Che-Michelle Tales

Book Review

Book: Daughters of NRI

Author: Reni K. Amayo

Published: October 2019

Wine Choice: Releaf Sweet Pinotage

Stand Alone, Series, or Other: The  First Book in a Series

How long did it take me to read this book:  2 weeks to get through Chapter 1; 4 days using Audible.

BLUF: It’s an okay book. I  want to see if the 2^nd book in the series is more riveting. I would suggest this book for commutes or running.  It takes a long time to grab your attention, and how they jump from the two main characters could be disjointing.  The weird thing I noticed the audible book says the year at the start of each chapter. However, in the ebook, they do not show the year at the beginning of the chapter.

I have to be honest. I made a rookie mistake. I fell in love with the book cover, its two beautiful black women with golden brown eyes enticing me to follow them on an unknown adventure. The  Description reads, “A gruesome war results in the old gods’ departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls” You can’t tell me this description doesn’t pique your interest. I  purchased the book on Amazon and found it took me two weeks to get through the first chapter.  So, I cheated and brought the audio narration available.  Now I try to reread the book with wine and listen to the narration. It worked! But,  I wasn’t invested in the two main characters. I was invested in the secondary character Meekulu.  Quoting a friend, it dragged and didn’t really grip me to read the book further. The story was broken into exploring each girl’s life and how they navigate daily life and wondering if they’re more to life.  I  hate to admit, there are moments where the character relationships either seem forced or not explored enough.  However,  I love some of the nuggets of life and wisdom that the Author dropped from the secondary characters.

A quote from Naala’s grandmother stood out to me as quoted “Her grandmother had once told her that dwelling on the minute oddities of life was a sure way to lose one’s mind.” – this is excellent advice that all people should follow.

I loved the grandmother energy Meekulu exuded to  Sinai about reducing herself to fit in at court “You are hiding, all the time, reducing yourself and minimizing your power. You have power, my dear; everyone, even the tiniest atoms, has power. The trouble is we are all too quick to give it away.’ The old woman leaned back with a smile. ‘The trick is straightforward. To know you have power is to have power.” Again worldly advice that all women should live by. Frankly, some people go through life, shrinking themselves to accommodate others in life instead of showcasing their extraordinary power. 

Even in one incident, Meekulu explains to  Sinai how it’s dangerous for women in the world they live in and how the world punishes them for being themselves. This  quote hit home due to nature, of what  most women or young girls have to  worry about in life

“In weak men that inspires a need to tear them down. The man uses the closest tool he has in an attempt to break them down.’ She paused for a moment and held the girl’s hand, turning it palm up as she leaned closer. After a moment, she resumed tending to her wounds.”

These beautiful moments between Sinai and Meekulu redeemed the book and helped me stay engaged. Even the connection with men seemed a bit forced.

   I love the Author’s acknowledgments and how she summarized her perspective about being a black woman “Unfortunately, we are not all currently given the freedom to be human in this present world. Black women shoulder immense burdens, and we endure far too much pain. But change is coming. We are taking up our space in this world. We are demanding love, respect, and the care that we deserve. We will change the world. In the meantime, I hope this book gave you a break and provided an escape into a world where you didn’t have to fight to be seen; a world created entirely for you.”

Overall, this is a nice commuter book, even a book to read on the plane. I was more interested in the wine I consumed on the first day I listen to the book than in some of the book’s characters.