What to say about this book!!

Blessings follows Obiefuna as he grows up in Nigeria, but when his father catches him having a moment with another boy, he is sent to a Christian boarding school. The writing is beautiful: tender, sincere, and poetic. It grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go until the final page. It's not just Obiefuna's story though - it's his mother's as well. Though it is a queer coming-of-age story, her presence in the novel is no less important.

Chukwuebuka Ibeh is a name that will come to frequent my bookshelves.

Neferura by Malayna Evans

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Neferura is the daughter of Pharaoh Hatshepsut and must navigate court to protect not just her mother's legacy from her power-hungry half-brother, Thutmose, but also herself from a dangerous fate. I don't often read Ancient Egyptian retellings simply because I've always preferred Ancient Greek retellings, but after Neferura that might have to change.

I loved the mystery and intrigue interwoven through the story and the moments where it read like an ancient Agatha Christie novel. The characters too, were extremely well written: none were cartoonishly villainous or cartoonishly good, which I often find in myth retellings and more often than not takes me out of the story. And, of course, Nefurura herself. I loved how she grew through the story without becoming as cruel or as ruthless as her mother.

My favourite thing about the novel, however, was the female characters that carried it. The underlying theme of the novel was sisterhood and female solidarity, and that's what made the novel tick for me. So often in retellings, especially retellings with a woman at the forefront, the idea of female solidarity is used to promote the novel - only for it to take a step back for a romance subplot. And whilst there is still romance in this novel, it doesn't take up more room than it should.

I can't wait to read more from Malayna Evans!

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

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adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced