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seanml's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Son of the Storm is a good start to a fantasy series, with tons of potential. The pace of the book I found to be somewhat slow for a while, and a lack of drive in the voice made it so that I had a hard time getting through initially. There is also a large roster of characters to keep track of and racial castes, which were probably the hardest to remember. Despite that, Son of the Storm has a great deal of worldbuilding put into it. It also has a fun magic system that can allow for deus ex machina moments without feeling that they come out of nowhere. The last 100 pages pick up in speed, and that’s mostly thanks to Esheme, who is a wonderfully entertaining antagonist to follow. Looking forward to the second installment! 7/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Classism, Xenophobia, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Child death, Genocide, Abortion, Animal death, Gore, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Medical content, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Bullying
2treads's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Son Of The Storm is heady with political and tribal nuance, inflected with the richness of place and cultural practices and a hierarchy based on complexion with deep, lavishly pigmented melanin at the top; a caste system indicated by hair and clothing style and colour used to indicate guild and social standing.
Davies has also depicted the troublesome perceptions of albinism as it exists even to this day on the continent and within the diaspora and is also weaving in the complexities of existing within a society that demands excellence through mastery of a craft and elevation of the family name at the expense of self-expression and freedom.
He also explores the complexities of immigration, forced or chosen and how the treatment and relationships forged between immigrant and country can have less than humanitarian purposes; serving to demonize a people while indenturing another.
Davies is also committed to giving us rich characters with personalities that leap off the page: ruthlessness, strength, cunning, and drive. Building the foundation of his story amidst power plays, resistance, and a nation's crumbling influence and reach.
He uses this fantastical setting as a medium to examine how societies can establish standards and borders to elevate a people above all others, engendering systems of oppression and exclusion; where collaboration is sneered upon and differences in culture, speech, and ways of being are stamped out of any who come within its walls.
This is a complex, layered and nuanced telling and reflects the many ways in which peoples are being failed by their leaders.
Davies has also depicted the troublesome perceptions of albinism as it exists even to this day on the continent and within the diaspora and is also weaving in the complexities of existing within a society that demands excellence through mastery of a craft and elevation of the family name at the expense of self-expression and freedom.
He also explores the complexities of immigration, forced or chosen and how the treatment and relationships forged between immigrant and country can have less than humanitarian purposes; serving to demonize a people while indenturing another.
Davies is also committed to giving us rich characters with personalities that leap off the page: ruthlessness, strength, cunning, and drive. Building the foundation of his story amidst power plays, resistance, and a nation's crumbling influence and reach.
He uses this fantastical setting as a medium to examine how societies can establish standards and borders to elevate a people above all others, engendering systems of oppression and exclusion; where collaboration is sneered upon and differences in culture, speech, and ways of being are stamped out of any who come within its walls.
This is a complex, layered and nuanced telling and reflects the many ways in which peoples are being failed by their leaders.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
roguebelle's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a complex book with a lot of exciting worldbuliding ideas behind it, and I hope that it will find a great many readers. Okungbowa has crafted an intricate society, inspired by Benin and other African empires. The magical system is unique, and it feels like there's a *lot* more to explore there in future books. Okungbowa's writing is vivid and tightly focused, fully evoking the textures of the world.
Unfortunately, for me, the central characters didn't quite thrill. The ones we spend the most time with weren't the people I was most interested in seeing succeed, and so it was hard for me to get fully invested. This is, of course, a big Your Mileage May Vary thing! Danso and Esheme just didn't do it for me. Lilong was somewhat better, and I really enjoyed Biemwensé, but I spent the whole book hoping to see more of Oke, whom we meet in the prologue and then never see again! I'll hope the story winds its way back to her in the sequel.
Unfortunately, for me, the central characters didn't quite thrill. The ones we spend the most time with weren't the people I was most interested in seeing succeed, and so it was hard for me to get fully invested. This is, of course, a big Your Mileage May Vary thing! Danso and Esheme just didn't do it for me. Lilong was somewhat better, and I really enjoyed Biemwensé, but I spent the whole book hoping to see more of Oke, whom we meet in the prologue and then never see again! I'll hope the story winds its way back to her in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
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