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_ibukun_'s review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
cmurbanmead's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Some really unique ideas and world-building that I enjoyed, and some well-thought-out political tensions. Also some shallowly written characters and repetitive writing. A lot here to enjoy, though by no means a perfect piece.
bookologist_phd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
helenesaele's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
souymuilk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
trollmila's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
wiensill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
elinidk's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bioniclib's review against another edition
3.0
This book dares do what is surprisingly rare in Sci-Fi books, feature an abundance of non-humanoid aliens. It also dunks you right into the world with little to no explanation of objects, people, places, y’know nouns, that are unfamiliar to the reader. Being a white boy I’m not sure which is unfamiliar because she made it up and which is unfamiliar because it’s African. It also does something else rare in the genre, features a female protagonist.
Also, also, she’s makes a bit of social commentary, which IS common in the genre. Transitioning from one sex to another is called aligning to Binti’s Tribe. (65) I thought that was fantastically put! One last note on things in the story, Didn’t a mythical creature called a Masquerade appear in Akata Witch? The myth must be an actual African one.
Maybe it’s because I’m out of practice reading unfamiliar worlds but I didn’t connect as firmly as I expected to with it. That’s not to say it wasn’t a masterfully written book with wonderfully enjoyable characters and situations because it had both. The book was easy to get into and hard to put down. But I didn’t like it as much as Akata Witch.
I’ll end with a couple of quotes:
“Just because something isn’t surprising doesn’t mean it’s easy to deal with.” (9)
“...one of those people who found motion so easy that she couldn’t resist moving all the time.” (110)