1848, The Yoruba Kingdom, West Africa. Fourteen-year-old Ṣìkẹ́mi longs for the freedom enjoyed by the boys of her village. All she wants to do is be like them, and her defiant behaviour is always getting her into trouble. She cannot understand why her lot should be one of marriage and motherhood, when she is just as good at hunting and bushcraft as they are.

When the peace of the village is shattered by the arrival of slave raiders, Ṣìkẹ́mi's frustrations are thrown into sharp relief. Torn away from her family and traded as a slave, she is bought by Madam Tinúbú, a rich and powerful woman at the heart of the West African slave trade. Ṣìkẹ́mi's only concern now is to stay alive.

By chance, Ṣìkẹ́mi comes to Madam's attention after saving her from an attempt on her life. As a result, her capricious owner spots an opportunity to use her for her own ends. Ṣìkẹ́mi is given the chance to train as the warrior she has always longed to be... and she begins to lay plans to find her way back to her parents and younger brother.

I loved Florence Ọlájídé's fascinating memoir, Coconut, about how her life has been shaped to give her a foothold in two cultures - Britain and Nigeria. So when I heard she had written her first novel, The Stolen Daughter, I could not wait to read it.

The Stolen Daughter is the epic story of Ṣìkẹ́mi, a young girl snatched from her family and forced into slavery in nineteenth century West Africa. Ṣìkẹ́mi is a bold and courageous character, and Ọlájídé uses her struggles beautifully to fashion a tale that totally immerses you in the life of a young woman swept along on a tide that she cannot control. Ṣìkẹ́mi refuses to be cowed, and her intelligence, intuition, and sheer force of will are powerful weapons in the long game she must play. At times she does get lost in the manipulative schemes of others, which allows the story to take lovely twists and turns, especially when it comes to friendship, the possibility of love, and the things she is prepared to do to win her freedom. I adored her, taking her completely into my heart, which tied me completely to every one of the triumphs and tragedies that mark her journey.

Through Ṣìkẹ́mi's story, Ọlájídé touches on so many aspects of the history of this region, primarily around the slave trade and the relationships between the divided ethnic groups of the Yoruba Kingdom and the 'white man'. Rather than follow the well worn path of a slave taken across the ocean to toil for the British empire, or in the Americas, Ọlájídé turns her eyes to the workings of the slave trade within Africa itself, which makes this an eye-opening read.

Ọlájídé delves into the mechanics of slave raids; the vicious infighting between tribes; and the enormous wealth garnered from the slave trade that fed the political ambitions of families in power. It is horribly fascinating to read about, and she does not shy away from addressing the complicity of the West Africans who exploited their own people for personal gain, nor the excruciating complexities of the relationships between them and Britain that led to the eventual formation of Nigeria.

There is an intriguing thread to the novel which explores the role of women in Yoruba culture, which I found really thought provoking. There are many powerful female characters in the story, some of whom are intimately involved in supporting the political machinations of their families as financial backers through the slave trade. And yet, they are never allowed to exceed their 'place' in the patriarchal structure they inhabit. This is strictly a man's world, and the women are never allowed to forget this, often through violent means. Much to ponder upon there...

And speaking of pondering, I highly recommend a read of Ọlájídé's poignant reflections on the legacy of the slave trade today, particularly the stigma that still abounds in Nigeria in respect of families who were touched by its reach.

The Stolen Daughter is an impressive fiction debut. It is a fine example of my absolute favourite kind of historical novel - one which totally consumes you with a well-written story, teaches you about uncomfortable history, and makes you take a good hard look at the lessons the past can teach us.

A new author and genre for me, I’ve never read anything like it and was engrossed all the way. Admittedly there are a fair few triggers and gut wrenching moments across the pages. It’s written beautifully, with grace, it’s raw and emotional. Such a fight for survival, with warrior battles, slave auctions, it’s very descriptive with some interesting and disturbing characters. The Stolen Daughter is very much fighting to find her way.
Do check the trigger warnings, otherwise a recommend 5 Star read!

Mid-19th century West Africa is at the height of the slave trade. Villagers are constantly raided by enemy tribes of captives to sell to the white man, and one evening, our protagonist Ṣìkẹ́mi’s village is raided. She is captured along with her neighbors, and she is sold to Madam Tinúbú, a powerful woman, who is the wife and sister of kings. Desperate to see her parents and brother again, Ṣìkẹ́mi is determined to survive this life of slavery and make her way home.

This was an interesting historical story, and since it is based on a real person, it made me eager to read the actual history of this person. Unfortunately, the history was the only interesting thing about this book. Ṣìkẹ́mi is very courageous and skilled, and always stays true to herself, but all of this is told to us from her own thoughts and actions. We are told that she does brave things, things no one else would do, but we don’t really see how others view her or why they respect her so much. The only times that it feels emotional is when Ṣìkẹ́mi is remembering her family, otherwise it feels like she’s just moving through the story.

There are a lot of sudden time jumps, and not enough action on page. We’re told about the raids that she conducts and the dangerous situations she’s in, but it never really felt like she was in danger. Actually, there was only one time, when one of Ṣìkẹ́mi’s plans utterly fails, but even the aftermath of that incident is a letdown because what happens to her is completely out of her hands.

I love this story for telling me about a part of Nigerian history that I didn’t know before, and for having an inspirational main character. I really enjoyed the writing style (it was very memoir-ish, and it made me curious to pick up this author’s memoir), but I just wanted more action and passion from the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital ARC.

It was 1848 in a small West African village when fourteen year old Ṣìkẹ́mi woke to the smell of smoke and she realised her village was on fire. Rushing to escape, desperate to find her mother, father and little brother, she wasn't able to fulfil that wish before she was taken by slave raiders. Marching through the forests for days and weeks, eventually they arrived at the port where slaves were being sold. Her fate lay in the hands of Madam Tinúbú, a rich and powerful woman - at least she didn't end up on the American ships where she'd never see her homeland again.

Ṣìkẹ́mi was a determined young woman with an unbreakable spirit, never one to toe the line. After saving a young boy from a deadly snake bite, she was granted her wish to become a warrior. She knew it would keep her safe to be able to defend herself. It would also help her achieve her dream of escape. Many years passed as Ṣìkẹ́mi, still a slave, despaired of ever seeing her family again. Would she manage to escape the confines of slavery? Were her family even alive? And who could she trust?

The Stolen Daughter is my first read by Florence Olajide and it's a gripping story of courage, determination, fear and strength. In a man's world, and a world of slavery, women were chattels, never worth much. But the hardship that Ṣìkẹ́mi suffered was real. The Stolen Daughter is inspired by true events and while heartbreaking in part, I felt admiration for the young woman who had lost her family and her freedom in the worst possible way. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

In a world devoid of free will, a rebellion simmers. Ṣìkẹ́mi, a young woman yearning for autonomy, finds herself caught between the iron grip of fate and the flickering hope of freedom.
"The Stolen Daughter" by Florence Ọlájídé is an inspiring historical fiction set in Yorubaland (modern Nigeria) starts in the late 1840s into late 1850s. This novel explores how a woman, Ṣìkẹ́mi, transcends societal limitations and transforms from a menial tasks servant into a warrior, navigating a world that undervalues her strength and yearning for freedom.

This novel is about Ṣìkẹ́mi's journey into enslavement under a rich Madam in Yorubaland, a long way from her home. Though forced into servitude, Ṣìkẹ́mi's bravery and intuition shine through. She manages to elevate her skills from daily tasks to those of a warrior through a grant from the Madam for saving her live. The Madam grant Ṣìkẹ́mi's wish, sensing her usefulness as the Madam's warrior. Even when she grows powerful enough to inflict serious harm, she chooses to minimize pain to others when faced with Madam's harsh demands. Ṣìkẹ́mi yearns to return home, and though her path is perilous, the hope of returning fuels her determination. Her journey is fraught with tumultuous events, but Ṣìkẹ́mi persistently holds onto her inherent goodness. A quality that lead her to the reward that awaits her at the end of the journey.

With a captivating writing style, Florence crafts an unforgettable emotional journey. She portrays a complex character, Ṣìkẹ́mi, navigating a world steeped in Nigeria's tumultuous history. The novel delves deeply into the power dynamics of enslavement and a patriarchal society. While some readers may find themes of violence, misogyny, and attempted rape triggering, the book sheds light on the harsh realities of human slavery and colonization. Ultimately, it serves as an important reminder of the lasting impact these systems have on the people they exploit.

Ṣìkẹ́mi's remarkable journey exemplifies the power of resilience in the face of societal constraints. Her transformation underscores the potential for women to defy limitations and carve their own path, even in a world that undervalues their strength. Ultimately, Ṣìkẹ́mi's story resonates with the enduring human desire for freedom and the unwavering spirit that can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Prepare to be swept away by a powerful historical coming-of-age story. If you crave tales of resilience, hope, and the fight for freedom, this book won't let you down.

The overall storyline was great, especially being inspired by true events! Definitely a part of history I was unfamiliar with. Lots of action and lots of heartache. I gave it a 3 star because it seemed a little choppy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book. This is the first book I’ve read by Florence Olajide and I was intrigued by the cover and the title. I enjoyed it so much and recommend it to everyone. Great read!

The Stolen Daughter is a gripping, unputdownable tale of courage, survival, and the unwavering bond of family. Florence Olajide has penned a novel that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, leaving readers with a profound sense of hope and admiration for the strength of women throughout history.

Beyond being a tragic story about slavery, this is a story about never giving up. Sikemi gets taken from her village in the middle of the night and sold into slavery. Never once does she give up. She uses every opportunity to learn and grown stronger. Despite being in slavery she finds herself working for wealthy women. She finds ways to get into their good graces and becomes a warrior so she can never be defenseless again. Throughout Sikemi's journey in slavery she finds herself being taken advantage of but also constantly learning. In her heart she knows she will be free one day and fights daily to get there.

Ѕeттιng вacĸ тo 1848 Weѕтern Aғrιca, тнe ѕтory ιѕ oғ a 14 year old тrιвal gιrl, Ѕιĸeмι. Ѕн. waĸeѕ υp тo ғιnd нer vιllage вυrnт , ғaмιly loѕт & нerѕelғ вeιng тaĸen aѕ a ѕlave. Wιтн ѕo мυcн ғear & тearѕ ιn нer eyeѕ , ѕнe ιѕ вeιng нarraѕѕed вy тнe people wнo тooĸ aѕ ѕlave & ιѕ мade тo worĸ aѕ per тнeм.

Ѕιĸeмι waѕ alѕo engaged тo вe мarrιed тo Ғlorence wнo waѕ alѕo caυgнт wιтн нιм. Deѕpιтe Ѕιĸeмι'ѕ aттeмpтѕ тo rυn away wнen ѕнe waѕ capтιvaтed, ѕнe ғaιlѕ & ιѕ ѕтιll ѕold ; тнιѕ waѕ тнe laѕт тιмe ѕнe ѕaw Ғlorence & тнoυgнт тнaт нe waѕ a coward. Ѕιĸeмι нad вeen тo ғoreѕт нυnтιng & learnιng aвoυт ιт a loт wιтн нer ғaтнer lιĸe oтнer вoyѕ.

Нowever, ѕнe ιѕ deтerмιned тo мeeт нer ғaмιly, ѕo wнen ѕнe planѕ тo rυn ѕнe geтѕ a cнance тo ѕave тнe lιғe oғ нer Мadaм & ιn reтυrn ѕнe ιѕ allowed тo вecoмe a warrιor. Тнιѕ вecoмeѕ нer ғιrѕт vιcтory & ѕтep тowardѕ ғιndιng нer ғaмιly.

Тнιѕ вooĸ ιѕ ғυll oғ нardѕнιpѕ ғaced вy тнe Aғrιcanѕ ιn тнaт тιмe. Тнere ιѕ a loт oғ ѕlavery мenтιoned & нow ѕlaveѕ were вoυnd тo ѕpend тнeιr wнole lιғe lιĸe тнaт wιтнoυт a ѕιgn oғ тнeιr ғaмιlιeѕ. Ι don'т тнιnĸ ιғ тнere were тrυely any ѕlaveѕ lιĸe Ѕιĸeмι wнo coυld вυy тнeιr ғreedoм ғroм тнeιr Мaѕтerѕ вeғore ιт'ѕ тoo laтe.

Тнιѕ вooĸ caмe aѕ a very eхcepтιon тo мe aѕ Ι never read ѕoмeтнιng lιĸe тнaт вeғore нowever, ιт waѕ тoo мυcн dragged. Ι ғelт lιĸe ιт waѕ leadιng nowнere & тнen ѕυddenly ѕнe ғιndѕ нer ғaмιly. Ι waѕ eхpecтιng a loт ғroм тнe вooĸ.

I enjoyed this book. I found the names of the characters hard to follow including their genders. but I really enjoyed the book.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. Sikemi is just a young teen when she is kidnapped from her home in Africa and sold into slavery. She longs to get back to them, but meanwhile she becomes a badass warrior on behalf of her owner. I really thought she was a fierce woman who used all of her strengths despite her circumstances. She still cared for others in her tough circumstances which made it hard for her to escape her captors at various times.

I thought this book was generally good historical fiction. It is a plot-driven narrative. The events start quickly within the first few pages of the first chapter -- Ṣìkẹ́mi's capture into slavery is the first thing that happens. It's unbelievable how Ṣìkẹ́mi survives and maintains hope to be reunited with her family. She becomes a warrior and conducts slave raids for her mistress, which adds a cruel and heartbreaking component to the story. However, the author does not take much time in descriptions or relationship-building in the first part of the story. Although I was invested in Ṣìkẹ́mi as a main character, I wished for more development between her and the other characters in the story. The side characters were a bit one-dimensional: the slave owner/tyrant mistress, the confidant, the former romantic interest, the man vying for her attention, various slaves who are jealous of her success and favor, etc. Without this character development to anchor the story, I began to lose interest in the second half of the book, which is filled with political conflict and surmounting tension between those in power in the region. Yet this is a narrative that I'm not familiar with (the experience of slaves on the African continent in the later 19th century) -- an important narrative -- and I am glad that I read this book.

Amazing story with incredible eye for details! I absolutely devoured this book, The main character Sikemis is a force of her own will and power. The strength, courage and resolve is something to envy. I loved this girl from start to finish!! Epic story and the telling of this story is masterfully written. I felt completely submerged in the setting and felt as though I was watching a movie I could not take my eyes from!

Ṣìkẹ́mi has always fought for her dreams. For the first 14 years of her life, in mid 1800’s West Africa, that meant fighting to be allowed to hunt and be part of the bush despite the village elders disapproval. After her village is raided and she is taken as a slave it now means fighting for her life, her freedom, and if the rumours are true, getting back to her family. After saving her Madams life, she is granted one wish, and she wishes to train as a warrior, to better aid her plan to be free.
I was entranced by this book from the start. Ṣìkẹ́mi is a formidable character and her development as she goes from a teenager in a small village to a warrior leader is amazing. When I started I did not realize this was based on true events and a real person, my own fault I read the first half of the description and knew I wanted to read it and didn’t finish, now knowing that I love this book even more. Florence Olajide made the politics of 1850’s West Africa, with an incredible amount of players, understandable and did not sacrifice the pace or the soul of the story to have it in there. A remarkable story for any lover of historical fiction and anyone who loves books about stand out women of history.
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for letting me review #thestolendaughter
Look for it May 31 2024
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In mid-19th century West Africa, teenage Ṣìkẹ́mi is an outlier in her village. Unlike the other girls, she wants to train as a warrior. But when her village is attacked by slave traders, and she is captured, her life changes beyond belief.

Her new existence in the home of major slave trader madam Tinúbú is one of unwilling service and hard graft, but Ṣìkẹ́mi never loses sight of her ultimate goal, which is to be reunited with her family.

An unexpected opportunity to gain favour with her employer comes when she discloses an assassination plot to Madam Tinúbú. She is given the opportunity to become part of the slave trader's elite personal guard. But how will Ṣìkẹ́mi use the new freedom that she has been given?

This historical novel brings to life a very different time and place from our own introducing us to the culture of one part of 19th century Africa. The characters are well drawn and vividly portrayed. This one is worth a read.

Book title:The Stolen Daughter
Author:Florence Olajide
Publisher:Bookoutore
Reviewed by:Rutendo Chitondwe aka viveonbooks
A captivating and compelling read from Florence Olajide that is sure to take Africans back in time,either to marvel and cherish some of their rich traditions and culture and/or to simply reflect on how far they’ve come and grown as a continent.On the same note,the read also conscientizes Africans not to forget their history,not so as to harbor animosity towards their past oppressors,African rulers and white settlers alike but to heal and grow from it as a continent.
Florence Olajide ‘The Stolen Daughter’ is a historical fiction about a young girl,AdeSikemi affectionately referred to as “Sikemi” sojourning through Yorubaland currently known as Nigeria after being captured by two different tribes and enslaved by the people of her own kind for years only to taste freedom years later.
The plot opens up with our protagonist,Sikemi a young girl at the brink of adolescence and her being her father’s former“pride and joy” that is,before the birth of his son and her brother Kunle,spent most of her time in her father’s male company.This led to her adopting male mannerisms and being more adventurous like a boy as she’d venture out into the forest to hunt,just to list one of the activities that boys took part in,in the company of her younger brother and only friend after being isolated alienated by her cousin sisters because she was different and preferred more rigorous activities,much to the dismay of her aunts who deemed this as an excuse to desert and abscond her feminine duties out of pure and utter laziness.Little did they know that Sikemi’s nature and the “little bush training,”as I’d like to call it,she got from her father would contribute immensely as it became her lifeline during her enslavement as well as the key to her survival and ultimately, her long sought freedom.

Though the author’s main thrust is slavery,which actually flows throughout the whole prose,Florence seized the opportunity to paint a picture for the readers of what life was like for the African woman before colonisation and maybe what it still was during and after it.She does so through most of the female characters,however Sikemi is the author’s main vessel or instrument rather as she highlights a number of issues such as female emancipation, male chauvinism, ,gender discrimination,polygamy,sisterhood,deception just to mention but a few as only a select few shall be discussed in detail below.
In the African context as well as culture,a young girl would be betrothed to a young man her or near her age,even older by eons and when she becomes of age she’d be escorted to her potential husband’s place as the bride price would’ve already been paid for.The same is true in the character Sikemi’s case as she is enjoying her life and her boy-like leisure escapades,she finds herself betrothed to Folarin,a sickeningly handsome yet arrogant young lad, by her father and uncles right under her nose,that too without her knowledge and consent only to find out through the grape vine especially from her potential would be- in-laws referring to her as ‘our daughter-in-law’ out of the blue.This act was chauvinistic in nature as a woman,in this case our protagonist,Sikemi was never asked for her consent or at least allowed to voice out what or whom she preferred.

On that note,the author highlighted the theme of female emancipation at some part of the novel.In my opinion,the author meticulously,maybe in a way only I noticed juxtaposed the oppression that came from the male chauvinistic nature versus female emancipation.I believe this is true in the case of the characters Sikemi,Madame Efunporoye Tinubu and Madame Efunsetan Aniwura.The author used these three characters to highlight that women during those strict times were required and expected to be more ‘conservative,’they defied the odds and participated in what were labeled male activities and were only reserved for men.For instance,Sikemi after almost being molested by Madame Tinubu’s foreman decided she’d train to be a female warrior like her initial captors and be able to defend herself from lustful men.Her training ultimately made her stand out from other slaves and was the key to her freedom later on,although it took years. This fact reminds me of how the Israelites took forty years to reach Canaan compared to the actual time they were supposed to take.The training Sikemi got,freed her from two bondages with the first one being male domination and slavery.In Madam Tinubu and Madam Efunsetan’s case these two thrived in the world of business by conducting slave raids on other tribes,though it is a social vice, that was their strongest arsenal in the world of politics,that was labeled a “man’s only” playing field,which they dominated and actually gained a firm footing in.On the contrary their successful slave rackets annoyed a lot their male adversaries as they were constantly plotted and conspired against,simply because they had enormous wealth,wealth that attracted power,power that could be used against them(male chiefs and generals) when the need arose.
Readers are simply going to fall in love with this prose as it is written in the most beautiful way possible,though it is a fiction it is written as honestly as possible and the details aren’t far fetched.

Overall,the prose was based on slavery but the author indirectly inspired women to become all they can be.This was a good read for me as it motivated me a lot to not let society set boundaries for me,but rather let the sky be my limit.I hope this novel will inspire others in the same way.
I rate this book a 6 out for five stars as it fast paced,unputdownable,straight forward and very much enjoyable.
Thank you Net Galley, Bookoutore Publishing and lots of love from the author Florence Ojalide.I look forward to reading more from Florence Ojalide!

Very interesting read. It gives great insight into slave trading. Many things I was not aware of. Very surprised to learn of the different tribes trading other tribes into slavery. Recommend. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

A wonderful and incredible story of a woman fighting for her freedom from slavery in Africa. Unlike other stories about slavery, this shows the moral ambiguity of a slave enslaving others to work for her freedom and the participation of the people in Africa in the slave trade rather than blaming it all on Europeans.

Western Africa, 1848. In a small Yorùbá village, fourteen-year-old Ṣìkẹ́mi refuses to live by the elders’ rules. All she wants is to learn how to hunt and defend herself, like the boys. But her father is quick to remind her that soon she’ll be expected to grow up and marry.
But Ṣìkẹ́mi’s world shatters when her village is ambushed by slave raiders. She watches in horror as she’s separated from her family before she is sold to Madam Tinúbú, a rich and powerful slave trader. With her heart in pieces, Ṣìkẹ́mi’s days are filled with back-breaking labour and constant fear of brutal punishment.
WOW! If this isn't a book to brag about I don't know what is... I started it late last night. Never did I anticipate I would be closing the book at 1am left in complete shock... A book I’ll be recommending to all!