And So I Roar by Abi Daré
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Publication date: 8 August 2024
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, Adunni has finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It's always been Adunni's dream to get an education, and she's bursting with excitement. Suddenly, there's a horrible knocking at the front gate...

I read The Girl With The Louding Voice exactly 3 years ago and loved it, so I was so excited to read this ARC.
The writing is gorgeous, the characters are so vivid, and some of them are so endearing. I loved delving more deeply into the past of some of these characters, and that of their families.
It is not an easy read - there are some really tough and traumatic scenes to go through. This explores the fate of girls and women in deeply patriarchal societies, some still steeped in ancestral customs and beliefs, where they are seen as nothing more than property belonging first to their fathers, then to their husbands.
It is a story about inner strength, resilience and standing up for your rights and for justice. There were some very impactful moments and I appreciated the addition of Adunni's little wisdoms, which were sweet and poignant in equal measures.
This probably wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly for me, and it didn't quite grab me the way the first book did. This being said, I still think this was a great book and I will definitely read anything Abi Daré writes in the future.

An amazing sequel to the fantastic The Girl With The Louding Voice. I absolutely adored this read where we meet Adunni again, ready to start school until all her plans fall through. A brilliant read with a fantastic narrator.

A barnstorming return for Adunni

They say lightning never strikes twice, but actually, the science says it strikes repeatedly during the same storm. Anyway, beyond that old saw, Daré returns with a sequel to her beloved debut, expanding on the world of Lagos and Ikati, on Adunni and Ms Tia, and the secrets that threaten from all sides.

Embracing old and new, tradition and future, And So I Roar focuses in almost exclusively on Adunni and Tia, but at the same time expands and expounds on the reality of Nigeria, on the lives of women from young to old, on climate crisis and personal tragedy, on FGM and child brides. Unstinting but hopeful, the novel pushes the boundaries of what such a character-driven novel can do, with the final action based on the book's title, a full-throated cry to be heard, to be seen.

Set over little more than twenty four hours, the novel races along with no fat at all, every moment building to the best answers for everyone concerned, but not without violence and death along the way. Daré carefully delineates each character when they are out of their depths, and gives them agency, in even the worst moments, and in the best.

A hopeful and revelatory book: four stars.

I loved this just as much as The Girl With the Louding Voice - beautifully written, emotional, and hopeful. A really enjoyable read.

Adunni is back and I’m so glad to see her! For a myriad of reasons, And So I Roar takes us to Ikati, Adunni’s village, where we learn the stories of many girls and (young) women who are just trying to survive in this man’s world. Part of the magic in The Girl With the Louding Voice was seeing Adunni’s growing strength and confidence, and developing English skills. While we still get to have those moments with me, some of the additional stories, while written very well, had a heaviness and predictability to them. I couldn’t, however, understand how somebody could die and everybody could just carry on their evening like nothing happened. I also didn’t love Tia’s confrontation of her father at the time she and her aunt chose.

TW - references to FGM and rape.
Having read and loved The Girl With The Louding Voice in 2020, I was eager to read this next book by Abi Dare, especially since it is a continuation of Adunni's story, the 15-year-old girl who escaped her life in the village after she was forced to marry an elder, to Lagos - where she was sold into domestic slavery to a woman who wasn't good to her.
The story continues through her POV and Ms Tia, the woman who rescued her. Adunni's life is set to change. She will start school as she has always dreamed, and Ms Tia will have the daughter she always dreamed of.
But nothing is that simple. A midnight disturbance finds men from the village clamouring to take Adunni back, as she is to be a part of a ritual sacrifice. There has been no rain, no crops, and animals are dying, and the blame lies on the shoulders of girls who have sinned.
Set over 24 hours, the story continues as Ms Tia follows her, and they get caught up in the tribal rituals the villagers follow.
Hearing about both Adunni's and Ms Tia's backstories, as well as the horrors of punishments bestowed upon girls for no reason and FGM, amongst other horrific customs, makes for a heartbreaking story filled with hope. It is a fantastic sequel, which is highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC

I'm not sure where to start with a review for this one, just wow.
At first, I struggled to get into it a bit, I forgot the language & the writing style, but it soon sucked me back in.
There was just so much going on - so much that is a reality for women and girls to deal with in Nigeria, which made it difficult for me to rate it anything other than 5 stars.
The way the story / truths are told is brilliant, educating us on the injustice faced across the world.
Adunni returns as a powerful, empowering figure, with Tia by her side.
I can't say much more other than it's a must read for those who appreciated the first book. It continues to cover important topics such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, and women finding their voice.
I've cried several times throughout the book and it will stay with me for a long time.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🇳🇬 REVIEW 🇳🇬

And So I Roar by Abi Daré
Publishing Date: 8th August

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

‼️ This is the sequel to The Girl With The Louding Voice, so if you don’t want any spoilers I wouldn’t read on ‼️

📝 - Adunni, a fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia’s guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she’s finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It’s always been Adunni’s dream to get an education, but it’s only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her “louding voice,” is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save herself anf all the young women of her home village. 

💭 - I read TGWTLV only a few weeks ago, so Adunni’s life was fresh in my memory, but for those that can’t remember everything, the first few chapters weave in details to help. This book was definitely different to the first in the sense that it was not all about Adunni, and delved into Tia’s life and the life of other girls in Adunni’s home village. I could see what Daré was going for in showing the different lives of women in Nigeria, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Some of the issues tackled felt like they had been wedged in so that the story covered every possible archaic tradition against women. I would have also liked an afterword detailing if things that happened are taken from real stories/tradition, and any more detail on them (I appreciate it is an ARC so maybe it will be there in the final physical copy)… Also, I felt Adunni’s character had got lost a little bit, and l struggled with Tia’s chapters, and found her quite unlikeable compared to the first book). A 3⭐️ rating in no way means it was a bad book, I can appreciate a lot of it, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

#thegirlwiththeloudingvoice #abidare #andsoiroar #nigerianauthors #pocauthor #readdiverse #readdiversely #readdiversebooks #books #bookreview #bookstagram #bookreviewer #arcreview #bookworm

I adored The Girl With The Louding Voice, so when I saw there was a sequel coming out my expectations and excitement levels were high. And I was not disappointed.

This felt different to the first book but still had the heart and the message that was so key to it's beauty.

The main bulk of And So I Roar occurs within one 24 hour period, and with a bit either side and a few flashbacks. It focuses on a trial and sacrifice ritual taking place in Adunni's home village. The contrast between the characters who are used to the big cities like Lagos and those who have only known only rural Nigeria is stark. The two worlds collide in a show of sisterhood and tragedy.

Covering topics such as child marriage, rape, FGM and adoption, this is a challenging read. But in no way is it a hard read. In the words of Adunni herself, "Please listen, Ms Tia – so that you can count how many lucky you have in this life. Know this, you’re lucky is not because you are better than any one of us, or because you have more intelligence, but because life make a choice for you to be born in another place at another time. So, to not listen to our stories is to believe that you are better than us."

I may not be able to relate to much of what takes place in this book but I have a responsibility to read it and to absorb it and to amplify the necessary voices to make the world a better place for girls and women. As my second favourite quote from the book says, "Rich people say the world is a small place. But that don’t mean you can trek all of it. Meaning what? You can’t possible change the world all by yourself. The only thing you can change all by yourself is yourself, and the tiny corner of the world you find yourself. Start with that. Small-by-small and corner-by-corner, soon your goodness will spread all over your world-corner like a blanket. And know too – that you are never too small, or old, or rich, or poor, or sick to start. Change begins with you. As you are."

Thank you so much to Netgalley an
advance copy of this book!

Wow, wow, wow, what a phenomenal book. I had anxiously (& impatiently) long-awaited this sequel to Adunni’s story. To be honest, initially I was quite apprehensive as at times some sequels can be a little underwhelming and disappointing. HOWEVER, Abi Daré pulled it out the bag a second time! This book was incredible and it even made me shed a tear (no joke!).

After reading “The Girl With The Louding Voice”, I was so hopeful for Adunni who had lived such a sad and eventful life for such a young girl. So, at the start of “And So I Roar” when it seems everything she had worked so hard for, and desired so deeply was being ripped from her, I wanted to scream!

Without it feeling overwhelming and clunky, this book shed light on so many important contemporary themes/topics: Child marriage. Climate change. Deforestation. Food insecurity. Child abuse. Female genital mutilation. Cultural patriarchy. Strained mother-daughter relationships. Girls education. Death. Teenage pregnancy. Harmful cultural practices. All of which disproportionately affect women and girls the most.

& Miss Tia! Whew, her story really took me on a roller coaster ride throughout. Both she (& her mum) are keeping a major secret that you’ll have to read to find out (no spoilers!) I love her unwavering love for Adunni, she is really her guardian angel.

All-in-all, I would definitely give the book a 5 star rating and would recommend to all readers and lovers of Adunni (& all other young girls just like her across the world).

And to Abi Daré, the amazing novelist, you have earned a loyal fan and a spot on my fave authors list. I look forward to reading your future works.

#SayNoToChildMarriage
#SayNoToForcedChildLabour
#AllGirlsDeserveAnEducation

I was late to the party reading The Girl With The Louding Voice - I only read it last year on my honeymoon in Africa and it became one of my favourite books of the year. The initial novel had a near perfect ending, so I wasn't expecting Adunni to get a sequel. But she's back, as bold and loveable as ever, in And So I Roar.

This sequel starts up pretty much where its predecessor left off; Adunni has escaped her life of slavery and is living with Tia in Lagos, about to start school. A proper education is all she has dreamed of - but her past is about to catch up with her in the worst possible way.

The narrative switches back and forth between Adunni and Tia, exploring a little more of Tia's background and how it intersects with Adunni's life. Instead of starting school as planned, Adunni is forced back to the village she escaped to take part in a religious ritual involving a number of young women, and Tia is on a race to save her, while dealing with her own family issues.

This book is a worthy addition to Adunni's story but I'm just not quite sure it lives up to its predecessor. The Girl With The Louding Voice was pure Adunni, her journey and her voice, and this book is somewhat diluted with other voices - not just Tia but also a wide range of other young women who are present for the ritual.

Some of their stories are truly heart-wrenching. There's some really heavy topics tackled here - rape, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and motherhood and a lot more besides. The author gives each of the young girls a voice to tell their story, and it's devastating and eye-opening.

As always, Adunni brings the light and fire back to this story though, with her acute observations and passionate voice. This time, the author has widened the perspective, but Adunni remains the heart of the story.

I enjoyed The Girl with a Louding Voice and so was eager to read more about Adunni - a 14 year old survivor of child marriage and slavery.

She is rescued by Tia and is about to start school when she is forced to return to her village as a sacrifice and to judged following the death of the first wife of the man to who she was wed. Tia is determined to rescue her and find out the truth about Adunni’s past and her real father.

She is also trying to come to terms with her own past and her broken relationship with her own mother.

Adunni and the other female sacrifices wait their fate and decide to tell their background stories. Through this Adunni gains the strength to challenge the village elders and show her inward strength.

An amazing book - hard to read - so traumatic what these young women had gone through. It makes me so glad I live here.

One to be recommended.

A sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice, this novel is a powerful and vivid portrayal of life for women in rural Nigeria, and the customs and practices that keep them subdued, and frequently endangered.

Adunni’s voice is once again a driving force throughout the book. Her bravery in seizing hold of control of her own narrative, however negatively it might work out is remarkable. Her voice is joined in this book by that of Tia and others she meets on her journey, and each narrative shines light into some of those issues that have the power to keep women from rising to their potential, even those from higher social strata.

Adunni’s optimism encourages and energises others. She creates a small book of life advice which is unfailingly wise and makes you smile when the plot of the story might lead you instead to tears.

I am blown away by this novel, will buy a copy as soon as it is published and recommend it to all my friends. Abi Dare has used her louding voice brilliantly in this book

Uplifting sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice.
Gender inequality and social issues from the points of view of Tia and Adunni, and other girls caught in a ritual sacrifice.

*This is a review of a free review copy*

I loved The Girl with the Louding Voice so jumped at the chance to read its sequel. At first I was disappointed as the novel opened with the voice of Tia - prosaic after the richly appealing story of Adunni. But that was short-lived - Adunni quickly reappeared. In fact, sharing the narration between various different voices made the story-telling all the more effective. Tia's character was more fully developed and the voices of Adunni and other women and girls meant there was plenty of space for everyone to tell their stories. It was powerful, moving, heartbreaking and full of love.

(My enjoyment was only slightly marred by some formatting errors on the ebook I read, which I hope were fixed before full publication!)

Daré vividly brings rural Nigeria to life, highlighting the cultural and global issues that endanger women. The stories of the women in this book are deeply moving, and each one is given the space to shine without overshadowing the main story. The alternating perspectives of Tia and Adunni provide a rare glimpse into different social strata, something we don’t often see in contemporary literature.

It’s surprising how much happens in such a short time frame. The back-and-forth narrative, including Tia’s letters to Boma, makes it feel like we’re experiencing a lifetime of events that have brought these women together at this moment.

Daré’s main character is so likable—her optimism and bravery make you feel confident that things won’t get too bleak. Adunni’s life advice sprinkled throughout the book brought a smile to my face. These moments don’t drive the plot but add her unique positivity, reassuring us that things will turn out okay.

I can’t wait for fellow Adunni fans to dive into this one and for more future novels by Daré.

I was fortunate to be able to read an
advance copy of this book with Netgalley.

I was a huge fan of The Girl With The Louding Voice and keen to find out what happened next in Adunni's story. This sequel follows on directly from the first novel, with Adunni on the eve of starting her schooling. However, she is summoned back to her village, Ikati, where she meets other girls and women who have also been captured to take part in a ceremony. Each character is undergoing some form of oppression due to their sex, often (but not always) further exacerbated by a lack of education or wealth. Many chapters are from the point of view of Ms Tia, who rescued Adunni in the first novel, and many loose ends are tied up.

For me, the book had a few too many voices to deeply connect to every character. I found the story line a little melodramatic at times and would have preferred a simpler but deeper plot. Whilst the topic matter was, quite rightly, intentionally shocking, the storyline seemed a little contrived and convenient in some sections.

Although not the gem of its prequel, I enjoyed this book and was once again charmed by the resilient and resourceful Adunni.

I just could not get into this book. I really struggled with the writing and ended up not finishing the book. I feel that the story and the messages that are conveyed are really important and should be written about, but the book was too long.

I loved Adunni in The girl with the louding voice. In fact it was one of my most favourite books in the year it was published. So I was so eager to read this book.

I was so glad to catch up with Adunni and Tia in this next chapter of their life. To be honest I was a bit disappointed. I found it abit boring and nearly did not finish it.

I gave it one last push and once I got to the part which included Iya- The elderly aunt who saved Adunni in the first book- things started to pick up. The first half took me weeks to get through- but the second half I finished in a day!
I'm so glad I persevered. So many emotions.
Women in the third world suffer so much. This story was eye opening.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you netgalley for this ARC

This was a heart-wrenchingly beautiful story that explores themes of womanhood, resilience, and empowerment.

"And So I Roar" follows Adunni's journey to freedom after being captured and returned to her village, Ikati, and Miss Tia's journey of grief and forgiveness, but also love and acceptance, while trying to save Adunni. Alongside the main plot, the book delves into thought-provoking and difficult topics.

The beginning was a bit slow, which is understandable as the plot gradually unravels. Once it picked up, there was no way I could put it down. Daré is acclaimed for her ability to keep readers hanging onto each word. This is clearly illustrated in the juxtaposition between Adunni's dialect and Tia's sophisticated voice, highlighting the social and cultural divide. We are also introduced to new characters who now hold a dear place in my heart, shedding light on the importance of girlhood and dreaming.

In conclusion, this book truly is a fantastic read. Not only did I laugh and cheer, but I also cried and reflected. Adunni's life lessons kept me going (I'll need to implement some in my life)! Overall 4.5 star rating.

Favourite quotes (had to pick a few out of the 107 I highlighted):

"We toss ourselves the lifeboat of lies to save us from drowning."
"If I run, it is only my body that will run. My mind will keep itself as a slave, locked up in fear."
"We come from earth, we eat from earth, and one day we must go back to earth, so why are we treating it so bad?"
"Tears release emotions, it's not a weakness."

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review the advanced copy.