Review made possible thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Thanks for access tot his eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Smoke That Thunders was such a fun read! It’s over 300 pages but doesn’t feel like a long read. Honestly, it isn’t. It’s super easy to read so you’ll find yourself flying through the pages.

We follow Naborhi, a young woman who is of age to be married. She has a younger sister and they live with their aunt and uncle after the passing of their father, then mother.

The thing is, Naborhi doesn’t want to be married. She wants to be free to travel the world, to live her life the way she wants. And it causes a bit of tension between her and her sister and their aunt.

Not only that but she’s been secretly taught to read and write. It’s not something the women of her village are permitted to do. She’s even been hiding away money so that she can leave with her sister. But her sister doesn’t want to. She’s looking forward to when she can be married and doesn’t want to leave.

The Smoke That Thunders follows a young girl who knows what she wants and isn’t willing to let it pass her by. She also ends up on a journey to save someone she’s never met.

While the story reads simply, it is not a simple story. This young girl clings to her desire for freedom the entire time. At no point in the book does she put that want aside. It is her driving factor.

Something I truly loved about this book was the fact that yes, it is a young woman who is fighting for what she wants. Literally saves someone and then is going to go on and live her life free of the whims of a man.

I really, really enjoyed this book and think basically everyone should read it. It’s a great, easy adventure read and I think young teen girls would really enjoy it.

I rate it 5 stars.

4.5⭐️ I LOVED IT! solid YA fantasy read with a great MC! it took me a while to get through since i started it right after the loss of a loved one, however, it helped me escape a little and gave me some ease of mind by sucking me into Naborhi’s world. it was hard to tell where the story was going in the beginning but once the plot was finally set up, things moved very quickly. i think the story was interesting, and the MC was my fav by far but i also really liked the SCs as well.

the general plot/themes aren’t necessarily unique but the author’s execution and world-building was! i kinda wish the author leaned into a love story just a little with Naborhi and Atai since she made it clear they had a connection, however, i don’t feel like anything was necessarily missing from the story. the twists at the end were semi-predictable if you paid enough attention but i didn’t so i really enjoyed them lol. the way the ending is written, i think the author could write a sequel that could put more focus on Naborhi and Atai’s connection.

TW: general violence, dv, misogyny, and discussion of parental deaths

Rating: 4.5
Genre: Fantasy
Thank you Norton Young Readers for providing an e-copy through NetGalley.

Summary: Naborhi Tanomare wants more in life that what her small village expects of her: Marry into a rich family, be a dutiful wife, and provide her husband with children. She much rather escape her small village and explore the vast world, sailing ships, reading great stories, and being anyone she wants to be. Her chance comes where she encounters a sacred spirit and it mysteriously bonds to her, giving her strange visions of a suffering boy being held prisoner. Guided by the gods, Naborhi must set off to rescue this boy by travelling across the land to rival kingdoms, treacherous forests, and spectacular scenes of joy, enchantment, danger, and fantasy. Joined by Tamunor, her adventerous yet timid cousin, and Atai, the son of an Oracle, Naborhi will discover the world outside her small village, deepen her relationships with friends, family, and new allies, and learn the hardships and joys of living her life to the fullest.

What I Liked: The Smoke That Thunders is a gripping adventure full of heart that every teen can enjoy. The lush world building will leave readers in wonder as they travel across the West-African inspired fantasy world with diverse and dazzling characters, rich lore and history, and imaginative environments. Naborhi is a fantastic protagonist with relatable dreams and desires, but also the determination to see the mission through, protect those she loves, and live the life she wants. Her two journey-mates, Tamunor and Atai, are excellent supports, providing different perspectives - Atai being headstrong and pragmatic and Tamunor being somewhat cowardly but loyal - and helpful advice, suggestions, and friendship throughout. The plot starts slow, providing vital context and build up in the village, then picks up once the three begin their journey, never stopping until the thrilling climax. This is a very rare YA fantasy novel that is not bogged with teen angst, despair-porn, or overly-dramatic negative emotions. Instead, the story travels down a light-hearted narrative of fantasy-adventure, with heart-pounding danger, triumphant emotion, and fun joy propelling the characters forward. Overall, The Smoke That Thunders is a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy, featuring great Black main characters, fantastic world building, thrilling plot, and a satisfying narrative.

What I Didn’t Like: It takes a long time for the plot to fully start. You have to read ⅓ of the book before Naborhi goes on her quest. It’s good set up, giving cultural and historical context, world building, and character establishment, but it takes too long for things to move forward/grow.

Recommend to: Teens who like fun fantasy, trios going on an adventure, African/West-African based fantasy, and living the life you want to lead.

Review Date: April 30, 2024

I love the West African setting with its folklore and Urhobo culture; it was very interesting to learn about. The story is a little slow to start, but an excellent (middle grade) read once it picks up.

I would say this is perfect for a teen to read and had a great story line. I love the action and adventure. It was a pretty good show of the culture and you really got into it. It was detailed and fantastic. It is West African Folklore. I would say kids 10 and up could read this pretty easily and enjoy it. I love that this was a debut book for this author and I can't wait to read more by her.

This book is a story about a teenage girl named Naborhi who has just come into womanhood in her community and is struggling to live the life she wants. Her village, has a very very strong patriarchal structure, and for a young woman, that means preparing for marriage, succeeding at her rights of passage by proving her usefulness in hunting, cooking good meals for her husband, and birthing sons. But none of these things excite Naborhi. In fact, she dreads the idea of being lorded over by a man, especially one she does not like or care for. Unfortunately for her, her family has already accepted a marriage offer, and the time is drawing near.

This is where Naborhi struggles, as she is caught between wanting more for herself and navigating the joy she knows her family will gain from her making a good marriage. She must choose between her own dreams and freedom or staying close to the only sister she has and doing what her family expects. The choices Naborhi makes for her life lead her on an unexpected adventure, where she then meets people and creatures only taught about in folklore.

I really enjoyed this character and the journey she went on, as well as her internal dialog to arrive at her choices. Her battle for independence was nuanced, and the reader was able to fully grasp the feelings the character experienced. The patriarchy was a little heavy-handed, but I think it served to really set the scene for the scope of the journey this young girl was on and really emphiazed her bravery. If you like books based on West African mythology, chosen one adventure quests, and girls who are not afraid to fully be themselves, then I suggest giving this one a try.

Thank you to @netgalley and @w.w.norton for gifting ARC of this wonderful story.

#yabooks #multiculturalbooks #booksbooksbooks #netgalleybooks #arcreader #bookishlover #bookstagram #bookishcontent #blackbookstagram #africanstoriesbyafricans

This was a quick read—I couldn’t put the book down! This is a wonderful YA story of a 16-year-old Urhobo girl (Naborhi) that wants to create her own path and not follow the traditions of her community. She wants a life of adventure and the freedom to choose her path. Naborhi has an endless amount of bravery and drive that is enviable. I loved the Urhobo and West African folklore and mythology that was included into the fantasy adventure.

I would read this again and I hope there are more books with these characters on more adventures in the future. An excellent first book debut.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this YA read. It was fast paced and adventurous and I loved all the characters. I didn't see that plot twist at the end coming but it was a nice way to resolve everything. I would love to read more about Naborhi's adventures!

I enjoyed this story, you will too, especially if you enjoy African culture. This story also focuses on self choice, over culture & ways we can struggle when we choose self. Plus, encourages the reader to understand what it takes to choose self & the sacrifices that may occur.

I found the premise of this book super interesting, and while I think it takes a little bit for the story to get there, once it does it is really good. When I came to terms with the fact this story is better suited for a younger audience, I was ok with the level of detail and explanation. I do think the story is a little better suited for a slightly older audience (more into the YA). There are some moments that the plot points are heavy, like abuse in marriage, but I would not say necessarily that strong topics should be kept away from a younger reader. Preteens and teens grasp these concepts more than we give them credit for.

I will say this is the type of book I think you need to have a physical copy of to get a full immersion into the world and the vivid descriptions of the scenery and people. I was not able to see the vision as clearly when I was reading as I would have liked, but the descriptions I could visualize were so beautiful. Part of this I think is due to the fact that the formatting of the ebook were not great in some parts (words not properly spaced, or sentences with random breaks), but I wish I could have referred to the map at the beginning more easily as I was reading. It definitely peaks my interest to look more into the folklore that inspired the book.

This is the type of story I would have loved to see split into two books, to give the world building and plot more time to develop. The book does attempt to cover a LOT, but once it catches its footing it is good. Thank you NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Smoke that Thunders is a really gorgeously written book which incorporates Urhobo and West African folklore and mythology. If you're looking into this for a younger reader in your life, the writing level felt a bit more Middle Grades, while the content was more Young Adult in terms of maturity, so that's something to consider. I found Naborhi's story to be really empowering and inspiring and I am so grateful to #NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for the ARC!

This was an adventure packed book rooted in West African folklore of the Urhobo people. While I thought the writing style made it feel more middle grade and the plot rushed here and there, it was still an enjoyable coming-of-age tale. 🌊

The book follows Naborhi as she finds herself dreaming of traveling the world instead of being married. While I liked that she was ambitious and had dreams that went against the norm, I found her to be rather young for some reason. Despite being 15/16 for the book, I kept thinking of her as 12/13 instead due to the writing/narration style. 😕

The side characters were enjoyable, but I do wish we got more time to know Moyo and Atai more, especially since they both come from other countries/tribes. I also think it would have been fun to see more of a focus on the relationship between Naborhi and Atai if Tamunor wasn’t there to provide comedic relief for the reader and be a weird third wheel to the duo. 🙁

Then the plot’s pacing felt rather odd. For the first third of the book, nothing really happens and then suddenly all the action starts. I wish there was a better pacing when it came to the introduction of new places and countries in the book so that the reader could get a better idea of how these places are different from each other. That and the quick introduction of the women of The Red Tapestry only to be over within two-ish chapters just felt too rushed to me. 😞

All in all, despite my misgivings and feelings that things fell into place just a bit too neatly, I did enjoy the story and characters. I just wish there was more angst and drama that I expect from a true YA adventure. ✨

Thank you to Norton Young Readers and NetGalley for letting me read this book for an honest review, and to the author for creating a fun adventure filled with folklore. 🦊

Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️

This book is by a debut Nigerian woman, and it was incredible. I hope she plans on producing more like it.
Naborhi is a young woman whose life has essentially been planned out for her. She will pass the rites to be a woman, marry well and please her husband by caring for him and producing children. Only Naborhi doesn’t want that life. She doesn’t want to marry, or even stay in her small village. She wants to see the world.
I loved following Naborhi’s adventures. She’s a strong female character in a world where men dominate. She’s an incredibly brave young woman and I’m hoping the author plans on sharing more stories with her in them.
This book was very well written. The adventures don’t stop. As soon as they get through one, the next is not far behind.
I’m looking forward to more from this author.
I received this book as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The main character of Naborhi is intelligent, determined, and caring. She knows what she hopes from life and encourages those around to consider that they might want more as well. Her bond with a mysterious animal allows her to go on a journey that is wonderful to follow. This is a delightful book that gives readers a dynamic world and engaging characters. I hope this becomes a series because I would love the opportunity to follow these characters on more adventures. I hope to add this book to my school library and recommend it to students.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! What a strong and engaging coming-of-age story! I appreciate and enjoyed the introduction to Urhobo/West African folklore/mythology. The main thing I liked is that I believe a lot of people can relate to Naborhi not wanting to adhere to the normal traditions of her culture.

Erhu Kome’s debut novel, “The Smoke that Thunders” is engaging and compelling. This coming of age story boasts a strong female main character who just wants to have control and a say in her own life. She doesn’t want to become just like all the other girls in her community of Kokori and become a bride to the man her family chooses for her, for an acceptable bride price. Instead, Naborhi longs for adventure and to see the world beyond Agbon and Kokori. Chosen and marked by the god Obassi with the spirit fox Zuberi, Naborhi soon after experiences visions of a young boy in trouble who she embarks on a quest to rescue. I liked Zuberi, the red fox, and would have enjoyed seeing more of him and more details about his origins, however there was just the right amount in the story to engage the audience. I loved that this story was filled with Urhobo and West African folklore. Any time an author introduces me to a different culture I am intrigued, finding myself wanting to learn more through research and other stories from the culture. Kome’s world building was intriguingly immersive resulting in me wondering which aspects of the story were based on real places, real mythology, or creations from the author’s imagination. To make the book even better, it has a map! I am a sucker for books with maps so you know this raises its value to me exponentially.

Supporting characters Atai, Tamunor, Tega, and Chipo, along with Nabhori’s aunt and uncle were believable, relatable characters who showed their own growth alongside Nabhori’s. I was charmed by Atai and I’m sure you will be as well. And sweet, kind Moyo! Everyone needs a Moyo in their lives to give their unwavering support while teaching them all they will need to know as they spread their wings.

This well-paced, vivid story is for anyone longing to come into their own and wanting to be more than they are; longing to break free from the expectations placed upon them by society and those closest to them. It is also about accepting that we all have our own unique paths to follow and despite wanting others to follow our same path, it’s alright for our paths to diverge.

Available Tuesday, April 9, 2024!

Norton Young Readers Erhu Kome

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The Smoke That Thunders is about a sixteen year-old girl named Naborhi who wants to lead a life of adventure, and dreams of leaving the small village where she grew up, while her family expects her to get married and start a family. One day, she spots a mysterious animal only she can see, and starts having visions of a boy in trouble. It falls to her (and two friends) to travel across the forests, deserts and mountains to rescue the boy - and prevent the war the boy's disappearance has set in motion.
This story has a lot of heart, interesting characters and a astounding setting. Kome does a fantastic job of providing a solid sense of place for her readers, through not only the description of the environment, but through the foods Naborhi eats and the plants she sees.
Ultimately, though I enjoy middle-grade fantasies every now and again, it was not "for" me. I personally found that the obstacles Naborhi and her friends had to overcome were resolved a little too easily, and relied too heavily on the inherent goodness of strangers. That said, though I am not its intended audience, I had a great time reading it.

I loved reading about Naborhi her trying to forge a path for herself while others try to keep her on the path, they think is best for her. The traditional path of marriage, taking care of her husband and become a mother. But that is not what Naborhi wants for herself and has for some time now resisted in silence by learning to read something that is not allowed for the women of her village and learning to ride a horse and even fighting. All thanks to a man who has taken her under his wing wanting to make sure she can take care of herself. You also see her growth on throughout the book as a chosen one on a quest where she struggles with her choices first at home and then to go on this quest and even at times on the quest she wonders if she is strong enough to handle what could come their way. But still, she keeps persevering because in the end she knows this is what she needs to do for herself and her country. I really enjoyed reading her coming into herself as a person once she was able to determine what she wanted for herself.

The Magic and fantasy were subtle and was more focused on Naborhi and her journey and growth. I will say I wish there had been a little more magic and fantasy as I think it could have only enhanced the story and because I am so curious for more stories focused on magic/fantasy outside of European and western stories.

This is the authors debut novel and I think the writing style was very smooth and easy to grasp making it perfect for the target audience and for older audiences who are wanting maybe a gentler read but still get a great quest out of it. I enjoyed this book and have already reached out to my friends with kids in this targeted audience who I think will enjoy this book.

This book is about Naborhi a girl who is stifled by the expectations of her village and her perceived "worth" that will come with the bride price she brings. All that is expected of her is to marry, take care of her husband and take care of their children. But Naborhi wants and dreams of more than what is expected of her and so she is trying to plan her escape from the village so that she can explore the world she has only heard about in stories. But as she prepares for her rite of passage, she finds a fox who only she can see! Turns out he is a spirit fox and by finding and helping him she is now gifted with visions of a boy in need who she must rescue. So, she sets off with new and old friends in search of this boy because while she might not know who he is she can feel that he is important and if he is not found something bad is going to happen so she has to do everything she can to find him and stop whatever this danger might be.

I received a free ARC copy from NETGALLY in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book.

I enjoyed the characters of this story and that what drove Naborhi to her desired quest was that she didn't want to adhere to the gender norms and traditions of her culture. I think that's something many people can relate to.

She has a desire for adventure and to read and wants to go to school. She does secretly learn how to read and has to keep it hidden and as the time of her arranged marriage is getting closer the desire for adventure is drawn closer to her and that's where this story really begins.

I found it definitely a middle grade book for middle grade. It was fun to read and I enjoyed myself and the book but there was too much of everything wrapped up in a nice tiny box with a bow on top for me. Not enough space left to the imagination, but again I'm not this books desired audience. And I would recommend if you want to relax and have a fun evening.

Being a lover of all things mythology and folklore, this book did not disappoint. Following 16 year old Naborhi Tanomare, a girl from the village of Kokori who wants more than to be valued by her bride price and what she can bring to a husband. Soon after her rights of passage, she finds an injured fox in the forest. Upon saving it, finds that it is actually a spirit god and she now bears its mark. Being blessed by a god means that a quest will be given. After some guidance from the Oracle of the rival neighboring kingdom, the Oracle's son Atai and Naborhi's cousin Tamunor join her on her mission to save a mysterious boy she has seen in her dreams since being blessed.

This story is a beautiful depiction of a strong, young, African American female character whose love for her family and friends is unmatched and is willing to defy what they feel is best for her and go with what she knows is best for herself. The world-building was very vivid and the budding romance was cute. Very appropriate for teenage characters. I could see this being a TV series.