Part social commentary, part fantasy, and part dystopia, Riot Baby is one powerhouse of a novel. Starting during the explosive 1992 Los Angeles riots, we follow a brother and sister not only across the country but through their childhoods and early adulthoods as they navigate the difficult world they are forced live in both in this dimension and potentially in others.

We bounce between the two perspectives of the siblings which at times took a little persistence to follow, but the sometimes ambiguity of the story only added to its overall intense tone. Riot Baby was a brutally raw and evocative tale that reflected much of what it is like to be black in America or trapped within the penal system. In the near future world Onyebuchi created, things aren't that much better, with corporations seizing on the policing and incarceration of convicts. Given the state of the justice system today, it wasn't that far fetched and that was what was most terrifying about it.

We need more voices like this now more than ever and I feel so lucky to have been given a chance to read this incredible novel. Full review to come on my blog near the publication date.

Rooted in foundational loss and the hope that can live in anger, Riot Baby is both a global dystopian narrative an intimate family story with quietly devastating things to say about love, fury, and the black American experience.

Ella and Kev are brother and sister, both gifted with extraordinary power. Their childhoods are defined and destroyed by structural racism and brutality. Their futures might alter the world. When Kev is incarcerated for the crime of being a young black man in America, Ella—through visits both mundane and supernatural—tries to show him the way to a revolution that could burn it all down. - Goodreads

This is the first book I read by Onyebuchi. I know its horrible because he the author of War Girls and Beasts Made of Night. But I picked up this book because I love adult fantasy novels that incorporate real life issues. 

The book is told in two perspectives, Ella and Kev. At first this was a little confusing not because of any transition but because of why. We start off with Ella as a child pre Kev and discover her power which is called The Thing. Instantly, I'm into it. When Kev comes around I am still into it because it comes at one of the turning points in American history. 

But after the first five chapters, the book lost me and I couldn't find the point/purpose of the story. Ella becomes a background and Kev is the focus for a while. Therefore, origins of her powers, any detailed information about her powers other than some things she can do isn't mentioned at all. She becomes a shadow as well as her powers in 90% of the book and it was disappointing. There was no development of Ella and her powers and Kev wasn't that like-able of a character. He became a product of environment even though he had a sister that literally could do anything. Again, disappointing. 

The book focuses so much on environment that I could not find what was the point of the story? Was the point to show that even with super powers as a Black American your life will suck due to not only systematic racism but overall racism? But if that is the case, why not do anything with the super powers to show that?

The book had me lost. I was bored. There was no character development. Kev was a baby. Ella had no personality and was depressing and NEITHER of them tried to get to know their mother. 

Overall, nah

1 Pickle

Wow. So much story. Such great characters. The pacing was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I can't wait for this book to come out and to hear what readers think!

Riot Baby is one of the most beautifully written novellas I’ve read. From the intricately drawn characters, to the harsh realities of violence and racism in America, to the startling powers of our protagonist, it’s the kind of unique book that you can’t help but talk about around the dinner table. Onyebuchi dives into the destructive forces that tear families apart and the terrors young African American men face on the streets of any major American city. Their experiences laid bare on the page, creating a window into their heartbreak and frustration as they try to live their lives amidst such hatred. I was amazed at how perfectly the author captures those emotions, giving us a story that shows the life experiences of those around our protagonists through snippets and possible futures. Coupled with Ella’s raw power, these stories make Riot Baby a must read.

This book has been described as a "gut punch" and people were not lying.

Ella has a power that she calls her Thing. It gives her the ability to see into people's lives, into the past and the future. It gives her the ability to Travel all over, witnessing the lives of black Americans all over the US. She can move things with her mind and make a shield that keeps her safe from police and other forms of violence.

The narrative starts in the spring of 1992 in Los Angeles and moves to Harlem in the early 00s, then on through the 2010s. Ella and her younger brother Kev grow up around and are shaped by the racial tensions through this time period. Kev was born during the Los Angeles riots, and woven throughout the narrative are the incidents of violence that have peppered the last couple decades, supported by the historical violence that has taken place throughout the whole of US history. 

This is tough story to review - a lot of the material is visceral and raw, and the language is harsh yet beautifully written. The fantastical elements are woven into the real world of mass incarceration and racial violence, which puts a unique spin on urban fantasy. I haven't read anything like this before. For being only 176 pages, it packs a wallop. 

The way Ella and Kev's stories intertwine was done very well. The alternating perspectives gave an in-depth look into where both their heads were at by the end of the book, and it made the ending much more satisfying. For most of the book I thought it was going in one direction, basically using the racial violence and police brutality contrasted with Ella's Thing to show how society is broken, but then at the end it took a turn for the dystopian that I was not expecting. I really enjoyed how the ending was written, and I like that the ending was left open. It gave it a much more hopeful vibe.

I'm really glad I went out on a limb and requested this one from Netgalley. (I was not expecting to be approved, but it was a nice surprise). I flew through this and while I can't say it is an enjoyable read - nothing with this level of pain and anger could really fall into the "enjoyable" category - it was an engaging and engrossing read.

I read a lot of books. This is one of my top four of the year so far. With a powerful voice, a well-timed entry into a national conversation, memorable, vivid, plausible characters, and a clever bit of world-building, Riot Baby moves the needle on what short works of speculative fiction can accomplish.