War Girls

By: Tochi Onyebuchi

Narrated by: Adepero Oduye

In a postapocalyptic Nigeria plagued by violence and political unrest, two sisters dream of peace, hope, and a future together. They’re willing to fight an entire war to get there.

“Onyebuchi has created a fascinating futuristic Nigeria and a plot filled with left hooks and upper cuts.”—The New York Times Book Review

“High action and high drama in equal measure . . . Perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi’s novels and the Pacific Rim films.”—School Library Journal

The year is 2172.

Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of Earth unlivable. The lucky ones have escaped to newly formed space colonies, but those remaining are left to deal with the aftermath.

A civil war between Nigerians and Biafrans over mineral-rich land is wreaking havoc on the country. Battles are fought using flying, deadly robots, and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radioactive environment. Survival has become the only way of life.

In a technologically advanced camp that serves as a refuge for former child soldiers and girls orphaned by the war, Onyii and her little sister, Ify, are largely protected from the fighting. But all that changes when Nigerian soldiers intercept a signal from them. A bomb is dropped. Their home is decimated. And Onyii and Ify are ripped apart, forced onto opposite sides of the conflict.

Four years later, the war rages on. Onyii has become a decorated solider for the rebellion, known as the Demon of Biafra. She is hell-bent on revenge. Ify is the most promising student at her STEM-based school in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. She dreams of escaping to space. Both girls believe they will never see each other again. But then top-secret information is leaked. A mission goes wrong. Suddenly, reuniting might be within reach. But in their war-torn homeland, being together means risking everything.

Critic reviews

“A brilliant novel about sisters, war, and freedom."—Booklist, starred review

“Onyebuchi has created a fascinating futuristic Nigeria and a plot filled with left hooks and upper cuts, even as he nobly illuminates one of the most pervasive conditions of the human experience.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Set amid the horrors of war in a world ravaged by climate change and nuclear disaster, this heart-wrenching and complex page-turner, drawn from the 1960s Nigerian civil war, will leave readers stunned and awaiting the second installment.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The intense plot is narrated in alternating third-person perspectives, and the author explores themes surrounding colonization, family, and the injustices of war. The story culminates in an unexpected, heart-wrenching end. An exhilarating series opener.”—Kirkus Reviews

“[A] compulsively readable story with high action and high drama in equal measure. Perfect for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi’s novels and the Pacific Rim films.”—School Library Journal

“War Girls is a brutal and spectacular feat of imagination.”—Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles series

A good listen and sci-fi treat

I’m only on part one, but couldn’t wait to leave a review. I’m very impressed the masterful world building and wonderful details. My wife is from Nigeria, so I chuckled when the author mentioned discarded Fanta bottles.

Excellent Performance of Interesting Material

The performance here was top-notch. The reader balanced the detachment of a narrator with the perfect quantity of emotion. The story and setting were well-envisioned, and I definitely learned a lot about the 20th and 21st centuries, both implicitly in the text and in the afterward. There were some neat little steampunk pieces and other innovations in this decidedly soft-SF universe.

Without giving too much away, the denouement was overlong, as if the author wanted to stay with the characters for as long as possible. I certainly understand that emotion, but the reason for many of the final chapters treats them worse than if the band-aid had come off more quickly.

good listen

mostly enjoyable listen. I found some sections a bit slow but all in all pretty good

War Girls OMG

This book was amazing, I couldn’t stop listening to it, imagining how all of the fight scenes would be choreographed, to trying to envision how all of the characters would look from the descriptions given to me! I would love to see this on a screen rather it be a movie or a anime type of film!

can't wait for book2

Without knowing the history of what transpired I will say this book had me hooked. it was a slow start for me but soon after it all made sense. it has perfect balance of real life issues mixed with sci-fi additives that you wonder if this could all happen. Loved this one.