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Afua is a promising acolyte of the Shanta Order, on the densely forested planet of Nuafri.
She volunteers to educate orphans – her lively ophanti – every ninth day. When one of her wards goes missing in a dangerous area full of sinkholes and deadly fauna, Afua knows the authorities won't do anything about a single lost child.
Luckily for the orphan, Afua will.
She is armed only with her knowledge of wildlife, and implanted augmentations that can sometimes deter attacks. But she is not alone. The sentient, insect-like Dooga she has bonded with, named Akalie, will follow her anywhere, despite being heavily pregnant.
An unforgettable Amazofuturist adventure about compassion, courage, and finding your way in life.
It is my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for Afua today. Many thanks to Karl Drinkwater and Christoffer Petersen, and to Rachel Gilbey from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me and for my digital copy of the book.
Having read several books set in the Solace universe, I have really enjoyed the way in which Karl Drinkwater has expanded the overarching storyline. He has co-written Afua with Christoffer Petersen and although it feels less of a space themed book than the previous novellas in the series, it still bears all the hallmarks which keep me returning for more. As each of the Lost Tales novellas are standalones, it isn't necessary to have read the earlier books or the full-length Solace titles. I have a few to catch up with and so Afua was a fabulous reminder of what I've been missing out on!
The world-building here is exceptional; it's worth reiterating that this is a novella but despite its brevity, the vivid descriptions of Nuafri are a delight throughout, particularly regarding the richly imagined (and often very dangerous!) flora and fauna. Readers are also given a solid understanding of the political and social structure of the planet, which is no mean feat considering the drama which also quickly unfolds.
The immersive scene setting at the start is intriguing; as well as giving readers an insight into what life is like on this forested planet, we also begin to understand Afua's augmented abilities and perhaps more importantly, the type of person that she is. Afua is clearly a kind, thoughtful and resolute individual who has been prepared to push back against authority and the expectations placed upon her, and is determined to continue guiding and supporting the orphans – ophanti – in her care. She also has a strong bond with Akalie, a heavily pregnant flying insect-like Dooga. The joyful interactions between the ophanti and Dooga makes what follows even more affecting.
After Afua realises one of her ophanti is missing, she sets off to find him, even after a clash with an elder in the Shanta Order. However, as brutal as this scene is, she is soon in an even worse situation as she becomes the target for one of Nuafri's most dangerous predators.
Karl Drinkwater often excels at creating a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere in this series and that is certainly the case here. As Afua tries to avoid her lethal pursuer, she makes some extraordinary discoveries but at what risk to herself? Alongside the twisty, dramatic plot, there are some occasional chapters written from an outsider's perspective which gives us a fascinating window into how Nuafri is regarded by others; the parallels between how much people in our own world views those who live differently from ourselves is striking here.
With its nailbiting action scenes and some deeply poignant moments, this is a gripping, thought-provoking read, perhaps especially towards the end when Afua has to make a life-changing decision. My only regret was leaving the story here, despite the satisfying epilogue and I would love Karl Drinkwater and Kristoffer Petersen to return to Nuafri in the future as there is definitely scope for further stories to come from such a compelling environment. I enjoyed Afua very much and highly recommend it.
Purchasing links for Afua can be found here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
About the Authors
Karl Drinkwater
Karl lives in Scotland and owns two kilts. He has degrees in librarianship, literature and classics, but also studied astronomy and philosophy. Dolly the cat helps him finish books by sleeping on his lap so he can’t leave the desk. When he isn’t writing he loves music, nature, games and vegan cake.
Christoffer Petersen
You really spot and appreciate all the nuances in the stories; and I appreciate you too. :-) Many thanks!
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