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uniimitedskies's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
maddynd06's review
2.0
2/5
I sometimes struggle with reading YA novels because they can feel very surface-level. This book especially felt this way to me because it was so fast-paced that a lot of details felt brushed over. Additionally, a majority of the book was spent building up the mystery and tension around the Black Hat, yet the final confrontation was over so quickly. Similarly, a lot of the details in the book felt contradictory. The adults in the novel would withhold information from Sunny and her friends, yet they expected them to battle a serial killer. They were deemed too immature for advanced magic, yet they were considered mature enough to go against the Black Hat. The details just don’t add up in this story, and I couldn’t overlook it.
I sometimes struggle with reading YA novels because they can feel very surface-level. This book especially felt this way to me because it was so fast-paced that a lot of details felt brushed over. Additionally, a majority of the book was spent building up the mystery and tension around the Black Hat, yet the final confrontation was over so quickly. Similarly, a lot of the details in the book felt contradictory. The adults in the novel would withhold information from Sunny and her friends, yet they expected them to battle a serial killer. They were deemed too immature for advanced magic, yet they were considered mature enough to go against the Black Hat. The details just don’t add up in this story, and I couldn’t overlook it.
jg12389's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Overall an interesting, unique YA fantasy story. It is very much for younger readers. Overall, I enjoyed it for what it was.
dilchh's review against another edition
5.0
WOW!
BRAVO!
I honestly having a hard time describing how amazing this book was. I picked this book because the title caught my attention, not knowing that it's actually a word in Yoruba; I genuinely thought it might have been a Japanese word, hence why I was interested to see a book about something that might have been related to something Japanese but was written by a Nigerian author. Oh boy, was I wrong.
I kept on thinking that had I not been and live in Abuja, Nigeria, for a month, I would not have enjoyed this as much as I did. There were a lot of Nigerian references, that I couldn't help but smile everytime I read it. The moment the book mentioned suya, my mouth instantly drools. Gosh I miss suya so so so much....
Okay, enough about that, let's focus on the book. It was brilliant!!! Honestly! This is a story that blends mysticism and mythology, and whilst I'm a big fan of mythology, I have to say mythologies from the African continent is foreign to me, so to at least had the chance to know one of the many mythologies from the African continent, I feel blessed. The backstory was brilliant, the world building was brilliant, and I have to admit I enjoy reading the characters knowing that they were young and they act their age (well at least some of them).
It was particularly gripping, and had it not for work I swear I would have devoured the entire book in a single sitting. There was something about the characters, the story, and the setting that made me so curious that I just want to go back and read it and never stops until the story ends. Too bad, life happens and I must go to work. Booo~~~
In a way, books like these are somewhat predictable. I mean, you know there's a bad guy, and somewhere along the line, we all know our main character will have to face the bad guy, and (most of the time) our main character will win. But, let's not get hasty and considers this a bad story, because it's not. I mean, I'm somewhat disappointed that the build up towards the big fight ended it what I assume was less than an hour (I mean, literally the actual big fight was not even more than 10 pages), but since this is only the first book (yes! You read it right, there is going to be the second book coming out sometime in October. I really can't wait), I guess that's understandable, especially nearing the end of the book, something happened that to me felt like something major is going to happen in the second book. So, yeah, I have that going for me.
BRAVO!
I honestly having a hard time describing how amazing this book was. I picked this book because the title caught my attention, not knowing that it's actually a word in Yoruba; I genuinely thought it might have been a Japanese word, hence why I was interested to see a book about something that might have been related to something Japanese but was written by a Nigerian author. Oh boy, was I wrong.
I kept on thinking that had I not been and live in Abuja, Nigeria, for a month, I would not have enjoyed this as much as I did. There were a lot of Nigerian references, that I couldn't help but smile everytime I read it. The moment the book mentioned suya, my mouth instantly drools. Gosh I miss suya so so so much....
Okay, enough about that, let's focus on the book. It was brilliant!!! Honestly! This is a story that blends mysticism and mythology, and whilst I'm a big fan of mythology, I have to say mythologies from the African continent is foreign to me, so to at least had the chance to know one of the many mythologies from the African continent, I feel blessed. The backstory was brilliant, the world building was brilliant, and I have to admit I enjoy reading the characters knowing that they were young and they act their age (well at least some of them).
It was particularly gripping, and had it not for work I swear I would have devoured the entire book in a single sitting. There was something about the characters, the story, and the setting that made me so curious that I just want to go back and read it and never stops until the story ends. Too bad, life happens and I must go to work. Booo~~~
In a way, books like these are somewhat predictable. I mean, you know there's a bad guy, and somewhere along the line, we all know our main character will have to face the bad guy, and (most of the time) our main character will win. But, let's not get hasty and considers this a bad story, because it's not. I mean, I'm somewhat disappointed that the build up towards the big fight ended it what I assume was less than an hour (I mean, literally the actual big fight was not even more than 10 pages), but since this is only the first book (yes! You read it right, there is going to be the second book coming out sometime in October. I really can't wait), I guess that's understandable, especially nearing the end of the book, something happened that to me felt like something major is going to happen in the second book. So, yeah, I have that going for me.
lfsalden's review against another edition
4.0
Intriguing... and it took me a little time to enjoy and care about the character of Sunny.
lawryn's review
5.0
LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Set in Nigeria, this West African influenced fantasy was such a refreshing read. As a fantasy lover I am excited to finally venture outside of white/European fantasy to find new stories, creatures, and artifacts! Akata Witch is like a mixture of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, but much more colorful and humorous.
Recommended by a friend!
Recommended by a friend!
booksinthesky's review
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-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
4.75
joyfulreading's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
menachris87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0