Review: She Who Knows

Features:

• An afro-futuristic tale that blends mysticism and post-apocalyptic science fiction

• Complicated and sometimes violent relationships between different cultural groups/subgroups

• Novella that is the first in a trilogy 

• Main character that challenges gender roles and demonstrates the complexity of gender identity

In the desert, salt is life. Only the Osu-nu people have the right to mine it and The Call ensures that no caravan interferes with another. At the age of 13, Najeeba feels The Call before anyone else in her family. Yet she is a woman and The Call is only felt by men. With her family’s blessing, Najeeba breaks tradition and sets out on the salt roads. Her journey will awaken the true power that resides within her and call the harsh yet promising winds of change in her wake. 

Nnedi Okorafor once again delivers a beautiful and rich afro-futuristic tale. She Who Knows Firespitter is set in the same world as Who Fears Death, but it is a completely separate story with some connections to the original that will be meaningful for returning readers but not confusing to new ones.This story contains some dark themes, but it generally has a serene vibe created by poetic descriptions of the setting and the closeness of Najeeba’s family. Like all of Okorafor’s work, this story blurs the line between magic and reality in a way that is meaningful but often enigmatic. Though beautifully described, the magical elements are intentionally left unclear which might bother some readers. In a similar vein, the book also ends kind of suddenly. Overall, this wasn’t my favorite of Okorafor’s pieces, but I would still highly recommend this short but impactful read. 

It’s about the journey, not the destination

The story centers on Najeeba’s journey on the salt road and how both she and the community evolve after each of her excursions. Since this takes place through Najeeba’s teen years, it is  just as much about her growing up and self-discovery as it is about the changes she is bringing. Okorafor does a masterful job portraying how the things that make Najeeba unique and strong also complicate her finding a place within her community and developing a sense of self. The purpose of Najeeba’s journey is unclear and frequently shifts, but ultimately the destination is not the focus of this installment. Readers who want to go on a journey that feels deeply spiritual yet strongly connected to the function of the world will find a lot to love in this book. 

Gliding through life

Though I thoroughly enjoy the journey Najeeba goes on in this book, I also feel like she is forgettable as a character. While her path to self-discovery is beautiful, Najeeba is guided along this path through impulse rather than agency and builds on the discoveries she stumbles into. A lot of what she desires and how she responds to those around her feels very true for a younger person, but there is little aside from her abilities that help ‘define’ her as a main character. I feel some of this is a function of the book’s shorter form. There's a lot of potential world and character building that is missed as the book glances through large stretches of time. There is enough detail to keep you invested and to understand how everything is changing, but this along with her general lack of agency gives the impression that Najeeba is just kind of gliding through life rather than playing an active part in it. 

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Special thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review