Well this made me have a new fear. "One Way Witch" by Nnedi Okorafor continues the She Who Knows trilogy (out 29 April 2025).

Having the world forget your daughter existed sounds like a nightmare. But her actions might have saved the world. Najeeba has to live with this knowledge, on top of the horrors she has already experienced. But someone else does remember, the sorcerer who trained Onyesonwu, now will train her. She can turn into a kponyungo, but there is more to learn. And she needs it if she is to kill THAT.

Reasons to read:
-New existential horror
-Narration floored me
-Progression in a way that works for her
-Did not see them coming
-That final talk with that person was so much

Cons:
-I did not need my mind to be aware of something like that happening, makes all those similar moments freak me out just a bit more

I love Nnedi Okorafor’s stories so much, and One Way Witch is no exception. This is the second novella in the She Who Knows series and continues Najeeba’s story. I highly recommend reading Who Fears Death first. I wish I had realized how closely this series follows the events of that novel. As soon as I figured it out, I bought it immediately because I need to know her daughter’s story!

In One Way Witch, I enjoyed watching Najeeba step more fully into her power as a sorceress. The novella leans heavily on showing rather than telling, which made it visually rich but sometimes harder to connect to emotionally, especially during the big confrontation scene. That said, it clearly sets the stage for book three, which I’ll be picking up as soon as it’s released.

Overall, if you love the worlds Nnedi creates, this is another mesmerizing installment. I recommend it for fans of her work and those looking for immersive Africanfuturist storytelling with powerful female leads.

3.5 stars-Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, releasing April 29th!

I had to give less than four stars because I didn't like this one quite as much as She Who Knows, the prequel in this series. This one picks back up with Najeeba quite a while after the events of the first book (this occurs after the events of Who Fears Death-I read that one but quite a while ago and don't remember specifics, but there's a foreword that covers what you need to know included with this volume). This definitely felt like the middle book in a trilogy-the plot is pretty slow-moving and building and covers Najeeba's time training to harness her power and become a sorcerer. Partly due to this it didn't have the same pull as the first volume, although I still love Najeeba as a character and did finish it in a few days. I think the next steps are definitely intriguing enough for me to want to finish the series even if this one didn't grab me the same way as She Who Knows.

Thanks to DAW and Netgalley for this ARC.

I loved the first two books in this series, She who knows and Who Fears Death. The Afrofuturist genre of Okorafor's writing is so unique and gritty. I had first read Who Fears Death for one of my University Literary courses and devoured it. I had never read a book with female rage, sci Fi and African culture mixed into one. Najeeba and Onyesonwu's mother daughter relationship is both intense and enduring. The way Okorafor includes modern day genocide, racism and weaponized rape was heartbreaking.

One Way Witch continues Najeeba's storyline from Who Fears Death. She searches out her daughters teacher Aro to become a sorcerer, and looks to take out the mysterious Cleanser. This felt like an extended epilogue to the ending of this series. It didn't have the same strong story telling as the first two but wraps up a few key points of Najeeba's storyline. The world building is expanded and I do enjoy the magic system in this series. I just wish this had a bit of the same strong direction as the previous two installments.

I look forward to reading more of Okorafor's writing.

3.5 stars, rounded up. Like many middle books in a trilogy, this story was a bit slow as it serves as a bridge in Najeeba's character arc. It covers the time both before and after the events in Who Fears Death, and is focused on Najeeba's healing from the past and working towards her future goals. As always, Okorafor's writing is strong, and I have a feeling the next book will be a fantastic culmination of all this world- and character-building. Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for a digital review copy.

I read One Way Witch because I enjoyed She Who Knows and wanted to read more. If you've read She Who Knows, One Way Witch is the sequel - but in many ways, it is a stand-alone book. There are a few references to Najeeba's daughter, Onyesonwu, but if you haven't read the first volume, you're not missing much; the references fill in any gaps, and other than both being about Najeeba, the two volumes are almost completely separate stories. Onyesonwu changed the world at the end of the first volume, and this volume takes place in the new world.

I was looking forward to One Way Witch, and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't what I was expecting. It didn't grab me the way other books from this author have done, and I'm not quite sure why - just that I kept waiting for something else to happen. I'm not sure what, just that it wasn't what I expected. There was no real action in this novel, just a recounting of events in Najeeba's life - and maybe that's what I was looking for: some grand event. Still, if you enjoy Nnedi Okorafor's writing, this is worth reading.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

Not as good as She Who Knows, not as "bad" as Who Fears Death. We continue onwards with Najeeba, and it starts of interesting enough but the hinted at confrontation with the Cleanser never materializes and instead we have a lot of filler material that doesn't excite or entice as much as She Who Knows managed to do.
Typical middle book situation, alas.

This book and series is something else, in a very good way. Nnedi Okorafor is an auto-read author and in the pantheon of my favorite authors. I read She Who Knows about a year ago and this time took heed to the suggestion to read Who Fears Death before diving into One Way Witch. Such a heart rendering story, so beautiful and tragic. I saw elements of Who Fears Death in Death of the Author and now understand my favorite book by Nnedi (Death of the Author) even better. Najeeba's story isn't over and I want more. I feel like I need to reread She Who Knows with this new context. I'm glad we get resolution with Daib (no spoilers!) but I'm still heartbroken over Onyesonwu. I need the next installment of Najeeba's story, againt the Cleanser masquerade from her home village. I love that she is this powerful witch/sorceress and wish to see her continue what her daughter started in setting things right. I hate Aro and hope that Najeeba and the Ada and Nana the Wise come back together again. Anything Nnedi publishes, I will automatically buy. Just amazing.

One Way Witch shifts the spotlight to Najeeba, offering a more intimate glimpse into her life surrounding the events that led to the transformation of the world—events previously explored in Who Fears Death. This story serves as a transitional chapter for her character, tracing the emotional and spiritual steps she takes toward her future role in a reimagined world.

Rather than a high-stakes narrative, the book leans into introspection. Najeeba spends much of it immersed in learning magic and coming to terms with profound personal loss. The pacing is intentionally measured, echoing her need for space and healing. Despite the quieter plot, her journey remains emotionally rich and purposeful, illustrating how growth often happens in stillness.

Readers following the series will find value in the way it deepens the lore and extends the world-building. Above all, it’s Okorafor’s lyrical writing and nuanced character work that continue to make the story resonate.

I read She Who Knows, then read Who Fears Death, and then read One Way Witch. One Way Witch, as the author explains, assumes familiarity with Who Fears Death, so do yourself the favor and read that first.

In this volume, Najeeba chooses to pursue her powers. It's a story of growth and learning. And I like when a character journeys into their power. The author has woven a fascinating world of characters dealing with trauma and forgotten trauma. As the middle book in a trilogy, it leaves off before the final resolution, but it's clear Najeeba's journey has hit a mid point and the next book will be about action instead of learning.

I'm very curious to watch the events of the next book unfold.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book has so much going for it! Engaging characters, an engaging plot with great pacing, a classic trope to follow to conclusion. I could not put the book down. It falls short of 5 stars due to the ending that seemed very, very abrupt. Seems like there will be another book, which is great

I really enjoyed this book. Nnedi Okorafor has a really unique voice and her Africanfuturist stories are always interesting. In this one we, we come back to familiar characters and stories but from a perspective that sheds new light on them. My only issue with it was that it ends very abruptly. It sets up the next book in the series but it also felt a little unfinished.

"Set in the universe Africanfuturist luminary Nnedi Okorafor first introduced in the World Fantasy Award-winning Who Fears Death, One Way Witch is the second in the She Who Knows trilogy.

The world has forgotten Onyesonwu.

As a teen, Najeeba learned to become the beast of wind, fire and dust: the kponyungo. When that took too much from her, including the life of her father, she let it all go, and for a time, she was happy - until only a few years later, when the small, normal life she'd built was violently destroyed.

Now in her forties and years beyond the death of her second husband, Najeeba has just lost her beloved daughter. Onyesonwu saved the world. Najeeba knows this well, but the world does not. This is how the juju her daughter evoked works. One other person who remembers is Onyesonwu's teacher Aro, a harsh and hard-headed sorcerer. Najeeba has decided to ask him to teach her the Mystic Points, the powerful heart of sorcery. There is something awful Najeeba needs to kill and the Mystic Points are the only way. Najeeba is truly her daughter's mother.

When Aro agrees to help, Najeeba is at last ready to forge her future. But first, she must confront her past - for certain memories cannot lie in unmarked graves."

This series seriously has cover art to die for.

While the first book in the She Who Knows trilogy took place before the events of Who Fears Death, One Way Witch jumps ahead to chronicle what happens to Najeeba after her daughter’s sacrifice that rewrote the world. Having lost her husband years ago and now her daughter as well, Najeeba is one of the few people who still remembers, grieves for, and rages at the truth of the past. But even those whose memories were overwritten are still marked by the traumas they endured, and driven by motivations they can’t fully understand.

Now in her 40s, Najeeba decides to finally embrace her identity as a sorceress, and begins rigorous training under her daughter’s former teacher. As Najeeba steps into her immense power, she makes for a reckless and rebellious student, always seeking to push limits and willing to suffer any consequences. At the same time, Najeeba reckons with how to heal the pains of her past and builds a new love to carry her into her future. One Way Witch is far from action-packed, but this isn’t a weakness. Okorafor uses this novella as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of Najeeba in a way that feels like an important bridge between the child we met in She Who Knows and the sorceress she’s becoming heading into the trilogy’s conclusion.

While I read the first novella She Who Knows last year, I made the mistake of not reading the companion story Who Fears Death in anticipation of this one. One Way Witch follows the protagonist from She Who Knows but occurs after the events of Who Fears Death and there is a fair bit lost in translation if you skip that one.

There is a massive time jump between the first novella and this one, and Najeeba and the world we discovered in the previous novella have both changed drastically. Najeeba has lost the optimism of youth, and in her middle-age she deals a lot with trauma and survivor’s guilt, grief over a life once lived and people once loved. In this way, it can be a hard book to read but I could actively feel Najeeba’s determination to direct her grief and her anger, her desire to change the world is palpable.

This isn’t my favourite in the series but I still enjoyed it. The world-building and social commentary that Okorafor manages to cram into these novellas is incredible as always.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed book 1, and as such I thought I was going to enjoy book 2. I was wrong. I am honestly not quite sure how that even happened. The drop off in writing from book 1 to 2 was extremely steep, or perhaps I didn't notice the quality in book 1 because the plot was intriguing. In book 2, the plot (what little there was) was not nearly as eye catching as the first book.

Najeeba (after a lot happens which is glossed over in a short forward/summary that made me only more confused) attempts to become a sorceress. The narration of it feels more like a script than a book, which is likely why my opinion was so low. Moreover, up until about halfway through the book, nothing really happens. She 'studies' but we aren't exactly told how.

The one major plotline was motivating but, in the end, fell flat. It did not end how the tone of the story made it seem like it would. Not even in a "ah-ah" kind of way, or a even a "twist". I'm fine with forgiveness and all that, but even after doing so, it doesn't feel like Najeeba was fine with ti, which was... strange, to say the least.

This book, as others have said, feels like set up for book 3. A bridge of sorts. It would have served better being longer, or far shorter. The plot (or at least what I assume will be the plot) for next book is to take out a specific person. This is a person that is mentioned twice throughout the book, once in the first half, once in the second, and both times with great amounts of hatred. So much hatred that they should have been a larger part of this book.

All in all, the pacing at least was good enough to turn the pages, and I did finish this one rather quickly, I think in three days or so. I know this is a complimentary series to another of Okorafor's series, but after this one, I unfortunately don't have any interest in checking them out.

This is #2 in the She Who Knows series, but unlike the first, this one really does rely more on the events of the Who Fears Death trilogy. I have not read the first trilogy, but had no problem with She Who Knows, but was often confused in this one. It is still well worth the read, but I'm sure would have far greater resonance if the first series had been read.
This is also a much quieter, less action-filled story than She Who Knows. There is great contemplation as Najeeba decides to become more than she is, and study to be a witch. Most of the book is full of her learning about herself, and her relationships with others. Okorafor always shows great depth in her writing, so it is once again a satisfying experience, but as another reviewer said, more of a bridge between the two series. Worthwhile.

I had a hard time coming up with a rating for this book bc while I loved having a middle aged heroine instead of a teenager, nothing happens. Nothing at all. The villain (?) that the book sets out as her goal to kill gets mentioned two more times in the entire book and only appears once. The Cleanser is never explained as to what it is, what it does or why she wants to kill it; in fact at one point the main character says she's also not going to research any of that either. So. Confused.

I started this series not realizing it's a companion series to another book, the author does a relatively good job with the foreword setting up for the events but it's hard to say if I would have gotten more out of this book if I'd read the other OR if that book is equally frustrating with over explaining / telling instead of showing some things and absolutely refusing to give even the barest of explanations for others. There's lots of the main character going I understand now or I see now but no attempt to also clue the reader in while at the same time continuously reminding the reader that her husband and child are both dead and that she's grieving instead of just showing the character grieving. There's also lots of large time gaps in the story, similar to the first novella.

It seems to be setting up for the main event to kick off immediately in the third book which gives the feeling that this book should have been a full length novel but instead is just the first half of a book sent out on its own.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy!

A wonderful trip, if suffering a bit from Middle Book Syndrome. While everything in this story must happen for what will surely be an epic climax in the closing volume of the trilogy, much of it is Najeeba's introspection.

Nnedi Okorafor continues the story of Najeeba, mother of Onyesonwu, the protagonist of Who Fears Death. We met Najeeba in She Who Knows, growing and beginning to come into her magic. She was always destined to be a sorcerer, though she is warned time and again that she is too reckless.

Then the world was remade and Najeeba is one of the few who remembers what it was like Before. In the now, she is missing her daughter and coming to terms with the disorientation of her new life, while still avoiding dealing with the trauma from Before. There's always been something that Najeeba's neighbors (and family) have thought her odd, which adds to some isolation. That's a lot of time to think. Some relief comes in the form of a glassmaker, a man affected by the Before he does not remember, but has shaped him just the same.

I think a lot of the nuance in this book might be lost on younger readers, though Okorafor's books are really for all ages. Finding yourself is relatable to many. Finding yourself in your forties is not necessarily so.

One of the things I love about this book is it approaches "fixing" time from a perspective we don't normally see: what happened when it was done. Trauma from racism and abuse and slavery takes its toll on the body and mind, even though the events that caused them were undone. The body and heart remember.

The revelation of how the world of the Before came to be and knowledge of an evil that is still out there, was intense and scary and filled me with awe. The scale of what Najeeba's power and recklessness wreaks is amazing and sets up a future (and the next book) well. I'm looking forward to the next books and reread of Who Fears Death.

I really enjoyed this. As much as I loved Onyesonwu's story, Najeeba's was always my favorite. It was great to really see her advance her skills. And I've always loved reading about adults who are already confident in themselves. While I loved reading it, when I reflect on the book, I don't feel that there was really a plot line to it. Najeeba learned and grew as a person but she didn't do much more than that. The beginning of the book introduces a mystery: Who/What is the Cleanser? And we get no progress on that mystery at all by the end of the book. And yet, there weren't any points in the story where I felt myself bored. In a way, this felt more like a novella that you would read between books: like expanding on a montage scene.