First published 2016
Ikenna, Boja, Obembe, and Benjamin Agwu taste freedom when their father's work transfer removes his strict discipline from their household. The brothers secretly venture to the forbidden Omi-Ala river to fish, hiding their expeditions from their mother. The river carries dark omens and dangerous reputation among their community. During one fishing trip, they encounter Abulu, the town's eccentric oracle, who delivers a devastating prophecy about their futures. His words hang over the brothers like an unavoidable sentence, threatening to destroy the strong bonds that unite them. The prediction forces them into a struggle against predetermined fate while their family relationships strain under the weight of foreboding. Obioma weaves their personal battle against destiny into the broader story of Nigeria's recent history. This Man Booker Prize finalist explores how prophecy and belief can reshape reality, examining whether redemption remains possible when dreams crumble under the pressure of expectation and fear.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, african-literature, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fate, found-family
Setting: Nigeria, Omi-Ala
Period: Recent History
336 pages · Paperback · Quaderns Crema
Content warnings: death