Summary: “She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own.”

The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From hereon in she would be known as Sankofa­­–a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past.

Her touch is death, and with a glance a town can fall. And she walks–alone, except for her fox companion–searching for the object that came from the sky and gave itself to her when the meteors fell and when she was yet unchanged; searching for answers.

But is there a greater purpose for Sankofa, now that Death is her constant companion?

A book that I came across when previewing book lists, I had no expectations. I never read anything by Nnedi Okorafor, and I tend not to read a lot of science fiction. However, the first line of the summary instantly hooked me. 

The book combines new and evolving technology, as well as African mythology. I loved the interwoven elements of the cultural landscape and the science fiction nature. Everything was integrated well. 

The author also makes sure to show how these two worlds influence each other, both for the best and for the worst. 

We follow Sankofa on her journey as she tries to determine her purpose. Along the way, she encounters people who revere her, and others who despise her. 

The overall concept was intriguing to me, and I loved reading about how the myth of this character began and evolved. Stories can spread quickly and can define who a person is before they even know. That was the case with Sankofa.

My only main complaints all dealt with some of the unanswered questions. This is especially so with the ending. I had to reread the chapter or two before to make sure I understood what was happening. Despite this, I enjoyed reading this book.

Overall, I gave this book a 4 out of 5.