A review by rebelbelle13
The Hero of Numbani by Nicky Drayden

3.0

I really wanted to like this more than I did. My kids recently got me into playing Overwatch, and I was interested in the lore behind the origin of the characters. I stumbled upon this book in a store without knowing it existed and immediately purchased it and dove in. I loved the representation of African culture (specifically Nigerian) because it's a space of the world I'm completely unfamiliar with. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the clothing, food and everyday interactions Efi had with her family, friends, and at school. I liked the inclusion of Lucio and Doomfist and their abilities (which lined up very well with the game). The origin story of Orisa made sense within the context of the story and the ability of the builder.
The downside here is that it took SO LONG for the story to get started. Orisa isn't even a character until more than halfway through the story, and the most interesting chapter was within the last 20 pages. The author was so focused on the setting, culture and setup that they forgot that it was supposed to be about Overwatch characters. The three already mentioned are the only players here- there are a few that get a mention or two, but we don't ever see them. I wish there were more action/fight scenes and less scenes about Efi's friends being offended and her mother clutching her pearls.
Overall, it was an okay story, slow to get going, but a good start for Orisa, and I'd love to see more.