This was an adventure packed book rooted in West African folklore of the Urhobo people. While I thought the writing style made it feel more middle grade and the plot rushed here and there, it was still an enjoyable coming-of-age tale. 🌊

The book follows Naborhi as she finds herself dreaming of traveling the world instead of being married. While I liked that she was ambitious and had dreams that went against the norm, I found her to be rather young for some reason. Despite being 15/16 for the book, I kept thinking of her as 12/13 instead due to the writing/narration style. 😕

The side characters were enjoyable, but I do wish we got more time to know Moyo and Atai more, especially since they both come from other countries/tribes. I also think it would have been fun to see more of a focus on the relationship between Naborhi and Atai if Tamunor wasn’t there to provide comedic relief for the reader and be a weird third wheel to the duo. 🙁

Then the plot’s pacing felt rather odd. For the first third of the book, nothing really happens and then suddenly all the action starts. I wish there was a better pacing when it came to the introduction of new places and countries in the book so that the reader could get a better idea of how these places are different from each other. That and the quick introduction of the women of The Red Tapestry only to be over within two-ish chapters just felt too rushed to me. 😞

All in all, despite my misgivings and feelings that things fell into place just a bit too neatly, I did enjoy the story and characters. I just wish there was more angst and drama that I expect from a true YA adventure. ✨

Thank you to Norton Young Readers and NetGalley for letting me read this book for an honest review, and to the author for creating a fun adventure filled with folklore. 🦊

Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️

This book is by a debut Nigerian woman, and it was incredible. I hope she plans on producing more like it.
Naborhi is a young woman whose life has essentially been planned out for her. She will pass the rites to be a woman, marry well and please her husband by caring for him and producing children. Only Naborhi doesn’t want that life. She doesn’t want to marry, or even stay in her small village. She wants to see the world.
I loved following Naborhi’s adventures. She’s a strong female character in a world where men dominate. She’s an incredibly brave young woman and I’m hoping the author plans on sharing more stories with her in them.
This book was very well written. The adventures don’t stop. As soon as they get through one, the next is not far behind.
I’m looking forward to more from this author.
I received this book as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The main character of Naborhi is intelligent, determined, and caring. She knows what she hopes from life and encourages those around to consider that they might want more as well. Her bond with a mysterious animal allows her to go on a journey that is wonderful to follow. This is a delightful book that gives readers a dynamic world and engaging characters. I hope this becomes a series because I would love the opportunity to follow these characters on more adventures. I hope to add this book to my school library and recommend it to students.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! What a strong and engaging coming-of-age story! I appreciate and enjoyed the introduction to Urhobo/West African folklore/mythology. The main thing I liked is that I believe a lot of people can relate to Naborhi not wanting to adhere to the normal traditions of her culture.

Erhu Kome’s debut novel, “The Smoke that Thunders” is engaging and compelling. This coming of age story boasts a strong female main character who just wants to have control and a say in her own life. She doesn’t want to become just like all the other girls in her community of Kokori and become a bride to the man her family chooses for her, for an acceptable bride price. Instead, Naborhi longs for adventure and to see the world beyond Agbon and Kokori. Chosen and marked by the god Obassi with the spirit fox Zuberi, Naborhi soon after experiences visions of a young boy in trouble who she embarks on a quest to rescue. I liked Zuberi, the red fox, and would have enjoyed seeing more of him and more details about his origins, however there was just the right amount in the story to engage the audience. I loved that this story was filled with Urhobo and West African folklore. Any time an author introduces me to a different culture I am intrigued, finding myself wanting to learn more through research and other stories from the culture. Kome’s world building was intriguingly immersive resulting in me wondering which aspects of the story were based on real places, real mythology, or creations from the author’s imagination. To make the book even better, it has a map! I am a sucker for books with maps so you know this raises its value to me exponentially.

Supporting characters Atai, Tamunor, Tega, and Chipo, along with Nabhori’s aunt and uncle were believable, relatable characters who showed their own growth alongside Nabhori’s. I was charmed by Atai and I’m sure you will be as well. And sweet, kind Moyo! Everyone needs a Moyo in their lives to give their unwavering support while teaching them all they will need to know as they spread their wings.

This well-paced, vivid story is for anyone longing to come into their own and wanting to be more than they are; longing to break free from the expectations placed upon them by society and those closest to them. It is also about accepting that we all have our own unique paths to follow and despite wanting others to follow our same path, it’s alright for our paths to diverge.

Available Tuesday, April 9, 2024!

Norton Young Readers Erhu Kome

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The Smoke That Thunders is about a sixteen year-old girl named Naborhi who wants to lead a life of adventure, and dreams of leaving the small village where she grew up, while her family expects her to get married and start a family. One day, she spots a mysterious animal only she can see, and starts having visions of a boy in trouble. It falls to her (and two friends) to travel across the forests, deserts and mountains to rescue the boy - and prevent the war the boy's disappearance has set in motion.
This story has a lot of heart, interesting characters and a astounding setting. Kome does a fantastic job of providing a solid sense of place for her readers, through not only the description of the environment, but through the foods Naborhi eats and the plants she sees.
Ultimately, though I enjoy middle-grade fantasies every now and again, it was not "for" me. I personally found that the obstacles Naborhi and her friends had to overcome were resolved a little too easily, and relied too heavily on the inherent goodness of strangers. That said, though I am not its intended audience, I had a great time reading it.

I loved reading about Naborhi her trying to forge a path for herself while others try to keep her on the path, they think is best for her. The traditional path of marriage, taking care of her husband and become a mother. But that is not what Naborhi wants for herself and has for some time now resisted in silence by learning to read something that is not allowed for the women of her village and learning to ride a horse and even fighting. All thanks to a man who has taken her under his wing wanting to make sure she can take care of herself. You also see her growth on throughout the book as a chosen one on a quest where she struggles with her choices first at home and then to go on this quest and even at times on the quest she wonders if she is strong enough to handle what could come their way. But still, she keeps persevering because in the end she knows this is what she needs to do for herself and her country. I really enjoyed reading her coming into herself as a person once she was able to determine what she wanted for herself.

The Magic and fantasy were subtle and was more focused on Naborhi and her journey and growth. I will say I wish there had been a little more magic and fantasy as I think it could have only enhanced the story and because I am so curious for more stories focused on magic/fantasy outside of European and western stories.

This is the authors debut novel and I think the writing style was very smooth and easy to grasp making it perfect for the target audience and for older audiences who are wanting maybe a gentler read but still get a great quest out of it. I enjoyed this book and have already reached out to my friends with kids in this targeted audience who I think will enjoy this book.

This book is about Naborhi a girl who is stifled by the expectations of her village and her perceived "worth" that will come with the bride price she brings. All that is expected of her is to marry, take care of her husband and take care of their children. But Naborhi wants and dreams of more than what is expected of her and so she is trying to plan her escape from the village so that she can explore the world she has only heard about in stories. But as she prepares for her rite of passage, she finds a fox who only she can see! Turns out he is a spirit fox and by finding and helping him she is now gifted with visions of a boy in need who she must rescue. So, she sets off with new and old friends in search of this boy because while she might not know who he is she can feel that he is important and if he is not found something bad is going to happen so she has to do everything she can to find him and stop whatever this danger might be.

I received a free ARC copy from NETGALLY in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book.

I enjoyed the characters of this story and that what drove Naborhi to her desired quest was that she didn't want to adhere to the gender norms and traditions of her culture. I think that's something many people can relate to.

She has a desire for adventure and to read and wants to go to school. She does secretly learn how to read and has to keep it hidden and as the time of her arranged marriage is getting closer the desire for adventure is drawn closer to her and that's where this story really begins.

I found it definitely a middle grade book for middle grade. It was fun to read and I enjoyed myself and the book but there was too much of everything wrapped up in a nice tiny box with a bow on top for me. Not enough space left to the imagination, but again I'm not this books desired audience. And I would recommend if you want to relax and have a fun evening.

Being a lover of all things mythology and folklore, this book did not disappoint. Following 16 year old Naborhi Tanomare, a girl from the village of Kokori who wants more than to be valued by her bride price and what she can bring to a husband. Soon after her rights of passage, she finds an injured fox in the forest. Upon saving it, finds that it is actually a spirit god and she now bears its mark. Being blessed by a god means that a quest will be given. After some guidance from the Oracle of the rival neighboring kingdom, the Oracle's son Atai and Naborhi's cousin Tamunor join her on her mission to save a mysterious boy she has seen in her dreams since being blessed.

This story is a beautiful depiction of a strong, young, African American female character whose love for her family and friends is unmatched and is willing to defy what they feel is best for her and go with what she knows is best for herself. The world-building was very vivid and the budding romance was cute. Very appropriate for teenage characters. I could see this being a TV series.

Thank you to Erhu Kome, Norton Young Readers, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book to review. Unfortunately, I got about 52% of the way into this book and decided to put it down, but I will do my best to provide feedback on this title.

Having read and enjoyed Children of Blood and Bone, Forged by Blood, The Gilded Ones, and Beasts of Prey, I was eager to read <i>TheSmoke That Thunders to learn more about Urhobo and West African folklore and to appreciate the rich diversity across the African diaspora in YA literature. Although the story does well to introduce me to these parts of Urhobo and West African culture in a very simple and easy-to-understand way that would appeal to school teachers and to younger YA readers, what it lacks for me is a compelling story to support all these things.

Naborhi feels like a classic YA protagonist who shuns her arranged marriage and has haunting dreams about a boy who pleads her to save him. She completes her rite of passage, she says goodbye to her fellow friends as they get married or betrothed, she sees an animal spirit that happens to be a messenger of a god—All these things feel like they <i>happen</i> to her instead of her <i>making</i> them happen. When she wants to travel and see the world, she saves up money for the purpose of doing so but is later taken to a neighboring queendom when she is shot with a sleeping dart, which robs her once more of any tension and conflict that would propel her to travel and explore on her own.

I also couldn’t quite tell what the age of the reader was for this novel. Because of the travel, spirits, and adventure aspects, it feels more middle-grade adjacent, but Naborhi is sixteen at the start of the novel and is coming of age. There are some scenes where women are physically beaten by men and even one scene where a man declares that a woman has “lost her innocence” and “her pride” for allegedly seducing another man. He then asks, “Who will marry a broken thing like her? Not any man in his right senses,” and although Naborhi wants to step in and help, she’s ultimately made to turn away. That thinly-veiled misogyny intersecting with her feminist desire to help, learn to read, and be independent is very upper-YA, but it’s not quite fully addressed. It makes it hard for me to understand what the story’s point is thematically as a result. What does Naborhi end up wanting if she ends up getting it right away? What part of the story, according to the blurb, is political intrigue and fierce love?

To that end, I don’t think this quite hits the mark. However, I would love to read more of Erhu Kome’s works in the future and hope that I’m given the chance to do so.

Thank you NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for this digital advanced reader copy!

The Smoke That Thunders is a YA fantasy novel about a young girl who dreams of a life bigger than the life she's been dealt. Naborhi wants to see the world and go on adventures, not to be constricted by the social structures in which she must marry and dedicate her life to being a wife, and who can blame her? Naborhi gets her wish, but her adventure turns treacherous as she and her friends encounter many hidden dangers along their quest.

I loved the use of West African mythology and folklore in this book, and the story made me want to learn so much more. While this is marketed as YA, I'd say it probably reads more like a middle grade book - but rest assured, all ages can enjoy this story. There were so many times my heart swelled and broke for Naborhi, and she is a character I was rooting for the whole time.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"You seek happiness in the world, in yourself, and this is admirable. Though many know what their own happiness is, few have the courage to actually seek it"

"I only want the freedom to live my life how I choose, and to honor this family with my actions, not my marriage."

"Together. We'd lived this strange, beautiful life together for so long, and now we'd take on the world together."

"I was unstoppable as the mightiest river, but my friends, my family, were what fed my strength."

Thank you to Netgalley and W.W. Norton & Company for this ebook arc!

This is a great coming-of-age story. It's engaging and a quick easy read. The balance between backstory and action/adventure is spot on. The beginning of the story draws the reader in and makes me think.

I love mythology and fantasy so this was a great read for me. I haven't read much about West African mythology and I think The Smoke That Thunders brings some of that forward (most mythology books I find focus on Greek or Roman myths). I loved the elements of West African mythology and wished there was a bit more because this book has left me very intrigued.

The Smoke That Thunders is a good book for older middle-grade readers to early young adults. This makes a very smooth transition and introduction to readers that are switching age ranges.

The Smoke That Thunders is an inspiring tale of a young woman who has spent her entire life fighting for what is right. From avenging her mother from her abusive father, to honoring her aunt, uncle, and sister, to listening to the favor of a unknown god, to saving not only the Prince of a foreign land, but the entirety of her own country in the process.

This book had a lot of potential. I loved the story line and am left feeling like this is the shell of something that could be great. I understand that this story is meant for younger readers, however I still feel like there was substance missing. Each pivotal moment felt rushed and the story moved along far too quickly. Too much was confined to too little pages which left the book feeling hollow. I just want more. Not like in addition to the ending. I’m not asking for a sequel. What I desire is more meat on the bones of The Smoke That Thunders.

I wouldn’t say that I had high hopes going into this story, but I really did expect to like this story. Whenever I read a book by a Black author, I always try look for things about the story that the author did well, However, reading The Smoke that Thunders made that hard. I DNF’ed the story at 18%.

This story follows Naborhi, a sixteen-year-old girl living in a small, traditional community. Naborhi’s family arranges for her to marry a man who upholds these traditional ideals, but she does not want to marry him or live the traditional life of a young woman in this society. Then she becomes bonded to a mysterious animal that opens her eyes to more things happening in the world.

My main problem with this story is the writing. At first, I thought I was getting into a YA book because that is what this book is being marketed as. This does not read like one. If anything, it reads more like a middle grade story in terms of the craft. The content itself does feel YA with a persistent theme on being a young woman groomed to be married, but not exploring that that theme in depth enough to actually make any notable commentary on them. It was surface level feminism at best to watch Naborhi say how much she didn’t want a traditional marriage.

The voice of the writing wasn’t my only hiccup with it. I feel like the scene transitions were jarring. Something would happen and then it would move on even though felt like there was supposed to be something more added to it (a character thought, more description, etc). It happened a little too frequently for me to truly get hooked into the story.

I think because of the basic craft issues I had with this story, everything fell flat. The world building made sense, from what I read, but from what I read, it didn’t really offer anything unique the other YA fantasy stories. (If I would have continued, maybe I would change my mind?) The characters feel like caricatures from most other YA fantasies, being very one dimensional so that I didn’t care for any of them. The plot itself had pacing issues, which I blame on the scene transitions but it also just could have been the plot points and meandering through details that didn’t seem to matter.

Overall, I don’t think I’d recommend this book to anyone. I don’t know who the intended audience is because the writing felt middle grade but the content felt YA. I just also don’t think it’s good on a craft level. But I’m just one person. Maybe try it for yourself to see if you like it.

The Smoke that Thunders is a debut YA Coming of age Fantasy story that is steeped in West African mythology. Readers take a journey with Naborhi, a young lady who desires more out of life and willing to fight for what she feels is right and just. In this coming of age story Naborhi discovers her true mettle. She learns about her connection to the gods and sets out on a quest of understanding and enlightenment.

Erhu Kome does an amazing job intertwining the intricacies of West African lore including but not limited to: religion, deities, female warrior tribes and lush world building. This is a YA Fantasy story that will appeal to all fantasy lovers young and old who thirst for adventure and learning about different cultures and worlds

Naborhi has big dreams, bigger than the others in her little village. She is 16, coming of age, and wants more than anything to travel the world and not end up as some boy's wife. When she accidentally bonds with a mysterious creature while out in the woods, her predictable life gets turned upside down. Naborhi must decide if it is the best or worst thing to ever happen to her as she answers the call of a god not her own and journeys with the rival kingdom's Oracle's son.

This book was written so beautifully that I devoured it in one sitting. While two nations at war is nothing new, the way that the author wove West African and Urhobo folklore into the story gave life to tired tropes. The mythology is alive in the imagery, flowing seamlessly from one part to the next. The only thing I craved with this book was more. I would have loved more world-building, more magic explained, and more of the mysterious forces guiding Naborhi and her cohorts along their journey.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see the world through the eyes of a dreamer, and who loves adventures seeped in magical meddling.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy through NetGally. It does not affect my review in any way.

Content Warnings:
Major
Violence, Domestic Abuse, Misogyny
Moderate
Death of a parent, war

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher (Norton Young Readers) for the chance to read an advanced copy of this book!

I liked this book a lot. It really fit what I have been looking for and desperately hoping for when I requested it. What I had been looking for was a non-western European inspired fantasy story and this book, influenced by Western African mythology and written by a Nigerian author, really fit the bill.

I like the world that's been created and really enjoy the little bits of world building that just are different from what I'm used to finding in fantasy stories. Things like what they eat and how they dress, small details that allow you to feel immersed in the world.

The characters are all likable, even if I found Naborhi a little frustrating at times - especially early in the book. But, she is a well developed character and I especially liked that she had to struggle with the idea that her best friend and her sister both like the system that she's wanting so badly to escape. While Naborhi is very much the YA fantasy kick-butt girl, she never dismisses the girls and women that prefer more traditional roles. She's not trying to overthrow a corrupt regime, she's just trying to find her place in the world.

The two boys, Atai and Tamunor, were good characters and both very different from each other with distinct personalities. (But, let's be fair, this is Naborhi's story and they are just here.)

I love, love, love the idea of the Red Tapestry. Without giving away spoilers, the idea for a group of women like this appeals to me - and appeals to me all the more because I know where Naborhi comes from and I can see just how much it appeals to her. (Also, as someone that has a really hard time reading books that have culture/s where women are second class citizens (or worse) I loved that there were so many capable women in this story.)

Finally, I would like to note that there is attraction here, but it is minor and so not the point. Which it is super nice to find a YA book that isn't focused on the romance. Instead, it takes the time to build friendships which is a win as far as I'm concerned.

Now the problems I had were pretty minor and forgivable, but they were there.

First, I had a slight issue with the pacing. I do think most of that was the fault of the synopsis covering such a huge chunk of the book and, in fact, giving away 75% + spoilers. Because of this, I kept waiting for the things mentioned in the plot to happen, which made the first 30% or so seem really slow and then it almost felt like the rest flew by too fast.

Also this is a debut novel. And it feels like it at times. Sometimes things are … under described? There is a bit of telling instead of showing. Not a lot, definitely not enough to ruin my enjoyment, but I do really look forward to what this author can do when she really starts perfecting her craft.

This review was duel posted to Netgalley and Goodreads.

The orphaned Naborhi is desperate to escape the trap of marriage and see the world, but doesn't want to go without her beloved younger sister. Unfortunately for her, her sister has no desire to travel and is instead looking forward to exactly the kind of life Naborhi so dreads. After Naborhi runs into a magical fox and starts dreaming of a kidnapped boy, she finds the courage to leave on her own and begins an adventure across the world to find a life for herself (and of course, save the boy). The adventure becomes a little too straightforward/easy towards the end for my tastes, but overall this is an excellent and enjoyable book.

Thoroughly enjoyable, even if I'm not the target demographic. The world building was the richest part of the book for me, as I learned a great deal about the culture, even if it was situational.

<b>ARC Review</b>

<b>Scale information:</b>
<b>1:</b> terrible, awful, I cannot stop ranting about how bad it was; <b>3:</b> this is exactly what I expect from a book of this genre; <b>5:</b> I cannot stop thinking about this book, I must own a copy, I will tell everyone to read it.

[2.5 rounded up]

It's been a bit since I touched Middle Grade, but I felt like this book was a good MG-YA bridge. I've been tired of the same fantasy-inspired-by-Western-Europe and Greek Myth retellings that we see again and again, so I was excited to dive into something new.

The book started off by really showing how sexist the MC's country is. It's not the whole continent (her country shares a border with a Queendom, after all); but the focus and the time spent on showing just how less-than women and girls are in this society is... Uncomfortable. I think it was the focus of the first 25% of the book, if I'm recalling correctly. Yes, this was a big theme for the book, and yes it absolutely had it's place. But as an individual, I'm just so tired of reading fantasy where we have to read in detail how awful it is to be a woman.

Definitely would recommend as a quick MG-YA read for anyone who wouldn't mind reading the beginning!

<i>I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.</i>