Season of the Serpent

Quotes

“A satisfying, worthy conclusion. In this trilogy, Okungbowa has crafted an epic with heart and an unflinching portrayal of the best and worst of humanity and the mixtures in-between. Inseparable from its West African influences, this is a complex tale with both deep characterization and a grand scope, leading through many twists and turns to the inevitable, wrenching finale.”—Kirkus (Starred Review) on Season of the Serpent

"Broad and imaginative in scope even as it’s firmly grounded in a West African setting, this installment surpasses the first...From the heat of the savanna to the red eyes of a beast, there is much here to unspool and much still left to follow."—Kirkus (Starred) on Warrior of the Wind

"This book extends the well-built world of frightening beasts and bloodthirsty rulers that Okungbowa established in the first book of this series...the intricate, fascinating world and Esheme’s character journey are both worth the investment for lovers of epic fantasy."—Booklist on Warrior of the Wind

"A mesmerizing coming of age tale set against a thrilling, fantastical adventure that introduces a beguiling new world...and then rips apart everything you think you know.” —S. A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass on Son of the Storm

"[A]mbition and intrigue cause surprises on nearly every page as characters reach for power in unpredictable and nuanced ways. More importantly, the novel purposefully reveals the lure of power and the generational impact of this intrigue, both from the perspectives of the powerful, and from the points of view of those who do not, will not, or cannot, hold power...The effect is rich, wild, and occasionally dizzying."—NPR Books on Son of the Storm

"A world so exquisitely observed in every detail, from the built environment to its social and political organization, that you can’t help but tumble headlong into its vivid, captivating reality. Esheme is a standout: her unflinching subversion of motherhood to serve her own ends absolutely thrilled me."—Shelley Parker Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun on Son of the Storm

"It’s always refreshing to find fantasies that break with all the old conventions and tropes, and Son of the Storm delivers on this like a flash of lightning in the dark! Set in a deftly craftedworld of forbidden sorcery, magical beasts, and fractured polities, this tale follows three characters whose seemingly disparate journeys are set for a collision course that will rewrite the fate of whole peoples and empires. Suyi Davies Okungbowa has created an original and fully conceived new world of fantasy teeming with brilliant possibilities and demanding to be explored!"—P. Djeli Clark, author of A Master of Djinn on Son of the Storm

"This is everything I love to see in a fantasy story: masterful, fully-realized worldbuilding, morally complex characters, thoughtful and piercing interrogations of power, privilege, and all the facets of human nature. Damn good book!"—Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings on Son of the Storm

"Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy based on non-European mythologies...readers who enjoy protagonists on troubled journeys...or anyone who likes to chew on stories with complex shenanigans."—Library Journal (starred review) on Son of the Storm

“Okungobwa’s richly-drawn and ruthlessly strict world never provides its conflicted characters with easy answers. Fantastical beasts and forgotten magic propel a story about ambition, conspiracy, and the elusiveness of belonging. This is epic fantasy that will make you think and leave you unsettled.” —Fonda Lee, World Fantasy Award-winning author on Son of the Storm