Crown of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi - ADVISABLE

Crown of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi, 303 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2018. $18.

Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13           

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sequel to Beasts Made of Night. Taj and Aliya barely escaped Queen Karima and the city of Kos with their lives. But they are being hunted by sin beasts unlike any Taj has ever fought or eaten and Taj’s best friend Bo. They meet up with Arzu and she takes them to her ancestor’s village, but refugees keep pouring in and Bo isn’t far behind. Aliya the algebraist is sick. The Unnamed is speaking to her and if she can survive it, she believes that she can save the city of Kos and bring Balance back to their world. Taj will have to fight not only his best friend, but the woman he thought he loved.   

Told in first person, Taj’s struggle to decide whether to save himself or be the hero the world needs, feels real and believable. Aliya charmed me in book one, but she really comes into her own personality and power in book two. The reader learns more about Arzu’s background and her love, Juba (she’s the head of the clan). Fans of the first book will be excited to read the epic conclusion of this saga.

Samantha, MA, MLS