Dazzling
Dazzling by Chikodili Emelumadu, published by Abrams in 2023, is a captivating literary debut that explores West African mythology through the intertwined lives of two young girls. This edition, available in English and spanning 352 pages, presents a narrative that begins with Treasure, who, after losing her father, encounters a spirit offering to restore her family’s fortunes at a steep price. Alongside her, Ozoemena grapples with her own challenges as she navigates a new boarding school while facing the weight of a legacy that demands she become a protector of her people.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of themes such as coming of age and cultural heritage woven throughout the story. As Treasure and Ozoemena confront their destinies, they must navigate the complexities of sacrifice and the expectations placed upon them in a world that often dismisses women’s voices. The narrative delves into magical realism, revealing the girls’ struggles against both personal and societal obstacles, ultimately leading to a dramatic intersection of their paths. Dazzling invites readers to reflect on the lengths one might go to reclaim their identity and heritage.
Official synopsis Publisher
The Girl with the Louding Voice meets The Water Dancer in Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ‘s magical, award-winning literary debut, Dazzling, offering a new take on West African mythology.
Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure’s father died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a man who promises to change their fortunes, but his feet are hovering just a few inches above the ground. He’s a spirit, and he promises to bring Treasure’s beloved father back to life if she’ll do one terrible thing for him first.
Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back. It’s an itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, an honor never before bestowed upon a girl, to defend the land and protect its people by becoming a Leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honor this was before he vanished, but it’s one she couldn’t want less–she has enough to worry about as she tries to fit in at a new boarding school.
But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their missing fathers, Ozoemena’s fellow students start to vanish. Treasure’s obligations to the spirit escalate, and Ozoemena’s duty of protection as a Leopard grows. Soon the girls’ destinies and choices alike set them on a dangerous collision course. Ultimately, they must ask themselves: in a world that always says no to women, what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs?
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