Son of the Storm

By: Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Narrated by: Korey Jackson

Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, Son of the Storm is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forgotten magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.

"Everything I love in a fantasy novel. Damn good stuff!" (Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings)

In the ancient. city of Bassa, Danso is a clever scholar on the cusp of achieving greatness - only he doesn’t want it. Instead, he prefers to chase forbidden stories about what lies outside the city walls. The Bassai elite claim there is nothing of interest. The city’s immigrants are sworn to secrecy.

But when Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets. Drawn into the city’s hidden history, he sets out on a journey beyond its borders. And the chaos left in the wake of his discovery threatens to destroy the empire.

Praise for Son of the Storm:

"With an intricate and irresistible plot, Okungbowa weaves a vibrant tale of betrayal, intrigue, and revolution.” (Anthony Ryan, author of Blood Song)

"A thrilling, fantastical adventure that introduces a beguiling new world...and then rips apart everything you think you know." (S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass)

The Nameless Republic
Son of the Storm

©2021 Suyi Davies Okungbowa (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"This is everything I love to see in a fantasy story: masterful, fully-realized worldbuilding, morally complex characters, thoughtful and piercing interrogations of power, privilege, and all the facets of human nature. Damn good book!" (Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings)

"A mesmerizing coming of age tale set against a thrilling, fantastical adventure that introduces a beguiling new world...and then rips apart everything you think you know.” (S. A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass)

"Okungbowa weaves an intricate and irresistible plot around the tensions and contradictions of a corrupt, decadent society which is both dependent upon and resentful of its diverse migrant population. The result is a vibrant tale of betrayal, intrigue, and revolution which benefits greatly from an original setting, a fresh take on magic, and deftly executed characterization." (Anthony Ryan, author of Blood Song)

Couldn’t wait….

Great story, that I found I couldn’t wait to get back to. Definitely getting book two.

A solid first entry.

I enjoyed it overall. it's a unique setting and interesting magic system. My issues are primarily technical.

I do think it'd be well served by a more stringent editor, as there were many times we were taken away from the action to be given detail about the world that would never again be relevant and took away from the gravity of a given moment.

For example: there's a instance where a character is about to do something dangerous, and we suddenly get a paragraph regarding to climate of the area. Does said climate affect the task at hand or add depth? Not at all. It took me out of the moment every time it happened.

hit the snooze alarm

i powered through this book hoping that at some moment i would give a flip about Donso or any of the other characters but they all lack texture and emotion and there are no reasons to even care about Dasa....sorry but i wasted a credit on this one.

A story with so much potential

I purchased that story knowing it will take me out of my western comfort zone and take me somewhere else. It delivered in that sense but still, I have to be honest in my review.
Pros:
The main character is pretty likeable and will change throughout the story towards being a hero.
The worldbuiding is okay, and the characters well developed.
it's a nice story overall
now to the cons
I will blame everything else on the lack of editing. The author stopped showing at some point and started telling. I feel like there wasn't a lot of action especially throughout the breathing forest. I was so excited abt it and thought a lot of monsters were abt to show up but nah.
I finished the story and I would recommend for different culture- away from the European fantasy.

pleasant surprise

enjoyed it hope there's a sequel with babies even fast forward lol next generation

Quality writing but didn't like pacing

quality writing. thought provoking but not my of tea on pacing nor story ending.

Great book

kept me interest, was suspenseful loved the narrator he kept it exciting and entertaing I can't wait for the next book

An African-inspired epic fantasy worth the listen!

In an African-based world where one's place is based upon their ethnic background and skin color, we begin the story in Bassa, following Danso. Danso is one who should be among the most favored of the people, but his lighter skin tone and mixed heritage mean he is still treated as an outsider. While he begins the story as a scholar at the university - and one who has more knowledge than his peers - he is quickly pushed out because of his background.

His intended bride, Esheme, faces similar issues due to her mother coming from a lesser caste and her father being unknown. Despite that, Esheme's mother has clawed her way into a respected position, and Esheme benefits from that. While Danso and Esheme have similarities in how they are treated by the Bassai people, they respond to it differently. Danso tends to act the way he wants to, consequences be damned, while Esheme wants to gain as much power as she can and resents the current system.

But both of their lives are thrown into chaos when Lilong, a yellowskin (referencing the lightest skin tone of all the peoples, representing albinos or very light-skinned people) woman of the Nameless Islands shows up in the city looking for a family heirloom that was stolen by Nem, Esheme's mother. The subsequent fight for the heirloom leads to one person being murdered, and Danso and his second, his indentured servant, Zaq escaping with Lilong.

What follows is an amazing story that includes politics, magic, secrets, betrayals, and more. Even as I was getting to know the characters, helped by the alternating POVs that encompassed not only the three major characters of Danso, Lilong, and Esheme, but also Nem, Zaq, and others. The changing POV allows the reader to keep track of the many moving parts in this story, especially once Danso, Zaq, and Lilong flee Bassa. While it might seem overwhelming to have POVs from so many different characters, Okungbawa did a wonderful job with them and they add so much to the story, providing the various lens through which we can experience the story.

One of the things I really liked about this story is the magic. Unlike many other fantasy novels, in which magic is something that is accessible to many and has a fun side to it, the magic in this novel is not fun. It is dangerous, and if not used appropriately and correctly, it can easily overtake the wielder and kill them.

Though I'm not yet sure which character - if any of them - I am actually rooting for, I am definitely looking forward to continuing this series, and I hope that Okungbowa is able to publish the next book soon. For this book, I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Korey Jackson. This is the first book that I have listened to him narrate, but I have several others narrated by him in my TBR list. I enjoyed his narration of Son of the Storm, as he continued the way Okungbowa was able to give unique voices to each of the characters by bringing those characters fully to life. I hope that I get the chance to listen to the upcoming books, but I think that even if I were to read the next book, I would probably still hear Jackson's voice in my head. Whether you choose to read or listen to this book, though, you're in for quite the ride.

Hmmm, interesting start

Overall, I’m willing to give the next book a try and see if I can get more into it than this book. This book was meanders for long stretches, but hopefully it is more level in the next book.

Spectacular!

My only regret, is now I have to wait for book 2! Discovering what you know to be lies is always life shattering. This book definitely sets up for a fantastic book 2. If you're looking for a new Fantasy, this is definitely it!