Dazzling, Chikodili Emelumadu
Dazzling, Chikodili Emelumadu
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Dazzling

Author: Chikodili Emelumadu

Narrator: Tara Tijani, Precious Mustapha

Unabridged: 11 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 12/05/2023


Synopsis

The Girl with the Louding Voice meets The Water Dancer in this magical, awardwinning literary debut that offers a new take on West African mythology

Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure’s father died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a man who promises to change their fortunes, but his feet are hovering just a few inches above the ground. He’s a spirit, and he says he can bring Treasure’s beloved father back to life if she’ll do one terrible thing for him first.

Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back. It’s an itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, an honor never before bestowed upon a girl, to defend the land and protect its people by becoming a Leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honor this was before he vanished, but it’s one she couldn’t want less—she has enough to worry about as she tries to fit in at a new boarding school.

As the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their missing fathers, Ozoemena’s fellow students start to vanish, Treasure’s obligations to the spirit escalate, and Ozoemena’s duty of protection as a Leopard grows. Soon the girls are set on a dangerous collision course as both must face impossible choices, discovering what they are willing to sacrifice to get what is theirs in a world that always says “no” to women.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Natasha on January 26, 2023

4.5 Stars A rich and thoroughly bewitching debut steeped in magical realism and Nigerian mythology that genuinely ensnared me— so much so the hours flew by without my noticing! Set in Nigeria, Dazzling follows the POVs of two girls, Ozoemena and Treasure-who,despite living vastly different lifestyles......more

Goodreads review by Laura on April 04, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this eARC! This was a really interesting read, and also a difficult one for me; not just because of the content at times, but because of the very distinct voices of some of the characters, and the native Nigerian language and colloquialisms used. I think this i......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on March 02, 2023

Full of expression, full of zest! Chikodili Emelumadu’s sparky novel totally hooked me. It is juicy, it is dark and it is dizzying. The native Nigerian language suffusing this novel is just beautiful too 🐆🧡🌞 A story of two pre-teen girls, Treasure and Ozoemena, that weaves together African mythology......more

Goodreads review by Jungian.Reader on February 16, 2023

Following two girls, Treasure and Ozoemena. After the death of Treasure's father, they could barely get by. To save them, she makes a deal with a spirit who promises to bring her father back. At the same time, we see Ozoemena, whose family has a history of turning into leopards. To change is an hono......more

Goodreads review by Denise on December 25, 2023

Wow, what an amazing book. Definitely one of my favorites of 2023 so don't save your "best of" lists for November. This is the kind of book that reminds me why my love of reading inspired me to become a writer. That's my alter ego. But it's been a rough year this year; I've written a lot of words bu......more