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A review by donnakay
The Smoke That Thunders by Erhu Kome
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.0
This book is a story about a teenage girl named Naborhi who has just come into womanhood in her community and is struggling to live the life she wants. Her village, has a very very strong patriarchal structure, and for a young woman, that means preparing for marriage, succeeding at her rights of passage by proving her usefulness in hunting, cooking good meals for her husband, and birthing sons. But none of these things excite Naborhi. In fact, she dreads the idea of being lorded over by a man, especially one she does not like or care for. Unfortunately for her, her family has already accepted a marriage offer, and the time is drawing near.
This is where Naborhi struggles, as she is caught between wanting more for herself and navigating the joy she knows her family will gain from her making a good marriage. She must choose between her own dreams and freedom or staying close to the only sister she has and doing what her family expects. The choices Naborhi makes for her life lead her on an unexpected adventure, where she then meets people and creatures only taught about in folklore.
I really enjoyed this character and the journey she went on, as well as her internal dialog to arrive at her choices. Her battle for independence was nuanced, and the reader was able to fully grasp the feelings the character experienced. The patriarchy was a little heavy-handed, but I think it served to really set the scene for the scope of the journey this young girl was on and really emphiazed her bravery. If you like books based on West African mythology, chosen one adventure quests, and girls who are not afraid to fully be themselves, then I suggest giving this one a try.
Thank you to @netgalley and @w.w.norton for gifting an eARC of this wonderful story.
This is where Naborhi struggles, as she is caught between wanting more for herself and navigating the joy she knows her family will gain from her making a good marriage. She must choose between her own dreams and freedom or staying close to the only sister she has and doing what her family expects. The choices Naborhi makes for her life lead her on an unexpected adventure, where she then meets people and creatures only taught about in folklore.
I really enjoyed this character and the journey she went on, as well as her internal dialog to arrive at her choices. Her battle for independence was nuanced, and the reader was able to fully grasp the feelings the character experienced. The patriarchy was a little heavy-handed, but I think it served to really set the scene for the scope of the journey this young girl was on and really emphiazed her bravery. If you like books based on West African mythology, chosen one adventure quests, and girls who are not afraid to fully be themselves, then I suggest giving this one a try.
Thank you to @netgalley and @w.w.norton for gifting an eARC of this wonderful story.