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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
beetree's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Xenophobia
unfocusedcuriosity's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
Binti is a really good Afrofuturistic science sci-fi/horror novella that I would definitely recommend. The titular character is a determined young woman with ambition and wit. It was very easy to get attached to her. In turn, it made getting attached to the world a relatively easy feat. I enjoyed learning about the Himba people. I was particularly interest in their connection to the universe and mathematics. We understand why Binti must leave her people behind in the pursuit of her own purpose. My investment in her quest came naturally.
The short format seems to have limit the author's ability to develop certain concepts. However, I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I'm interested in knowing where the author takes this story.
The short format seems to have limit the author's ability to develop certain concepts. However, I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I'm interested in knowing where the author takes this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Xenophobia
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Racism
Minor: War
avacadosocks's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Death, and Blood
jlennidorner's review
adventurous
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? No
5.0
This short fiction was highly enjoyable and very fast-paced. It wove real culture and science fiction together perfectly. The main character is easy to root for because she's such an outsider and so deeply devoted to her love of learning. I got this book on June 15, 2022, and I am so glad I took an hour to finally read it. This is my honest and unbiased review.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves to learn, enjoys science fiction, and wants a great read with a Himba main character from Namibia (Namib) in Southern Africa. In the book, her people have many brilliant advancements and a strong connection to the earth. There is a passage about her hair that feels so deeply meaningful to me and is an excellent summary of her values:
{Heru touches her hair} "You have exactly twenty-one," he said. "And they're braided in tessellating triangles. Is it some sort of code?"
I wanted to tell him that there was a code, that the pattern spoke my family's bloodline, culture, and history. That my father had designed the code and my mother and aunties had shown me how to braid it into my hair.
It's that beautiful? I would give this book five stars on that passage alone. This is what a good diverse book should do, show how even something as easily overlooked as hair can hold such a deep meaning and reveal a great deal about someone. Binti describes herself as having dark skin and extra-bushy hair because her father's side has the blood of the Desert People.
The best science fiction description in this book, to me, was the ship. "Third Fish was a Miri 12, a type of ship closely related to a shrimp." Space travel inside a living creature that had been genetically enhanced for travel. The ship, being a living beast, makes sounds and quakes because it has functional bowels. A living ship is a beautiful concept. I do not read a lot of scifi, but this really caught my attention.
This opens with immediate action. Then, just as the story seems to settle for a moment, there's an unexpected twist full of heart-pounding action. Eventually, Binti has to make a choice. I do wish it had been a more well-informed decision, that she knew what she'd actually sacrifice, that the Meduse were more forthcoming. They believe humans only understand violence.
A mirror to society, to a real-life issue, is presented in a discussion as to whether a museum or university should keep a prestigious and high-valued piece or return it to the people to whom it belongs.
This feels like it could be realistic fiction in the future. Math lovers will especially enjoy parts of this story. As all goals are met, there is a happily-ever-after (or happy for now). There is a chilling scene with violence. It's action-packed, fast-paced, and has many plot twists. The story felt mostly unpredictable. It was very fun, entertaining, and informative to me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Hate crime, Murder, and Violence
becausebrenna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
3.5
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this at the beginning because of the writing style (1st person POV, through the eyes of a 16 year old) but the book picked up about 20 pages in and I ended up really enjoying it! Good sci fi novella, it was a fast read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Suicide and War
book_snail's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
VERY good book; I would definitely recommend going in blind for this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Racism, and Genocide
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death
ellementary's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I wish I liked this more but I just didn't connect. The premise is interesting and the cultural integration and social commentary was really good, but the story never took off for me. I feel like it would have been better as a full novel rather than a novella, personally. I needed more time for this story to bloom.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Gore, Xenophobia, and Racism
Minor: War
kwebster's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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? No
4.0
A really fabulous novella. I loved how the use of language made me feel like an outsider in the very best ways. Binti is such a wonderful character, she's wonderful!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism