Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

War Girls is the first novel in a series by the same name by Tochi Onyebuchi. And you know it will be a dramatic and emotional read based on the author and his previous works. Described as a Hunger Games meets Black Panther, this series is set in a futuristic, war-torn Nigeria.

In the future climate change has already happened. So have several new wars. And yet, humanity still hasn’t learned. Now Nigeria is being torn apart by war, due in part to the lack of resources in the area. And that is where the story of the War Girls begins. Onyii took in little Ify as her adopted sister, only for their tale to become so twisted and broken thanks to the war raging around them.

This novel is an allegory for the Civil War in Nigeria. As such, it can be brutal at times – showing us the worst and best humanity offers. This is a world where hope lingers, even as the opposition does its best to stamp it out.

Writing

Tochi Onyebuchi has a way of blending science fiction and history into one unique yet cohesive piece. And War Girls is perhaps his shining example in this case. You don’t need to be an expert in Nigerian history to follow along here. The story is fantastical enough to feel welcoming to all new readers. All while still having the heavy and important notes needed for this tale.

The world of War Girls is as immersive as it is dark. As filled with hopes as it is with doubts. The characters that fill the pages are so full of passion and life that it is impossible to remember that there were simply characters instead of living and breathing people. And that’s what makes Onyebuchi’s work excel.

The sci-fi elements added to this novel were an interesting touch. It added a level of separation for the readers. It also added several layers of complexity. This tale had plenty to see and think about, thanks to the technology that alternated between realistic and fantastical.

The tale of Onyii and Ify is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It is a tale we’ve seen before and will see again. Yet the lush amount of details about their lives did make it all feel real. And perhaps that was the grounding in reality that gave it that feel. Regardless, it made sure that the impact of the message hit home.

Development

War Girls was a carefully planned-out novel. It had its ups and downs, just like real life. Sometimes, there would be a quieter part of the book, and other times, it would be full of action. These alterations had a real sense of ebb and flow.

War Girls was a tale split into several parts and perspectives. The novel is split into four, all separated by a jump in time. Additionally, the novel has three main perspectives, which each chapter alternates through. Onyii and Ify were the two with the most focus, but a third character was given a few moments to share her feelings on the matter.

Honestly, it was difficult to do anything but turn the page repeatedly. While the pacing went back and forth, I found myself desperate to see what would happen with these two sisters. Their tale wiggled into my heart, and I knew I wouldn’t be the only one feeling that way.

Conclusion

War Girls was a beautifully written and compelling novel. Onyebuchi laid out a novel that was dense and lush but also, in many ways, felt real. Sometimes, the novel’s reality made dealing with what was happening harder. But overall, that was a good thing. That was likely the goal behind this entire story. To make us feel for what had happened. And to make us look at the history that so many have overlooked.

It will be interesting to see where this series goes in the long run. I wonder if the focus will stay on these two War Girls or switch to new characters with each novel. Either option would prove interesting, so I don’t see fans complaining one way or the other.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy