As a man, my opinions in this piece stem from a place of concern for the dwindling participation of male folk in bookish communities and the literary space as a whole.
Saleh’s is the quiet of a man who has learnt to live with grief, while Latif’s is the restless isolation of someone who has never allowed himself to belong.
There is a trend where adaptations of existing art end up being bastardized or, at best, turn out satisfactory. But somehow, the Little Mermaid beat the allegations.
Memoirs of a Lagos Junior Banker is a must-read for lovers of contemporary African fiction and anyone who’s ever muttered, “I can’t with this job today.”
Whether or not you choose to lie about the number of books you've read is very much your business. However, if you get shown up when it's time to talk about said books, you shouldn't complain.
Unscrupulous drivers, obnoxious women, two-faced fake lifers, and more all feature in Memoirs of a Lagos Baker, a fun-filled teaser of a read, perfect for fans of drama, humor, and romance.
Measuring Time, winner of the Virginia Library Foundation prize for fiction (2008), follows the lives of two persons (Mamo and LaMamo) and how the course of their dreams, motivations, disinterest and conflicts revolve around family, settings and emotions.
The original victim still lay forgotten in the sand, still writhing as concerned caregivers tried to make him comfortable with water, massages and one hundred suggestions on how to fix ruined knees.
Certain habits that seem normal to readers tend to come across as weird, and even downright creepy to folk who don't read, or aren't as crazy about it as the avowed bibliophiles.
OpenStax is one of the most reliable sources for free college textbooks. Created by Rice University, this nonprofit initiative provides peer-reviewed, professionally edited textbooks that professors use.
While most fantasy book fans argue that the original novels are better than the movies, some rare adaptations like The Lord of the Rings manage to stand tall alongside their source material.
In a world full of noise, The Little We Grow, We Fly is a quiet thunder. It doesn’t shout, but it stays with you. And maybe, just maybe—that’s what makes it so powerful.
Out in Greenwood is fun, heartfelt, engaging, and leaves you with that nostalgic feeling of remembering what it’s like to be young and full of possibility.
While some of the fantasy map generators offer enough customizable options, map designers may need to export the generated images to photo editor apps to perfect them.
Freelance writing jobs abound, and, depending on your skill set, you might find yourself working anywhere across the broad fiction-nonfiction spectrum.
Like any well-developed fictional character, there are several exciting, often polarizing sides to Celaena Sardothien, all of which are worth discussing.
I give Happiness Is A Sickle-kinikan In My Belly, a ten over ten rating but because of the perfectly harnessed themes, settings, conflicts, and resolutions.
A stoic person, Yaya would very much be anywhere else but at the heart of Mafoluku, listening to music he’d grown up listening to, but had never loved.
Vagabonds! is rich in themes of spiritualism, mysticism, queer dynamics, and possession, that literally takes on flesh, saying, “When you're ready, I'll be here”.
Like book covers, book titles are often a big factor for bibliophiles when choosing their next read. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But you sometimes do.
When you add in the cinematic effects that were well ahead of their time, it's easy to acknowledge The Lord of the Rings as the story whose adaptation truly matched the pioneering quality of its books.
My Parents' Marriage is about immigrant life in the US, how we all leave home with lofty dreams, only to meet a vastly different reality, and sometimes, struggle with that reality.
Preorders for the Dream Count audiobook are now open on the Genti Audio app (available on iOS and Play Store) for a special preorder price of NGN 8,000.
I know people will come at me for passing such supposedly harsh judgment on the lovers of spoilers. But, believe me, time behind bars is a kind fate for them.
For it is in those moments, where the impossible feels real, where the night is alive with danger, and the most terrifying things happen, where we feel the most alive.
As a writer looking to pull in readers, making them feel like they're a part of the story, the second person point of view can make a massive difference.
Many budding writers around the world dream of being accepted into The Program in Creative Writing at the University of Iowa, known informally as the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Unlucky Mel is a quirky, yet serious story about the often difficult road to self-discovery, and how, ultimately, we're responsible for the choices we make.
In Gatebound, the Illborn convergence draws a step closer, and the Great Power beyond the Gate beckons even more strongly, as their true character begins to take form.
The Lies of the Ajungo has one of my favorite themes in the fantasy genre- the loss of history and how this loss shapes our understanding of not just our lives but the world.
FilmOne Entertainment is excited to announce the official 2025 FilmOne Exhibitor’s Showcase, a highly anticipated event celebrating the best in storytelling, cinema, and creativity.
African myths and histories seem to be something of a joke to some these days- a spectacle propped up for the highest bidder, used only for its commercial opportunity rather than any intrinsic value.
Snapping suddenly to an upright position, Yaya charged his shell-shocked attacker, who, caught ball-watching, stood helpless in the face of his foe’s barrage.
The first-ever Sharjah Festival of African Literature has celebrated a milestone in African arts and culture by presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.
Mrs. Remilekun Anikulapo-Kuti's story is one of resilience and strength, a staunch re-emphasis of the adage that "behind every successful man stands a woman."
Whether your works belong to the realm of fiction or non-fiction, here are some key steps to help you determine the finer points of how to start writing a book.
Family Gbese incorporates both Igbo and Yoruba, bringing some cultural dynamism to the plot, which adds to its realism and appeal to diverse audiences.
Despite some imperfections, Jack Oswald's The Wrath of the Madame is a pulsing thriller that rushes along the bumpy path crafted by a gifted storyteller.
But let's be clear: Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow isn't about liposuction; it's about the choices we make in life, what influences those choices, and their consequences.
The Tainted Cup isn't clear-cut epic fantasy, you may say, but the epic depth of the conflict means that the author's signature urban-epic hybrid is my top fantasy pick of 2024.
Narrative Landscape Press, the celebrated Lagos-based publishing company, is proud to announce the establishment of Narrative Landscape Press East Africa (NLPEA).
Christmas In Lagos is a delightful romance movie with intriguing characters that evoke several pleasant emotions, setting viewers up just right for the festive season.
Although there were plenty of battle scenes and some decent character development to get me over the finish line, I just didn't find Return to Edan as intriguing as the last two books in the series.
Blessings harbours the dexterity of the issues discussed, the very delicateness of the coming-of-age of a queer boy in a society that isn’t ready for his kind of being.
After centuries of subjugation through colonialism and, more recently, neo-colonialism, African Literature writers owe it to their heritage to tell the most authentic narratives possible.
A Very Gidi Christmas is a feel-good romance written just in time for the festive season and is bound to leave readers' insides feeling deliciously good.
Nnedi Okorafor found the calling to be a writer of the spectacular and the fantastic after she wrote her first ever story in the pages of a gifted copy of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot
Is Red One another forgettable Dwayne Johnson action flick? Yes and No. At least you’d always remember Buff Santa and his E.L.F (Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification) team.
Once upon a time, my idea of a great read was a well-written YA book. At that time, I could relate to those characters, understand them, and live through them vicariously. However, I did hope that more books inspired by African culture and lore would be present in the fantasy genre. It's safe to say […]
Ake Arts and Book Festival 2024 promises to explore rising literary trends and various African narratives in exciting book chats and panel discussions.
Literary criticism isn't just about your opinions. It's about finding common ground with opposing ideas and understanding that two truths can peacefully co-exist.
It bothers me all the time, so today I write this to introduce the world and soon-to-be A Broken People's Playlist readers, to what the book truly contains.
The artwork accompanying the chapters is intentional, bringing the characters, scenes, and themes to life. And, of course, the humor in Face Me I Face You is brilliant!
The quickest step to progress is to relearn the lessons from arguably the most significant event in its years as a free, democratic nation- the Nigerian Civil War.
Besides, my head is hardly level enough these days for creative winds to blow inside of my cranium. The country is hard, and a man must make ends meet.
Its array of experiences, cultures, realities, inspiration and several distinct attributes are the web that interconnect to constitute the genre of African Literature.
The Malevolent Seven are some of the finest quest bands you'll ever find in this subgenre of fantasy, with their eccentrics and wit elevating the reading experience.
First off, what a title! I believe that there are two types of authors: storytellers and writers. Storytellers make you forget you are holding a book; With them, you live in the book, and every time you take a break, that fictional world stays with you as you go about other activities. Writers, on the other hand, […]
Still, as it's basically at the top of the epic fantasy canon, you definitely should pick up the Lord of the Rings books at least once in your lifetime.
Alien: Romulus pays homage to the iconic horror elements of its predecessors while injecting some fresh acid blood into one of cinema’s greatest sci-fi franchises.
While many of the Nollywood movies on our list are quite old, it's a testament to the capabilities of the industry's pioneering filmmakers that these movies continue to be regarded so highly.
Erotic literature explicitly describes sexual encounters that prompt the imagination to produce, direct, and act out its very own virtual motion picture
The character development in House of Ga'a was impressive, and I loved the way Ga’a switched seamlessly between doting father, lover, fighter, and tyrant.
Unfortunately for fans, any hopes of a Shadow and Bone season 3 have been firmly dashed by Netflix, which announced the show's cancellation in November 2023.
When we talk about falling in love, it is usually in relation to romantic interests. We rarely consider the idea of falling in love within the context of friendships. Friendships are often perceived as something that simply happens to us, unlike romantic relationships, which we believe require effort and a bit of luck to find. […]
The Wheel of Time books stand out for their vast worlds, unique magic system, and, of course, Robert Jordan's (and Brandon Sanderson's) brilliant storytelling.
It's no news that book snobbery exists along the fiction vs nonfiction lines. One party is assumed dreamy and unrealistic, while the other is seen as hypocritical.
The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus is an interwoven mystical tale about the power of knowledge, literature, magic, art, philosophy, continents, cultures, and religions.
As expected of any Kunle Afolayan production, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre is top-notch. Beautiful scenery, props, costumes, sets, and everything else capture the real essence of this work of art.
If you're looking for a very well-written, pretty-covered book to introduce young readers to African Fantasy, The Smoke That Thunders has you well covered.
RECURRENT starts with a “timeline,” which, despite being compressed, provides a solid context of the writer’s life and prepares the reader for what to expect.
here's another reason to watch American Fiction: It is funny. It feels like a parody, and you are guaranteed a couple of laughs throughout the almost two-hour runtime.
The sun has finally set on the Empire of the Wolf, as the much-awaited showdown between former Justice Volvalt and Bartholomew Claver shapes up in The Trials of Empire.
If you liked Dele Weds Destiny, then you'll love We Were Girls Once. Aiwanose is a wonderful and insightful writer, and I look forward to reading more of her works.
The Bishop's Prodigal Daughter is a "traditional" romance story between two unexpecting people who fall in love against all odds in unexpected circumstances.
A Master of Djinn is a pure, decadent, elaborate, myth-making tale that blends oriental mysticism and magic with fabulous and meticulously detailed worldbuilding.
The Surviving Sky is a debut that spins a yarn about a boy and a girl, deep from the author's vivid and lush imagination. The characters eventually warp the plot to fit their romantic struggles.
There is a world of difference between the mechanics of copyreading and audiobook listening, so the deciding factor regarding a better experience is really dependent on a reader's preference and goal.
Dazzling Mirage achieves what few other works of Nigerian literature have accomplished: a thorough examination of the challenges faced by sickle cell patients in Nigeria.
In Homegoing, we journey with the descendants of two sisters as Yaa Gyasi weaves a compelling tale of life in colonial Ghana, the blood-strumming struggle that birthed a nation.
Focusing primarily on the enigmatic figure of Efunsetan and her star-crossed lover, Efunporonye, "Swallow; Efunsetan Aniwura" tells a story of destiny, love, and passion.
Book reviews aren't just a jumble of words on how a book made you feel but also a veritable document that you can quickly refer to when your memories temporarily fail you.
In The Middle Daughter, we learn that there is fragility and compassion in dealing with people who are consumed by grief, especially the ones who do not know how to carry on life.
Breath of Life is so beautiful! It is not just about the heartwarming story alone but also the beautiful scenery, the dazzling array of colours, and the costumes.
Convergence Problems by Wole Talabi was absolutely stunning from start to finish. Every short story could possibly be expanded by 200 or more pages, but nothing was overdone.
Reading hundreds of pages for a single book can be like facing Smaug, Chiefest of Calamities, but a short story is a small dragon that you can easily conquer.
I lived in Ghana for four years, and No One Dies Yet took me down memory lane with vivid descriptions of the Makola market and the delightful Twi language.
The Death of Vivek Oji has rich themes. Themes that cut across both generations, ones that cannot be overlooked or even taken away from the story if you wanted to.
While some appreciate Hart's attempt at a more serious role, others feel it misses the mark, leaving audiences wanting more from both the action and the humor.
There are things that books can do and movies just can't. Accept it, find a way around it, and convey the feelings and thoughts of the characters using other cinematographic tools.
Choke is about a junkie who drops out of medical school. The reason why he dropped out of med school is not clear, for obvious reasons. But the junkie is intelligent.
The world-building is unique, sparse and intricate, weaving sci-fi speculations and progression/portal fantasy with absolute expertise; wondrous and immersive beyond measure.
“History is a merciless judge. It lays bare our tragic blunders and foolish missteps and exposes our most intimate secrets, wielding the power of hindsight like an arrogant detective who seems to know the end of the mystery from the outset.” The book is on my TBR list. I had added it as I planned […]
Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire is, without a doubt, one of the most anticipated films this year. Given the hype that surrounded the film, including several interviews with director Snyder, fans expected an epic space opera with incredible storytelling. While the team got the epic space opera part of […]
Wind and Truth is the fifth book in the Stormlight archive series and will be the climax to the first arc of a series that will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat.
So, my fellow fantasy buffs, be prepared to be swept away into the enchanting realms of Roshar as we delve into the mesmerizing world of The Stormlight Archive.
I think it's fair to say that The Will of the Many is the best fantasy book of 2023. Far more people love it than don't, and you can't really argue with the people's choice.
When Babayo was murdered on a train in Jos, on his way to Lagos with the love of his life by a rival, he found himself as Inuwa in a different town. Different home, family, and a love as tender to the soul as a melody. But Inuwa was murdered there again by yet another […]
Since I've always loved apocalyptic movies, I've often wondered which tropes me and my friends would fall under if we found ourselves in an apocalypse-type situation
One Chance Dance is such an inspiring and heartfelt book! Sometimes, we forget what it means to dream and not let anyone or anything get in the way of those dreams...
I was impressed at the simplicity of the language used in Things Fall Apart, as it made it easy to read. I also loved the Igbo words and phrases used in the book.
His Only Wife is Peace Adzo Medie's debut novel, and she absolutely nailed it! The story is about Afi Tekple, who is about to get married to someone she has never met.
The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II is unflinching and unwavering in its portrayal and indictment of the evil Japan wrought on Nanking, China.
From the first page, we're not just introduced but smacked upside the head with highly detailed prose that makes the reading flow smoother than butter.
Empire of Silence tells of the travails of one Hadrian Marlowe as he grows up the son of an archon in his home world, Delos, and escapes life laid out for him by his lord father.
Despite the many descriptions, fantasy fiction is more systematic nowadays than imagined. There is a form to the chaos and various categories for each shade of sanity and madness.
The sequel to Black Stone Heart offers epic battle scenes and a more thorough explanation of various magics involved as he continues to remember his past life
The science, though wondrous, is quite fluid and feels really intuitive. Even though it's fiction, the writing style is very good, and the immersive telling of the villain is atmospheric.
The Grand Biocentric Design is a great read, especially for those not well-read in the scientific concepts the authors discussed to arrive at their conclusion.
I think Diamant meant this book to empower women and showcase the strength and bond between mothers and daughters and their will to thrive, even through secret traditions, but it was a hard miss.
The character development was profound, the pacing was excellent, the plot was well constructed, the tale was convincingly told, and the dialogue was realistic.
The characters are well-fleshed out, unique, and have original personalities that interact excitingly, leaving you keen to know about their latest adventure.
A well-detailed, well-described, and elaborate fantasy setting with dark prose, beautiful and vivid descriptions of characters, and meticulous and immersive world-building.
The title is rather misleading as the storyline has little to do with either the stripper or the born-again. Instead, it should have been named Ashabi’s Revenge.
I commend the willingness to use far more original cultural elements than in book one. It gives the book a semblance of originality, which I greatly appreciate
Finally, this collection gets bonus points for being very Afrocentric in its attempt to explore stories from home vis-à-vis the peculiarities of moving away from home to another country.
Kuku had successfully brought over the majority of the Assembly to his line of thinking with a combination of articulate arguments and timely assassinations.
The clergyman sounded solemn. His words would certainly cut deep, spoken in a slow, grating baritone that punctuated every consonant and elaborated every vowel.
This book deals with issues of child marriage, patriarchy, domestic violence, family in-breeding, Buhari's military regime, unwanted pregnancy, poverty, and divorce.
An invaluable life lesson that one can learn from Ogadinma is that unless women learn to stand up for themselves, patriarchy will continue to thrive at our expense.
Their steadfast acceptance of Charlie, with all his oddities, served as a reminder that true friendship is a safe place to be and a beautiful thing to experience.
SFF authors spend a lot of time building utterly fantastical worlds drawn from countless imaginative figments, any one of which is bound to draw you in.
Baba Segi's wives all led secret lives, and I loved how the author systematically wrote about it, which made me understand the story better and even enjoy it more.
This is a gorgeously written story of identity, sexuality, love, grief, friendship, and the need to live the life you want, even in a country where doing so might be deadly.
Also, the character development has reached a level where readers can actually identify characters by their speech, mannerisms and actions. It's the height of realism.
It also brings to light people's arguments for people who do not want kids. The overwhelming opinion in society is that such people will eventually grow out of the sentiment.
This book portrays the story of most Nigerian young men saddled with responsibility in a country where the depths of your pocket measure your masculinity
And, to the die-hards who simply read this piece out of curiosity to see if their favorites made the cut, you're free to bash my head (and my pen) in the comments section below.
The book holds me softly, cuddly, and I am glad I decided to read it when I did. I was totally blown away, and for this reason, I totally recommend it.
A Spell of Good Things brims with themes of mental health, family dynamics, and some surprisingly conspicuous allusions to the upcoming 2023 Nigerian general elections.
Death Note has some of the most memorable characters I've ever seen in an anime, and their interactions are so complex and layered that it's impossible not to be drawn into their struggles
I have never read anything as honest and raw as this book. The emotions carried in this book are so real that readers can literally feel the characters' emotions.
The Saga isn't just full of dramatic thrills but well-written stories that deliver a raw gut-wrenching experience to the viewers and leave you reeling with emotions
Without a schedule, Noah's Ark would never have been built. Without a schedule, the Pyramids wouldn't exist. In fact, without a schedule, some of us wouldn't be born
Polygamy reigns supreme in Umuofia and other neighboring villages, but in the case of titled men, only the first wives are mandated to wear the anklets of their husband's titles.
Maddie is a great MC with badass slingshot skills. I must say that I saw the plot twist a mile off, but it didn't take away my enjoyment when it eventually played out.
I will compare the movie and the comic books because, yes, while I liked watching the characters come to life on screen, I did have some gripes with it.
They got my two favorite genres (fantasy and science fiction) and merged them. The result was an entertaining ten hours of world-building, character development, and badass fighting nuns.
If you haven't seen this movie yet and enjoy great acting, mystery, historical drama, and/or Taylor Swift, then I recommend you go see this at the cinema closest to you.
However, as you start laughing your head off at the beginning, you will quickly realize that this is not the usual biography. In fact, it's probably the weirdest biography you'll ever see.
I highly recommend this book from the deepest part of my heart and soul, with my generation and gods backing me. This is a 5-star read and deserves all the flowers.
Nwabulu keeps me up a lot; I think of her struggles and pain, I see her, I see her story, and I live all the women who have been emptied off through her.
One of the times I love about this book is how each character is unique and has a purpose; none of them is a filler; they each have something important to contribute to the story.
It is necessary to know how... religious intolerance has taken squatter’s rights in Northern Nigeria and how our indifference to this will be our undoing.
Although Fellowship of the Ring presents ambitious writing with second to none world building by a very talented author, I will say that the movie makes you appreciate this book 100%
You can feel the selfishness of Malta, the apathy that dictated Keffria's life, the strength that was Ronica Vestrit, the confusion peppered with shadows of strength, wisdom,
creativity is a self-fulfilling trait; if you tell yourself you're not creative long enough, you'll believe it, let your potential go silent, and then you will become uncreative
I found A Lady's Guide To Fortune Hunting quite the delectable read because it checked all the right boxes of what I would typically expect from a historical romance novel set in England
With his latest book, he's clearly outdone his own freakishly scary-good standards. And, in years to come, he'll be heralded as one of the very elite authors to have ever penned a letter in the genre.
It also highlights that love is a choice and way beyond feelings because feelings can be fickle. It reminds us that sometimes, sustaining our friendships can be pretty tricky.
It's a movie that starts with creepy vibes, a hint of sci-fi thrown in, sprinkled with a bit of horror, and ends with a bang of pulse-racing excitement.
In the place of complex characters and elaborate settings, the author builds on the magic system and the world lore, both of which are done fairly well.
I have reread it for the 100th time since its release, and I still do not feel full... I very much recommend this book with all the gods in my village backing me!
The series tells both stories concurrently, showing the past and present. The story follows Sunja as a young child before her father's death, her choices, and how she ends up in Japan.
I do not believe that I could have reduced the overall length to any extent without sacrificing core story elements, and indeed I did not want to do that.
Although I found relish in these authentic experiences, some essays were a sobering reminder of how much Nigerians have lost and the horrors it has gone through
I believe a good book is one (regardless of its genre or setting) you can resonate with through its characters and the writer is able to carry you along to its final destination.
Altogether, this is such a great book (and series, probably), and I look forward to reading the final release and more books in the series. You should too!
Religion takes front and center stage in this book. It was pretty interesting to explore how religious beliefs influence people's behaviors, mindsets, and actions.
The organic development of Jyosh and the skills progression is indicative of a well-thought-out plot, especially how training can be completed in a Tel'aran'rhoid-like place.
I think this is very reminiscent of many Nigerian children today (the torn from cultural roots part), which is sad because we are losing our cultural values fast, and they may be gone forever.
The characters in this book are numerous, and it's no surprise that my favorite character is Zachery Ezra Rawlins. He is a weird and queer guy, and I really enjoyed reading about his character development
The author’s style of writing and world-building is not unnecessarily complex, making the book an easy read. The switch in POVs makes for an exciting change in pace and format throughout the book. Nico, Libby, and Reina’s POVs are baseline YA, while Callum, Parisa, and Tristan lend more jaded experiences.
The story follows Zuri, a young woman who makes a decent living yet finds herself in financial hot water when her rich boyfriend betrays her and gets engaged to another woman while they are on a break.
If you know someone with an abusive partner, please don’t constantly judge them by asking why they can’t just leave because it’s not as easy as it seems, and Stockholm’s syndrome is really a thing
So this is a YA book, and going into it, I expected the regular YA tropes. While there were a few tropes here and there, it wasn't as much as I expected.
The book covers themes such as racism, politics in the pre and post-colonial era in Africa, Identity crisis, infidelity, the slave trade, and the importance of knowing one's roots
She carried the burden of guilt, thinking about all the things she could have done to avoid her brother's dying, blaming herself for even starting the chain of events that led to his death.
The plot becomes more complex here as the author continues from where he left off in Words of Radiance. So far, I have a feeling the main storyline is yet to start.
Western Fiction of every sort presently has more appeal to the bulk of African readers, not necessarily because of any literary superiority but because of an unwillingness of the former to evolve.
The game creator, Hideo Tanaka, enlists her help to catch the person responsible for hacking and gaining information from the Warcross code by going undercover by competing in the Warcross games.
The world-building is great, the plot is good, I love the character in this book so much, and the ships aren't that bad. The story is also diverse, something we all look for in books these days.
His relationships with his loyalists improve, even as his journey of self-discovery gathers pace. He now sees them in a light that better mirrors his rapidly-evolving psyche.
This book is my kind of fantasy. It has magic, battles, great characters, and amazing history. It's suspense-filled, the pace is perfect, and it is neither slow nor too fast.
It was fascinating to observe the misogynistic and ignorant Bambi trying to solve the mystery placed before him, a mystery with glaring answers he doesn't see immediately.
He learns that his heart has been shattered into pieces, with each containing a fragment of his memory. He will need to find and absorb all pieces to regain his memory.
The grim realities of the Afghan War are perfectly captured in the individual stories of the characters who are forced to start their lives over in different ways.
Set in contemporary Lagos, these stories are not interwoven, but they have a central theme. The language is very simple, everyday words and even some slangs were thrown in for good measure.
They had a tradition of earning armchairs in the house. This meant that no wife had a comfortable seat. You were not entitled to one unless you were pregnant, breastfeeding, or watching over toddlers.
The second season of Bridgerton, while eagerly anticipated by many, is certainly not gaining as much acclaim as its predecessor, and the reasons are no secret.
Some work regular jobs to get it, while others earn a degree in Menology( the men pay their bills). Set in South Africa, Bontle is on the top of that list of women with degrees in Menology
Though the book is set in Lagos and London, it's a reality most of us can relate to from anywhere in Africa. There is something in there, an experience or anything for everybody.
The main character is as fucked up as you'd ever expect your most hated book antagonist to be. Only this time, he's not an antagonist. He's the main character.
Hi, So monster romance is all the rage right now in the romance world, and this unicorn had to get in on some action. I mean, who cares about regular human peens....we need some monster vitamin D up in this house. I mean, they provide more nutrients for everyone *wink, wink*. The book I will […]
Who's more social about their reading, men or women? This is an easy one. You can tell by just looking at bookstagrammers. They are usually women. At least the popular ones are.
This year's event is scheduled to take place at the Intrade Africa Place, on the 19th of March, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya. On this day, people of all works and backgrounds will gather together and tell as well as listen to stories of people and places all day and night.
Clark is a new-to-me author, and I was impressed by his well-considered, multi-dimensional approach in creating the female characters. They are smart, opinionated, powerful yet self-aware, and in touch with every aspect of their femininity.
This book centers around three friends, Simi, Boo, and Ronke, who have had a good relationship going until the arrival of Isobelle (Simi's childhood friend), who capitalizes on each woman's insecurities and secrets...
Our hero always knows where exactly to touch our heroine to make her see stars. There are always mind-blowing orgasms, and this grade A chemistry sweetens the deal.
The film oozes charm. The two mains, Emma and Peter, played by Jenny Slate and Charlie Day, have so much organic chemistry. I think it's brilliant casting. It's not the kind that slaps you in the face, no. Instead, it's the kind that grows on you; arguably the best kind.
Before you try your hand at writing your big story, practice and practice making a good plot. Work on stories that come to you and spend lots of time thinking up new ideas.
It is important that we keep history alive, to not forget. So although slavery is not an easy subject to discuss, I'm glad this book exists. You should read it if you haven't,
The bloodthirsty deviousness and callousness that came to Rikke and Leo ( I spare no sympathy for him anyway), the kindness that would sometimes peek through Savine's hard veneer - it was just too much for my poor heart to handle.
The parts that stuck out the most for me were the war depictions. Abercrombie writes them so well I felt I was at the front lines - the racing thoughts in the heads of the soldiers as they rush headlong to certain death - it was very detailed and a tad personal.
Science and technology are progressing at a rapid pace, and the role of science fiction literature in charting a course and helping to imagine future technology will always hold true.
A collection of short love stories, Love in Colour is what I like to call a genuine reading experience. The book is split into two parts; old and new tales, with the old tales being retellings of age-old myths and romances, and the new ones being Babalola's own creations.
Unfortunately for Kemi, her worst fears were confirmed. She was only a redundant body in a ceremonial role. Jonny poached Kemi for her skin color to represent diversity in a predominantly white company. It wasn't for her brilliance; neither was it for her experience. It was for her skin color.
The book hits over and over with great character moments, stellar world building, and plot moments that had me enraptured. I expect Greene's work in the series to only get bigger and better
I haven't lived in London before, but I'm not sure that Africans in London who are almost working-class or working-class by association can afford to eat from the buka every week and also afford takeouts as huge as what Ronke always did.
Nevertheless, we know is that this sequel is a win for Nollywood. And when someone asks you if anything good has ever come out from Nollywood, beat your chest and point to this masterpiece!
Asides from a few attempts by people like Fagunwa, Ben Okri, Amos Tutuola, and a few others, there is a dearth of information on Nigerian indigenous religions and mythologies.
The first thing that caught my attention was the author's writing. I love his writing! He writes in a way that bonds with the book nerd in me! And the songs? They reminded me of Wattpad.
Slavery, kingship, courage, patriarchy, domestic violence, education, and love were some of the themes covered in this novel. This body of work displays Ayesha's rich knowledge and storytelling, and subtle humor.
The announcement received a total of 120 applications from nine West African countries and a mixture of emerging and established writers with works ranging from fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, etc.
Locke is a genius. He makes Kaz Brekker look like a child (which he is; well kinda). His schemes are bloody schemes. Don't get me wrong, Locke Lamora is not a good guy in any way. He's more of an anti-hero that'll always have my support.
When a fantasy book has lots of characters, it's scary because that means not all of them will make it. Even at that I can't help loving them and hope the author doesn't kill off all my favorites.
The structure of the Tsurani society becomes much clearer as we are allowed to explore the involution, the finer points of the socio-political construct.
With all the plotting and schemes going on, one would be forgiven for not giving apt credit to the excellent world-building. Being a fan of Feist's former series set in this world, it's once again delightful to read about the cultures and peoples of Tsurani.
Our hero has lots of adventures as she rises through the ranks in a bid to prove herself to allies and foes alike. This first part of the book is fast-paced. Time flies as a lot of character development goes on.
It was a light, easy, and mildly entertaining novel. The type of novel that you can read, be satisfied with and then absolutely forget mostly because it's not the kind of story that stays with you.
The main characters resume their atrocious acts with barely any hint by the author as to purpose. Even as you read on, things only become mildly clearer. The only obvious thing is that there's conflict, on a very large scale at that.
The scenes featuring the Bonehunters are rather comic, as well as revealing a great deal about their origins. There are a number of connections to be made, between different characters, historical events, peoples, and gods, the deciphering of which proves a puzzling delight for readers.
When Netflix dropped The Tinder Swindler, I checked out the trailer to see what it was all about; I saw it was a documentary, so I moved on. But, it started trending on Social Media, and everyone started talking about it, so I decided to give it a try. I’m not one for Documentaries, but […]
In this book, it's easy to see, analyse and weigh the merits of careful character-building that sacrifices plot acceleration for vivid literary realism, against simple plot progression.
A Little Hatred reads as an introductory piece into the lives of all the major characters who are youth, straining at the leashes of their guardians, and have been thrust into situations they seem quite unprepared for.
The book is a healthy mash of good meets evil to compromise in the face of a greater evil, love, jealousy, action, and spells. It even features an exposé into hell politics
Annabeth was a bitch almost throughout the book. I just do not get her loyalty to Luke despite everything, and I wonder why Percy even puts up with that.
The author opined that she did not subscribe to the Nigerian culture of marriage proposals compulsorily being the duty of the man, stating that "proposals are not a gender thing."
Given Disney Plus’ stellar reputation, it appears that his dream is set to be achieved, with casting for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief currently underway.
I'll be honest with you, I'm a music fanatic. Songs make my heart burst into colors - the bright, fun type. And Sing 2 was filled with such songs, delivered in pitch-perfect, rapturous voices.
One thing that hit me in this book was how the minds of the black people living in the UK at that time were conditioned. It was like they were made to believe that they were lesser humans and that the white person was better than them.
Love, cheating, heartbreak, domestic violence, family, police brutality were some of the themes covered in this collection of short stories because this collection is infused with the magic of evocative storytelling you might be drawn to or haunted by a character or two.
A man sleeps with the maid and impregnates her, deceives the wife he claims to love, and this same wife, Ezi, is required to apologize to the husband because she has only a daughter for him while the maid has a son.
Why did I have to carry this shame like a second skin? And every day for a month after the incident, I would usually find myself whispering to myself, "I am ruined."
This book centers on contemporary issues like masculinity and the dangerous consequences of rage and improper decisions. It also touched on issues like barrenness and the perceived notion of women being second-class citizens.
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate: to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her […]
It's a strange story. Very unpredictable. The plot is regularly taking the most improbable of turns. In this tale of great betrayal, the author reveals humanity in all its gory glory.
Dina Demille runs an inn for the supernatural. Part of that is to keep the supernatural events from normal humans. So when some creatures start turning up ripped apart and dead in her neighborhood, she knows it is not normal and takes matters into her hands to solve the situation by enlisting the help of Sean, her werewolf neighbor.
This book features lots of things that I love in books, some of which are great and well-depicted characters, good friendship, well-depicted fight scenes, and awesome world-building, to mention a few.
The Angels also have the power to make vampires. In return for changing them from human to vampires, the new vampire has to sign a contract to serve the Angel for a number of years.
Hello humans! Do you ever have a feeling that something so good could be a lie, but then it turns out not to be a lie? Well, that's how this book was for me. With every installment, it just kept getting better. Okay time for a fun fact about this Unicorn: I love Japan and […]
The only this this movie has going for it is the cast. The makers of this movie assembled Nollywood’s finest but sadly, even Nollywood’s finest could not save this movie.
Despite its brilliance, it would be totally unfair to judge other epic fantasy series using WoT as a yardstick. Here, I'd simply say, "other series have done well, but WoT surpasses them all''
As an African woman, I have lived in shame, and shame has lived in me. I told myself I was keeping my virginity for my husband. I needed to be a virtuous woman to be appreciated, I did not know what virtue meant, and honestly, I still don't.
Niru is gay and cannot freely explore his queerness. Although he is in a country like America, the Africanness and religiosity in his parents would not let them support him. Rather they take him to pastors to pray the gay out of him.
We assume that people are either gay or lesbians, forgetting that the queer spectrum is broad and there are so many intersections. The rainbow has so many different colors, not just red and yellow.
It reminds me of a young man who once promised forever. He had been so consistent and intense in his promises of forever that I believed it, latched onto it, breathed it, and looked forward to it.
Then there are the themes in the book. Everything needed for a perfect dish of dark, grim fantasy is here. Magic? Check. Betrayal? Aplenty. Violence? You can literally hear the screams of dying men. A flawed hero? There's more than one flawed hero here.
It's a testament to the writer's storytelling and plot-twisting skills that he's able to get his characters into so much trouble and then get them out, all without giving his readers the impression that he's being overly partial.
The fighting is hats off, badass! The descriptions of sex are just as vivid as the gruesome literary pictures of broken skulls, disemboweled soldiers, hamstrung men and women, and decapitated men lying in pools of blood and gore.
The world-building is beyond average; it’s awesome. Will Wight literally has a different world-building because each book is set in a different location.
Despite the Malazans being soldiers and all, they are still compassionate. It reminds me of what they did in Capustan. I was scared that the marines here would be a rip-off of the others, but I was wrong.
2021 was an exciting year for movies. I had a lot lined up to watch, but sadly I didn't make much of a dent in my hoard/collection. 2021 was also Marvel's year. The amount of content the MCU churned out this year alone was crazy, from their movies to TV shows. It really was a […]
The story is very simple. Mama Agatha has 3 sons. She mandated them to bring home a potential love interest on or before Christmas day so that she is guaranteed of at least one grandchild. In return? The first person to bring in a wife material will inherit the house.
The world is amazing. For a small book, the author cleverly does a lot of rather unique world-building. It's not vast Midkemia, truth be told. This one is more straightforward, more streamlined, very different.
Meanwhile, Aes Sedai plotting thickens, serving as a perfect backdrop to the eventual facing off of The Dragon Reborn Rand al'Thor and the Forsaken Sammael.
De Castell writes a New Fantasy, a world in which his characters can be whatever they want to be regardless of whatever and whoever stands in their way
One of the struggles directors and producers get when creating a movie out of a book is adding something new to the story as fans already know the plot, and I sympathize with them.
How the author has managed to create vivid realism with mysterious, otherworldly intrigues and elements is quite beyond me. It's a perfect blend of Grimdark and traditional fantasy. Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass meet. Martin weds Maas. It's the perfect literary combo.
S For Spoilers Netflix seems to have cracked the Christmas Romantic Comedy formula – hiring Vanessa Hudgens to play all the roles. It kind of reminds me of Eddie Murphy playing pretty much all the characters in The Nutty Professor. What started as an innocent movie about two different characters switching places has escalated into […]
Our hero's father, Duke Leto, has to move, as per the directive of a sadistic emperor, to a desert planet with his family to oversee the mining of a very valuable spice, a job that was solely the enemy family's.
The world was well built, Blackcliff, the Scholar quarters, the catacombs, etc. I didn't' have to stress to understand what the author wrote; it's so unlike some YAs whose worlds are poorly built.
Not the biggest climax of an ending, but a very satisfying one. The Prophet of Akhran is written at a quick pace, with even more thrill and action than the last book. All the forces meet finally in an all-deciding clash, with plenty of intra-faction politics. The main antagonists are admittedly laid off with too […]
The authors take their time to involve everyone in the story, and the weaving of events is expertly done, providing readers with a lot of suspense and thrill, even without overwhelming violence.
The story has a rich, rich world that is based on Islamic Mythology. The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A Chakraborty is woven from much the same source; hence, certain comparisons can be made.
It's like the beginnings of a game of chess between two foes in which the game gets bigger than the chessboard, bigger than the players, bigger than the room they're playing in
True quality high fantasy is proving harder to find by the day. Here is one that tells a most wonderful story, all without the cliched tropes that are core to the genre. It is utterly engrossing in its unpredictability.
There's almost as much fun to be had in the gradual discovery of the world of Roshar as there is in the numerable plot twists and thrilling events that permeate the entirety of the 1000-plus pages of this brilliant book.
When we talk about character development in literature, this book is the perfect stereotype. It should be the yardstick through which other character development levels in literature are measured.
Events leading up to the climax are just as engrossing as the climax itself. That the author managed to create such unforgettable characters in just a few pages is a testament to the beauty of this book.
What do you want out of an action movie? Guns blazing, car chases, hand to hand combat and a heart-racing plot? If you were on a low budget, Red Notice would deliver on all of these (except for the heart-racing plots). The plot revolves around Nolan Booth, the second-best art thief in the world, who becomes […]
But, as long as the likes of Legendary Pictures, Sonar Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, HBO, Netflix, and Amazon continue to spend big bucks on filming, the wheels of this Age will continue to turn and spin.
So rich and striking is the world of adventure he created that it is hard not to compare recent literary works with his. Perhaps he did create the One Book to rule them all.
Is there any need for a spoiler warning? Because I’m pretty sure everyone at this point knows how these kinds of movies end. It’s that time of the year again - the time for trashy sappy Christmas Romantic Comedies. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve watched my fair share of rom-coms over the years. Some might […]
The author presents the Arabian world and all of its alluring mythology in an attractive manner, all the while adding more than a dose of her own formidable epic-weaving skills.
The Dragon has been reborn, but the Shadow is equally growing in power. Nynaeve and Elayne go to Tanchico to hunt for Black Sisters, with Nynaeve encountering and dueling one of the Forsaken, Moghedien, in the process. Perrin Aybara has to grow into his new identity as Wolfbrother
It's a real-life lesson in leadership, an allusion to pretentious saviour-Stalins and Christ-Hitlers who believe that they can change the world by breaking it first.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain
There are a number of connections to be made, between different characters, historical events, peoples, and gods, the deciphering of which proves a puzzling delight for readers.
There are new characters, histories, mysteries, plots and schemes, and worlds. It's terrifying in its complexity, and you almost heave a sigh of relief when things become a little clearer at the end.
Well, if you don't read books and you happen to overhear a couple of us raving passionately about how hot Celaena Sardothien is or how daft Perrin Aybara is or isn't, you need not call 911. Just leave us in peace, will you, eh?
For the first time since Zahrah the Wind seeker, I have discovered another well-researched, thoughtfully analyzed, and planned history in an African Epic Fantasy that I instantly fell into. The different races, their hierarchy, and the impact that had on their lives. It was interesting having a spin on how the world functions without having […]
If you haven’t seen the third season of YOU, you need to stop reading now. Unless you have a thing for spoilers, or couldn’t care less about Joe’s shenanigans. Last Friday, (October 15th) Netflix released the third season of their hit show YOU, and it was better than the last two seasons (in my opinion). […]
Oh, and Joe is also a stalker and serial killer who believes he's helping his 'love interests' by killing people he thinks are a threat or bad influence to them
Warning… This review contains mild spoilers for Netflix's Midnight Mass. The arrival of a charismatic priest brings miracles, mysteries, and renewed religious fervor to a dying town. Midnight mass That's the official synopsis for the show. Now let's hear mine. Delusional Priest brings Nosferatu to town, convinces gullible congregation that it's an Angel of God […]
Love is Beautiful When in Bloom is a new collection of seven romantic short stories, the second book from the wellspring of talent that is Omolara Kareem
...Yumeko gets thrusts unexpectedly into a power struggle, prophecy, a potential love interest who happens to be a demon slayer, quest (and side quests), and of course a motley of sidekicks (a ronin, a noble, and eventually a priest and a temple maid)
Truly, truly enjoyable, this book was. Honestly, I was not eager to start this one, seeing as it's not yet a complete series. But it was a big-name author. Besides, the books I've been reading recently have not precisely been intriguing, so I just decided to give this one a try. And I certainly wasn't […]
Here, the author appears to be more intricate and deliberate in his storytelling, happy to help readers truly understand events in a blow-by-blow manner.
Ok, one of my guilty pleasures while growing up was seeing the James Bond movies made in the 80s and 90s. It was so fascinating how one man could kill the bad guys, visit the most exotic places in the world, bed the sexiest women you could only touch in your wildest dreams and still […]
Whether dumb stupid like Sansa, or foolish honour like Eddard, the characters draw you in, making you laugh and cry along with them, make you feel exactly what it is they're feeling.
