3.5/5

For me, Somadina is a story about family and how it can be both good and bad, often simultaneously. It is also about being excluded from communities for things over which you have no control. Somadina is a twin, which is frowned upon, and she possesses powers that frighten people, leading to her exclusion, even from her mother, who openly shows disgust towards her.

Somadina started strong, but, unfortunately, it went downhill after the 40-45% mark and never quite picked up again. It felt like we didn't spend enough time rescuing Jayaike as we did building up to his kidnapping, and everything wrapped up a little too quickly. The revelation at the end didn't feel well-planned and seemed to come out of nowhere. I believe it would have had a bigger impact had there been more foreshadowing; the information we received didn't provide enough hints to even anticipate the twist at the end.

Prose-wise, I liked it overall; however, there were some descriptions that painted a different picture than probably intended. For example, a scream scattering teeth is quite an image- one that Emezi probably didn't want. There are a few of these descriptions, but overall, they don't significantly impact the prose.

I still recommend it, though. It's a quick read and very interesting with meaningful themes. I think people looking to experience a world inspired by African mythology and cultures will surely enjoy this. The world is well-built, somewhat isolated from what the story requires, but still intriguing.

Emezi is such a fantastic author and I am very much of the belief that we should all be reading from them. Haunting in a way only they can ever write a story.

Identical twins Somadina and Jayaike live with their older sister and their parents in a world that has been overrun by magic after a terrible war. When children reach the age of 15 they gain gifts but the twins have reached age and haven't seen any changes. When they finally get their gifts it threatens to drive them apart.

Somadina struggles with her gift and is shunned by her town, not only for being a twin but for allowing a god to overpower her. When Jayaike goes missing, taken by someone through the spirit realm, she, along with her sister and best friend, have to find him while she tries to come to terms with her new magic.

This is my favourite novel so far by Emezi, the West African world that is created is lush and beautiful. The prose is fast paced and their is enough intrigue to keep the reader guessing. Emezi's writing always has some layer of darkness to it and despite this being YA it is no different. The characters are complex and flawed yet by the end Somadina has accepted what she is and embraced her magic and her flawed family. This is a great YA story about found family and blood family, embracing who you are and accepting help from those around you.

The imagery really helped with my film in my head and I would absolutely read from this world again. Simply stunning.

Review: Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi

{ad-gifted book}

Rating: 4 stars

This is one of my favourite Emezi books yet! (Second to The Death of Vivek Oji).

This magical novel is set in a West African world. You follow Somadina, a teen girl who needs to save her twin while trying to navigate her newly discovered powers. After The Split happened, every child gains a singular power once they come of age.

Somadina and her brother Jayaike are identical in appearances, thoughts and finish each others sentences. When they come of age their magical gift begin to develop - but while his powers enchant and enlighten, hers cause darkness and a void. They also are unique in having multiple gifts. They try and keep this secret but Somadina creates fear with people in her town after she loses control to the god who blessed her with them.

Things go bad to worse when her brother is kidnapped by an unknown entity travelling through the spirit realm. Does she have the strength to overcome her powers and save him?

I’m not normally one for YA books - but I loved this one. I was invested in Somadina, her siblings and the plot and really rooted for her throughout. She was complex and flawed and I wouldn’t expect anything less from Emezi. The world is beautifully built, and I would read another book in this setting. There are twists and turns that I didn’t expect and the writing was compelling, well-paced and intentional.

Emezi’s writing always has a darkness to it - which is lessened as its a YA novel - but this reflects the difficulties of growing up and discovering who you are. Somadina finds the light within herself and embraces her powers and learns about the strength of community.

The film that played in my head while reading was 10/10 - the writing / vivid imagery was fantastic

Twins Somadina and Jayaike live in a world where the aftermath of a terrible war has gifted everyone with powers. When their magic eventually arrives it threatens to ruffle the closeness of their bond and Somadina's power drives fear into her family and community. When her brother vanishes she is determined to face any dangers to get him back.

This was fantastic and had all the things I love about this author's writing. Compelling characters, captivating world building, stunning prose. Somadina is a wonderful central protagonist. She is determined, headstrong, often doubts herself and heavily impacted with the reaction of her family and friends to her new powers. She's torn between wanting to preserve the close uniqueness of her bond with her brother and her growing romantic feelings towards their best friend. The relationship she has with her mother is especially complex and heartbreaking. And for much of this story she is grappling with loneliness and struggling to accept what she is becoming. Family relationships are a huge central part of this story, not only the bond between Jayaike but also her older sister and grandfather. Inspired by pre-colonial Igbo mythology it concerns Dibias who are vessels for divine knowledge and intermediaries between visible and invisible worlds . This is a coming of age story infused with magic, danger and a quest at the heart. It's about othering and acceptance, being able to face and embrace the consequences of your choices and those of others. It's also set in a world dealing with the fall out of a war and the change it wrought on the land as well as the people - and the author has spoken about being partly inspired by the Biafran war. It's beautifully written as you would expect from this author. My only criticism is the pace, which really gripped me at the start, almost slowed a little too much in the centre but I'm being very nit piccy because I really enjoyed this. Not quite as much as Pet but nothing is Pet.

Somadina and her twin brother, Jayaike, are practically the same person. When the twins come of age, their magical gifts begin to develop, but while Jayaike's powers enchant, Somadina's cause fear to ripple through her town. Things go from bad to worse when her brother, the one person she trusted, vanishes. Somadina knows that no matter the dangers, she must track him down, even if she might not survive...

I loved the characters - I felt like they were so fleshed out and so interesting to learn more about. I loved Somadina and Jayaike's bond as twins and how their bond is utilised within the book Their friendship with Uwafulamiro was so beautiful to read about and I loved his character because he was a ride or die for the twins and I was so here for it. I honestly want to rave about so many of the characters because their development throughout was absolutely incredible, especially Somadina's. I loved being inside of her head as she was trying to work through everything - she was a brilliantly complex character. The magical elements that each character had was so interesting and I loved learning about them, especially seeing the twins come into their magical powers and learn how to use them.

Akwaeke's writing never fails to grip me and not let me go until the end of the book and even then, their books stay with me long after finishing. They are one of my favourite authors and I will never stop raving about their books. Their ability to be set up the atmosphere and really let you feel the tension and emotions that the characters experience never fails to amaze me. Their use of imagery to make the settings, characters and atmosphere comes to life is one of my favourite things that I look forward to when reading their books. I always feel like with their books I'm there with the characters watching everything play out, which I love.

Thank you Faber & Faber and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: physical assault, vomit, murder, grief, abandonment, alcohol use, blood, death, kidnapping, war, bullying, domestic abuse; mentions child loss, animal death, injury detail, fire, derogatory language, panic attack, cannibalism, body horror ⚠️

The way Emezi weaves culture, folklore, fantasy, and real life together is astounding to me and something I cherish with each new book. Somadina is a love letter to staying true to yourself and fighting for the right of simply existing, as well as fighting for the people you love. Plenty of action in this one and a seriously complex family at the heart of everything. I didn’t guess the twist and enjoyed each layer of the plot as it was peeled back. Incredible!

This packs a punch is such a short amount of pages per usual from Emezi. Hard-hitting, emotional, touching, full of important bonds.

In a world where people have magical gifts following the Split - the great breaking of the Earth. Somadina and her twin, Jayaike, are deeply connected - their other half. When Jayaike is abducted, Somadina is determined to rescue him, across dangerous territories, against dangerous and evil forces.

This is a story about being different. Being outcast. Dealing with your community, your friends, even your family turning their back on you.

<b>“Sometimes I think people in a group can do more wickedness than one person alone,” he replied. “Everyone waits for someone else to do something, or they do nothing, or they do the wicked things together.”
“Sometimes doing nothing is the wicked thing,” Nkadi said, her voice sour.
</b>
This is a story about hiding history, remembering history, facing your pain and fears. It is about acknowledging your vulnerability and setting boundaries.

Not a word is wasted. Every sentence is purposeful and yet this manages to be poetic.

I did want more from the ending as it felt like it finished too soon and don’t deal properly with the fall out, but Emezi’s novel always feel incomplete. After all, there is no utopia or paradise, even where magic exists.

Arc gifted by Faber and Faber.

An intriguing fantasy of Igbo culture mixed in with supernatural powers and deities governing life in a small community. The wars have left scars which have not healed, and people are suspicious of anyone who appears different. We have twins who don’t seem to follow the normal path into adulthood bodies, and a very urgent threat of abduction and worse.

Didn't know really what to expect when I requested this book. I hadn't realised it was YA genre. Nevertheless it was an entertaining read and life afirming. Somadina is a courageous young woman. I enjoyed her story. I knew nothing about the Igbo people so I have learnt something too.
I think a lot of YA readers will love this book