The Smoke That Thunders by Erhu Kome
Product details
Web ID: 18496974Okay Young YA Fantasy
Actual Rating 2.5 Naborhi is sixteen years old and finds herself facing a betrothal to an arrogant man who is planning on her becoming the perfect wife. But an unexpected event causes Naborhi to become bonded to a mysterious creature and she begins having visions. Eager for answers, Naborhi finds herself on a quest where she meets many new people and learns that more than her personal freedom is at stake. There were some aspects the writing style that didn’t work for me. The writing often felt more MG in level than I expected, which led to things feeling a little unbalanced especially since there were some darker themes addressed in the book (including on-page domestic abuse). The simplistic and repetitive sentence structure also contributed to this. There was also much more telling than showing – this kept things from feeling as immersive and well-developed as I usually prefer in a fantasy book. The worldbuilding was decent overall. There were details included throughout the text that added some interesting depth to the world and the setting, and I enjoyed the lore that was incorporated throughout. Unfortunately, the characters left me wanting more. This was especially true of Naborhi, who felt like an overused YA protagonist (e.g., not like other girls). Part of the issue came from the fact that things continually happened to Naborhi, but it never really felt like she was in charge of her own destiny or had any agency. While I wanted to love this one, it felt unbalanced and I couldn’t stay interested in it. My thanks to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Folklore
I would say this is perfect for a teen to read and had a great story line. I love the action and adventure. It was a pretty good show of the culture and you really got into it. It was detailed and fantastic. It is West African Folklore. I would say kids 10 and up could read this pretty easily and enjoy it. I love that this was a debut book for this author and I can't wait to read more by her.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fun fantasy novel for young readers!
This is definitely more MG than YA, but despite that, I still really liked this! While the main plotline is pretty simple (girl who's the Chosen One goes on a quest to save a kidnapped person she sees in her visions), I loved how the author infused her Urhobo culture and beliefs into the story! This is a feminist story that's appropriate for the MG demographic. I would've loved reading this as a young girl. Usually I find Chosen One stories to be pretty meh these days (MC is too overpowered, there aren't actual stakes because of the MC being overpowered, etc.), the author had a good grasp on it in this novel without making Naborhi the typical strong female character. I was a huge fan of how Naborhi stays true to herself and forges her own path, despite society telling her that her lot in life as a woman is to agree to an arranged marriage and be a good wife and mother. Even with an abusive childhood, Naborhi and her sister, Tega, manage to stay close and have a healthy relationship. I loved the found family and lite romance. Especially for MG readers, the story heavily implies that it's definitely okay if your immediate family isn't your nuclear family. This point is really driven home since the society that Naborhi lives in really emphasizes the nuclear family as the prevailing option. I wish there was more physical worldbuilding in the beginning. When Naborhi starts on her quest, the physical worldbuilding got better. But when Naborhi was in her hometown, there weren't really any good descriptions for me to latch onto. I'm excited to read more from this author! If this has a sequel or becomes a series, count me in! Thank you to Norton Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good Bones
The Smoke That Thunders is an inspiring tale of a young woman who has spent her entire life fighting for what is right. From avenging her mother from her abusive father, to honoring her aunt, uncle, and sister, to listening to the favor of a unknown god, to saving not only the Prince of a foreign land, but the entirety of her own country in the process. This book had a lot of potential. I loved the story line and am left feeling like this is the shell of something that could be great. I understand that this story is meant for younger readers, however I still feel like there was substance missing. Each pivotal moment felt rushed and the story moved along far too quickly. Too much was confined to too little pages which left the book feeling hollow. I just want more. Not like in addition to the ending. I’m not asking for a sequel. What I desire is more meat on the bones of The Smoke That Thunders.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com