Synopses & Reviews
From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, the first book in the Nameless Republic trilogy is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forbidden magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.
In the thriving city of Bassa, Danso is a clever but disillusioned scholar who longs for a life beyond the rigid family and political obligations expected of the city's elite. A way out presents itself when Lilong, a skin-changing warrior, shows up wounded in his barn. She comes from the Nameless Islands — which, according to Bassa lore, don't exist — and neither should the mythical magic of ibor she wields.
Now swept into a conspiracy far beyond his understanding, Danso and Lilong will set out on a journey that reveals histories violently suppressed and magic only found in lore.
Review
“Okungbowa's world feels fully formed from the first pages, sweeping readers away into an elaborately plotted tale of ancient magics and world-shattering politics. I, like many others, will be impatiently waiting for the next installment!” Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
Review
"An epic fantasy set apart by how deftly Okungbowa unfurls his intricate, richly imagined world. It's not often you get to read a fantasy novel that spans not only ancient magic, sinister machinations, and monstrous forests but courthouses, college classes, and hairdressers too, evoking the terrible and fascinating city-state of Bassa in living, breathing detail." A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name
Review
"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
Video
Watch the Powell’s virtual event with Suyi Davies Okungbowa and S. A. Chakraborty!
About the Author
Suyi Davies Okungbowa is a Nigerian author of speculative fiction inspired by his West African origins. He is the author of David Mogo, Godhunter, and his shorter works have appeared in Lightspeed, Nightmare, Strange Horizons, and other periodicals and anthologies. He lives between Lagos, Nigeria, and Tucson, Arizona, where he teaches writing while completing his MFA in creative writing. He tweets at @IAmSuyiDavies and is @suyidavies everywhere else.