This story was amazing! Somadina blends fantasy, familial conflict, and familial strength beautifully. The narrative centers around twins Somadina and Jayaike, who live as outsiders within their village. Not only are they viewed as strange by the townspeople, but perhaps even by some of their own family. In a place where individuals receive "gifts/powers" as they approach adulthood, we see what happens when these powers manifest in unexpected ways.

Seeing the bond between the twins is really powerful, and when Jayaike is taken, Somadina does everything she can to find her way back to her brother. Her journey, however, is not an easy one, but one that exposes and sheds light on who she is and who she is meant to be.

I read this in tandem with an ALC, which added to the experience. The audiobook version brought the characters and the magical world to life in a unique way, enhancing my connection to the story.

I resonated deeply with the themes of feeling unwanted within your own family unit and the fear of abandonment that comes with always feeling on the outside. Somadina's struggle to find her place and her determination to reunite with her brother mirrored my own experiences, making her journey all the more poignant and relatable.

Somadina is a beautifully written YA fantasy that plays with the themes of uncovering your true power, grappling with the fear of drifting from those closest to you, and realizing the value of gifts that others may fear. Emezi’s writing is simply spell-binding; there were moments where I would get so lost in the world that I completely lost track of time. Stunning!

I really enjoyed the magical West African world in this book, it had that element that I was wanting from the description and was invested in this world and characters. I really enjoyed the overall feel of it and how the characters worked in the story. Akwaeke Emezi was able to create something unique and wonderful in this book. I'm glad I got to read this.

Somadina was a fantasy novel of loneliness, loss, learning of self, standing in your truth and learning that your darkness does not make you any less. Somadina and her twin were two halves of a whole. Her twin is kidnapped and she must embark on a journey to learn her gifts and her powers to save him. While Somadina was learning to understand her gifts, she was rightly afraid, but stood in her truth to save him. The importance of chosen family when you are different is such an important aspect of the story. Somadina was a protagonist that made mistakes in her journey, but they were relatable. As a young person it is easy to think that your differences make you unlovable and not trust the people around you. Somadina learned that you don't have to fight alone and you are stronger together with your circle around you.

Loved the magical system built after the split. The use of devias as the protectors and the mouth piece of Allah. But what is a devil to the personification of Allah. So many messages contained within the story. Definitely worth the read loved every moment.

Fantastic. Sucks you in right away and doesn't let go. Suspect this title is going to get some awards. Emenzi is back on their game!

This book right here? Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. This book was moving, and the magic system is so so good. This is a standalone novel but if more books were written in this universe I would immediately read them.

digital arc.

4.5🌟 This is yet another amazing read from Akwaeke. This storyline is magical and engrossing from the first page. I had such a great time getting to know Somadina and Jayaike, along with their sister, grandma, parents, and wider society. There was so much nuance and history wrapped into these characters' development that there was no choice for the reader other than to accept their humanity and root for a positive outcome. The frustrations, growth, and love expressed by Somadina were easily accessible , and it often felt like I was experiencing those emotions myself. It was a joy diving into this magical West African world full of rituals, gods, and unknown powers. The reveals were expertly time along the journey to recover her brother, and kept me hooked and guessing throughout.

I could feel that this would be a five star read from the beginning of the book. Akwaeke Emezi’s writing is magical, and she really demonstrates the beauty of storytelling in this novel. It’s a beautiful tribute to the YA genre in general, and was an extremely successful standalone novel. I loved Somadina, and I really enjoyed her journey in this novel. The characters in this book were so good, and as a result of the writing you could really feel it jumping off the page. I loved this one so much

Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Somadina must find her way on her own for the first time after her twin goes missing, taken by the hunter intent on devouring their gifts. An excellent stand-alone entry in Emezi's YA catalog. Fascinating world-driven fantasy based in Igbo spirituality, speaking to the deep chasms between each of us and the ways we can heal the rifts.

Emezi literally never fails, they are the most incredible author ever and it was slouch a blessing to read this!

Akwaeke Emezi is back with another fantastical queer story about family, self-discovery, and untapped power. Following twins Somadina and Jayaike, who have both had their powers awakened, we are instantly thrown into a magical journey where one twin must travel across lands to save the one person she cannot fathom living without.

Emezi is an author who captivates readers with their words, pulling them through the pages as the story unfolds. With a balance of both slow- and fast-paced moments, each scene brings emotion and a thoughtfulness that is characteristic of the author’s work. We witness both the struggle and growth of Somadina and her companions throughout this journey—from searching for those who were taken to discovering their own strength within their newfound power.

Dealing with themes of loss, death, and self-discovery, Emezi delivers a knockout with this read. With an ending that leaves you wishing for more while still feeling satisfied, Emezi is a must-read novel for all.

“Some people don’t want to hear true things, Somadina. You have to be careful which air you speak it into."

I have never been so thankful to read a book by an author that has other books out, because otherwise I simply could not wait for more from Akwaeke Emezi.

Somadina hooks you from the very first page, creating a lush and vibrant world that leaps off the page and straight into your imagination. It makes you think deeply about the familial ties that bind you and what they mean, and what it's like to be different in a world where sameness is far too celebrated. Heartrenching and absolutely poetic in a way that sneaks up on you, I will shortly be buying everything Emezi has ever put out and absolutely burying myself in their words.

Thank you DEEPLY to the Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to rate and review this title!

Thank you, Random House Children's Books and NetGalley, for this E-ARC!

This is my second book by this author, and it amazes me what they can do in so little time. It’s beyond impressive when an author is able to fit this much lore, world-building, complexities, and adventure in under two hundred pages. This is truly an inspiration and has changed the way I look at words.

I love stories that capture the depth of characters literally as well as figuratively. I’m leaning toward the literal side for this book; the vastness of souls and being able to connect worlds/planes through a human body... It was enlightening, and the spirituality of it all fascinated me and pulled me deeper into the story. This was fantastic. I lost count of how many times my jaw dropped. Everything about this book flowed so smoothly from one page to the next, from the magic systems to the folklore. Yes, there were instances where it was predictable, but that didn’t take anything away from the story. However, I did not know how this would end—there was so much going on that on multiple occasions, I thought it might even need a sequel. The characters were dynamic, the world so vivid I felt like I was walking alongside everyone, and the way Amezi puts words together to describe things is phenomenal. One thing I will say for people getting into this, they are still children! This was something I had to remind myself of a few times. They deserve grace. Everyone else doesn’t, though.

This might be a stretch, but if you like An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir, there’s a good chance you’d love this book. After Little Rot, I didn’t think I’d like much from this author, but I’m happy to find that I’m wrong. I know for a fact, if I see the physical in the wild, I’m snatching it up quickly. I plan on rereading and doing some thorough annotating.

Let’s get two things out of the way: I don’t typically reach for YA. And high fantasy is not really my jam. But I am in such awe of Emezi’s ability to glide from genre to genre that at this point it’s a pleasure just to watch them work. Though I can hardly keep up, because I’m only a bit over halfway through their bibliography and they’ve got another book on the way to be published later this year!

Somadina takes place in a magical West African land where everyone grows into a “gift.” Customs and roles are ruled by traditions that took shape before Somadina was born, following a catastrophe that only the elders can remember living through. After her twin brother goes missing, she must reach deep to connect with her power and some estranged family members to try to save him.

I usually find high fantasy tedious to get into, but was instantly sucked into the world Emezi built. This book is fast paced and packs in a lot– adventure, betrayal, violence, family drama, and awkward teen love… in addition to all of the symbolism Emezi weaves in as nods to Igbo culture and critiques of colonialism. Based on this experience, I will definitely be reaching for Pet from the backlist next 👌🏼.

At this point, all I need to hear is "Akwaeke Emezi is coming out with a new book" and I make plans to either get my hands on an advance copy or pre-order. Emezi is an "always buy" author for me, and with their new book, that designation is definitely secure.

I read this book pretty quickly and really enjoyed it. The magic system, family drama, a lil bit of romance and village politics made the book so interesting. The main character, Somadina is a ball of emotions, but what 15-year-old isn't? On top of that she inherits a power that would give even the most power hungry of people pause. But in the end, this book is about family and what happens when they turn their back on you when you need them the most.

This book is fast paced with lots of action. The magic system in SOMADINA is steeped in Igbo lore, which made me incredibly happy. The author is a very clear writer which makes for a very vivid read. If I can't see the book I'm reading as a movie in my head, I don't want it. And the movie I had in my head while reading this book was a blockbuster.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to my readers.

Somadina, has lost their twin and they go on an adventure to find them. During the journey, they become upset and angry at their parents (mainly mom) due to what she said about Somadina twin. Somadina goes off to fight a great battle and finds their twin in the process. Once the battle has been settled, Somadina and their twin goes to see their grandfather because he’s always supportive when it comes to them.

Thanks so much Random House Children’s for the e-ARC! Somadina and her twin brother Jayaike are super close and live in a magical West African world. Once they start to develop their magical abilities the community and even their immediate family reject them. Jayaike goes missing and Somadina will not stop until she finds her twin. I really enjoyed reading this story and watching the characters grow. Akwaeke Emezi’s writing really captures you and pulls you into the story.

It took me a minute to connect with the charcthers at first the pace in the begining was a little slow but it picked up and i was fully locked in the themes of finding ones self and healing and the complex reltionships between parnets and children was masterfully displayed in this book..

i love akwaeke emezi! i didn't love this AS much as i loved Pet and Bitter, but i thought this was so good. it took a little bit for me to get into the book, but once i did, it was so fast-paced and gripping. emezi's prose is so beautiful, and i wish i could highlight the audio like i could highlight digital/print, because some passages hit me hard. i love their magic systems and world building and how they address themes of violence, family, culture, rejection, and finding your power.

i thought the romantic subplot was unnecessary and took away from the story.

the audio was good, but i will go back and reread the digital someday because i feel like i'd get more out of it taking my time reading it again with my eyes.

thank you to libro.fm and netgalley for the advance copies of this book!

I am a devoted reader of Emezi's, which with their genre hopping can take me to some mysterious places. Emezi makes a triumphant return to YA in this touching story about a girl making a harrowing journey for her twin. I was really touched by Somadina and Jayaike's bond, and I thought this was a very magical and thoughtful book that I would not hesitate to put in the hands of young people. This is all accented by Emezi's characteristic lyrical prose. I especially appreciated more insight into Igbo culture.