'She Who Knows' is the translated name of Najeeba, the mother of the protagonist of Who Fears Death. This novella is part of a new trilogy in this universe.

Najeeba is a 13-year-old teenager in a village of untouchables, the Osu-nu live in villages all called the same, far from the Okeke. However, they are the ones who extract the salt from a lake and go to market it for a few days, the only place where they can be together with Okeke and the Nuru (who are descendants of Arabs and have lighter skin).

Osu-nu people are untouchable Okeke people; we are the slaves who chose to be slaves to the goddess I adore so that we could be free. You only know the depth of the story as it is shared among your people. That's not the full story

There is a time for this, and the Osu-nu know it. The route cannot be followed by others because there are dangers, and only men go, until one day Najeeba also feels the call... and thus begins her transformation.

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Here is a story of what could well be post-apocalyptic Africa, full of folklore, mysticism, magic and futuristic elements. As in most of her works, the female voices speak of racism and gender oppression, and cultural religious elements to be abolished.

But... as someone mentions, the ending is a WHICH ENDING? It leaves you very much in the air, and well, I suppose it hopes to leave you hooked on the trilogy. If it weren't for that I would have given it a better score.

I have many questions left: about

This was great, and a perfect little read for an airplane ride. I have not read Who Fears Death, but have read quite a few other works by Okorafor. This felt distinctly like one of her stories and I didn't feel lost by jumping in here on the second. I would recommend this to folks as my library as a single novella, or as a part of the trilogy. I plan to go back and pick up Who Fears Death now after reading this one..

This was my first introduction to the author’s work, and it was very enjoyable! Even though I had no prior knowledge of the characters or the world, the author did a good job of drawing me into the world, and I am excited to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.

WOW. Just wow. The prose on this novella was phenomenal. The story was gripping. Thank goodness it was short because I did not want to put it down! I haven’t read Who Fears Death, but now it is next on my TBR list. Though, the novella was fantastic without the context of the other book. I absolutely cannot wait to read more Nnedi Okorafor! 4.25 ⭐️

Nnedi Okorafor’s “She Who Knows” is a captivating novella that blends science fiction, fantasy, and rich West African culture. This first installment in the She Who Knows trilogy introduces readers to Najeeba, a 13-year-old girl who disrupts the norms of her society by receiving the Call, a spiritual summons traditionally experienced only by men. Set against the backdrop of the same universe as Okorafor’s acclaimed “Who Fears Death,” this story unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where ancient traditions and futuristic elements coexist.

Najeeba’s journey begins with her unprecedented participation in the annual trek to the Dead Lake’s salt mines, an event that sets off a chain reaction of change within her family and community. The novella’s strength lies in its intimate portrayal of Najeeba’s coming-of-age, highlighting her inner growth and the mystical forces she encounters. Okorafor’s world-building is nothing short of mesmerizing, painting vivid landscapes and incorporating elements of African futurism and Africanjujuism. The writing is almost poetic, seamlessly weaving together themes of tradition, magic, and gender norms. While the story is rich in myth and folklore, it also presents a subtle critique of societal structures.

“She Who Knows” stands well on its own, even for readers unfamiliar with “Who Fears Death.” Okorafor’s ability to create a fully realized world in a short novella is impressive, and her characters are deeply compelling. This beautifully written story, filled with sunshine, salt crystals, and mystery, promises a thrilling continuation in the subsequent books of the trilogy. It’s a must-read for fans of African futurism and anyone looking for a fresh, enchanting narrative.

Thanks netgally for the arc to She Who Knows. This is the story of the heroine’s mother from “Who Fears Death,” but can be read without having read the daughter’s story. Reading She Who Knows has definitely made me want to pick it up though! I really enjoyed the world in this story, which was a futuristic Africa, with a blend of magic, technology and an old-world dystopian feel. Our heroine feels the call to the salt road, but going is completely against social norms; she has to push against everyone, including her family and friends, for the right to follow her calling. This book is fairly on-the-nose with its feminist messaging, forever, and I generally prefer a bit more nuance with social themes. I thought this was super easy to get into however, with great pacing and the character work was also top tier. 4 stars!

When I started reading this novella I did not know it was a prequel for Who Fears Death. So as I had always been interested in reading WFD I decided to read it first and then this novella.
She Who Knows is my favorite of the two, this novella felt more cohesive and the characters more real.
I think her writing has improved since WTD but there is something about it that does not click with me.
I still want to give her other works a chance, but not soon.

I've long been a fan of Nnedi Okorafor's work and had a recent social media interaction with her while trying to promote her stories. I mislabeled the category of stories she writes, and she responded negatively. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I no longer feel I can judge this book on its own merits. DNF/3 stars

How have I not read anything by Nnedi Okorafor yet? I was hypnotized. I want to know more. I know this story is a prequel of sorts, and I'm looking forward to finding out more. I'll be sharing about this with my patrons and book club, what a riveting tale.

There was a certain flavoring or spice, a secret ingredient in Who Fears Death that I hadn't seen in some of Okorafor's other books. But I am happy to say that She Who Knows brought that flavor back to my senses, and this little book is a feast! Najeeba's story will grab you and not let go. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

There is such a raw and sweet quality to Okorafor’s work that I can’t describe. This book is beautifully written and, although I have not read Who Fears Death (which I learned it’s related to She Who Knows, after finishing the book), I am able to see the bigger picture this is a part of. I can’t wait to read the next book and then also read Who Fears Death

Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for this e-arc! All opinions are my own.

I'll admit that it was a little weird to request this novella, knowing that it is a prequel to a book I have not read. That said, I've read a few of Okorafor's other books so I was looking forward to her unique brand of science fiction. I definitely got that here. While this book definitely feels like a small piece of something much bigger and leaves a lot of gaps for that other piece to fill, it was nonetheless a captivating read for me. Everything was so clear and vivid in my mind while reading. I loved every aspect of the world-building including the culture of the village, the way that technology worked, the description of the salt lake & salt market, our main character's growth into her powers - everything was just so rich! Okorafor is definitely a voice that I want to continue reading forever.

I tried to get into this book and couldn't, so it was an DNF. Maybe I will try to re-read it at a later date.

I'd like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for this copy of the book for my honest review. She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor is Afro-futuristic fantasy novella set in a re-imagined west African universe. The story follows 13 yr old Najeeba who receives the calling to go out on the salt roads. This throws her world upside down because only men and boys receive the calling. Amazingly her parents allow her to go on the salt roads with her father and brothers. This decision endangers not just her family, but her people and ends up changing the world. This book is a prequel sequel to Who Fears Death which follows the story of Najeeba's daughter Onye. While I didn't read Who Fears Death, I had no issues keeping up with this book, though I now plan on reading it as soon as possible.

This story is not a light easy read but it's so well written and beautifully told. I highly recommend it. Najeeba's bravery and courage were so inspirational. Her refusal to let herself be defined by her culture, religion, family, and friends was motivating. It's hard for me to really get into it without spoilers and I don't want to take it away from the readers (this is a must read) but if you loved Parable of the Sower, then you will love She Who Knows.

There's something in the way Okorafor writes with such economy of words and yet you are easily placed in the middle of the story and see it clearly, you even smell and hear it. So much mystery here that is not fully explained which leaves room for the reader to wonder about the events that occurred to set the stage, the beings and gods/goddesses that are prayed to, their ongoing involvement in society, the gifts and curses they bestow. Najeeba (she who knows) is easy to root for and understand as a girl who does not abide by the rules set for females in her village as she discovers just how far her talents will take her.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the e-copy, this is my honest review.

Najeeba’s coming of age and coming into power story was such a delight to read. From the stunning descriptions of the landscape and Najeeba’s traveling, to the relationships between Najeeba and her family it was a storyworld I would have loved to spend so much longer in, given the opportunity.

This is as the first work I’d read by Okorafor and I’m really looking forward to reading more by her, especially she who knows which is part of the series. I hope it will answer some of my lingering questions about the society, including what is the Cleanser? What are the implications of the Great Book? What happened to the Okeke peoples’ ancestors? And who is Najeeba recounting the story to?
I loved the fairytale quality of the three trips to the market and the fantastic elements of the witches and Najeeba’s powers.
Unfortunately, I found the amount of unchallenged misogyny difficult to read. I would’ve preferred to read a character who was more outwardly critical of the gender-based discrimination she faced.
I found the relationships between Najeeba and her friends Peter and Obi difficult to understand. I could not see why Najeeba had befriended them in the first place. They were unavailable and unsupportive throughout the book. The relationships between Najeeba and her family members, however, felt very realistic with interesting dynamics.
I would say that like me, you could go into this book with no prior knowledge of the series; however, it might be more enjoyable after having read the other books.

I love Nnedi Okorafor's books; they're packed with such cool concepts and the descriptions of the places her characters live are always so vivid. I enjoyed this novella, though I found myself wanting more (perhaps the downside of novellas). The salt lake was amazing, the desert witches, the Paper House, and the funny description of the curmudgeonly archivist (being an archivist myself).

Three and a half
I must start by saying I have not read anything by this author before and this is actually a prequel to a series about this characters daughter. Najeeba is a thirteen year old when this starts living in a post apocalyptic world that takes segregation and racism to the extreme ! Her people are reviled because they apparently betrayed others by appealing to a Goddess. Now their men can sense where the most essential salt can be located but it’s only men who can or is it ?
I really liked Najeeba and thought she felt very mature and caring. I could even understand just how important salt could be in a world that has had technology and yet is now far more primitive and basic. Her hopes and dreams made sense particularly considering just how segregated and apparently abused her people are. This took colour bias and turned it in its head making it seem skin wasn’t important just everything that came before. I felt we got a lot less character development as things progressed and for this reader the spiritual side and just general paranormal aspects weren’t particularly explored. I did turn the pages eagerly I admit but for some reason the ending surprised me as it just suddenly happened ! I think my final thoughts are it definitely caught my interest and if you have read the series that follows than this is definitely worth a read but alas for me not perfect.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

This was a much anticipated read of mine, and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Cannot wait to get myself a physical copy of this!