Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Passage is the beginning of an epic trilogy. Cronin has a gift for language, and he brings his world and characters to life with rich prose and imagery. What could have been a clichéd postapocalyptic tale is instead fresh and exciting. I was completely sucked in, and find myself returning to find new connections and deeper meanings. —Flannery

Tackling horrifying and complex issues such as rape, genocide, and female circumcision, Okorafor uses her grand storytelling style, a postapocalyptic desert setting, and an unconventional magic system to weave together a novel that is part coming-of-age and part classic fantasy quest. She mixes the familiar with the exotic and the comfortably fantastic with an unsettling reality to create a book that raises consciousness and stimulates discussion. This would be a great book group pick. —Nici