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jae_28's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I loved the language in this book! And the detail was gorgeously executed. So many parts of the story had me thinking ‘that’s so beautiful’, despite how devastating most of it is. These 31 pages held the weight of 301 and that’s the biggest compliment I can give. It was an immersive piece and is the kind of work that leaves you wanting more. I desperately need to know where ‘home’ is and what became of Faro’s and Isaaka’s relationship.
I do wish there was more backstory, and we probably would’ve gotten that if there was more from Faro’s POV. Both stories could’ve meshed better. When the climax hit, I was taken off guard by what happened with the mother, and I still have so many questions about it. Isaaka’s story was more dominant and seemed more important, in my opinion, which made the story fall short for me plot-wise. I feel like more balance was necessary seeing how it ended.
Also, I read it on Kindle with the audiobook voiceover and it was really good!
I do wish there was more backstory, and we probably would’ve gotten that if there was more from Faro’s POV. Both stories could’ve meshed better. When the climax hit, I was taken off guard by what happened with the mother, and I still have so many questions about it. Isaaka’s story was more dominant and seemed more important, in my opinion, which made the story fall short for me plot-wise. I feel like more balance was necessary seeing how it ended.
Also, I read it on Kindle with the audiobook voiceover and it was really good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death of parent, and Violence
taaya's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Feels like this short story is actually a teaser for a full novel or even a series of novels. So far there's close to no SciFi or Fantasy in it and the world building is only just beginning.
So far not bad, except for a lack of content notes, but... Where is the rest of the story?
So far not bad, except for a lack of content notes, but... Where is the rest of the story?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
thatmedicalbookworm1's review
adventurous
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was such a good short story, like a prologue to a book. I wish it was longer and was actually written as book , it has great potential
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Blood, and Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
words_and_dreams's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
For such a short story, this managed to pack so much in.
Issaka has returned home to Timbouctou after a devastating al-Qaeda raid. During the raid, a centuries old being that was bound to a book is released. Faro, the mystical being helps Issaka survive and guides him to a knowledge of his ancestors.
A story of what happens when we return to our roots, how important it is to save knowledge and how far are we willing to go for it. Magic, history and personal struggles. The author has a beautiful writing style and the only down side was that it was not longer.
Issaka has returned home to Timbouctou after a devastating al-Qaeda raid. During the raid, a centuries old being that was bound to a book is released. Faro, the mystical being helps Issaka survive and guides him to a knowledge of his ancestors.
A story of what happens when we return to our roots, how important it is to save knowledge and how far are we willing to go for it. Magic, history and personal struggles. The author has a beautiful writing style and the only down side was that it was not longer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Gun violence
jselliot's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Although the story had some good build up and a solid basis in reality for the magical component of the djinn, it ultimately felt unfinished with how it resolved. And I wasn't fond of how the at that point oft-mentioned girlfriend only got a few lines of dialogue when a call finally happened near the end. It sounds like it implied the protagonist would end up abandoning her completely for the foisted-upon quest that trailed off into vague nothingness on the last page.
Content warning for Islamic extremism.
Content warning for Islamic extremism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Colonisation, Violence, Misogyny, and Fire/Fire injury
d_marie's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I liked but I was left with unanswered questions. What type of supernatural bring was Faro and why was she imprisoned? Issaka was reincarnated but who was he before? It wasn’t a complete story, there wasn’t an ending, however it was a good story. Issaka’s father was a protector of the library and manuscripts and his mother and ancestors were powerful people. This is a short and quick read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent
2treads's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Okorafor has a really nice touch when it come to short stories. This was a quick read but packed a lot of recognizable and fantastical facets.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
welkinvault's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Magical realism, djinn escapes from a burning library to an ipad. For a short story this packs a whallop. Set in Mali a returning expat is unnerved by al-Qaeda torching a library, goes to his parents house. Any more info would be spoilerish.
Loved the prose, confused by the plot, and who were the three entities? I needed to know more.
Loved the prose, confused by the plot, and who were the three entities? I needed to know more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
macknificent's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry
introvertinterrupted's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Violence, and Gun violence