Title: War Girls
Author: Tochi Onyebuchi
Series: War Girls #1
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 451
Dates Read: July 9, 2020 – September 8, 2020
Edition Read: Kindle eBook
Blurb: The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky.
In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life.
Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together.
And they’re willing to fight an entire war to get there.
Review
This was one of the books on my list of Black authors writing science fiction and fantasy. I had not heard of the book or this author before, but I’m so glad I found it. Such an amazing read that I had a hard time even wrapping my head around. I didn’t know any of the history of the conflict between Nigeria and Biafra, but the fact that this was routed in real places made the book feel much more real and grounded. This is hard for me sometimes since I don’t read much sci-fi and can get tripped up with the technology, but having this real-world setting, albeit a futuristic version of it, helps quite a bit.
Speaking of the technology, it was so cool! The War Girls have mechanical cyborg parts of their bodies – our protagonist, Onyii has a robotic arm among other enhancements – and learn to fight in these giant mechs. Some of that was a little hard to follow. But the thing that kept me reading was the relationship of the two sisters. Onyii is the older of the two and is determined to protect her little sister, Ify. When Ify is captured, Onyii is determined to save her, but at some point, Ify doesn’t want to be saved. As their two stories intertwine with the war, Ify is convinced by the Nigerians that Onyii is the bad guy. But is she? Is Ify being deceived? Is Onyii ever going to find her?
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I don’t know how many books there will be (only the sequel is listed on GoodReads right now), but I will read all of them. I am so glad I found this author!
GoodReads rating: 4 stars
Categories: Books I've Read
Life With No Plot 
Great review! I’ve been very curious about this one, guess I need to pick it up!
(www.evelynreads.com)