I remember being blown away by Suyi Davies Okungbowa novel Son of the Storm, one of a spate of African-inspired fantasy series that have taken the publishing world by storm over the past several years. It was gritty and powerful and compelling, grabbing hold of me from the very first page until the end, leaving me wanting more. Now, Okungbowa has at last returned us to this world, with Warrior of the Wind, wherein a variety of characters, some villainous and some heroic and all complicated and fully-realized individuals, all try to gain more knowledge, artifacts, and power, as the very world in which they live seems poised on the brink of catastrophe and cataclysm.

At the heart of the story are Lilong and Danso, the warrior woman and the scholar-turned rebel, who increasingly find their existing bond strained by distrust and conflicting goals. As he did in the first volume, Okungbowa spends a lot of time in these characters’ heads, allowing us as readers to understand both their past and the way their experiences impinge on and shape their present actions. Neither of them are perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they do grow and change and develop, and they both experience their fair share of heartache and resentment.

As compelling as our heroes are, they are joined by some equally fascinating villains. Esheme continues to be one of the best villains in fantasy, someone who is willing to sacrifice everything–including her own health and well-being–in order to ensure that she gets the power that she believes is her due. Like Danso and Lilong, she has to suffer a great deal and, like them, she learns that power carries its own consequences. She might have become the Red Emperor, but ruling a domain is a far different proposition than conquering it.

One of the most compelling characters has to be Kangala who, like many of the other characters, is something of a self-starter, someone who has had to scratch and claw his way to the top, building both power and a family with equal deftness. As the novel progresses, his appetite for power grows apace, he continues to become ever more brazen in the pursuit of it, even going so far as to challenge the Red Empress herself. Kangala is a bit of a wild card in the story’s greater contours, and Okungbowa gives us just enough detail about him to make us interested, without giving away too much of his endgame. Who could ask more of a villain than that?

Warrior of the Wind excels at keeping character development and plot development in finely-tuned balance. We get to spend a great deal of time with these characters, getting to know them inside and out, to discover in more detail how they think about the world and their place in it. Unlike many other middle volumes in a series, this one never lets up on the action. There are revelations, to be sure, and moments when the plot makes great leaps forward–there’s even a prison break and a revolution in the making–but there are also slower moments in which both the characters and the reader can catch their breath. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read just another chapter to see what happens and, to my mind, that is the mark of a truly great work of fantasy.

Also like the best fantasy, Warrior of the Wind uses its story to ask some probing and important questions. Even as these characters struggle and interact with one another, there’s a cataclysm looming on the horizon, one that is unlikely to care about the different political factions that are taking shape. Mysterious creatures are now coming out of the woodwork, and Okungbowa sketches them in remarkably chilling detail, giving us creatures that do seem to have come straight out of a nightmare. All of this brewing chaos affects the characters in different ways, though it has the most immediate effect on Nem, Esheme’s mother and the one person who seems to actually know how to run an empire. As she finds, however, there is still only much that she can do, even when the power is placed in her hands.

Moreover, the novel is also very much about the nature of power: who wields it and why, and what the ethics involved should be. In that sense, Danso and Esheme are mirror images of one another. While Danso increasingly comes to believe that power is the only thing that can change the world for the better–abandoning his earlier sense of morality in the process–Esheme gradually loses hers, until she is reduced to little more than a prisoner. For a woman who has already shown a willingness to reanimate the bodies of dead men to serve her (to say nothing of a giant serpent which she also manages to enslave) this is a particularly galling fall from grace. As she learns, the higher you rise when it comes to political and magical power, the farther you have to fall.

Danso, on the other hand, has quickly become someone who turns to darkness. Like so many other people who have spent much of their lives being abused, he comes to believe power is the only way to ensure goodness manages to emerge on top. This is quite an interesting turn for him to make, and I can’t wait to see how things continue to develop in the next novel.

Overall, I thought that Warrior of the Wind was a superb follow-up to Son of the Storm. The magic system is a compelling one, but Okungbowa fortunately doesn’t beat us over the head with complexity. It’s enough for me that it has a set of rules that it has to follow and that, like all magic, it takes a toll on the user. The world of this novel is one that feels lived-in and perilous, with violence lurking around every corner.

I know one thing for sure. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next volume!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Warrior of the Wind is a thrilling and richly layered continuation of The Nameless Republic series. Suyi Davies Okungbowa delivers a fantasy world that feels as real as it is magical—vibrant with culture, conflict, and deeply human questions of power, purpose, and identity.

The story builds beautifully on the foundation laid in Son of the Storm, expanding the world and raising the stakes without losing the heart that made the first book so compelling. Danso’s character growth is gripping—he’s a reluctant hero forced to reckon with what it means to lead, to believe, and to fight for a future that doesn’t yet exist.

Okungbowa’s prose is cinematic and precise, and the pacing kept me hooked. From skyships to political uprisings to ancient magic systems, every element is thoughtfully crafted and deeply immersive. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy that challenges genre norms while delivering serious adventure, Warrior of the Wind should be at the top of your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. I enjoyed coming back into this world Okungbowa created. I can't wait to read his next book. The things I loved about this book: the African inspired setting, the book is rich with culture and lore, the characters, and the storyline. The plot did get a little boring though. There is less face paced action than the first book, but we get more time with the characters, which made me happy. Characters and character growth is more important to me than plot and worldbuilding.

Unfortunately, after requesting this book, I did attempt to read the first book in this series and DNF'ed it before the forty percent mark.

3.5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley, and publisher for this ARC.

I really like this series and i feel like it can be quite complex if you're not paying attention. It was great being back in this world because i love the African inspired setting.

Although i liked the the first book better than this one, it still did not disappoint. I am not really into several point of view chapters, but this book with its interesting stories on each character kept me engaged. I would have to keep reading a few chapters before i would get to my favorite character.

If you enjoy Fantasy, this series is for you!

Don't mind me, I'm only a year late to the party.

Man, I love this series. I love this world. I love that pretty much every character (with approximately two exceptions) is either in or entering their villain era by the end of the novel. I see people in comments bemoaning how "none of the characters are likeable," and while I see their point, I'm pretty sure there are no heroes in "House of the Dragon," and yet folks are eating that up. You can enjoy antiheroes in epic fantasy, I promise you. I adore the constant chaos, the characters moving around like chess pieces, the way a decision one person makes over here ends up having an impact over there. I love that there's disability and LGBTQIA+ rep, and that people's plans are sometimes altered by weather or seemingly random occurrences that have sweeping consequences. This world is so lush and brutal and hopeful and cruel. Imagine this being made into a series and being done RIGHT? *swoons*

More than anything else, I love Esheme. This girl is not okay. She's truly one of the most memorable and unhinged characters I've ever encountered, and as much as I would not want to live in a world where she had any power, oof, is she fun to read about. Some of her scenes in "Warrior of the Wind" are wild. She tops her megalomania from book one and just. Won't. Quit. Unsettling mother-daughter bonding moments involving pregnancy care? Check. Fighting a giant legendary swamp monster with the aid of her undead minions? Check. Slowly unraveling as the consequences of her earlier choices come home to roost? CHECK. She's an icon. I'm not sure why people are sleeping on this series. It's some of the best epic fantasy I've read, period.

And truly, bless the author for including detailed content notes AND a helpful summary of the story so far.

Anyway, 5/5, can't wait for book 3. For transparency's sake, I was granted an eARC of this book from the publisher, but ended up reading a physical copy after its release.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. As a fantasy fan, I was excited to dive into this second novel and continue exploring the world that Okungbowa created. In The Warrior of Wind, we follow Lilong and Danso on their journey and see Esheme take on the title "The Red Emperor." I enjoyed the plot progression and the character growth we witness in this novel. I truly enjoyed myself with this title, but that was to be expected. I'm such a fan of Okungbowa's work.

I was eager to return to this series and for the most part I enjoyed it. The character building is still there, the world is becoming more complex as we encounter other areas and societal structures, the use and history of inor is being made a little clearer and the quest for justice, freedom and in one character's case, power is well underway.

I do like when we get interesting side characters and we see some hear though they are only there to help propel our story. There were definitely exciting occurrences and political maneuverings are still very much alive.

However, I do feel as if certain parts were overwritten and could have been trimmed down detail-wise without affecting the pace of the story.

Overall, this is a series that I like for how intricate the world building is, the attention paid to caste systems and power caches, and the characters arcs and interactions. There are triggering situations that are integral to the plot of the book and are mentioned at the beginning so read carefully and protect yourself as you go.

Warrior of the Wind, the second book in The Nameless Republic series, shifts from the high-stakes action of book one to a more introspective, character-driven story, and it works well. Having escaped from Bassa, Danso and Lilong are hiding out in the vagabond colony of Chabo, with the constant threat of the emperor’s bounty hanging over them. Lilong’s hopes of returning home with the Diwi seem dashed, but a risky offer from the Gaddo to travel east in exchange for a daring prison break changes everything. Soon, the pair set out across the treacherous Lonely Roads East, gathering allies along the way.

Okungbowa masterfully deepens the emotional landscape here, and his characters feel rich and layered, especially as they face complex choices and shifting loyalties. Red Emperor Esheme’s relentless pursuit adds tension to every step of the journey, and the arrival of an ancient power from the Sahel brings an unpredictable, almost ominous force to the story. Though slower-paced, this installment dives into the characters’ evolving relationships, making the stakes feel even more personal and intense.

Overall, Warrior of the Wind is a worthy continuation that leans into character exploration without losing sight of the broader conflicts brewing across Oon.

I went into this book with high hopes and my hopes were met I have this on my shelf and I love it will also gift it to few people

I realized after getting this book that it is a sequel so I had to read book one first before getting to this one. It was a very interesting storyline, make sure to pick up the first copy!

I thought this was the first in a series. I went to read it and found out it's actually the second one so that's super fun and fresh (said no one ever).

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for so graciously providing me qirh this e-ARC! I am very thankful and once read will update this review placeholder with my thoughts and also review on my Social medias.

I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!

This one was a whirlwind just like book 1 with many different povs to follow along with which does get confusing at times and not every character was equally as interesting. Sometimes Lilong and Danso felt sidelined even though they were the mains. Esheme continues on her quest to retain power and does some heinous things to keep it. Danso has changed a lot after losing both his father and best friend. He's now hardened and selfish. Lilong is dealing with her own mess and drama based off her father's decisions.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for e-arc!
My wish came true! When I received this arc I think I screamed. I was so excited for the continuation of the series, and I am so excited to have gotten to read it early. The first book was absolutely fantastic and one of my highlights reads for that year. The world is absolutely fantastic and I definitely recommend checking out the series an offer if you are looking for an absolutely stunning and unique fantasy world. I have seen so many people say that this is underrated and 100% agree. The writing style and the characters blow me away every single time and I definitely think more people need to check out this series.

This was a good sequel. There were still bits of it, like the fact its a little more plot heavy, and a lot more of people travelling than I would have liked, that I didn't totally enjoy, but I know thats where the story needed to go. I enjoyed that the characters did some things that weren't necessarily expected of them. Because the reason I was rooting for Esheme in book one, is now not the case lol. And Danso being my levelheaded dude is now becoming unhinged of which I am here for.

I also enjoyed that there was more political intruige and it definitely opened up with world building and magic system in a way that I am excited for book 3.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for an e-copy.

The first book was 3.5/5 and I think this one was 2.5/5 for me.

I felt like the characters, motivations, and storylines were really clear in the first entry. I was excited by the forest and the lightning bats and the ways characters interacted with each other to explore concepts beyond the limits of their own world.

Alas, my favourite thing (the bat) didn't continue into this book or have a decent replacement. Many of the characters from the first book spent time being isolated or closed off in this novel, which reduced their ability to interact with one another. And there were a lot more POVs (I think) that didn't have overlapping/merging storylines which made the story feel less focused.

Audiobook:
I don't particularly like the narrator. I think he does a good job with accents and different character voices, but his narration outside of dialogue is pretty flat.

3.5 🌟 Thanks to Suyi Davies Okungbowa and Orbit Books for gifting me this e-arc! As usual, the cover for the series is beautiful and captivating. I must say that I finished this book much faster than book 1 and I think that is due in part to the more seamless world building present in this book. There were more povs in this book and think that really helped to better understand all the moving pieces and see how their actions unknowlingly affected each other.
That being said, all of the characters, except Kangala got on my nerves. He was the only one that acted sensibly and logically as far as I'm concerned. Esheme lost all her sensibilities and cunning that we observed in book 1. I really expected differently from her character, especially with the amount of power that she possessed. Also, her representation in the end did not match her personality throughout the entire book. A woman that intentionally sacrifices her offspring to attain personal power at their detriment would not now miraculously materially moved to care about that child's wellbeing.
Danso and Lilong both aggravated me with their unnecessarily strained relationship. I still don't get why they are the way they are to each other. Danson slides through a daily scale of selfishness, always thinking of himself and never of the consequences that his actions will have on others. The secrets that they all choose to keep from each other on this life threatening journey is truly mind blowing.
Overall, I had a good experience and would continue the series if the author decided to further this journey.

In Brief
The second in the Nameless Republic trilogy, Warrior of the Wind takes its characters on a journey across a West African-inspired world, offering danger, powerful magic, and rebellion on the horizon as well as secrets that have the power to wreck havoc on the world. After the events of the first book, scholar Danso and warrior Lilong are in hiding from the Red Emperor, Danso’s former intended Esheme. But Lilong has a mission she needs to complete and must set out across the Savannah Belt towards her home on the highly secretive and secluded Nameless Islands as soon as possible. With Danso and other companions in tow, she sets off, and Esheme is not far behind, chasing them for the magic they hold and the secrets they are headed towards. Back in Bassa, though, all is not well as Esheme is frequently away and the changes she has forced have given rise to a more aggressive rebellion. Despite the three parts this book is separated into making the story feel a little episodic and the journey that takes center stage, Warrior of the Wind still manages to be action packed, and focused on forward motion and character development that enables the reader to really come to understand Danso, Lilong, and Esheme. This is an easy story to sink into, offering a world full of dangers and incredible magic as well as secrets that cannot remain secret for long.

Extended Thoughts
Warrior of the Wind is the second in the Nameless Republic trilogy and follows some time after the events of the first book, Son of the Storm. Though I did find it a little hard, at times, to follow what was going on in the first book, I loved how it made me feel transported to a fantastical world inspired by West Africa, and I loved the fascinating partnership between Shashi scholar Danso and yellowskin warrior Lilong. Rounding out the main characters is Danso’s former intended, Esheme, who is now the Red Emperor of Bassa. These three were fascinating to follow as they all had their own journeys and motivations, so I’ve found myself waiting, sometimes impatiently, to get to this second book to find out what happens to them.

Warrior of the Wind opens some time after Danso and Lilong have made their way through the Soke Pass and into the Savannah Belt, where they have been hiding out. But Lilong needs to return home to the Nameless Islands now that she has retrieved the heirloom she left home without permission to get. Back in Bassa, Esheme is now in her second season as the Red Emperor and has people out looking for Danso and Lilong, all while trying to bring all of Bassa under her control, using a piece of ibor to intimidate the people as it allows her to reanimate the dead. All is not well, though, especially when Esheme decides to leave Bassa and chase after Danso and Lilong all the way to the Nameless Islands. Though the Coalition for New Bassa was, essentially, destroyed in the first book, members are stirring, bringing in the Whudasha who had been forced to the outskirts of Bassa, and their actions are more explosive.

There is so much that occurs in this book. It’s action packed despite having several moments where no one seems to be doing much. The forward action is almost non-stop, even the quieter moments filled with important information and character development. I wasn’t exactly a fan of how this was split into three parts as it gave it a bit of an episodic feel. The first part was mostly set up, getting the characters going and on the road to the Nameless Islands. The second part takes the reader back to Bassa where unrest is stirring and rebellion won’t simmer quietly. The third part was probably my favorite as this is where everything happens, with pieces falling into place and secrets being revealed. It all certainly sets up for an equally action packed and likely even more explosive final book.

While I’m not as much a fan of books that send the characters on far ranging journeys anymore, I really enjoyed this one. There’s a firm purpose with which all of the characters travel, and I actually kind of liked that it turned from Danso’s story in the first book to Lilong’s in this one. I loved Lilong in the first book, so loved getting to know her better in this one. It was fantastic to see her adapt to the Savannah Belt, and then to get to see her in a place that’s much more familiar to her. Esheme’s journey, too, across Bassa to unite all of the people she now rules over was, despite feeling a little pointless to the reader but so full of meaning to Esheme, quite fascinating. I loved how this world just opened up, showing so many different sides and peoples who all reside on this single, massive continent. It just boggles my mind how one person actually rules over all of it, and I really liked how it showcased how difficult that actually is.

But, as much as I loved getting to know the world better and seeing more of it, the characters were really the stars. I loved getting into Lilong’s head more as so many of the chapters were told from her perspective. She’s done this journey before, in reverse, but things have changed, and now she has companions. All of them brought something different, from skills to magic, and watching her interact with them was quite a lot of fun. She really gives off the loner warrior feel, so seeing her with her companions, learning about them and learning to trust them, was a lot of fun and I really liked how it slowly evolved her character. She was easily my favorite here. Danso was kind of disappointing. After getting to know him so well in the first book, he seemed little more than obsessed with this and then that throughout the entire book. At times he seemed a little crazed and unstable, but it was oddly fascinating, like getting to know a completely unmoored character who has lost everything, but has gained an adventure he didn’t know he needed. He felt very different in this book from the first, so I’m curious to see what he’ll be like in the third book. Esheme was an interesting one to follow. She’s ruthless and manipulative and sometimes a bit childish with stubbornly going after what she wants even if she and everyone around her knows it’s a bad idea. And yet she comes out feeling poised and in control even when she’s not. I thought she was fascinating, and I can’t wait to see what happens to her in the third book.

I think, as much as I would rather not read about long journeys, I actually loved that part of the story more than the brewing rebellion, and I do enjoy a good rebellion. That isn’t to say this one isn’t good, but it just felt a little too much like an extended aside as it focused more on a couple of more minor characters and took away from Danso, Lilong, and Esheme. While I loved Kakutan and Biemwense, who were both Whudasha leaders, I thought the rebellion moved a little fast and now I feel like I’m stuck wondering what happened with them during the entire third part of Warrior of the Wind. I can see how they can complicate things in the third book, but I didn’t feel it was neatly woven into the main story of this book. I adored the journey the three main characters were on. It was kind of a fun chase as Esheme worked tirelessly to catch up to Danso and Lilong.

Warrior of the Wind is packed with world building, character development, and a forward moving plot. There’s a lot that happened, and I really liked how all of it followed so well from the first book despite the bit of a time jump. But I think one of the things I loved most was how smoothly I slid back into this world despite the first book having been published a couple of years ago. The recap at the beginning didn’t hurt, but the characters and story were written in such a way that I felt like I had no problems sinking back into the lives of these characters. I found this book a lot easier to follow. Despite the long journey making it feel like a middle book, I can certainly see how everything that happened here will propel the characters into what will hopefully be an amazing conclusion. It’s a very neatly and well done building block that offered plenty of surprises and revealed secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.