The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi is the third and final book in the Forever Desert trilogy. I will recommend this series to my fellow fantasy lovers until the day I die. These are novellas that really pack a punch and the third book was the perfect conclusion. It’s a story of oppression and how history repeats itself.

This book comes out on July 15th. While you are waiting, I recommend starting with the first and second books for the best reading experience.

Thanks to @netgalley and @tordotcompub for an eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for letting me read an e-ARC of The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi!

This book is an epic conclusion to a novella trilogy that spans centuries of time in the Forever Desert. Utomi weaves together the threads of history and lore (and lies) with so much thought - everything is intentional and the easter eggs that popped up in this story from the previous installments were so exciting to recognize as a reader! Each story may stand alone in its own time and follows different main characters, but the callbacks (and potential foreshadowing of the future of the Forever Desert) are carefully placed. Utomi even points out in the concluding author’s note that time is cyclical - these stories and characters could represent any number of points in the history of the Forever Desert, and it’s this structure that made it more interesting for me as a reader. I wasn’t necessarily sure how Utomi would conclude this series, but I found having the ending (and future of the world) open to interpretation and imagination was the best possible conclusion. I will certainly be rereading this series and I can’t wait to return to the Forever Desert in the future to find what new lessons the stories have to teach me. If you love fantasy novellas that explore complex themes and extremely morally grey characters, I recommend this series!

Such an incredible conclusion to a truly exceptional series. I absolutely adored how themes and plot points from the very first book were woven so expertly into the last, leaving me on the edge of my seat, heart pounding as I raced towards the ending. It takes a truly talented author to master the novella, and Moses Ose Utomi has most definitely harnessed that skill. This book, and this series as a whole, really drove home the themes around the cyclical nature of history. Trauma, oppression, give and take - we are all doomed to repeat ourselves. I would definitely recommend reading all the books in a row for maximum reading experience!

While I was eagerly awaiting to pick up this concluding novella of the Forever Desert trilogy, I think the big mistake I did is not rereading the first two. So despite enjoying this a lot, I think I missed some of the Easter eggs and foreshadowing because I don’t have detailed memories of books 1 and 2.

The writing is still stunning, with the author crafting a world full of interesting lore, real and empathetic characters and messages interspersed throughout which will make you think - all within just about 100 pages. This takes a special type of skill and the author proves with this trilogy why he is a master storyteller. For a change, it was cool to see two POVs, of characters from (technically) opposing sides, and realize that we make monsters out of those whom we don’t understand and heap cruelty on them while thinking ourselves the good guys. I was curious to see how it would ultimately end, and it felt both surprising and inevitable that the author’s message of how history is a cycle that keeps repeating itself lends into such a conclusion. This is a story where monsters of myth come alive and force humanity to reckon with their inhumane choices; but whether this reckoning will lead to any better outcomes, or will humanity still keep living in denial of their true histories and believe what suits them best, remains to be contemplated by the reader.

Overall, I think the best way to enjoy this trilogy is to read them together. There’s just too many nods to characters and phrases and histories, and reading back to back will help retain them all in memory and be in awe of these books as they truly deserve. I will definitely reread them someday and I’m already looking forward to what the author will write next.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This 100-some page novella had a more profound impact on me than a lot of full length novels have had - I had to sit with it for a few days before I could write a sufficient review and I'm still not sure I'm satisfied.

Moses Ose Utomi hits exactly what a novella should be, meaning if this was any longer I'm not sure it would have been as successful. He weaves an interesting world, incredible characters, and stunning lore and plot into less than 100 pages and leaves the readers feeling....something. For me, that feeling was contemplative with a bit of discomfort and unrest, and I mean that in the best way.

This fable, for that's really what I believe it is, hit on topics that required me to think and turn inward and I hope it does the same for you.

I read this whole series all at once and would recommend reading them like that, although they could technically be read in any order. The separate but interrelated stories support and contrast each other in intricate and fascinating ways. The third story stunningly demonstrates the cyclical nature of history and mythology. The outcome, although similar to the initial set-up of the series, is for different reasons than we are shown in the first book. However, the three stories show history becomes distorted over time, mythologizing some aspects, downplaying or exaggerating other aspects of what happened. Although short, this story is gripping and meaningful. It was so full that I forgot it was so short. Time seemed to stand still while I was reading and I became lost in the universe that the author created. Truly one of the best series I've read and one I'll remember and recommend for a long time.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series. Book 2 I thought was slightly repetitive but I still enjoyed the story overall and especially loved the author's note. Book 3, unfortunately I feel like I am reading book 1 and 2 all over again and it feels very repetitive. I was not pulled into the storyline and struggled to keep myself engaged while reading.

Thank you tordotcom for the complimentary drc.

I enjoyed the first book, and the second book was good until the end when too much happened and I found it confusing. Unfortunately I struggled to get into this one at all. The pace was so slow and meandering and for such a short book it took me over a week to finish it because it just didn't hold my attention. When I was reading, I found i had to reread sections to really understand what was being said or what had just happened. Lastly, it was also really repetitive at times. This one is just not for me I'm afraid.

I picked this up immediately because I loved the other two books in the series, and while The Memory of Ogisi didn’t quite measure up to the others, I still liked it. The writing was strong, the lore was rich, and there were definitely moments that pulled me in. That said, the pacing dragged a bit in parts, and I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to the main character this time around. It felt more distant than the earlier books, which made it harder to fully engage. Still, it’s a solid addition to the series and I’m glad I read it—it just didn’t hit the same way for me.

I loved this book! It perfectly blended what we found out in the first two books into the final one. I also really enjoyed the two different POV. The way Moses Ose Utomi can eloquently explain things, is the reason why I will continue reading his books.

I’m rating this book a 4.5 just because I wish it went a little more in depth on some things!

“Losing sight of another’s humanity was the seed from which all cruelty grew.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Forge for the eARC.

This was a mixed read for me but my stumbling blocks were mostly subjective. I loved Book 1. It contained all the brilliance and catharsis of The Fifth Season but in only a fraction of the pages. Sadly, book 2 and now book 3 do not reach those heights for me.

This book has 2 main characters - Ethike and Agba and both of them do not endear to me as much as Tutu or Osi did in the earlier books. Tutu from book 1 was more likeable, Osi from book 2 was more real and had a bigger character arc than either Ethike or Agba. It also doesn’t feel like this book is bringing anything new from the first two books. The themes are being carried forward from the first book and the way how the world changes in 500 years was already explored in book 2. This is written as a prequel-sequel that could have occurred 500 years before book 1 or 500 years after book 2 and that leads me to my main complaint.

With the finale of a trilogy, there are certain expectations for me and this book did not fulfill it. It is purely a taste thing though, as this book is written purposefully to achieve something else. It is trying to show the cyclical nature of human history where history is just a story and that we are forever doomed to only repeat the mistakes of the past over and over again. It might be very realistic but I do not like that sentiment and that was my main undoing with this book. It is simply not satisfying the way an epic fantasy trilogy conclusion should be. It is a stark difference from Book 1’s end - the conclusion was explosive and satisfying in a way that the sequels just aren’t.

And building up to this cyclical ending is another reason why I wasn’t able to get into the book really. Everything becomes very predictable. It can be read without reading books 1 & 2 and I think I might have enjoyed it more that way. Since I have read books 1 & 2 though, I have seen exactly how the story plays out and where it is going to now. Instead of the narrative scope getting grander, it becomes repetitive. We cover the same events through two different POVs here as they’re members of the same party that are making the same journey. I understand the idea behind what the writing is trying to achieve with such a device - a fuller picture with how individual bias and experience shape the perception; the same event is very different when viewed through a different lens. But this device also comes with an inherent risk in my opinion - since it is the same event, there is a chance that it loses all intrigue and that pitfall is where this book has fallen into for me.

A brilliant finale to the fablesque trilogy. Moses Ose Utomi closes it out in one of the most fascinating ways possible - I wasn't prepared for this and you certainly won't be.

Ethike is an ogisi, and he thinks the secret to locating Obasa's Tomb and the truth of his city's history lies in locating the tomb of another, little regarded figure from centuries past - Osi, the last Truthseeker. And so he sets out on a quest into the Forever Desert. And in doing so, irrevocably changes the trajectory of the city's rise forever.

Man I loved what Moses Ose Utomi has crafted here. Closing out his Forever Desert trilogy of novellas, this book is written with the same fairy tale-esqe feel of the other two. This takes place about 500 years after the Truth of the Aleke, in the same way that book took place about 500 years after the events of the Lies of the Ajungo, and its incredible.

Once again Moses Ose Utomi incorporates so many different concepts and ideas into this tale - the power of history, the dangers of blind faith, the clash of cultures and the abuse of power when an imbalance inherently exists. Every society has its stories that form the fabric of its culture, its truths and ideals that is a sure road to strife when those cultures come into contact and belief is firm in mine over yours. Its a story that plays with morality in a brilliant way - do the good actions of the individual outweigh the evil actions of the collective? How do you stay true to yourself when your worldview is challenged by those who obviously bear you no ill will in any other regard? Its really heady stuff, I've come away from each of these novellas with my brain just swirling with thoughts on the quandries Moses Ose Utomi captures in them, and this one is the most intense yet.

As to the actual tale, its very much one that is a combination of the previous two stories. And it does so by actually giving us the tale of two people. The first is an ogisi who travels into the Forever Desert on a quest, as was the case in the previous two books. The second is the tale of a boy who grows up in the City, similar to the previous book, and the challenges he faces from his unique history. Combined, they depict a sequence of events that is really going to squish your brain when you realize what's happening.

Wonderfully written, brilliantly executed, fantasy at its absolute best.I cannot gush enough about this guy, Moses Ose Utomi packs more punch in a short 136 page novella than most authors even attempt in a doorstopper. A brilliant read, a brilliant trilogy as a whole and one I'm going to recommend frequently for years and years to come. This guy has a very bright future ahead of him.

NOTE: Youtube link goes public on June 13, 2025

WOW. Wow. Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for this early copy to review.
I... I had a hard time with this one for the most part. It wasn't quite as engaging as the previous two, and I found the writing a little bit tougher to parse through than the previous two. But oh my god, by the end?? I see it. I see what Moses Ose Utomi is doing with the cyclical nature of histories and stories, and I REALLY enjoyed that. I definitely need to reread the three all together to reaffirm the story in my mind, I think - but I think this trilogy of novellas is a true masterwork of storytelling.

The Memory of the Ogisi is an amazing final installment to the Forever Desert series, exploring the depths of power, history, and memory. Like the first two books, this was a beautiful and impactful read with its lyrical writing and unique storytelling. Moses Ose Utomi has written a trilogy that is absolutely unforgettable.

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this fantasy/legend novella that tells of a scholar looking for answers and finding a lot more than he bargained for, including the end of everything he knows.

I used to love fantasy books for the longest time. However as I got older the books stayed the same. Quests, dragons, magic, all familiar. The books became longer and longer, series went on forever, and nothing really happened. One could look at a cover and go, ok quest, betrayal, European myths, hero finds something, a character one doesn't think will die, dies, rinse and repeat. I stepped away for a long time, pretending to care when talking about these books while working my job, but not having any real interest. I would try, but the length, 800 pages once made me go, no not today. I think it was the steady return of novellas to shelves that caught my attention. I liked the size, and I liked that the writers were doing different things. Drawing on different ideas, places and people. Especially the people. The ideas were even in a short novel, given time to grow, without having to pad the story. Just like that I was reading fantasy books again, and finding new authors to push and recommend to friends and customers. And I can't wait to share this series with others. The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi is the third novella in the Forever Desert series, and continues the tale that began a thousand years ago, where truth is lost, the desert is starting to share its story, and revenge is not that far away.

Ethike is a man who tries to do good, even when others try to cheat him, or demean him for his interests in history. Ethike is a Ogisi, a historian of a sorts whose zone of interest is a person names Osi who lived 500 years before. Ethike lives with his only family, a niece, who survived a tragedy that killed her family, in the City of a Thousand Stories, and wants only the best for her, and her upbringing. Ethike has an epiphany one day that the nickname of Osi, tells more about the man than many think. For centuries the City has provided water and food, but the origins of the city are lost. There are many ideas, and one for these explain why the people of the City cut off their ears, and only communicate in sigh language. Ethike is sure that Osi is the key to understanding. Ethike is granted supplies a bodyguard and a guide to enter the Forever Desert and look for the Tomb of Osi, and discover answers. Ethike sets out and comes across another group of travellers, who are marked not with missing ears, but missing tongues, but also looking for the Tomb of Osi. The desert is seems is full of travellers, all maimed in different ways, but heading for one location. What they find there changes everything.

One does not have to have read the previous novellas to understand the story, but it does help, and one gets a clearer understanding of what is going on. Also the stories are really quite good. The story moves fast, but is full of ideas, and makes one get lost in the world that unfolds. The writing is really quite good, and everything is clearly pointed out. There are a lot of wha?? moments that add to the story, and the point of view does change, but again, one won't be lost. This is fantasy at its best, a world full of ideas, of concepts and a lot of human emotion, and well bad human traits. I found myself thinking quite a lot about this book when I was done.

Perfect for people who like their fantasy strong but without the wandering and padding that seems to fill many books. Also for people who want ideas that are different and new. Role players will also enjoy this book, as their is a lot of interesting uses of magic, and the pacing of the novel does seem like a game campaign. One can learn a lot about pacing and showing characters important story elements from reading this book. A really well done series.

Brilliant adventure packed fantasy that brought the intriguing plot and suspenseful moments were done well. It was written fantastically which were my favourite parts and I will be reading the series again and going through the first two books to see the pieces that are connecting in this one. Ethiki on an acadmeuc search but making dangerous discoveries along the way was fun to read. So satisfying an end to this trilogy.

Moses Ose Utomi is such an incredible writer and has written a trilogy that is absolutely unforgettable. The Memory of the Ogisi was an amazing instalment and conclusion to the Forever Desert series. Like the first two books, this was a short and fast-paced read that delivered a shocking and clever ending. I rated this a 4.5/5 and would highly recommend the whole trilogy.

This book brings together all we’ve learned from the previous novellas and the span of time the author is able to cover in these novellas astonishes me. This book really hammers home how history is bound to repeat itself and in the political climate we are currently living in, it was quite a difficult read. The foreshadowing in this book is unbelievable. Everything is connected and this book, unlike the others you get two different viewpoints from opposing sides. This author is absolutely incredible. The prose is very well written without being overly flowery, and the impact he is able to make in such short novellas is truly astonishing. Will be picking up anything from this author!

Oof, well that was a beautifully written gut punch, which, when combined with the previous two novellas in the Forever Desert series, clearly illustrates the painfully circular cycles of history. The point the author makes in the afterword really brings home his message: that you could really start with any one of these novellas. Each of the main characters in these novellas see themselves as acting righteously and bravely, and it still perpetrates incredible harm among the people that their cultures "other."

This novella, like the first two, are incredibly quick reads, and a great deal of character work gets covered very succinctly. Unlike the first two, however, in this installment, we follow two main characters on two opposing sides of the cultural divide, and it also covers a greater breadth of time. I'm always surprised at how much ground Utomi is able to cover within his novellas, and this novella is no exception.

Especially as our world seems to be repeating historical cycles which we'd sworn that we'd never repeat, this was a difficult read for me personally, because the takeaway feels bleak at times. However Ethike's optimism and ability to rise above his circumstances at the end of the story seem to offer a glimpse of hope for exiting the cycle these characters are trapped within, even if the end of the story itself continues the cycle. I was surprised at how well everything was able to be tied back together from the first book through the last – it was a deeply satisfying, if unsettling, ending.

I really love this ending to the trilogy and would highly recommend all three of them. Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for an early copy of this novella.

What an amazing conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. Seriously, this book absolutely nails the ending; everything builds up to it. Moses Ose Utomi is just a BRILLIANT storyteller. All I'll say is that I will definitely be thinking about this series for years to come, particularly its characters and powerful messages. I genuinely couldn't recommend it more.

Thank you to the NetGalley team at Tor/Forge for an ARC!! 4.5 / 5.0 ⭐️