I ended up reading a handful of African fantasy books this month, and I have greatly enjoyed all of them. One that particularly stood out is Son of the Storm, by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, which is both a debut and one of our Dark Horse picks for the year. It’s the first novel in The Nameless Republic series, and Suyi says that the world is inspired by Nigerian folklore. While the book definitely has some issues that I will go into below, it was also my favorite debut that I have read in 2021 so far and definitely not a book to miss.

Son of the Storm tells the story of Danso, a mixed-blooded scholar studying at a wondrous university that few are privileged to attend, especially those with Danso’s heritage. The city is built in this winding maze of concentric circles, with the inner ones being lands of plenty and paradise, and the outer ones being dangerous slums. The inner-circle dwellers rule the city with intense xenophobia and rarely let anyone without their pure bloodlines study at the university. However, Danso is a gifted scholar with a perfect memory who manages to pass every test thrown at him, despite being a distracted, disorganized, and ironically forgetful student. When Danso accidentally memorizes a restricted tome that was supposed to remain forgotten, he finds himself caught up in a shadowy war for control of the city and must struggle to keep ahead of his enemies.

My plot breakdown is a little more vague than usual as part of the joy of Son of the Storm is blissful ignorance and a sense of discovery. Danso feels constantly out of his element and struggles to make the correct choice with limited information, a feeling the plot does an amazing job evoking in the reader. There are actually multiple POVs in the book other than Danso, including his fiancée, his future mother-in-law, his second (a type of bodyguard), and more. However, the bulk of the story definitely focuses on Danso and treats the rest of the cast as his mirrors and foils. Normally this isn’t my preference in narrative structure, but Danso is an excellent character and I didn’t mind spending all that time with him. He starts in an interesting place with a complex personality, and continually grows and evolves over the course of the book. He goes from this disinterested and immature scholar with a chip on his shoulder who is barely getting by to a confident leader who is trying to change the world for the better, and the transformation is great.

However, while I thought Danso’s character was very enjoyable, the rest of the book felt slightly akin to a toddler in many ways: adorable, exploring its surroundings, trying new things and sometimes failing, and sometimes slightly confusing and incoherent. Sometimes the plot in Son of the Storm is very clear and direct, and other times chapters will veer into strange areas that don’t actually seem to be about the story with little explanation why. Some parts of the world seem well-realized and exciting to explore, and others seem like vague ideas that need more development before they become well-refined parts of the narrative. Often, the prose is poetic and evocative of a style of fantasy (African) I haven’t seen enough of, other times it devolves into incoherent dialogue that can feel a bit stilted and directionless.

There is also a very interesting exploration of what feels like a more modern African ideal. Okungbowa says in his forward that one of his goals with Son of the Storm was to “situate the book in a time, place, and history that echoed his.” As I am possibly the furthest thing from Nigerian on Earth, I am unqualified to speak to how well Okungbowa captures this idea. However, I can definitely say that I felt like I got a peek into a culture that I previously hadn’t. The book felt very fresh to me and I really enjoyed learning about all sorts of customs and people I hadn’t seen previously in fantasy stories.

While the book has some issues, they feel like artifacts of a new writer in my opinion. With more time and practice I fully expect Suyi Davies Okungbowa to master his craft and deliver flawless books, and Son of the Storm is still an absolute blast to read despite some of these difficulties. I am fully invested in the story and ready for the next installment. If you are looking for a fantasy with a more worldly and original feel, look no further than Son of the Storm. Its chaotic nature might make it feel a little disorganized, but much like its protagonist Danso, the book only gets better as it grows into something bigger than its roots.

Rating: Son of the Storm – 8.0/10
-Andrew

Drunk Overview: so basically you’ve got two wait three people in this story. Danso aka my son, accidentally read a book from the restricted section and know things he shouldn’t and oh he’s mixed race and that makes him low caste but he’s the only one in his caste in the university. His intended, Esheme, wants power and her mom is doing some bad things. Mama let in a “yellow skin” and no that’s not derogatory persay, their skin is literally the color yellow. Her name is Lilong and she came from islands that weren’t supposed to exist to get what E’s mama is doing. ANYWAY, naturally all three of these people clash and shit goes down.

Spoiler-free Thoughts: i liked this. It was slow, but I really like the world a lot.

Characters: ok so first there’s Danso. He’s my favorite. He just wants a better life and his heart is so pure. He doesn’t realize the effects his choices have on others and BOY foes he get called out for that, but he genuinely wants to learn. Esheme is everyone’s OG villain story. And unlike villain stories where they think what they’re doing is right, she makes decisions out of self preservation. She kinda sucks but a lot of her choices make sense. And then there’s Lilong who’s fine I guess. The sis de characters are mostly well rounded, Zaq is also a new child of mine, Nem (mama) is a tough cookie, and the second guy to E is brutal. They all have back stories and we understand why they did what they did.

Plot: this plot is SLOW. So much happens but it takes forever and I think it’s because of the over-descriptiveness of the prose. Since this is multi-POV, the author seems to think we need to be told the same things over and over to see what each character’s reaction will be but there are far better ways to do that. I do, however, need to know what happens next so, that’s a win,

Writing Style: see above

World Building: what an awesome magic system. And the political nature of this world is fascinating. A lot of showing, not telling, which is the best way to learn. Plus, it’s built on west African culture and I’m very happy that more of these stories are getting published. Such a rich set of lore to build in and it brings me joy. OH and that forest is terrifying.

Now this is what I call an EPIC fantasy. Son of the Storm at its core is a story about fate and destiny, and how sometimes they guide you to greatness, but other times you must make your own greatness in order to unlock your full potential. Okungbowa tackles themes such as discrimination and colonialism, while imbuing the story with fantastical elements. With an intriguing plot, incredible world-building, and characters that drove the story to greatness, Son of the Storm, without a doubt, will be rising the ranks of Adult Fantasy.

Inspired by West African culture, legends, and myths, the world that Okungbowa created is one that was meticulously crafted, from elaborate descriptions of each location to the structure of the society. As this is such a high fantasy book, one can expect a lot of info-dumping, a lot of telling instead of showing. Initially, I was a bit intimidated by all the details, but Okungbowa writes in a way that doesn’t feel like I’m reading a huge info-dump, as if he’s just pouring facts out onto the page. He writes about his world like he’s telling a story, in a way that fully engages readers and makes them crave more knowledge. When I read his words, I found myself falling deeper and deeper into his world, imagining each scene as if I was there.

Unlike other fantasy novels I’ve read, this story moves at a somewhat languid pace, which was necessary in order for the author to develop and establish the plot, the world, and the characters. The plot of this book was tied into the lives of our main characters, Danso, Esheme, and Lilong. Lilong, who comes from a forgotten place called the Nameless Islands, ventures to the city of Bassa in search of a magical stone, ibor. The lives of Esheme and Danso who live in Bassa soon become entangled with Lilong and her mission and by the end of the book, all three characters have changed not just their own lives and destinies, but the structure of the world around them. Even though I enjoyed the excess amount of detail in the book, I must admit that the plot isn’t fully established until the end of act one. Nevertheless, once the plot was underway, the story finally became something entirely engaging.

”When people think of us this is what we should want them to remember: that even the slightest errors against us will not be tolerated.”

Esheme
While the plot and worldbuilding were both high points of this book, what really made me love this book were the characters. This book had a lot of POVs, nine, to be exact, and the fact that I have a lot to say about each character is very telling of Okungbowa’s talent. One of our main characters, Danso, is a scholar at Bassa’s university. When we first met Danso he seemed naïve and a little meek and unconfident, meek in the sense that he can’t stand up for himself, and unconfident in the sense that he feels out of place. As a low-born Shashi who rose to the highest caste of Idu, he certainly doesn’t fit in with all the other high-borns in Bassa. The only thing he has going for him is his intellect and his never-ending thirst for knowledge, which not only gets him into the mess in the first place, but also becomes a dangerous weapon for the people around him. Our other main character, Lilong, is a skin-changing warrior, a yellowskin, who doesn’t trust anyone but her own people, and for good reason. When she first meets Danso, she hates him and his rose-coloured way of seeing the world. But by the end of the book, she changes from a pessimistic person to someone with a little bit of optimism. Now for my favourite character, Esheme. Esheme is the kind of woman that takes no shit from anyone, cold and hard. Her journey is all about her desire for power, which was fine, but by the end of the book, she has gone from a pragmatist to a pragmatist with sociopathic and homicidal tendencies (which was awesome!). If you love morally grey characters (that are really just plain immoral) then you’ll love Esheme too.

This book was absolutely fantastic in every sense of the word. I can’t wait for the sequel next year, Warrior of the Wind, give it to me now!

-a solid debut fantasy perfect for fans of City of Brass
-9 POVs
-inspired by pre-colonial West Africa
-a class system based on race
-protagonist discovers mineral with supernatural properties known as ibor
-a fabulous narrator if you like audio
-slow, character driven start
-a rich and immersive epic to get lost in
-an interesting squad that I’m ready to read more about in book 2
-animal companion
-female morally grey character
-normalized non-binary character
-a series starter (1 of 3)

Danso, a half mainlander, half desertlander scholar, stumbles upon a wanted foreigner, Lilong, hiding in his barn and wielding mythical magic known as ibor. Danso makes a split decides to forsake his country and his intended, Esheme, by helping the criminal flee. We follow Danso and Lilong’s escape and Esheme as she faces the consequences of her intended’s actions.
Esheme’s story line really surprised me and I’m here for it!


My only complaints are 1. I wanted more: More of the characters, more of the world, more of the relationships, more of the villain 🦹‍♀️ etc. but this is a series so I’m assuming we will get plenty more in the next two books. 2. I love fantasy but I do have a complaint about the genre in general: fantasy books can be confusing and hard to piece together at times. I knew when I started this one it was going to be one of the ones I struggled with. It took me about 100 pages to get and keep everything in this new world straight: the names, languages, the class system, the places. After that I was fully on board and along for the ride! And 3. I’m always a little annoyed when something in the summary of a book takes forever to happen in the actual books. That is the case in this one but that’s totally personal preference so it won’t matter to everyone.

💚Okay I think that’s it! Overall I really liked it, recommend it for fantasy lovers, and can’t wait for Warrior of the Wild, book 2 in the series💚

“You say you want liberty, but you can never be free alone. None of us are free until all of us are.”

Wow, this book was an absolute delight from the beginning to the end! Such rich world0building and fascinating characters... I honestly fell in love with this whole world whether it was the city of Bassa and its markets, the Breathing Forest or the protectorate of Whudasha. Okungbowa is able to breathe life into his world because it quickly envelops you and draws you in. It’s very rare that in a fantasy book instead of being slightly confused about the worldbuilding I was filled with a thirst to know more details.

I am absolutely living for all the characters in this book! A friend of mine told me that the beginning was slightly slow as the author set up the world first but I didn’t mind that at all because I was so vested in learning more about the characters from the very beginning. Yes, I’m one of those people for whom characters make or break the book.

Okungbowa seamlessly weaves in so many incredibly important and poignant themes reflective of our world today. At its core though, this book talks about power and class at so many levels and in so many different ways.

“Power in hands that couldn’t be fully controlled was always unsettling.”

Also, I can a 100% tell you that if we didn’t have multiple characters narrating Son of the Storm this book wouldn’t be half as good. Its characters come from different world and mindsets and follow such divergent paths that a single narrator would not have been able to show us the depth of their lives or even cover the plot as a whole. Okungbowa chose every character carefully and all their narratives and stories added so much to the story and furthered the plot.

I’ve been looking forward to reading Son of the Storm since I first saw its cover, and even more so when I found out it fit my requirements for reading more diverse books, with diverse characters, from diverse authors.

Son of the Storm is a fantasy set in an African-inspired world, with castes, guilds, forbidden magic, and all the fixings of a growth-quest journey complete with misaligned adventurers. There are a lot of characters to meet and get to know, and a lot of background to set, so it’s a somewhat slow read. Then again, this is true of a lot of epic fantasy first-in-series – and I quite liked all the detail Okungbowa imbues into Son of the Storm.

Our hapless hero Danso is a scholar who’d rather just spend his time and life following his curiosity, even if it’s gotten him in hot water quite a few times. His thirst for knowledge knows no bounds, to the dismay of his intended Esheme, his Second Zaq, and his father. Danso is that one friend who has their heads so far up in the clouds they wouldn’t notice they’re sinking in quicksand. Esheme is totally badass. I’m still not quite sure whether I like her – she’s brash and abrasive, playing a role when she has to and letting it all hang out when she doesn’t give a damn anymore. And when power falls into their laps, it’s almost a race to see who’s going to do what with it.

Son of the Storm is also a fascinating read in how a people use borders, immigration regulations, education, housing, et al to reinforce a projection of authority and power. And what happens when its citizens rebel and revolt against the lies they’re told.

All in all, this first is worth a follow-up; I can’t wait for the next in this series.

drey’s rating: Excellent!

I loved this book.

Son of the Storm is the first book in a new epic fantasy series that is based on pre-colonial West African empires. It follows Danso, a young scholar in the city of Bassa, who is forced to flee the city after discover a young women who shouldn’t exist in his family’s barn.

I thought that the worldbuilding was really well done. The plot was interesting and engaging. I also particularly loved the characters. They all had very distinct and unique voices, which is something that I really appreciate.

Overall, I really enjoyed this epic adult fantasy and would highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a high fantasy, set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empire of West Africa, that has mythical beasts and magic, necromancy, badass female main characters, action and political intrigue, assassinations and queer characters, you need to read this book!

This was so enthralling literally from the first page of the prologue. I was hooked and remained that way up until the final word. I will say the actual plot was a lot slower than I usually like, but the writing was so wonderfully done that I didn’t even mind! I loved it when the action really picked up by the end, I hope we get to see more of that in the sequel. I think what kept me going was not only the characters but the lush, rich world-building.

We follow Danso, a curious scholar who ends up running away from the city he’s from because he ends up helping out a stranger — a magic- wielding stranger that he had been taught no longer existed and were extremely dangerous and likely to murder him if they did. Except she doesn’t and they embark on this epic journey to escape the bounty on their heads as well as project the magic she wields.

We also follow Esheme, Danso’s intended and man was she a badass. She’s bent on power, on amassing it and honing it, on being in control and she’s incredibly smart. She’s also ruthless which I loved! Seeing such a morally grey character as one of the main cast was delightful! I’m so curious to see where things go with her— her plot line is insane!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this beast of a book! You definitely need to check this one as soon as you can— it’s incredible!

4/5 ⭐️

TW: death, murder, gore, miscarriage, death of a child, death of an animal, torture, blood, stabbing, dismemberment, beheading.

Son of the Storm was one of my most anticipated reads, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I will say, the world and character building are phenomenal. Okungbowa put some serious thought into how he wanted the story to be imagined. Instead of the typical warriors and swords, Okungbowa created scholars who unearthed magical elements. The story takes place on the land of Oon, which is reminiscent of the ancient Benin Empire in Nigeria. I had no trouble imagining every corner of this word through Okungbowa’s writing.

One thing I could not grasp was the age setting of this book. Son of the Storm is considered an Adult Fantasy, yet I got high Young Adult vibes throughout the entire story. I also could have done without the multiple POVs. I understand it’s a chance to jump into the minds of the storytellers, but I think there were way too many people who were only around for five seconds having a say. The story could have been told with the three main characters – Danso, Esheme, and Lilong.

Overall I rated this book 3-stars. It was a slow burn. I was disappointed that the lessons stayed at a surface level and, of course, that damn cliffhanger. But do not let my review stop you from getting into this epic fantasy novel.

4.5 Stars

Recommended Read!

“…stories are like knives: weapons or tools, depending on who is wielding them.” – Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Son of the Storm

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is an epic fantasy set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa. This story showcases everything fans love about the fantasy genre and delivers much more! In this magically, action packed tale we follow Danso, who is a clever scholar in the ancient city of Bassa. He has the potential for greatness but doesn’t want it. Everything he has been led to believe about his world and his place in it is changed forever when he stumbles upon the warrior, Lilong. Her very existence and the magic she yields has been long believed to be nothing more than myth.

I found this to be a wonderful example of immersive storytelling and epic word building. Now with that comes a heavy info dump in Part One of the book. So, the story has a slow start, however, your patience is soon rewarded with intertwined plots, captivating characters, high impact action and forgotten magic.

The structure of the book plays out like a movie, with the POV changing between different characters. The writing carefully crafts a web of plots and shows the subtle consequences one character’s actions has the on the others, that felt completely organic and never forced.

Danso is a curious dreamer and scholar, and while very book smart, somewhat naïve to how the world really works. Traits that inevitably get him into consistent trouble. I mean, anyone who calls themselves and bookworm can relate to this. And because of his relatability, the reader can truly share in the experiences he goes through.

My favorite characters were Esheme and Lilong. Esheme is Danso’s intended, and is thrown into a position that forces her to secure her household and reputation. Her development and storyline was my favorite to read! I found myself looking forward to her chapters. She brilliantly maneuvers the circumstances thrust upon her, and becomes a powerful presence in the city of Bassa.

Lilong is that no nonsense character I love! She is a fierce warrior, and has a mission that became increasingly more complicated once Danso entered the picture. Her stable and down to earth energy helps Danso focus. She’s often the voice of reason he needs to help give him a look at the bigger picture of how the world works outside of Bassa and the harsh realities that come with that.

Overall, I found this title exciting, immersive and a beautifully written! Okungbowa’s writing style is a delight to read, and I feel Son of Storm will become a must read for those who call themselves fans of Fantasy. I am looking forward to rest of The Nameless Republic series and discovering more about this enchanting world, and how Danso will navigate the trials he’s yet to face.

In this first installment of an epic fantasy trilogy, come along to an African-inspired continent where our main characters seek truth and freedom even when it seems out of reach. The story boasts multiple POVs, each with clear characterization. Two of the main voices stoked my worry: Danso with his naivete (worried on his behalf) and Esheme and her viciousness (worried for everyone else). Another character wonders about Danso "how could someone so sharp also be so stupid? How could both things coexist in one body?" And I think that sums him and his boundless curiosity up pretty perfectly. My favorite character was a non-binary assassin/revolutionary/love interest who appears in the latter half.

The first third of the book takes you along for some heavy world-building, so prepare for that epic fantasy mental work of figuring everyone and everything out. There's a caste system with strict rules, guilds with specific roles, and competing political groups seeking the same power. After this weighty introduction, the questing, politicking, and magicking really gets going. The world is complicated and vast, with power struggles underway and a long secret history kept in the shadows. All our characters have some learning and growth ahead, for better or for worse, because their world is shifting around them, in part due to their own seismic actions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out tomorrow on 5/11!

Quick summary- if that’s even possible:
The first of a trilogy, Son of the Storm is full of magic, politics, and strong female characters. In the city of Bassa, Danso is a young man with a bright future ahead of him with his intended, Esheme. It’s just not a future he’s particularly excited about. Danso is Shashi (mixed-race) and knows almost nothing of his outlander mother. Add that to his knowledge of a codex he wasn’t supposed to read and a border closing that is barely explained- and Danso has a few questions. When he comes across a compelling stranger from far outside the city’s walls who may be able to help him get answers, he can’t resist. As Danso and Lilong begin their journey, things in Bassa get to a critical point with encouragement from Esheme.

It is clear that Suyi Davies Okungbowa has a brain that is complicated and genius and if I ever find myself in his presence I am 100% sure I will be reduced to a giggling pile of embarrassment and shame. Here is what kills me about fantasy writing- and to be fully transparent here, I have only recently started reading more fantasy: authors have to think of EVERYTHIIIIIIIIING.

“Uh. Duh, Tessa.”

I get it. I just told you I’m new here. But it blows my mind! New places, new names for those places, new names for people, new animals, new ways of dressing, new adages, new ways of slicing up society, new ways to get places, new types of buildings to live in, new ways to do magic, just- all of it. And the world building in this book is outrageous. For goodness’ sake- there is a forest that breathes and a lightning bat in this book. There is also a very movie-like scene where a character uses magic to manipulate a blade to function as a moving set of ladder rungs. I just…. I wish my brain worked like that!

There are reviews lamenting “info-dumping” and that the book takes a while to get into. To these people I humbly ask- what the heck did you think you were getting yourself into? It’s the first book of a new fantasy series! The info-dump is the point! How else do you orient yourself to a completely new world? Honestly- I have been knocked on my ass by a few recent fantasy books like The Black God’s Drums, Ring Shout (P. Djeli Clark) and The Bone Shard Daughter (Andrea Stewart)- and the world-building in Son of the Storm is right up there with those. At no point did I find myself wondering WTH was going on.

Here is where I share a few of my favorite quotes, starting with comments on the caste system in Bassa:

“If belonging to both the highest and lowest castes in the land at the same time taught one anything, it was that when people had to choose where to place a person, they would always choose a spot beneath them.”

“Throw them a bone, and they forget their conditions are exacting and their future bleak.”

On truth:

“‘Truth, truth, truth. Everybody thinks they want the truth until the truth is staring them in the face. Just look at how your own people reacted to the sudden truth of my existence.’ She kissed her teeth so vehemently she almost went into a coughing fit. ‘You think it is just lies that break lives? The revelation of truth, especially one that people would prefer not to accept, does the same.’”

One of my favorite adages created for the book:

“An arrow insists it is flying when, in truth, it is expiring.”

On Goodreads, there is a review concerned with the use of the term “yellowskin” given its connotations when used against Asians. While not pleasant, it did start a discussion that provided some great context. Okungbowa responded beautifully- very measured and informative and with links to resources for further reading. It is worth the time to seek out.

Unrelated- there is a lot of truly wonderful and awful gore in this book. No spoilers, but there are some very murder-y scenes with bones poking out and jaws being broken to make room for swords to be crammed down them.

So to sum up all of these unrelated thoughts?

If you are a fantasy fan, DEFINITELY read Son of the Storm. If you’re not a fan of fantasy, I still recommend this book- but don’t take to Goodreads or wherever to complain about world-building, slow pacing, or info-dumping if this isn’t your cup of tea. It’s okay if you like different tea. Recognize that and don’t take it out on the book.

I leave you with this line:

“But fear is only for a moment. Courage, in the times when you need it, comes with the doing.”

An extraordinary fantasy set in worlds new to most of us, SON OF THE STORM, first in THE NAMELESS EMPIRE Series, is about Magic and Secrets, Control and Speaking Truth to Power, about those who Walk Between the Worlds and who keep their secrets lest they perish.


Before the inimical slave trade decimated Africa, the "Dark Continent" was a land of Culture and Empires, high civilizations. It is on this history that accomplished author Suyi Davies Okungbowa draws for inspiration and illustration. If you loved his DAVID MOGO GODHUNTER as did I, do not miss SON OF THE STORM. If you are a Fantasy reader, if you enjoy tracking new and different and unusual paths, look right here!

Son Of The Storm is heady with political and tribal nuance, inflected with the richness of place and cultural practices and a hierarchy based on complexion with deep, lavishly pigmented melanin at the top; a caste system indicated by hair and clothing style and colour used to indicate guild and social standing.

Davies has also depicted the troublesome perceptions of albinism as it exists even to this day on the continent and within the diaspora and is also weaving in the complexities of existing within a society that demands excellence through mastery of a craft and elevation of the family name at the expense of self-expression and freedom. He also explores the complexities of immigration, forced or chosen and how the treatment and relationships forged between immigrant and country can have less than humanitarian purposes; serving to demonize a people while indenturing another.

Davies is also committed to giving us rich characters with personalities that leap off the page: ruthlessness, strength, cunning, and drive. Building the foundation of his story amidst power plays, resistance, and a nation's crumbling influence and reach.

He uses this fantastical setting as a medium to examine how societies can establish standards and borders to elevate a people above all others, engendering systems of oppression and exclusion; where collaboration is sneered upon and differences in culture, speech, and ways of being are stamped out of any who come within its walls. This is a complex, layered and nuanced telling and reflects the many ways in which peoples are being failed by their leaders.

Son of the Storm is a journey of different that followed povs from characters from multiple castes and ethnicities in world where one nation tries to over power all. The content is separated into different areas with different terrains. In the land of Bassa everyone has their place dependent upon their ethnic background and how their physical features present. Being from the mainland vs desertland in addition to caste and skintone determine your worth. Anything non Bassai is considered inferior with the Idu caste, identified usually by their dark skin being the most favored.

Danso should be among the most favored and in many ways he is but he's also treated as an outsider due to his mixed heritage and lighter skin tone. He is referred to as Shashi which has a negative connotation in Bassa. Despite being a scholar with more knowledge than his peers he is pushed out of university due to his background. His intended Eshame is similarly faces issues being looked down upon as her mother comes from a lesser caste and having an unknown father, though she appears to be better off than Danso. Although while Danso wants to act as he pleases in spite of the system Esheme wants to spite the system and take over power.

Esheme and Danso both find their lives upheaved when a woman from one of the lowest castes, the yellowskins of the Nameless Islands, appears in their city. She is looking for a family heirloom which Esheme's mother Nem has taken. A fight for said heirloom results in murder which leads to the yelllowskin Lilong fleeing with Danso and his indentured servant Zaq by her side.


The book was for the most part written in easy to read language though it was very dense and some passages required rereading. Section 1 was definitely more hefty than the rest of the story. The writing style is unique in that at some points it felt more like a story being told around a fire. While I thought some of the side POVs offered great insights not all of them were warranted. But the book mostly focuses on the POVs of Eshame, Danso, and Lilong. Each are people who don't fit into this world but choose different paths. Once the foundation was down for where the plot would be headed and how magic would be used I was invested. The magic in the world is channeled through stones called ibor and using magic takes a lot out of it's users. It wears the body down, causes temporary memory loss, can causes sickness, and requires a lot of recovery time. I'm not exactly sure where this trilogy is going next but now that the foundation has been set I'm curious.



I received an arc from Orbit in exchange for an honest review.

I dnf this. I got about 10% in and it wasn't fantasy-ish like I was expecting...and I didn't know ir care what was happening...
It just wasn't in it.

As an Asian, I was lucky to stumble upon a comment written by the author on Goodreads BEFORE reading this book, which was addressed to readers who were deeply offended by “Asian slurs.”

Son of the Storm is inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa, so the term “yellowskin”, which is used heavily in a derogatory manner throughout the book, is not meant to depict Asian people at all. He clarified that the term “yellow” has historically been used within Black/African communities to refer to Africans with albinism, and to the range of skin tones in African-descended people. All characters in the novel are of African descent.

With that being said, I went into this with a full understanding of the historical and cultural context of the book, and could appreciate it for what it was: a completely ENCHANTING fantasy that I’ve placed on my favorites shelf! This gave off huge “The City of Brass” vibes in terms of worldbuilding, the clear references to relevant (and current) political issues, and an unwilling protagonist thrown into a world of magic, where he questions the idea of home. It was amazing!

I loved the questions it raised, like what does it truly take to catalyze change on a large scale, in a world of people with inflexible, rigid thinking patterns? Does it always require tragedy and sacrifice for true progress? If so, are the consequences worth it? It reminded me of Ursula K. Le Guin’s quote, “To light a candle is to cast a shadow.”

The first half of the book was extremely dense with information, but it got easier once the stage was set. This is a vivid, original world filled with magical, forbidden stones, ancient islands, and complicated dilemmas in a caste-ridden society. My eyes were glued to the pages for the second half. I’d highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers, and to those with an interest in political philosophies and West African culture.

Danso is a scholar who is interested in the ancient history and secret magics of his homeland of Bassa. The only problem is that there are higher powers who don't want him to obtain this knowledge. In the history of the book, it is established that in the recent past Danso found a text from a former Emperor. This book detailed the magic of the 'bone-stone' otherwise known as the mineral ibor. The history of Bassa is complicated, with stories of wars fought against foreigners who are referred to as "Yellowskins." It was this mysterious group of people who could utilize the ibor magic to control the elements, change their appearance, and do all sorts of interesting magic. 

When a "Yellowskin" woman named Lilong appears in Danso's life wielding the magic of ibor, everything he knows will change dramatically. The two of them embark on a journey to escape Bassa. And uncover the truth of the strange red ibor that Lilong carries. No one in the history of her country has ever been able to activate the red ibor, although the other colors of the mineral are well-known to Lilong's people. Of course this means that Danso - with his mysterious heritage that is unknown even to him - is the one who is able to use the power of the red ibor. This mineral grants Danso the power to reawaken the dead, animating corpses to do his bidding.

But Danso isn't the only one who has discovered the secret of the red ibor. His ex-fiancé Esheme has also discovered a way to harness the magic of the stone-bone. And she will do whatever it takes to rule over Basso, and take Danso down. 

Son of the Storm is a fast-paced adventure, with memorable characters and intriguing magical systems. It is an epic fantasy on par with other series released in recent years. But it does subvert many aspects of traditional fantasy, and one of those involves centering blackness at the heart of the story.

Skin color is a big part of the caste system in Bassa. The elite are those whose skin are as dark as the soil. Anyone who has lighter shades to their skin (like both Danso and Esheme) are considered inferior and are treated as such. It is a big deal for Danso to be enrolled at the University, since they usually only take the elite. And of course the foreign "Yellowskins" are feared and hated, largely for looking different (and also for possessing powerful magic). These elements of race and skin color are naturally woven into the world and culture, and adds a lot of depth and complexity to the story. 

The characters themselves are also richly drawn, with deep interior lives and motivations. Danso is smart, kind, and clever. But he is also sometimes a bit naive and clearly still has some ingrained bias from growing up amongst the Bassa. His friend and bodyguard Zaq is a native of the deserts outside of Bassa. Being a desert-lander means that Zaq has lighter skin than the elite of Bassa. So he must work to prove himself worthy of citizenship in Bassa, through indentured servitude. Zaq gets his own backstory and complex feelings about leaving Bassa behind in an effort to protect his charge. And it is through him that we understand the nuances of the caste system, and how unfair it really is. 

The women of the novel are also incredibly complex characters. The two major characters stand in opposition to one another, although they may have more in common than they realize. Esheme starts off as Danso's "intended" but she chafes under the rules that says she must marry him in order for society to accept her. Esheme is smart, cunning, and fiercely independent. But she is also ruthlessly ambitious, and willing to sacrifice anyone to get what she wants.

In comparison Lilong is loyal and empathetic, but she still does not trust Danso or Zaq. This is to be expected after years of being taught that everyone in Bassa is evil and corrupt. She is fiercely committed to her cause, and also willing to sacrifice people to ensure that the red ibor does not fall into the wrong hands. But over the course of the book, Lilong learns to care for others and trust her companions. She is an excellent character, who stands on her own as one of the two lead protagonists of the book.

What is most important is that the characters all learn and grow over the course of the book, although some do so in negative ways like Esheme. As the characters learn more about the world itself and the complicated history between their nations, so does the reader. The journey itself is set up very much like a standard fantasy adventure with characters on the run, learning to master magical abilities, and learning to trust one another.

But there is nothing cliche or stereotypical to be found in Son of the Storm. The story manages to be highly original, while also following the familiar beats of a fantasy novel. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention how beautiful Okungbowa's writing style is. Every sentence serves to build the world, characters, or mood in a vividly imaginative way. The pace is tight, with plenty of action but there are also moments of intellectual or emotional complexity that feel earned and cathartic.

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is the first book of The Nameless Republic and will be out on May 11, 2021 from Orbit Books. Recommended for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter, and Black Sun. Even Game of Thrones fans should find something to enjoy with this new trilogy. We certainly look forward to future installments of the series, after this excellent start.

First off, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Throughout this novel, we follow multiple POVs through this world that is devoid of magic. This changes when one day, a person no one thought was real shows up in their city weilding a magic that was supposed to be a myth. We follow multiple people as they battle with the ramifications of this magic being unleashed. The book is inspired by pre-colonial West African cultures, which creates such a rich, interesting backdrop for this story.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. It was very interesting, fresh, and unique. However, I didn't care for the characters as much. Being a character driven reader, this can really pull me out of a story. There were multiple points where I felt a little bored because I didn't feel as much of the stakes as the characters. The action scenes really made up for this at points, though. There was so much fighting and violence without it becoming just gore. The fighting was interesting and dynamic.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It is very different from other fantasy stories out there right now.

TW: violence, gore, torture, possession, death, animal death, blood, bones, colorism, racism, slavery

Son of the Storm is a West African inspired fantasy, and it caught my attention for that reason. I was immediately struck by the world building and how the author, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, incorporated his Nigerian heritage into the text. The desert and jungle landscapes are vividly depicted, making it easy to get sucked into the world.

The characters the story follows are also fairly distinct from one another. Danso is looked down upon due to his mixed race heritage, and unintentionally makes it worse due to his behavior, coming off as aloof and superior even if he doesn’t mean to. He is a bit dumb at times, but I think other characters more than compensate for that Esheme, who is Danso’s intended, is ambitious and yearns to prove herself, especially as her mother, who is the town “fixer,” isn’t getting her anywhere. I did like seeing a stronger, more ruthless female character

And serving as opposition, there’s Lilong, a Yellowskin. There’s a cultural clash with Danso and Esheme, to the point where they believe she shouldn’t be alive.

The plot itself does feel a bit…just ok? I was interested when I was reading, and I didn’t mind picking it up again, but I wasn’t anxious to keep flipping pages. However, this is very much a case where the strengths compensate for the weakness.

But there are some well-crafted elements here that make me intrigued enough to want to keep this trilogy on my radar and see where Okunbowa takes it. And if you’re looking for a richly imagined West African fantasy, I think you’ll enjoy this one.