Lit. of Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Akata Witch

"Akata Witch"

"Akata Witch" was definitely a different witch story than what I was used to; while it does feature witches in the sense, not the stereotypical ones portrayed in modern film and literature. The subject of witches is far broader than people realize. It's not all pointy black hats and broomsticks.

The three girls, Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha go by "leopard people" instead of "witches", which helps reminds the reader this is taking place in Nigeria. They all have their own unique powers: Chichi has the memory of an elephant, and Sasha is the same, regarding they remember everything they read. Orlu's power is known as "juju", meaning she can undo awful things that happen. 

One thing I like about this story is that the witches are portrayed as heroes in the story rather than the antagonist, since they help a character named Sunny try to catch a known serial killer who goes by "Black Hat Otokoto. People often read books or see movies where witches are the bad guys--look at Wizard of Oz with the Wicked Witch of the West, and the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. Do I even need to mention the Salem Witch Trials? 

I love it when stories break old stereotypes. To wrap it up, the witches in "Akata Witch" are good and helpful, using their powers to stop the forces of evil. When anyone could be accused of being a witch for abandoning the social norm and following nonconformity, we now live in a time where this is accepted rather than looked down upon. I feel like this book also shows the empowerment of women having the freedom to do as they please without being slandered.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lit. of Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi: The Star

"The Star" For this week, I read the short story, "The Star" by Arthur C Clarke in 1956. With how short it was, there was a lot in it that piqued my interest.  The story crosses science fiction with religion, two topics that always seem to clash. The study of science had a way of calling the works of God into question, either causing people to doubt or outright prove this couldn't have happened. There are those, of course, who believe regardless, but none of those people are featured in this story. I had no idea how much it involved Earth's Christianity until the very end, that the dead star the explorers go to investigate--the white dwarf whose death wiped out a civilization on nearby planets--is actually THE Star, the Star that shone over Bethlehem to guide shepherds and the Three Wise Men to where Jesus was born.  Upon discovering this and finishing the story, I did sit for a moment to reflect; the story is basically saying that the death o
Read more

Lit. of Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" This was quite an intriguing story; just when I thought I'd figured out the story, another curve-ball is thrown at me and I end up with more questions as to what the heck is going on in this story.  It starts out normal, the unnamed protagonist attending a funeral then strolls down memory lane--almost literally--and we, the reader, are catapulted into the past and go on the most bizarre adventure imaginable. In order to understand what is happening, you have to throw rationality out the window; rational thought does not exist in this world. I'm not even sure what kind of world this is, or what the inhabitants are. Clearly something walks among the humans, hidden in plain sight like the Hempstock family. One would think, from an outsider's perspective, the events of the story are nothing more but the fabrications of a seven-year-old boy who spends more time in the world of books than in the real world; it would be the o
Read more

Lit. of Horror, Fantasy, & Sci-Fi: House of Usher

"The Fall of the House of Usher" Edgar Allen Poe is well known for his writings of the macabre and supernatural. When people think of gothic literature, Poe is what many instantly picture. His work in poetry and short fiction was perfect in creating senses of dread and madness. That is essentially what "The Fall of the House of Usher" is about. The story is as gothic as it comes--with a dark and depressing atmosphere recognized by our unreliable narrator (a classic in Poe's writings) that lingers evermore throughout the story and seems to worsen as the story itself progresses. Our narrator is deemed unreliable because the negative energy within the House of Usher has an effect on him to the point he's unable to differentiate reality with fantasy. So how are we, the readers, supposed to know what he says is true? Indeed supernatural elements are used throughout the story, evident as to how the House of Usher seems to deteriorate along with twins Roderick--
Read more