One thing that made Okorafor’s award-winning novel Who Fears Death so spectacular was its incredibly rich world-building. She Who Knows is the first book of a new trilogy set in that same Africanfuturist universe, which blends West African culture with speculative fiction, fantasy, and folklore.

The book follows teenage Najeeba, who becomes the first girl in her village to ever get the Call — a mystical pull to travel to the salt mines, a journey she undertakes alongside her father and brothers. Her decision to answer the Call sets Najeema on a trajectory that irrevocably transforms her, as she experiences levels of freedom outside her village’s gender and caste norms and discovers the depths of her own magical abilities — all explored through Okorafor’s intimate, impactful prose. It’s a short, but spellbinding read that left me wanting to return to Who Fears Death just to spend a little more time in this world.

The concept of this novel was good enough, and in fact I was intrigued by the family dynamics between the protagonist and her family, but there was "something" missing. I liked learning about the culture and the relationship they had with salt, the journey her and her family (I think her father and brother) to where they were gathering the salt, but I didn't go into this wanting to read yet another story about how women aren't treated equally. I understand and appreciate stories that have something more to say than just telling a story, but it didn't even really interrogate the basis of the misogyny it was trying to depict. Like, WHY don't girls usually go on these trips to gather the salt? I know there was reference of a holy text that the protagonist's dad believed in, but I don't think I understood much of the reason beyond 'this is what this magical book says so that's what's correct'. It was just fine.

It's the first book I read by this author and I was fascinated by the world building, a very interesting dystopia, and the mix of afro-futurism and fantasy.
Well plotted and intriguing, a fleshed out heroine and a tightly knitted plot.
Will surely read more
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The world created by Nnedi Okorafor was fascinating, afro-futuristic, and post apocalyptic. They did a fantastic job of mixing magic elements into this futuristic setting. The writing was beautiful. The only reason its not 5 star is because I am come to realize that I just don't enjoy short stories very much anymore.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 Stars.
I liked Binti by Okorafor and I wanted to read more from her (Still want), so I picked this book but I don't think that it was the right thing to do. The world-building and Najeeba's story were interesting, however I didn't like it that much. She went through some spiritual experiences that sounded more like Sufism and mysticism than magical powers in my opinion. Her relationship with every character in the story was problematic like there were no feelings involved at all. Yes, we get it that Najeeba is so different from the other girls, more independent, stronger and smarter than any man around her. She is a free spirit, she does whatever she wants with whoever she wants. And then, the end. Really?!
All in all, the story really needed more development. I hope that the author's other books are way better than this one.

I thought that I've already written a review for this book, I'm sorry I forgot.

Nnedi Okorafor’s She Who Knows is a powerful and evocative novella that serves as a prequel to her acclaimed novel Who Fears Death. Through the eyes of Najeeba, Okorafor explores themes of resilience, femininity, and defiance in the face of an oppressive and magical world. The novella’s prose is lyrical and raw, capturing the depth of Najeeba’s struggles and triumphs while providing poignant insights into the world her future daughter, Onyesonwu, will inherit. For readers familiar with Okorafor’s work, the story resonates with her trademark blend of speculative elements, deeply human storytelling, and Africanfuturism

As someone who hasn’t yet finished Who Fears Death, I found She Who Knows an excellent entry point into the characters and the world. It enriches the narrative by offering a deeper understanding of Najeeba’s experiences and how they will come to shape Onyesonwu’s journey. Okorafor’s ability to create layered, emotionally complex characters shines here, making this a solid 4-star read for me. The novella’s intimate focus on Najeeba adds an extra dimension to the overarching story, making me even more eager to continue reading Who Fears Death.

The writing style just wasn't for me and I wasn't invested. I wish I had noticed this was part of an existing world, as I'd liked to have read that trilogy first. I like the concept but just wasn't hooked.

This was such an enchanting short story. I loved it! Rich in African folklore, futuristic yet touching on matters of humanity so closely. It showed how beautifully we, as separate beings, are part of our family and their history, as well as our culture. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a short read in the sci-fi genre, while also seeking a strong MC coming of age.

Fairly solid as far as an Okorafor book goes - it's the start of a new series set in a world I know from another book of hers, and I ended up going through it in about three nights. Definitely interested in more.

More please!

Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5⭐
Diversity: African

WHAT I LIKED & DISLIKED ABOUT IT:
I could not get enough. I'm sad it was a novella. I wanted more of Najeeba's story. The self-empowerment. The struggle of balancing identity, personal fulfillment, and familial obligations are all relatable themes. The loss of relationships when you step into your own worth and power. Najeeba is quiet but strong. Ooof, more please! I'm ready for the next one in this series and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

RECOMMENDATION:
I can't see any sci-fi/fantasy lover not enjoying this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Even without reading the first few books, this book has me HOOKED. It was my first time reading Nnedi Okarafor's work and it instantly made want to continue reading more works from her. This was a scifi book that takes both fantasy and scifi and blends it together Perfectly! Would highly recommend to readers who into the scifi genre and fantasy genre

Loved loved loved this book. Nnedi Okarafor does it again. At this point I watch for anything she puts out. I can hardly wait for the next two titles in this series . Absolutely impossible to put down - this Odyssey-esque tale focuses on a female, Najeeba - a highly faceted, nuanced, and utterly amazing character. Infused with Nigerian folklore, magical realism, fantasy, and travel - just a delight to read.

True to the authors style and very exciting to read. I love this! Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this authors books! She writes so well and I was glad to get the NetGalley advanced copy of this book!

I finished this book quickly which is no surprise since the author writes beautifully!

This is the book about a girl who gets the call to go with her brothers and father to the mines. This is a huge deal within this as there has never been a girl called to do this before! While on this mission you see her grown and the magical transformation is awesome. The character build is everything you can ask for in a book.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

🔥SHE WHO KNOWS: FIRESPITTER🔥 by @nnediokorafor is the first novella in a new series and in true Okorafor style, it is a genre-bending blend of fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, and more. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @astrahousebooks for the e-ARC.

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Written like a fable or fairytale, this story centers on a girl named Najeeba living in the desert wasteland Jwahir where salt is revered, harvested and sold at the great salt market once a year. Najeeba feels the call to the salt roads, unusual for a girl, and joins her father and brothers at the young age of 13 for the first time. As Najeeba stares to understand her own power awakening in her, she must conceal her identity while helping her family to reap enough for the coming year. But not everyone is happy with her inclusion at the market...

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I am definitely looking forward to ONE WAY WITCH (second novella) coming out and finding out what Najeeba gets up to next. I loved the dry, arid atmosphere, the magic system Najeeba wields, the banter between Najeeba and her brothers, and the politics of the salt market.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well I suppose this begins my accidental novella November, and I am glad I finally read this! I really love how this author can create such a rich world in so few pages. I was fully immersed in this desert world with Najeeba as she accompanies her father and brothers to the mysterious dried salt lake and inadvertently changes the norms of her society and discovers some sort of mind-teleportation ability within herself.

This is a prequel to another series by this author which I have not read and which involves Najeeba's future daughter, but I found this totally fine as a stand-alone and I am now more interested to read the other series!

I finished this story in just 2 days! This tells the story of a girl who gets the call to travel to the salt mines with her father and brothers. A girl has never been called before so this is a big deal. On her journey, she goes through a magical transformation and in the subsequent years, begins to evolve physically, mentally, and emotionally. What I loved most about this story was that it lacked a lot of fluff. There weren't paragraphs upon paragraphs of useless dialogue and wording. I would thoroughly enjoy this as a short movie or maybe as a part of an anthology series. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. I love alot of her books and was initially excited to read another book of hers. But this one was a swing and a miss for me. The setting was interesting and the world building was fantastic but the plot moved too slow for me and I didn’t connect with the characters.

This novella is part science fiction and part fantasy and is infused with West African culture and spirituality. This is a small look into the life of teenager Najeeba, whose coming of age will herald a new age for her world.
This is a typical storyline for this author, a young African woman on the cusp of change. In this story, we have Najeeba, who, at 13, goes on a journey with her father and brothers to the salt mines, searching for the best and purest, prettiest salt blocks to sell at the market. This time-honored journey is entirely for boys and men. Najeeba, being the first female who undercover, attempts this journey. The story is about her journey, relationship with her family, and role in changing the world.
I enjoyed this story and was glad it was short and to the point. I enjoy Nnedi Okorafor’s writing and her unique stories.

I’m starting to believe that I will never not love an Okorafor title. It’s amazing how much Okorafor manages to include in her novellas and my only gripe with this story is that it was too short. The world-building was incredible as always, and though I haven’t managed to read the original Who Fears Death that this novella is a prequel to, the place and characters stand well on their own without that added context (but Who Fears Death has definitely been bumped a few notches up by TBR).

Even though this novella is a masterclass example of creating a strong story in so few pages, the hungry never-satiated demon in me wishes this could have been another couple of hundred pages exploring the magic of the salt road.

This is post-nuclear dystopian future African science fiction with just the tiniest touch of ghostly magic. Loved!