The future of storytelling is here.

Life has thrown Zelu some curveballs over the years, but when she’s suddenly dropped from her university job and her latest novel is rejected, all in the middle of her sister’s wedding, her life is upended. Disabled, unemployed and from a nosy, high-achieving, judgmental family, she’s not sure what comes next.

In her hotel room that night, she takes the risk that will define her life – she decides to write a book VERY unlike her others. A science fiction drama about androids and AI after the extinction of humanity. And everything changes.

What follows is a tale of love and loss, fame and infamy, of extraordinary events in one world, and another. And as Zelu’s life evolves, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.

Because sometimes a story really does have the power to reshape the world.

This was a very interesting read. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when I started it, but I’d seen so many rave reviews that I had to check it out. As I was reading, I constantly found myself waiting to be blown away. I enjoyed the story but didn’t understand why everyone was raving about it – and then the last two chapters hit, and the “holy crap” moment happened. An unexpected twist hit with such impact that it reframed much of the story for me. Now I get it.

At the center of this novel is Zelu, a writer whose life is turned upside down after a series of personal and professional setbacks. Dropped from her university teaching job and dealing with the rejection of her latest novel, Zelu finds herself at an ultimate low point. This all happens during her sister’s wedding, an event that should have been a moment of joy but instead serves as a backdrop for her mounting frustrations and feelings of inadequacy thanks to an overbearing family who, for some reason, treats Zelu like she is incapable of living a happy life simply because she requires a wheelchair to get around. After the wedding, Zelu retreats to her hotel room and makes a bold choice: she decides to write a novel entirely unlike her previous works.

From here, the narrative splits into two parallel stories. In the main narrative, we follow Zelu’s struggles with her family and her identity as she deals with the fame that comes along with writing a bestselling novel that everyone in the world seems to be obsessed with. Simultaneously, the novel includes excerpts from the book Zelu has written – a science fiction epic about AI and androids navigating life after the extinction of humanity. These two narratives gradually intertwine, reflecting and reinforcing each other in fascinating ways that seriously had me tearing up at the end.

One of the book’s central themes is the idea that stories – whether personal, historical, or fictional – have immense power. Okorafor emphasizes the importance of telling stories with care and integrity, especially when those stories involve marginalized voices. Through Zelu’s experiences and the challenges she faces as an author, the novel explores how narratives can shape perceptions of truth and history. This message resonated deeply with me.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the novel was Zelu’s character arc. She is a complex, slightly bitter, but determined character who refuses to let life’s curveballs defeat her. She’s not invulnerable; she experiences moments of doubt, fear, and frustration, but she always finds a way to move forward. I admired her strength and courage, particularly in the face of her family’s judgment. The occasional chapters from her relatives’ perspectives shed light on the complicated dynamics within her family, showing their love for her but also showing how their expectations both motivate and weigh her down.

Showing chapters from Zelu’s novel is equally intriguing. The AI characters grapple with questions of existence and purpose, mirroring Zelu’s own journey of self-discovery. As Zelu’s life progresses and her novel gains critical acclaim, the tension between her real experiences and the fictional world she has created becomes increasingly significant, culminating in a reveal that will leave you in deep thought long after you’ve finished it.

I found this to be a compelling and ambitious novel that rewards readers who are willing to reflect on its deeper themes. While it may not immediately grab everyone’s attention, those who stick with it will be treated to a deeply profound reveal at the end. I highly recommend it to fans of both literary and speculative fiction, particularly those who appreciate stories that challenge conventional boundaries.

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