Welcome back, fellow readers, and happy new year! I know I haven’t been posting reviews regularly, and I have a good excuse – it turns out my burn out? Yeah, it wasn’t a burn out, there was something way more serious going on in my insides! Now that that’s settled, I’m feeling my energy return by leaps and bounds, and I’m so ready to tell you about all the great books coming out in this 2024. Let’s dive right in!

It’s no secret that the Forever Desert series by Moses Ose Utomi has held a special place in my bookshelf, and my latest adventure with The Truth of the Aleke has only deepened my appreciation for this vividly painted world. Join me as I dive back into the series, where reality intertwines with fantasy in the most unexpected ways.

Blurb

Moses Ose Utomi returns to his Forever Desert series with The Truth of the Aleke , continuing his epic fable about truth, falsehood, and the shackles of history.

The Aleke is cruel. The Aleke is clever. The Aleke is coming.

500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , the City of Truth stands as is the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered the near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged it for three centuries, attempting to destroy its warriors and subjugate its people.

17-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the City. When the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God’s Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home. For his bravery he is tasked with a tremendous responsibility―destroy the Cult of Tutu, bring back the God’s Eyes, and discover the truth of the Aleke.

My thoughts

Our protagonist, Osi, feels incredibly real with his flaws and naivete. He’s a character that truly embodies the struggle between youthful idealism and the harsh realities of the world. As he stumbles through mistakes and confronts shocking truths, I felt every bit of his frustration and determination. His journey is not just a physical one across a besieged city but a deeply internal struggle with the world’s truths and lies.

Reading this book was like watching an intense anime unfold in my mind (I’ll blame the flu medicine). The action sequences, the powered-up defenders, the constant threat—all of it felt larger than life yet intimately relatable thanks to Osi’s heartfelt perspective. The dynamic of the eternal siege and Osi’s place within it was fascinating, portraying a young man out of depth yet fiercely committed. He is, all in all, a good kid, just trying to do the right thing.

However, the deeper I got into the story, the more I found myself questioning the underlying currents. The connection to the first book and the ensuing saga left me pondering the reasons behind the perpetuated lies and the never-ending conflict. It’s clear the novel is a meditation on truth, power, and history, yet it’s the ambiguity and complexity of these themes that had me hooked.

Osi’s tragic heroism is a compelling narrative. His unwavering belief in justice and truth, pitted against a world rife with deception, makes for an intriguing character study. His evolution throughout the story is a delicate balance between change and steadfastness, a portrayal of how deeply personal beliefs can both shape and be shaped by one’s journey.

While this novella leaves some questions tantalizingly unanswered, perhaps inviting readers to ponder and speculate, it’s this very aspect that underscores the series’ depth and allure. As the book concluded, I was left with a sense of anticipation and contemplation, eager for the next chapter in this imaginative and provoking series. If you’re looking for a story that combines the thrill of fantasy with a thoughtful exploration of deeper themes, this is a journey worth taking.

Expected publication March 5, 2024