The cover of the book “Beasts Made of Night” by Tochi Onyebuchi is shown. The book is set in a rich and beautiful world, although the plot leaves much to be desired. Photo fair use of goodreads.com
Tochi Onyebuchi’s book “Beasts Made of Night,” published in 2017, is an incredible Nigerian-style fantasy concept with decent execution.
A world where children are forced to take on the sins of others, where tattoos hold a sinister purpose, where royals scheme behind palace gates – welcome to the land of “Beasts Made of Night.”
Tochi Onyebuchi’s “Beasts Made of Night” is a Nigerian-inspired fantasy book where sins can be called into being as shadowy beasts. Magical kids called aki are often called to ‘eat’ others’ sins by defeating and devouring the beasts, which turn into tattoos once consumed.
In a genre dominated by medieval European elements, “Beasts Made of Night” is a breath of fresh Nigerian air.
Onyebuchi builds an immersive and culturally rich world based on Nigeria. Everything from food to the market to aki traditions will leave readers mesmerized by the beautifully woven setting. The small details combine to create an immersive world that lets readers imagine every piece.
Taj, the main character, has a lot of emotional and mental depth. While he appears sullen at first, readers will adore Taj’s kindness and the love he has for his family and fellow aki.
Unfortunately, the plot starts out slow. Most of the book feels like a drawn-out exposition, with many major plot events happening at the very end.
However, if a reader can look past the slow-paced plot, “Beasts Made Of Night” is a magical read with a beautiful world. In a genre dominated by medieval European elements, “Beasts Made of Night” is a breath of fresh Nigerian air.
