She Who Knows is a perfect novella for readers new to the world of Who Fears Death and seasoned readers. It’s this link between an older series and this new series. I’m also so here for novella series! Keep reading this book review of She Who Knows for my full thoughts.
Summary
When there is a call, there is often a response.
Najeeba knows.
She has had The Call. But how can a 13-year-old girl have the Call? Only men and boys experience the annual call to the Salt Roads. What’s just happened to Najeeba has never happened in the history of her village. But it’s not a terrible thing, just strange. So when she leaves with her father and brothers to mine salt at the Dead Lake, there’s neither fanfare nor protest. For Najeeba, it’s a dream come true: travel by camel, open skies, and a chance to see a spectacular place she’s only heard about. However, there must have been something to the rule, because Najeeba’s presence on the road changes everything and her family will never be the same.
Small, intimate, up close, and deceptively quiet, this is the beginning of the Kponyungo Sorceress.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
She Who Knows is a story about ambition and family. As a powerful story about oral storytelling, listening to this on audiobook is a recommendation! Yetide Badaki did a phenomenal job infusing this world with wonder. While it’s supposed to straddle this line of fantasy and science fiction, I’d say it skews more towards fantasy with touches of a scifi in the world. She Who Knows explores gender roles, the constraints of tradition, and the ability to transcend. I loved getting to know this world more. It’s been a while since I read Who Fears Death and so this was such a joy.
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I love a good novella series and it brings me back to my first reads with Okorafor reading other novellas. It asks us what we would do for revenge, to be seen, and how a legend is made. If you love an interesting world which whets the appetite, you should check out this world of afro-futurism. Find She Who Knows on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.