Book Reviews and Reflections

Review Disclaimer:


African Queen’s Ink is a space where I celebrate stories written by African women and women of African descent. I read deeply and connect with the themes, so my reviews are detailed and may contain spoilers. Even then, they only scratch the surface of the rich worlds these authors create.

Reviews by Month:

Book Review and Reflection of My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System Sandra Igwe

Book cover of “My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System” by Sandra Igwe. The illustration features four Black women’s faces against a soft pink background, symbolizing strength, sisterhood, and the multifaceted experience of Black motherhood.
Cover of My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System by Sandra Igwe — a powerful exploration of the realities Black mothers face in the UK.

Book Review and reflection of: Nephilim Origins: Rise of the Nephilim by Chido Hove

Book cover of “Nephilim Origins: Rise of the Nephilim” by Chido Hove, featuring a powerful angelic man with large wings standing behind a strong Black woman in a white gown, with a fantasy background of mountains, forests, a dragon, and a mermaid.
“Nephilim Origins: Rise of the Nephilim” by Chido Hove – a captivating fantasy novel blending myth, power, and destiny.

Book Review and Reflection of If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga

Book cover of "If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English" by Noor Naga, featuring a painted portrait of a young Egyptian with curly hair and expressive eyes holding a shield and sword, with bold yellow and white text on a dark background.
The cover of “If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English” by Noor Naga presents a richly coloured artwork depicting a young Egyptian figure with curly hair, expressive eyes, and full lips, holding historical armour and weaponry. The title appears prominently in vibrant yellow text, complemented by the author’s name in white, against a dark, muted background.

Book Review and Reflection of African Love Stories: An Anthology

Cover of the book "African Love Stories: An Anthology" edited by Ama Ata Aidoo, lying on green grass with a yellow dandelion and colourful page markers. Photograph taken by Tungombili Shangadi.
My copy of African Love Stories: An Anthology edited by Ama Ata Aidoo, captured on a sunny day. Photograph by Tungombili Shangadi.

Book Review and Reflection of I Am Not Your Slave: A Memoir by Tupa Tjipombo with Chris Lockhart

Book cover of 'I Am Not Your Slave: A Memoir' by Tupa Tjipombo and Chris Lockhart featuring a black-and-white close-up portrait of a Black woman's face partially obscured by her open hand.
I Am Not Your Slave: A Memoir by Tupa Tjipombo and Chris Lockhart – a powerful story of resilience, identity, and reclaiming freedom from modern slavery.

Book Review and Reflection of Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by Nozipo Maraire

Cover of Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by Nozipo Maraire held in hand outdoors, with vibrant green grass in the background, symbolizing growth, heritage, and reflection.
Holding Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by Nozipo Maraire – a powerful exploration of identity, culture, and African womanhood, captured on a sunny day.

Book Review: Onyeka and the Secret Superhero by Tọlá Okogwu

Young reader Tungombili Shangadi holding Onyeka and the Secret Superhero by Tọlá Okogwu for African Queens’ Ink guest review
Tungombili Shangadi with her World Book Day 2024 pick: Onyeka and the Secret Superhero by Tọlá Okogwu

Book Review and Reflection of Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Book cover of Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, featuring a stylised flame and teardrop design. The book is longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction.
The stunning cover of Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — a rich, emotionally layered novel about the lives of four women, longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Book Review and Reflection of Cack-Handed: A Memoir by Gina Yashere

Book cover of Cack-Handed: A Memoir by British Nigerian comedian Gina Yashere.
Book cover of Cack-Handed: A Memoir by British Nigerian comedian Gina Yashere. A bold and humorous memoir about identity, family, comedy, and resilience.

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Cover of "Death of the Author" by Nnedi Okorafor. The artwork features a striking sci-fi design with abstract shapes and bold colors. The review explores Okorafor's experimental storytelling and themes of authorship, identity, and speculative freedom from traditional narratives.
Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author is a sharp Afrofuturist tale that blurs the lines between creator and creation, reimagining authorship through a Black speculative lens.

Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Cover of Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, featuring
Official book cover of Zikora, a short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Nompumelelo Mungi Ngomane Book Review

Cover of the book "Everyday Ubuntu" by Mungi Ngomane. The design features bold, colorful shapes and text. The review highlights the book’s core message of compassion, interconnectedness, and African philosophy. A quote from the review is visible, praising Ubuntu as a guide for living with empathy and community spirit.

Hope Amidst Tears – My Journey to Motherhood by Itunu Victor-Saleh

Hope Amidst Tears: My Journey to Motherhood book cover by Itunu Victor-Saleh – A powerful memoir about a high-risk pregnancy, resilience, and hope.
Review of Hope Amidst Tears: My Journey to Motherhood by Itunu Victor-Saleh – A deeply personal story about surviving a high-risk pregnancy and the emotional journey to motherhood.

The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas

The Purple Violet of Oshaantu book cover by Neshani Andreas - book review on African Queens' Ink.
Featured Review: The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas – A powerful novel about Namibian Aawambo women’s lives, friendship, and resilience.

Treasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite

reasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite book cover – book review on African Queens' Ink, celebrating the words of African women.
Review of Treasure by Oyinkan Braithwaite – A gripping dark short story exploring themes of social media, survival and hopes and dreams.

I do not come to you by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

Do Not Come to You by Chance book cover by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani – book review on African Queens' Ink, celebrating the words of African women.
Review of I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani – A compelling novel about survival, family duty, and Nigeria’s email scam industry.

The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam

The Wife’s Tale book cover by Aida Edemariam – book review on African Queens' Ink, celebrating the words of African women.
Review of The Wife’s Tale by Aida Edemariam – A beautifully written memoir about one woman’s extraordinary life in Ethiopia.

The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

The Sex Lives of African Women book cover by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah – book review on African Queens' Ink.
Review of The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah – a bold and powerful exploration of self-discovery, freedom, and healing.

Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku

Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad book cover by Damilare Kuku – A bold and witty collection of stories about modern dating, love, and heartbreak in Lagos.
Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad – Book Review

The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Book cover of The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a short story reversing gender roles to challenge patriarchy.
Cover of The Visit, a 2021 short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that flips the script on gender and power.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Book cover of Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, featuring a floral design and bold typography. A powerful coming-of-age novel set in Nigeria.
Cover of Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning debut novel exploring family, faith, silence, and resistance in postcolonial Nigeria.

Tomorrow I become a woman by Aiwanose Odafen

Book cover of Tomorrow I Become a Woman by Aiwanose Odafen, a novel exploring patriarchy, marriage, and resistance in 1970s Nigeria.
Cover of Tomorrow I Become a Woman, Aiwanose Odafen’s moving debut novel about love, loss, and resistance in the face of oppressive gender roles.

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga - African literature classic on gender, identity, and post-colonial Zimbabwe.
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga – A must-read African classic on identity and education

Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

Book cover of Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah, featuring an illustrated design. The novel explores themes of motherhood, migration, and identity in the Ghanaian-British diaspora.
Cover of Rootless, the 2023 debut novel by British-Ghanaian author Krystle Zara Appiah. A moving story of migration, motherhood, and mental health.