read by Robin Miles
A worthy successor to Binti, this is a short, intriguing
novel that ends on a seriously wrenching cliff-hanger. It takes us to personal
and sociological depths left unexplored in the first book, filling out the
characters and the world-building in a super satisfying way.
We follow Binti back to Earth for her first visit home since
starting at Oomza University. Out there, she’s a hero for ending the war
between humanity and the Meduse (well, technically between the Khoush, but
who’s counting?). But back where she came from, she’s unwomanly and disloyal
for having left home at all, and gets no sympathy, much less admiration.
The fact that she’s coping with PTSD after all she’s been
through is purely her fault for having left in the first place. The fact that
she has tentacles like the Meduse now (technically okuoko, but again, who’s
counting) is seen as somehow her fault, too; nobody cares that she never asked
for them and nearly died in the process of receiving them. And nobody seems
interested in being welcoming or even showing basic politeness toward her
Meduse friend, Okwu—never mind that the war has been over for some time now.
Just as it’s really hitting Binti that you can’t go home
again, the unbelievable occurs, and… nope, I won’t say more and spoil it for
you.
If you liked Binti, even (or especially) if you liked it but found it a
little shallow, read this book! It’s great. But keep the third one in the
series (The Night Masquerade) handy ahead of time, or you may want to toss this
one across the room when you hit that super abrupt cliffhanger ending.
