Death of the Author is a smart, layered read that toys with narrative structure, mystery, and questions of identity. The concept was intriguing, the pacing kept me turning pages, and the writing was sharp. But the main character? Incredibly unlikable. Detached, self-absorbed, and hard to root for which made it difficult to fully invest in the emotional stakes of the story.

That said, if you enjoy plot-driven stories that play with literary theory and twist the idea of authorship, it’s worth the read. Just don’t expect to fall in love with the narrator. You’ll probably end up side-eyeing them the entire time.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Whew—this one took me on a ride. It’s literary, it’s sci-fi, it’s layered deep, and I wasn’t ready. Zelu’s messy, stubborn, brilliant, and so human it hurts. I didn’t always like her, but I felt her. The dual storyline (hers + her robot epic) was wild and emotional, though the ending felt a little rushed. Still? Thought-provoking and bold. Would reread.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperAudio for an ARC of this book.

If you can imagine the worse thing possible that can happen to an author, this is it.

This is the first book I've read by Nnedi Okorafor and I really loved it. The story within a story was executed very well and this will appeal to students. Teachers and others can explore the themes of family, culture, identity, change, and most important-human nature. I highly recommend this book because it was really well done.

A landmark achievement for Okorafor. I tore through it, loved it. I have no doubt it will be one of the most discussed books of the year. Everyone should read it! (You may be wondering if it really is a genre book, even once you're reading it; I promise that it is.)

The format of Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor made me so happy. I absolutely loved the story within the story—it felt like peeling back layers of narrative, each one more intriguing than the last. It’s the kind of book that plays with form and structure in a way that feels intentional and meaningful, not just clever for clever’s sake.

About halfway through the hardcover edition, I noticed something amazing: under the dust jacket was an entirely different title printed on the book itself. I was so delighted I had to show everyone I could. That little surprise, like an Easter egg for readers who pay attention, speaks to the care and thoughtfulness that went into the design of this book.

Every detail feels purposeful, and that sense of discovery really enhanced my experience. It’s rare to find a book that engages you on both a story and a physical level, and this one absolutely did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nnedi Okorafor, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I have enjoyed Nnedi Okorafor's novellas and I was excited for the opportunity to read Death of the Author. This book did not disappoint. The beginning felt a little slow and it took me longer to get into the sci fi section of the two narratives, but once I got into it I was hooked. The ending surprised me in the best way and I have been telling everyone I know to pick this one up!

I wanted to like this so badly but I just did not care of the main character at all. I get that she was supposed to be a difficult personality and Nnedi Okorafor did a great job of writing her as such but I liked the story in the story more than the actual main plotline and then the twist just seemed hammered in.

I do think the marketing of this book was a little off the mark for what this book is. It's a really interesting concept. I was really hooked at the beginning of the book. I thought the structure of the different POVs created a lot of intrigue, but as we got further into the story, my investment in Zelu's story started to wane because I wasn't quite sure where it was going anymore. The twist at the end, I thought was cool, but it also felt too little too late. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, so I do think it having been so hyped up in my head maybe dampened the reading experience. I still think this book was good, but I'd recommend other books by Nnedi Okorafor before this one.

Admittedly, I picked this book up when I was in a mood for sci-fi, as that’s how it was marketed. If I’d known it was more litfic, I would have had very different expectations. That being said, I really enjoyed the robot story within the story, and the ending had me shocked.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The structure of this book was so unique, and Okorafor did an amazing job of making each character feel so real while writing two completely different stories at the same time. The journeys of Zelu and Ankara had so much depth, and the themes that their characters brought out throughout the story were brilliantly woven through each of their respective challenges. The power of stories was the best possible theme for this book, especially now knowing the ending and how the two narratives tie together. However, I do feel as though the endings felt rushed, and I would've loved to see the last 50 pages or so drawn out just a lil more. I also did not love Zelu's family... they were just straight up rude and unsupportive for the majority of the book, and it did not make any sense. While I do understand why Okorafor made the decisions she did, the family didn't feel completely real to me. Don't let that deter you from picking up this book, though! If you want relatable main characters that don't let hardships get in the way of them achieving positive change, then look no further.

Death of an Author by Nnendi Okorafor was a fantastic mix of contemporary literature with Afro-futurism. The characters were complex and deep, the multiple POVs offering insight into the tumultuous family dynamics. Zelu's disability was a prominent point throughout the novel and at some point it was even weaponized by her fans for using the exoskeletons she had gotten. Her relationship with Msizi was my favorite part because regardless of what she was going through he was always supportive of her. The dynamic with her family was complicated, she always felt like a failure to them by not meeting their expectations of her Nigerian parents and also because of how her siblings treated her. I had the hardest time with her mother particularly, because it felt that she even blamed her for the accident she had and still even after becoming a prominent best selling author she continued being dismissive and always speaking to Zelu either in a condescending way or in accusatory tones. I also loved the Rusted Robots chapters that were included they gave such good insight into Zelu's mind and the magnificent world she had created. Okorafor is becoming one of my favorite authors.

Death of the Author
By Nnedi Okorafor
Out Now!

Thank you @Williammorrowbooks for an e-ARC and finished copy of Death of the Author.

We are following the FMC, Zelu, a disabled Nigerian American author who writes a successful science fiction novel called Rusted Robots, about the world being populated by robots post-human.
This was a genre-bender that touches on topics such as cultural identity, disability, discrimination, and fandom.

I was engaged with Zelu's story from the very beginning, while feeling less connected to the Rusted Roots fantasy part of the narrative. I do like the concept of a story within a story.

I have to mention the cover(s) and beautiful sprayed edges copy I received. I know we must not judge a book by its cover, but the two covers are mesmorzing.

This is one of the most unique books that I've read in awhile. It was started to become popular on TikTok and that is well deserved! This book is both a science fiction story and a literary fiction story, told through the book within a book style. I think the emphasis has been on the science fiction side of the story in the discussion and marketing of this book, but it really is more of a literary book. I hope this book finds its right audience!

In the first story, Zelu is a paraplegic, Nigerian American Author who's life completely changes when she writes a novel that becomes an instant best-seller. Zelu is a very flawed main character but in a was that is believable and heartbreaking. I wanted to hug her and shake her, sometimes in the same scene. The second story is a science fiction story about post-apocalyptic robots. As you get further into the novel, you see the common threads that run through these two very different stories. And the way they finally come together, wow (I had my suspicions at the 80% mark but was still amazed at the ending).

This book reminded me a lot of "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" with its slowly meandering plot and heavy focus on character development and relationships. I feel like there were so many layers of meaning here, many of which I'm sure I have not discovered yet. I feel like this is one that will marinate in my mind for a but. I'm going with 4 stars for now, but might end up bumping that up.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a digital ARC of this book!

An interesting, meta, book within a book. There were a lot of parts of this book I really did like, including the disabled main character and the heavy use of African themes/culture that was beautifully written about. I also enjoyed the little twist at the end of the flipped perspective of the novel. However some of it was a bit of a slog for me, particularly around some of the relationships in the book -- while of course most real relationships are nuanced and have both good and bad, it felt like a lot of her relationships in the book were heavily weighted towards the bad, at least what was written about. Both her family and Mzisi felt more like weights she should shed than just family members who cared about her/the love of her life.

Overall enjoyable and I think it would be more of a 3.5 rating from me if half stars were possible, interested in seeking out more from this author.

3.5 stars!!!

I was hoping that this book would really work for me but I found myself wanting it to be over about 70% through. The writing and the story wasn't bad, I just felt like this book was too long. I think Nnedi Okorafor is a super talented writer and I was invested in all of the characters and the plot lines we were super interesting (until the last 1/4). The ending felt rushed and I didn't really enjoy the way the character changes throughout the story. A lot of the choices she makes throughout the end of the book after the Big Conflict didn't really make much sense for her, but I guess trauma will do that to you. The social commentary sprinkled throughout was well placed and touches on important topics, which is something I've always enjoyed about Okorafor's writing! I will say, that if the author writes the SciFi book the MC is writing, I would absolutely eat it up!

i know this is like. one of the biggest releases of the year, but i just did not enjoy it much. i've heard people say they were expecting full-on science fiction, which is why they didn't think it'd be a lot more literary fiction-y; i was fully aware that it was mostly lit fic and i actually didn't expect the science fiction bits at all, but i think lit fic is just not the genre for me. i get bored of reading it very quickly and most of the time i could not care about the characters any less. unfortunately, this was also the case for "death of the author" :( in my opinion, it was unnecessarily long, and although i mostly enjoyed it while i was actively reading it, i really dreaded going back to pick it up every single time i put it down, and i think that shows how much i did not like the book as a whole. some scenes and some of the internal monologues of the mc were very impactful though! and i think the mixed format (mc's actual life, interviews, excerpts from her book) was really cool.

overall, this one just did not live up to the hype for me, but the main reason for that is that i've just recently realised that i do not vibe much with literary fiction, so if that plus some science fiction on the side is your thing, i could easily see that working for your type of reader! i don't think i would've picked this up after my "oh. i dislike lit fic..." revelation, but still.

Okay, just freaking wow. I have never read an adult book by Nnedi, but did listen to the audiobook for Akata Witch, so I was familiar with her writing style. This book was so damn good, I was absolutely hooked from the get go in the world of the author. I don't even know how to word this review other than to say, I told so many people to freaking read it!

This book was not for me. I know that is because of my taste rather than any problem with the book itself.
I really loved the sections of the book that focused on the protagonist. She was a well crafted and believable character who had strengths and flaws. Her story was engaging and I wanted more of that. The story begins as she suffers a rejection of her recent book, leaving her with her main job, an unfulfilling job as a contracted teacher of college students. She was not even in a fulltime tenure track position. Then she has an interaction with an entitled student. That was her last straw and she holds the student accountable and loses her job.
At her lowest point, she becomes obsessed with writing a new book, completely out of her wheelhouse. This was where my disinterest lay. I am not a fan of true science fiction and her "book within a book" was just that. I understand the reason behind this choice, but it wasn't for me. I love Okorafor's writing and highly recommend this to anyone who loves her work and especially those who enjoy a sci=fi story.
#DeathoftheAuthor #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow

A Clever, Thought-Provoking Read That Stays With You

Death of the Author is one of those rare stories that makes you sit back and reflect long after you've finished the last page. Nnedi Okorafor does something really bold here—she blurs the line between fiction and reality in a way that’s not just clever, but deeply personal.

The main character, Zelu, is a disabled Nigerian American writer whose sudden literary fame throws her into a whirlwind of attention, identity shifts, and questions about who really "owns" a story once it’s out in the world. There’s a story within the story that adds even more layers, and while it could have felt gimmicky, it absolutely works. It draws you in and challenges you to think about what storytelling really means.

What I loved most was how Okorafor tackled heavy themes—disability, cultural identity, authorship, and agency—without ever making it feel like a lecture. Her writing is sharp, emotional, and honest. It felt like I was being let into something personal, yet at the same time invited to wrestle with the same questions myself.

This book won’t be for everyone. It’s not a conventional narrative, and it asks you to sit with a bit of discomfort. But if you’re a fan of metafiction or just want something that pushes beyond the surface, Death of the Author is worth your time. It’s short, sharp, and packs a quiet punch.

Thank you NetGallery for the chance to read it.