Daughters of Nri by Reni K Amayo

Strong-willed Naala grows up seeking adventure in her quiet and small village. While the more reserved Sinai resides in the cold and political palace of Nri. Though miles apart, both girls share an indestructible bond: they share the same blood, the same face, and possess the same unspoken magic, thought to have vanished with the lost gods.

The twin girls were separated at birth, a price paid to ensure their survival from Eze Ochichiri, the man who rules the Kingdom of Nri. Both girls are tested in ways that awaken a mystical, formidable power deep within themselves. Eventually, their paths both lead back to the mighty Eze.

But can they defeat the man who brought the gods themselves to their knees?

One thing that I appreciated about Daughters of Nri is that it’s set in 994 AD around the kingdom of Nri, which was located in present-day Nigeria. It’s a time and setting I personally haven’t had the pleasure of reading about before. And the microsettings really bring it all to life. Naala’s village she’s introduced in and the forest she finds herself in later. We also explore the palace through Sinai’s eyes.

For a large majority of the book, the two main protagonists don’t meet, and each of their stories are pretty different — though both have their share of trauma, joy, friendships, and a sense of leaving behind familiarity.

In terms of pacing, this can at times make it feel as though nothing is happening. I think this might make the novel feel “too slow” for some. At times I did feel the pacing was lacking if I’m honest. But it never stagnated. A large focus, I found, was on the characters. I think Sinai’s probably my favorite. She’s straightforward, asks the right questions, and isn’t really into cryptic speech. In an early passage, she has this exchange (paraphrased):

“How did I survive that fall?”

“People were cleaning on the day you fell.”

“Okay? But how did I survive that fall?”

It’s these moments of subtle lightheartedness that bring the story to life. Sinai grows so much as a person, too. She starts off wanting revenge on the girl who practically pushed her out of a window. But she’s timid and not sure if she could really seek out revenge. Her motives are not without reason, but as the book progresses, she learns that she is capable of so much more. She discovers that she can be a force to be reckoned with. And soon (well, due to a favor she promised another woman), her anger is focused on the Eze. Naala goes through her own transformation, too. She definitely gets an adventure, but it’s not one she asked for. When her village is attacked in a heartbreaking scene, she’s forced to travel with a new group of people through the forest. Unbeknownst to either, their stories bring them closer and closer together.

Overall, Daughters of Nri is a novel inspired by medieval Nigeria that is all parts dramatic and wondrous. There does seem to be a budding romance between Naala and another character, though there are many other types of relationships present — familial (not necessarily via blood), friendship, even frenemies. This is one to put on your TBR.