young woman who is fighting for what she wants. Literally saves someone and then is going to go on and live her life free of the whims of a man.

I really, really enjoyed this book and think basically everyone should read it. It’s a great, easy adventure read and I think young teen girls would really enjoy it.

I rate it 5 stars.

4.5⭐️ I LOVED IT! solid YA fantasy read with a great MC! it took me a while to get through since i started it right after the loss of a loved one, however, it helped me escape a little and gave me some ease of mind by sucking me into Naborhi’s world. it was hard to tell where the story was going in the beginning but once the plot was finally set up, things moved very quickly. i think the story was interesting, and the MC was my fav by far but i also really liked the SCs as well.

the general plot/themes aren’t necessarily unique but the author’s execution and world-building was! i kinda wish the author leaned into a love story just a little with Naborhi and Atai since she made it clear they had a connection, however, i don’t feel like anything was necessarily missing from the story. the twists at the end were semi-predictable if you paid enough attention but i didn’t so i really enjoyed them lol. the way the ending is written, i think the author could write a sequel that could put more focus on Naborhi and Atai’s connection.

TW: general violence, dv, misogyny, and discussion of parental deaths

Rating: 4.5
Genre: Fantasy
Thank you Norton Young Readers for providing an e-copy through NetGalley.

Summary: Naborhi Tanomare wants more in life that what her small village expects of her: Marry into a rich family, be a dutiful wife, and provide her husband with children. She much rather escape her small village and explore the vast world, sailing ships, reading great stories, and being anyone she wants to be. Her chance comes where she encounters a sacred spirit and it mysteriously bonds to her, giving her strange visions of a suffering boy being held prisoner. Guided by the gods, Naborhi must set off to rescue this boy by travelling across the land to rival kingdoms, treacherous forests, and spectacular scenes of joy, enchantment, danger, and fantasy. Joined by Tamunor, her adventerous yet timid cousin, and Atai, the son of an Oracle, Naborhi will discover the world outside her small village, deepen her relationships with friends, family, and new allies, and learn the hardships and joys of living her life to the fullest.

What I Liked: The Smoke That Thunders is a gripping adventure full of heart that every teen can enjoy. The lush world building will leave readers in wonder as they travel across the West-African inspired fantasy world with diverse and dazzling characters, rich lore and history, and imaginative environments. Naborhi is a fantastic protagonist with relatable dreams and desires, but also the determination to see the mission through, protect those she loves, and live the life she wants. Her two journey-mates, Tamunor and Atai, are excellent supports, providing different perspectives - Atai being headstrong and pragmatic and Tamunor being somewhat cowardly but loyal - and helpful advice, suggestions, and friendship throughout. The plot starts slow, providing vital context and build up in the village, then picks up once the three begin their journey, never stopping until the thrilling climax. This is a very rare YA fantasy novel that is not bogged with teen angst, despair-porn, or overly-dramatic negative emotions. Instead, the story travels down a light-hearted narrative of fantasy-adventure, with heart-pounding danger, triumphant emotion, and fun joy propelling the characters forward. Overall, The Smoke That Thunders is a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy, featuring great Black main characters, fantastic world building, thrilling plot, and a satisfying narrative.

What I Didn’t Like: It takes a long time for the plot to fully start. You have to read ⅓ of the book before Naborhi goes on her quest. It’s good set up, giving cultural and historical context, world building, and character establishment, but it takes too long for things to move forward/grow.

Recommend to: Teens who like fun fantasy, trios going on an adventure, African/West-African based fantasy, and living the life you want to lead.

Review Date: April 30, 2024

I love the West African setting with its folklore and Urhobo culture; it was very interesting to learn about. The story is a little slow to start, but an excellent (middle grade) read once it picks up.

I would say this is perfect for a teen to read and had a great story line. I love the action and adventure. It was a pretty good show of the culture and you really got into it. It was detailed and fantastic. It is West African Folklore. I would say kids 10 and up could read this pretty easily and enjoy it. I love that this was a debut book for this author and I can't wait to read more by her.

This book is a story about a teenage girl named Naborhi who has just come into womanhood in her community and is struggling to live the life she wants. Her village, has a very very strong patriarchal structure, and for a young woman, that means preparing for marriage, succeeding at her rights of passage by proving her usefulness in hunting, cooking good meals for her husband, and birthing sons. But none of these things excite Naborhi. In fact, she dreads the idea of being lorded over by a man, especially one she does not like or care for. Unfortunately for her, her family has already accepted a marriage offer, and the time is drawing near.

This is where Naborhi struggles, as she is caught between wanting more for herself and navigating the joy she knows her family will gain from her making a good marriage. She must choose between her own dreams and freedom or staying close to the only sister she has and doing what her family expects. The choices Naborhi makes for her life lead her on an unexpected adventure, where she then meets people and creatures only taught about in folklore.

I really enjoyed this character and the journey she went on, as well as her internal dialog to arrive at her choices. Her battle for independence was nuanced, and the reader was able to fully grasp the feelings the character experienced. The patriarchy was a little heavy-handed, but I think it served to really set the scene for the scope of the journey this young girl was on and really emphiazed her bravery. If you like books based on West African mythology, chosen one adventure quests, and girls who are not afraid to fully be themselves, then I suggest giving this one a try.

Thank you to @netgalley and @w.w.norton for gifting ARC of this wonderful story.

#yabooks #multiculturalbooks #booksbooksbooks #netgalleybooks #arcreader #bookishlover #bookstagram #bookishcontent #blackbookstagram #africanstoriesbyafricans

This was a quick read—I couldn’t put the book down! This is a wonderful YA story of a 16-year-old Urhobo girl (Naborhi) that wants to create her own path and not follow the traditions of her community. She wants a life of adventure and the freedom to choose her path. Naborhi has an endless amount of bravery and drive that is enviable. I loved the Urhobo and West African folklore and mythology that was included into the fantasy adventure.

I would read this again and I hope there are more books with these characters on more adventures in the future. An excellent first book debut.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this YA read. It was fast paced and adventurous and I loved all the characters. I didn't see that plot twist at the end coming but it was a nice way to resolve everything. I would love to read more about Naborhi's adventures!

I enjoyed this story, you will too, especially if you enjoy African culture. This story also focuses on self choice, over culture & ways we can struggle when we choose self. Plus, encourages the reader to understand what it takes to choose self & the sacrifices that may occur.

I found the premise of this book super interesting, and while I think it takes a little bit for the story to get there, once it does it is really good. When I came to terms with the fact this story is better suited for a younger audience, I was ok with the level of detail and explanation. I do think the story is a little better suited for a slightly older audience (more into the YA). There are some moments that the plot points are heavy, like abuse in marriage, but I would not say necessarily that strong topics should be kept away from a younger reader. Preteens and teens grasp these concepts more than we give them credit for.

I will say this is the type of book I think you need to have a physical copy of to get a full immersion into the world and the vivid descriptions of the scenery and people. I was not able to see the vision as clearly when I was reading as I would have liked, but the descriptions I could visualize were so beautiful. Part of this I think is due to the fact that the formatting of the ebook were not great in some parts (words not properly spaced, or sentences with random breaks), but I wish I could have referred to the map at the beginning more easily as I was reading. It definitely peaks my interest to look more into the folklore that inspired the book.

This is the type of story I would have loved to see split into two books, to give the world building and plot more time to develop. The book does attempt to cover a LOT, but once it catches its footing it is good. Thank you NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Smoke that Thunders is a really gorgeously written book which incorporates Urhobo and West African folklore and mythology. If you're looking into this for a younger reader in your life, the writing level felt a bit more Middle Grades, while the content was more Young Adult in terms of maturity, so that's something to consider. I found Naborhi's story to be really empowering and inspiring and I am so grateful to #NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for the ARC!