Son of the Storm

Okungbowa (David Mogo Godhunter) launches the Nameless Republic trilogy with this gripping epic fantasy about a deeply divided, West Africa–esque nation on the brink of disaster. Naive, idealistic Danso is intended to be married to headstrong, ruthless Esheme. It’s a match that would secure the political standing of both their households, which are set at the margins of the privileged Idu caste—if only Danso, who’s discriminated against for being Shashi, the mixed-race offspring of a mainlander and an outlander, would keep his nose down and focus on his duties as a jali novitiate instead of searching for the truth about his mother beyond the borders of his homeland. But when Danso crosses paths with Lilong, a skin-changing invader from the Nameless Islands who wields a mystical power that Danso believed to be mere folklore, the encounter challenges everything he thought he knew about his homeland. This polyphonic fantasy unravels at a deliberately measured pace, and while the myriad perspectives contribute to the story’s tension and urgency, readers may initially feel frustrated trying to orient themselves in such a complex society. Once the story coalesces, however, the hook will be set. This series starter promises more good things to come. [em]Agent: Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky Literary. (May) [/em]