Lionheart Girl by Yaba Badoe is a luminous tale of magic, family, and self-discovery that left me utterly captivated. Rooted in African folklore and mythology, this novel weaves a story that is both tender and terrifying, as we follow Sheba on her journey to uncover her powers, her past, and her place in the world.

The story is set in a hidden village, a sanctuary for those in desperate need, and immediately, Badoe draws readers into a richly atmospheric world. Sheba’s mother, the antagonist of this tale, is one of the most chilling characters I’ve ever encountered. Her ability to shape-shift into a crow is unsettling, but what makes her truly terrifying is her suffocating dominance over Sheba. It’s the perfect metaphor for a toxic parent-child relationship: the fear, the love, and the ever-present shadow of wanting to break free while still yearning for approval.

What sets this book apart is its unique magic system. Sheba’s power—her ability to unravel people’s secrets through touch—is deeply tied to her identity and heritage. I was particularly struck by how this power is showcased through hair braiding. It’s such a culturally rich and intimate act, and Badoe uses it to explore connection, healing, and identity. Similarly, the way other family members wield their own magic feels organic, reflecting their personalities and roles within the family dynamic. It’s not an overly complex system, but it works perfectly in the context of the story.

The narrative style is colloquial and carries a youthful energy, reflecting Sheba’s perspective. While this voice might feel a bit young for some readers, it’s an essential part of the book’s charm and authenticity as a coming-of-age story. Sheba grows tremendously throughout the novel, learning not just about her powers but also the dark truths of her family history. Her journey is one of resilience, courage, and self-discovery, and I couldn’t help but root for her.

Beyond Sheba, the supporting characters enrich the story beautifully. Her aunts and grandmothers each bring something unique to the table, and the tension surrounding her absent father adds depth and mystery. The world-building, while subtle, is vivid. Badoe masterfully incorporates elements of African mythology and folklore, grounding the fantastical elements in a sense of reality that feels both fresh and familiar.

If I had one critique, it would be that I wanted more exploration of the mother’s motivations. While her cruelty is clear, a deeper dive into her psyche might have made her even more compelling. That said, the story as it stands is powerful, emotional, and deeply satisfying.

In Lionheart Girl, Yaba Badoe delivers a tale that is equal parts magical and human, filled with themes of identity, family, and the bonds that tie us together—for better or worse. It’s a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and one I’d recommend to anyone who loves magical realism or stories steeped in rich cultural traditions.

"Lionheart Girl" is a captivating and uplifting story that explores themes of independence, family bonds, and friendship, all intertwined like a complex web. However, I felt that the plot could have delved deeper, especially considering the unique magic system presented. Badoe's skillful character development takes us on a journey of self-discovery and the uncovering of magical abilities, all while facing the judgment and disapproval of their close-knit community.There was ample potential to showcase the visible impact of conflicts between the main character and her mother on the community.
Nevertheless, the chosen plot was well-executed, making for an enjoyable read overall.

This book is lovely, but it just didn't vibe for me. I'm sure I'll return to it, as it is intriguing in plot, but not right now. Apologies.

I ended up listening to the audiobook for this. I'm glad I did as I flew through this. I managed to complete it in one sitting. But I feel if I had physically read this it would have taken me longer.
While I did enjoy the story and characters I feel this is just an OK story, not one that will stay with me.

Lionheart Girl is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. Yaba Badoe has earned himself a spot on my auto-buy authors list. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Lionheart Girl today.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. Other readers may enjoy it more, but I could not get into it and ultimately did not finish it.

heba is scared of her mother. As one of the royalty of their little village, hidden away from the rest of the world, she lives with her Aunts and Grandmother- wise women who rule unchallenged. But when Ma comes with her sharp tongue and even sharper talons, it is up to Sheba to try to find the bravery within.

Honestly, this was a struggle to read and even though I bought it on Audible so I could finish it, I had to push myself.
The language was beautiful and I enjoyed learning about the cultural aspects of life but the plot just didn't grip me at all.
Sheba's mother was more spiteful and whiny than a genuine threat. The 'wise women' of the village weren't proactive or leader-like in any way and I had no idea why they let the men stay when they were so flighty and aggressive- especially since that is why the women fled to the village in the first place.
I couldn't work out how old Sheba was supposed to be her relationship with Maybe made her feel in her mid to late teens but her actions and voice put her at 11 or 12.
The constant flashbacks, dream-speak and spirit walking left me confused as to what was happening when and the ending was somewhat anticlimactic.

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read books ad give critical feedback to authors and publishers. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read the eARC of this book.

Apologies for the late review of this book.

this is a story about a female girl journey to find her father and discover her heritage, she has many attributes and I loved the aspects with animals throughout the book it was beautiful I also loved the female lead ethnicity because I have not had much opportunity to read African female lead books.

Really catching cover, very fast paced and interesting plot. Great characters and was overall a really good read.

I kept putting off writing this review as I'm devastated that I didn't love it and had to dnf it. I kept hoping that I would pick it up again and love it but I just couldn't and I honestly cannot tell you why I didn't enjoy it. Honestly, I'm gutted.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This writing style was really hard for me to gel with at the beginning and I struggled to get immersed in the story, however this is a great tale and I loved the setting. It’s all kinds of magical.

Lionheart Girl
Author: Yaba Badoe
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lionheart Girl is a compelling and inspiring expression of defiance and power that depicts independence, familial love and friendship as tangled strings. Badoe's beautifully created characters navigate growing up and discovery of self and of magic whilst facing criticism and disapproval from the community they grow up in. I absolutely adored both the magic system and the character development throughout the novel, and I think there is a beautiful message of self empowerment woven throughout the book.

However, for me the plot fell a little short. I think that with such a unique magic system the plots and conflicts of the novel could have been taken further. There was so much opportunity for the conflict between the mc and her mother to have visible rather than implied impacts on the community. That being said, the chosen plot of the book was well executed and I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

I wanted to like Lionheart Girl a lot more, however, it’s another book listed as fantasy when it is more accurately magical realism. The fantasy elements are wrapped up within realism, hidden in word play rather than just coming out and saying exactly what is happening. It’s exhausting to read at times because I had to try to work out exactly what was being said.

I had thought that this was a book about shapeshifters, or at the very least, witches that could change shape. It’s not, which was disappointing. I enjoyed the folklore and the world building, I just wish the author had come out and said this was this and that was that. It’s explained that there is an evil, yet the evil is never given a name. It’s just danced around.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Badoe has done a great job of exploring African mythology through a fantastic narrative here. The story is engaging and the characters are well-rounded. The family relationships are particularly strong and realistic, and I also really liked the way Sheba's friendships were portrayed. At some points the writing was a little hard to follow, but that may be my unfamiliarity with this style rather than Badoe's writing itself.

Lionheart Girl follows the story of Sheba, a descendant of West African Witches, who struggles to grow into her powers and destiny. Sadly, I really wrestled with this novel — the pacing felt uneven, and I felt confused with certain elements of the plot. I didn’t resonate with the characters and often felt disconnected, like I was missing something.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Head of Zeus, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating and riveting story, a mix of fantasy/coming of age/magic realism with an African setting and an interesting cast of characters.
World building and character development are excellent, I had some issues with the storytelling as the plot does not always flows, seems to jump at times, and some important events just happen and there's no surprise.
It was a good read and I think there's a lot of potential.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"African myth and magic beat in the dark heart of this fable about witchcraft, superstition, the bonds we choose and those we cannot."

Wow, this book was so enjoyable! Rich in magic and world-building, this makes for a very compelling read! Perfect for this time of year, I loved the characters and the richness of the world. The plot was mesmerising and the characters drew me in! Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for letting me read via Netgalley.

Not a happy story, but rich in magic, family and culture. Sheba is a strong lead, we follow her inner turmoil as she pieces together the past and her relationship with her mother, our villain. The witchcraft felt unique, the bonds between characters well fleshed out. I enjoyed this story, and the language used (glossary was very helpful!)

Full of mystery, intrigue and deception, this book takes you in a wild adventure and doesn't slow down until the very last page.

I loved the writing style and the world building in this story that really evokes the West African setting and mythology. The characters had very defined voices and I liked the character of Sheba and her family dynamics. The mystery of her mother and the magic keeps you intrigued even if this is mainly a character driven story.