11 new science fiction and fantasy book releases to make your May magical
By Lacy Baugher
May 2021 release: Son of the Storm – Suyi Davies Okungbowa
From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, Son of the Storm is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forgotten magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.
The story takes place in the main city of Bassa on the continent of Oon, and follows Danso, a young man studying to be a jali- a scholar and storyteller – who possesses an insatiable desire for knowledge. He’s set to be married to the headstrong Esheme, and it would be a good match for both their households, except for the fact that, thanks to his mixed-race Shashi heritage as the son of a mainland and an outlander, Danso let go of his personal quest to find out the truth about his mother.
But when he meets Lilong, a skin-changing invader from the Nameless Islands who commands the kind of mystical power that was once believed to exist only in folktales, it challenges everything Danso thought he knew about where he comes from.
The official synopsis has a bit more detail about what to expect.
"In the ancient city of Bassa, Danso is a clever scholar on the cusp of achieving greatness—only he doesn’t want it. Instead, he prefers to chase forbidden stories about what lies outside the city walls. The Bassai elite claim there is nothing of interest. The city’s immigrants are sworn to secrecy. But when Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets. Drawn into the city’s hidden history, he sets out on a journey beyond its borders. And the chaos left in the wake of his discovery threatens to destroy the empire."
Son of the Storm is available on May 11.