I’ve been a supporter of the author on Patreon for some time, now, and I bought the book as soon as she published it as additional support, but I never got around to actually opening it. One of the main reasons is that I thought this was going to be Alice in Wonderland with some bland quirks from the folklore of West Africa, and I had already seen some of the gorgeous illustrations, so I didn’t feel the urge to dive into it.
Boy, was I wrong.
Afia in the Land of Wonders is a beautiful and rich retelling that masterfully weaves the elements from the original story together with cornerstone elements of African folklore, and it works so well you won’t be able to tell them apart. It’s a story that deals with siblinghood, with tradition and freedom, with spirits and the consequences of being who you are. Except, WHO are you?
The art is incredible, of course, I expected it, but it’ll stun you nonetheless.
A beautiful, beautiful surprise.
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