Oh Akwaeke Emezi, they will never make me hate you!!

They have done it again with this luscious and heart bending book - a fantastical coming of age story situated in rich Nigerian culture and folklore.

Ultimately, this book is about family and the bonds that hold us together even when it feels like the world (and the otherworldly) is trying it’s best to pull you apart.

What an urgent and important story for young readers and adult readers alike. The idea that what we are born into doesn’t have to define who we are, that the journey of our siblings doesn’t have to be the journey we take as well, that our parents can be flawed and we can still be strong, and that by holding true to what we know is right we will survive what feels unsurvivable.

The journey of Somadina as she seeks her beloved twin, all the while surrounded in so many expectations of her (whether intended to be encouraging or disparaging) is familiar to those of us who have experienced the best friend that is a sibling. But the other members of her family and community are each deeply rich with clear focus that drives the plot of this book forward as well as the relationships.

I have never read a book by Emezi that I wasn’t moved by and this is no exception. They have an unmatched way of capturing their readers in their stories and keeping us focused that is uniquely theirs.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy, what a joy and privilege to read!

Akwaeke Emezi is such an inspiring writer, and her forthcoming book Somadina is a ❕phenomenal❕addition to the world of young adult literature. Somadina is what Emezi calls “village girl fantasy.” Inspired by precolonial Igboland—Somadina is full of spirituality, deities, dibịas, and of course magic✨The book follows Somadina, a young girl on a journey to save her twin as their newfound gifts present unforeseen dangers—familially, communally, & spiritually.

I adore the connection Emezi creates between Somadina and her twin Jayaike, the depth & beauty in their relationship alone had me hooked. There is something so profound & beautiful about the idea of sharing your soul with another, and Emezi deepens that with magic and twin connections. I love the magic system, I love learning more about Igbo spirituality, I love the limitless love and power between Somadina & Jayaike.

I find this book beautifully illustrates the idea of people being fearful of what they don’t understand, and the dangerous effects that has on our world. The world is too big and beautiful to contain ourselves to small boxes, and this book prompts us to look for more, to consume other perspectives, cultures, & ways of being. Such a magical piece of work, and I’m SO excited for its release!

My one critique is I felt the section after the oracle began to feel a bit rushed and found myself wishing there was a little bit more in between there and Somadina running from Nkadi. I felt like what the oracle said and the subsequent manifestation of it happened too quickly for my reader brain.

Overall, my rating is 4 1/2 stars, phenomenal read!

I’m always in awe of Emezi’s ability to translate the grim truths of our world into magic, and their commitment to acknowledging horror even when writing for young people.

I tore through this book — truly couldn’t slow my eyes down enough at many points! A tale of chosen family and the bonds blood cannot break, Emezi spins a yarn fit for a bedtime story — one that begs recounting by a griot to keep the lore alive.


Grateful my first ARC could be for my favorite author! Thx NetGalley

I loved this fast-paced YA fantasy inspired by West Africa and Igbo culture. In this world Somadina and her twin brother Jayaike are united in a bond more unshakable than blood. When the Split happened, every human being was given magical gifts that manifest at puberty, and anyone who couldn't handle the magic didn't survive. Dibia are beings with more than one magical ability who are exiled from the community to live in the Spirit Forest.

Somadina's mother wanted children so badly after miscarriages that she made a deal with a god and didn't fulfill her end of the bargain. Her favorite child, a dibia, is stolen from her, and she heaps resentment on the remaining twins. But then it soon becomes apparent that they are different. Their bodies don't develop in puberty and their gifts appear late. But the twins also have more than one gift and aren't dibias. They are something worse, more powerful, and their mother comes to see them as abominations.

Until the day Jayaike is stolen from them by a being who wants their power for his own, and Somadina will do anything to get him back.

I loved the characters in this even if they could often be unlikable. Somadina was brash and reckless, and had a bad habit of not following instructions and not telling people things from her visions that could have been important to the mission. But at heart this was a story of exiles with a dash of romance, the love of twins, complicated family relationships, and surviving in the liminal spaces when you don't belong anywhere else.

The worldbuilding was also fascinating and drew with rich color and detail from Igbo culture, down to the foods of the culture. I was riveted from start to finish.

Highly recommend. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy.

4.5/5. I’ve been a fan of Emezi since I read Pet and not a book of theirs has disappointed me. The way they write with such intention and not a word is meant to be missed. This is YA but the themes definitely skew adult as it’s very much coming of age and understanding the world outside your small family bubble. I loved the magic, I loved the twins, I love the best friend. The West African culture and mythology is so strong and I could imagine the world so well. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.

While I enjoyed the magic and mythology part of this book, something felt lacking. Emezi's writing was wonderful as always and still felt impactful even in a short book like this. I gave this one 3/5 stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc

I normally don’t enjoy fantasy but I really appreciate Akeaeke Emezi’s work so I gave this a try. It is a work of art. This book could easily be turned into a movie. It’s so immersive without being overly descriptive. You can feel Somadina’s worries, heartbreak, and suffering right along with her.

Every time Akwaeke Emezi writes something new, I know I’m in for something extraordinary. Somadina is no exception - it’s a testament to their genius, and I’m constantly in awe of their ability to weave magic through words.

The prose flows like the most stunning river you’ve ever seen, and from the very first page, I was swept away. The story grips you tightly, immersing you completely in the world they’ve created, and I devoured it at every opportunity.

What makes Somadina even more special is how it draws from Igbo mythology and ontology, grounding the narrative in a rich cultural and philosophical tradition. The way Akwaeke brings these elements to life feels both fresh and timeless, offering a window into a world that is rarely explored in children’s literature - one that feels deeply important and necessary.

I’m so glad this book exists, especially for children, especially because of the representation it brings to the table. It’s the kind of story that will inspire and uplift, leaving a lasting impact on readers young and old.

Once again, the small god has graced us with their brilliance, and I continue to stan.

I loved this book! This author never disappoints. The setting/world building, the characters, the magic, all worked to fully immerse me in the story being told.

Somadina is an incredible fantasy story with magical writing and an amazing journey about family, faith, and power. I loved her bond with her twin, her rage and dedication. I don't know how to describe the intensity. You'll just have to read it for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Huge thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Awaeke Emezi's team for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Somadina in exchange for an honest review!

Had it not been for a series of migraines, I fully believe I could've finished this book in one sitting. I was so invested and engaged almost immediately upon starting Somadina. Emezi has an immense talent for being able to given lore and world exposition without it feeling dull and heavy. They're also so gifted when it comes to crafting character emotion and motive, weaving into dialogue that hits deeply. There were moments when I wish I could take a sentence straight out of the book and just burn it into my brain forever.

I really appreciate how streamlined the book is as well. It's about 300 pages yet doesn't feel nearly that long. The pacing for the majority of Somadina is near perfect to me. I also didn't mind the romance in this either, which is usually a miss for me in my fantasy novels.

This was nearly a 5 star read for me, but was eventually lowered to a 4 star because it hit a plot trope that I personally am not a fan of and that is the "I refuse to use my powers in one situation because I don't want to hurt someone" even when it makes zero logical sense for what's happening on page. While the context around the reason for the character's hesitance is understandable and does an okay job of trying to justify her reason, it really annoyed me given the situation in which they drew the line. It felt less like something the character would do because it was in character and more so because we needed to get to the next plot point of the book.

awesome magic vivid vibes cool found family everything that makes a story great is in here. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Somadina is filled with strong, magical writing and very realistic and unique characters. I enjoyed being immersed in this world with interesting lore and strong Igbo culture. There hasn’t been a novel by Akwaeke Emezi that I haven’t liked and this is no exception. I do think I would’ve enjoyed this book more if it was a bit longer. I think the plot had the makings of a great epic journey where we could spend even more time with the characters and the history and the climax of the conflict. That being said, Emezi managed to pack so much beauty into these pages, so it was definitely a good read as is.

This is my first time reading a YA book by Emezi. Somadina is a powerful story steeped in magic. The story is a coming of age tale in a West African inspired setting. We follow Somadina and her companions as she tracks down her twin who was kidnapped by a hunter. Somadina is a character I found easy to empathize with despite her youth. My heart ached for her multiple times throughout this deeply emotional journey. This is a book I’d recommend to all age groups for its strong characters, enchanting magic, rich world building, and powerful storytelling.

I’ve read a good deal of Emezi’s work including Pet and Bitter which I didn’t manage to connect with. I’m glad to say Somadina has landed a lot better for me, acknowledging I’m not exactly in the target audience for these YA books.

I enjoyed the incorporation of West African mythology into this fantasy world. Somadina has a very difficult experience of receiving magical powers which feel violating to use and also leads her to be ostracized from her community. I love how this book explored her anger, frustration, and guilt while not allowing her to be completely beaten down. The power of having family outside of your birth parents is also explored in a very tender and moving way. Really enjoyed this one, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I will read everything Akwaeke Emezi writes, and I was so excited about their debut YA fantasy. Their other work has been magical realism and I couldn't wait to see what they did with the fantasy genre. Just like I thought, they absolutely crushed it. SOMADINA is filled with vivid imagery, heartfelt family relationships, and totally kickass magic the likes of which I'd never seen in my long fantasy-reading history. The characters feel like realistic 15-year-olds but the book isn't afraid to go dark. I loved the West African world and mythology, and Emezi's writing dazzles as always; I highlighted so many passages. An outstanding novel that every fantasy fan should check out.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me an eARC of one of my most anticipated books of the year!

Somadina and Jayaike are twins and practically the same person; they finish each other's sentences and make each other whole. After The Split occurred, everyone began developing magical gifts when they came of age. As the twins begin to develop theirs, Somdina's gift causes fear. The twins have long lived as outsiders, and older traditions consider them a bad sign, but with the development of Somadina's gift, the twins now face hostility in their community. Everything hits a fever pitch when Jayaike vanishes. Somadina vows to track him down through their bond, no matter the cost. She takes a grueling, otherwordly, dangerous trip across their world to find her brother, who has been stolen and tries to restore their lives.

Somadina is everything YA should be - it masterfully combines themes around family, identity, anger, anxiety, loss, and feeling othered - and finding your place within those feelings, and yourself. This book is powerful: as Somadina finds her personal powers and comes to believe in herself, she also sees the strength that comes from being vulnerable with those you care about and combining your energies for the greater good; Somadina takes a hard look at family and the imperfections we all try to hide and the burdens we bare and the toll they can take on ourselves and those we love, One of my favorite parts of this book are all of the vast feelings the twins are dealing with and how they're handling them and reminded that their feelings matter - even when they are the embodiment of a god saving their world. I also truly appreciated Somadina recognizing that an apology is sometimes not enough when you have been so deeply hurt by people you love deeply and who are supposed to love you in return - and no one forced the twins to accept the apology or return to a life that didn't feel like their own anymore. I wish this book had existed when I was young, and I look forward to sharing it with the young ones in my life (and the adults who still need these words, too).

I THOROUGHLY loved Somadina. After recommending Pet to anyone who would listen, my expectations were high for this new YA novel, and needless to say it fully lived up to them. Emezi has such a beautiful way of weaving YA narratives with urgent societal themes, making their work not only entertaining, but deeply thought provoking.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy of this book to review!

Awkaeke Emezi continues to stun me with their writing abilities! Every book they write transports the reader into a rich and unique world, with characters that are messy but also realistic. I didn’t feel as connected to this book as I have with some of their other books, but I still flew through the book and can recognize that it was well-crafted.

I have been a fan of Emezi since I read Pet. This book was no exception. I was unable to stop reading once I really got into the story. This is the story of twins who have gifts which go beyond what most understand. Set against a vibrant West African setting, Somadina must go to the Split to save her brother from a “hunter” who has taken him. She has no clue what lies ahead, she just forges on by her twin connection. This book is very well done and entertaining. I love the rich culture and the story. It’s even more amazing when you see the power Somadina has and her strength. Seriously, a wonderful book and one of my favorite authors!