Finishing this novella made me yearn for more. Najeeba’s story is absolutely fascinating, full of depths, magical and mythical, but also so human and so relatable. This is another amazing work of Nnedi Okorafor: fantastic storytelling, a fresh and creative idea, a unique, yet relatable leading character, great references… it’s such a wonderful read.
Najeeba is a unique character, a girl who gets the call that usually happens only to boys and men, and starts travelling with her father and brothers to extract salt in order to sell it. She manages to discover that she has unusual abilities, that make her not fit with her usual group of friends, relatives or even local communities and societal norms. The way her story unfolds is so engaging, that i couldn’t put the book away, i had to know what’s gonna happen next.
Can’t wait for the other books of the trilogy.

A solid prequel to Okorafor's Who Fears Death, this novella focuses on the extraordinary talents of Najeeba, a young woman who carves a path for other women in undertaking what has previously been men's work. It's a nice coming of age story, and can serve as an introduction to this whole universe of Okorafor's.

I received this via NetGalley as an ARC for review. I found the book easy to read and the plot moved quickly. The relationship development in the family was solid and I felt like I could connect with main character.

The novella is the story of Najeeba, the only daughter in a family of 5. Throughout the book she struggles to remain true to the confines of traditional expectations for women, versus what her drive is and what she is good at. I found her character interesting and appropriately rebellious. The magic system albeit not flushed out as fully as it would be in a novel, were easy to follow. There were elements of mystery to it that I'm sure are explored in Who Fears Death.

I do not generally read Sci-Fi and this was a prequel to an existing Sci-Fi novella. Although I did not rate this book 4 or 5 stars, I am intrigued enough with the plot and characters to now explore Who Fears Death. I would also be willing to revisit this story again after reading the existing novella. Overall, I would recommend to someone who enjoys Sci Fi novellas.

Salt, dust, wind and a powerful will - this is Najeeba's tale.
- Nnedi

These words from the author's note are a perfect description of the novella, as well as Nnedi Okorafor's writing style. She Who Knows: Firespitter is Najeeba's origin story, as it were, and set in the same world as another series (Who Fears Death). It starts with Najeeba's Knowledge of the ancient Call to the salt mines, traditionally heard only by the men, and follows her as she faces all the consequences of answering it in the next few years. This is a standalone and I was able to follow the story even without reading Who Fears Death.

The world-building is Nnedi Okorafor's trademark africanfuturism (or africanjujuism, see Nnedi Okorafor) and I am amazed afresh at the vivid worlds she can build in just a few short pages. The book is set in a sort of post-apocalyptic world where the use of portables for communication is seen but their manufacture doesn't seem to be common. The story is steeped in myths and folklore however and it's wonderful to read such a rich story.

Nnedi's writing style is almost poetic, and describes certain moments, magic and mysticism beautifully. We see Najeeba's character arc as a response to the magic unfolding in her and all the other characters in relation to her. I did wish we could have seen more character development for Najeeba, especially in the latter half of the book (late teenage years). But I've been completely invested in this tale, as well as this world, since the first chapter of this novella and I look forward to reading more of this series, this world, and of Nnedi Okorafor's work!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the writing; One star for the world-building and description; Half a star for the characters and arcs; Half a star for the story - Four stars in total].

Thanks to NetGalley, Nnedi Okorafor and DAW Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She Who Know: Firespitter is a prelude to my favorite book by Okorafor, Who Fears Death. While the novella can stand on its own, I really loved getting insight to Onyesonwu's mother's journey. This novella is a testament to women making a way and I loved the voice Okorafor used.

In summary, in the novella, Najeeba is a young girl who does not conform to the expectations of her gender and was criticized for it by her family and friends. Every year her father and brothers would venture out to the Salt Roads to sell their findings in the market. However, this user Najeeba gets "the call" and joins her father and brothers on the road, despite the danger that can be found there for women. This propels us into a story of surpassing gendered limits and adventure.

I cannot wait to dive deeper into this universe that Okorafor has been weaving for over a decade.

She Who Knows by Nnedi Okoroafor is a prequel to Who Fears Death. I read the latter a while ago and this was a good reminder and also provided some perspective to Who Fears Death. Quite intriguing. Now, I feel like rereading Who Fears Death.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Netgalley

This novella captures the story of Najeeba, the first girl in the memory of her village to feel the mystical call to journey to travel the Salt Roads. The story introduces a rich and complex African-futurist world: a town of a scorned people, built on the sale of salt, and the young girl who can ‘travel,’ allowing her a view of the world and of herself beyond what her family or town can understand. Though the novella is quick to read, it builds a deep and complex world and explores the intersection of gender roles and cultural norms in an engrossing coming-of-age tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading She Who Knows: Firespitter and am excited to read the rest of this trilogy as it is released.

This book is set in the same world as some of the author’s other works. After reading this novella, I certainly plan on reading more in the series. I found She Who Knows to be very approachable and complete even without reading other novels in the universe.

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It was incredibly beautifully written and a very enjoyable novella; though the ending was a tad rushed, I am excited to continue Najeeba’s story in the rest of the trilogy.

Wow, what a great novella! I haven’t read any other books by Okorafor yet, so even though I’m told this book connects with others, I think it can definitely be enjoyed on its own as well, and it’s a great introduction to her wonderful writing! I loved the characters in this one, and I really enjoyed reading about and connected with Najeeba and her family’s dynamics.

I also found the world and the culture of the society Najeeba lives in fascinating. Okorafor’s evocative and poetic writing really brings this vibrant world to life! This book is perfect for anyone looking for a short yet completely enrapturing fantasy read, fantastic Africanfuturism vibes, and anyone who likes a bit of sci-fi with their fantasy.

"She Who Knows: Firespitter" is an engaging novella about a young woman named Najeeba and her otherworldy skills. I loved this African-futurist fiction and look forward to more books in this triloy. Nnedi Okorafor is able to convey so much character and setting development in a short novel. I also loved the bonds of love shown among Najeeba's family, and the pushing of gender boundaries in this book. Looking forward to more of this trilogy. Thanks to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for an eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an arc to this for an honest rating.

First, this was a novella but it read like a full novel, in a positive way. I really enjoyed this. Najeeba, our main character, realizes she has the calling to go to the ice fields with her father and 2 brothers, which isn't a usual thing, as men are normally the people who go. Determined to break down barriers and answer her calling she tags along. She sooon realizes she has more than just a calling and will do anything to help her people and find out more about herself.

Najeeba is a loveable character, I connected with her and really took her seriously, especially for a teenager. I don't want to spoil anything so I will say this, the writing was great. As I mentioned I felt like I was getting a lot of necessary information in just a short amount of pages, 176, and really felt like it wasn't rushed. That is until the end. It's 4🌟 simply cause I felt like the end was rushed and I worry too much was left open for the second book in this trilogy, especially if that book is also going to be a novella.

Overall I enjoyed this and encourage you to give it a chance when it releases in August!

This was an experience since I haven’t read the original book, but I trusted in Okorafor’s storytelling to get me where I needed to go. I’m still not sure if I got there, but… we traveled, for sure.

There’s a really interesting conversation about gender roles and expectations that starts early in this novella — the main character, Najeeba, looks more masculine and participates in activities that only boys/men can but still clearly identifies as a girl. What I liked most was how this was clearly acceptable in her family unit, joked about with tenderness and care. It contrasted wildly with her treatment by the community, providing a stark vision of the reality many women face for not presenting openly feminine or engaging in make-dominated spaces/activities.

Where I got lost was between the salt-selling and the shift into the magical. I still don’t really understand the purpose behind the fantasy elements — Najeeba being a firespitter after she learns to “travel” through meditation and ultimately using those powers to save herself. The disconnect between the early stages of the novella and the progression to her accepting her magical self felt wild to me.

I understand that her magic is the result of her father’s desire for retribution and vengeance, but I feel like there must have been a more cohesive way to get from point A to point B. This novella left me feeling like I had missed something, like there was a neon sign flashing a theme or idea I hadn’t grasped that knotted the narrative neatly together.

I can’t say I’ll be reaching for the original novel to fill in my blanks.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.0/5.0 Stars

Thank you to DAW books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to review!

She Who Knows is a Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic setting with West African influences. It is a prequel or prelude to a previously published work from this author "Who Fears Death" and this is explained at the beginning of the novella. I was worried that it would be difficult to understand the characters or world building but I was able to jump right in.

The writing is very clear and descriptive, not much fluff and I'm not sure if this is the author's writing style or the character's narration style - either way I enjoyed it because I was able to devour this novella quickly! The pacing is consistent and hooks you in, the plot was interesting and characters felt real. I loved the tone of the book had me on the edge of hopeful and defeated, which made the reading experience dynamic for me.

The story does feel a little rushed or concluded quickly at the end, but this seems to be the writing style with lots of time jumps between important scenes. I wish there was more elaboration or reveals about our main character at the end, because I enjoyed reading about her and following her journey.

Overall it was a quick, enjoyable and unique read. It hooked me into the world and motivates me to continue reading this series!

WOW. This is such a beautiful and powerful book. Sci-fi mixed with African futurism with some great conversations about gender.

Really looking forward to reading more from this universe.

#SheWhoKnowsFirespitter #NetGalley

Najeeba knows it is time to travel the Salt Roads. It is always the job of men, but her father and brothers take her to mine for salt in the Dead Lake. Najeeba slowly challenges other norms in her society, some are slowly accepted but of course there is backlash.
I felt that Najeeba was quietly telling me this story, as her close confidant, who feels as she does. It’s an amazing story and I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for this DRC.
#SheWhoKnowsFirespitter #NetGalley

Oh Nnedi Okorafor, you works are perfect!!!

She Who Knows: Firespitter is probably the best book I've read this year. Nnedi Okorafor, the Nigerian sorceress strikes again like Najeeba. As someone who had read Who Fears Death, it was a great joy to be back in the desert with Najeeba and experience her life before the novel. I loved her Nnedi Okorafor tweaks in Nigerian linguistics in her dialogue.

It's safe to say Nnedi Okorafor is the mother of Africanfuturism. I'll be reading all the novellas in the trilogy.


Final review : 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received an ARC for a honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

I loved being back in this world and getting to know more about Najeeba and how her life started. Makes me want to re-read Who Fears Death.

#SheWhoKnowsFirespitter #NetGalley

Having enjoyed reading “Who Fears Death,” I was excited to find out that Nnedi was releasing further books centered on this post-apocalyptic world that we were introduced to by Onyesonwu, Najeeba’s daughter. “She Who Knows” focuses on Najeeba’s story when she was a young teenager trying to find her own footing in life.

We are introduced to the sacredness of salt and how it was discovered and became the way of life, as well as the disparities of how men and women are treated and expected to behave.

This is a relatively short book, only 176 pages in length, and the focus is on Najeeba’s discovery of who she is and then the impact that this discovery has on everyone around her. I found that despite coming from a loving family who are respected in their community, Najeeba’s world was quite lonely and isolated.

As a prequel, I felt it was a solid book. My only criticism is the abrupt change of pace towards the end of the book and jump in timeline, which could be quite confusing for those who choose to read this book first.

Rating: 3.5/5

I picked this to read despite not having read Who Fears Death first, and while I'm sure I missed some references to the original book and some things weren't as impactful as a result, it was still a very enjoyable and engrossing story to read despite my lack of reading the other book first. Najeeba is a fascinating protagonist; she's clever, strong-willed, and charismatic. I was rooting for her the entire time, even though she was also impulsive to the point of me holding my breath in fear for her. The rest of the cast, while not as fleshed out, were still lovely - especially her brother Ger and her father.

I thought the world was interesting, though there were a few things that I didn't fully understand, likely due to not having read Who Fears Death. The Cleanser in particular I never figured out, but the rest of the world came together well; it was interesting and mysterious, but enough was explained or revealed throughout to feel satisfactory. I also thought this was very well-paced. It clipped along quite quickly, hurtling the reader into each new situation while still providing background on what happened between the big moments. I do wish, however, that some of the between moments had been explored more, and not just shared in a "telling" fashion.

I really enjoyed this quite a bit. I think it may be my favorite thing by Dr. Nnedi Okorafor, and it definitely makes me want to read the rest of Najeeba's story - which is excellent, because it appears that Najeeba is getting her own novella series! I will also need to pick up Who Fears Death very soon. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC; all opinions are my own.

Pleasant YA fantasy novella for fans for complex alternative worlds with a system that makes sense.
I found the story a little slow going, probably because the goal of the main character isn't revealed until you are quite a bit into the story. This felt more like a bonus for people who liked a first volume of a series and are given a prequel to sink their teeth into as they wait for the next volume.
Because I didn't love the characters going in, I wasn't very engaged. I did feel for her plight, and I was annoyed at the situation of that world, where women are not allowed the same freedom as men - exactly as you are supposed to feel, but somehow it wasn't enough.
All in all, the novella was fine, but it didn't feel like a proper stand alone book, more a companion, and certainly should not how you start the series.

This novella marked my introduction to Nnedi Okorafor’s work, and I must say, it left quite an impression. Following the journey of Najeeba, a 13-year-old girl who heeds the Call and embarks on a daring adventure along the salt road with her father and older brothers, challenges both gender and cultural norms. Despite the risks, Najeeba embraces her destiny, showcasing Okorafor’s skillful world-building and introducing readers to a desert landscape where salt reigns supreme. As Najeeba comes into her own power and confronts challenging obstacles, the narrative unfolds with gripping intensity.

The post-apocalyptic setting steeped in African culture is a captivating backdrop, swiftly introduced and easily navigable even for newcomers to the series. While the story took a bit to find its rhythm both in writing style and plot progression, once it did, it proved to be a thoroughly engaging read.

With its strong narrative voice and immersive world-building, “She Who Knows: Firespitter” is a delightful addition to the series. Standalone readers need not fret, as Najeeba’s captivating tale stands on its own, offering a rich blend of magic, mythology, and humanity.

Set in a post-apocalyptic, afro-futuristic world teeming with technology, spirits, and mysterious creatures, Najeeba’s journey as an Osu-nu, the ‘untouchables’ of the Okeke peoples, is a mesmerizing fusion of tradition and discovery. Okorafor’s storytelling prowess shines, drawing readers deep into the narrative from the get-go.

This well-crafted tale effortlessly draws you in, thanks in part to the instantly likable protagonist and the meticulously crafted world. Overall, “She Who Knows: Firespitter” is a must-read, seamlessly weaving together African culture with elements that feel both ancient and futuristic. If there’s one gripe, it’s that the ending felt a tad rushed, but that hardly detracts from the overall experience. Highly recommended for those seeking a fresh and immersive read.