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Binti #3
The Night Masquerade
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2018)The concluding part of the highly-acclaimed science fiction trilogy that began with Nnedi Okorafor's Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning Binti.
Binti has returned to her home planet, believing that the violence of the Meduse has been left behind. Unfortunately, although her people are peaceful on the whole, the same cannot be said for the Khoush, who fan the flames of their ancient rivalry with the Meduse.
Far from her village when the conflicts start, Binti hurries home, but anger and resentment has already claimed the lives of many close to her.
Once again it is up to Binti, and her intriguing new friend Mwinyi, to intervene—though the elders of her people do not entirely trust her motives—and try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people, once and for all.
Don't miss this essential concluding volume in the Binti trilogy.
Binti has returned to her home planet, believing that the violence of the Meduse has been left behind. Unfortunately, although her people are peaceful on the whole, the same cannot be said for the Khoush, who fan the flames of their ancient rivalry with the Meduse.
Far from her village when the conflicts start, Binti hurries home, but anger and resentment has already claimed the lives of many close to her.
Once again it is up to Binti, and her intriguing new friend Mwinyi, to intervene—though the elders of her people do not entirely trust her motives—and try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people, once and for all.
Don't miss this essential concluding volume in the Binti trilogy.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2018
About the author
Nnedi Okorafor
148 books16.6k followersNnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more about Nnedi at Nnedi.com and follow Nnedi on twitter (as @Nnedi), Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,715 reviews
March 12, 2017
Oh, you'll see. ;-)
June 8, 2019
this series is so aggressively Not For Me it literally needs a sign saying “everything critically great about sff that Elise does not like in sff all in one book” because that is what this is
Let’s just admit this one is my fault. I knew this wasn’t going to be a book for me. I knew, going in, that both Binti and Binti:Home were extremely well-written and yet absolutely nothing I enjoy reading. I should not have read this, I should have stopped at Binti, and I regret my actions. I’m sorry, okay?
But... do you want to hear my severely mixed opinions on this book anyway? Because I’m giving them.
I think the problem with this novella series is it is entirely for people who looooooove worldbuilding. And here is the thing: I do not care that much about worldbuilding. I am so consistent on this that I have it in my bio - I read primarily for atmosphere, characters, and themes and I genuinely don’t think I have never enjoyed anything primarily because of the worldbuilding.
Okay, but I have mentioned characters and themes, right? So why aren’t those factors? Yes, the character work in this book is - occasionally - really fantastic, and the theme work even more so. I think my greatest excuse for not liking it is that… the themes just aren’t the focus. I know everyone markets these books as being all about theme work, but jesus, where the fuck is the theme work? Because to me, it is buried under about eight layers of worldbuilding that I don’t actually care that much about.
I would totally love these... if the themes were the focus. And I would probably evangelize them if Binti herself were the constant focus. Listen, the only reason I kept reading these is because I literally adore Binti - her coping mechanisms for ptsd, her mix of anger and calm, the occasional exploration of her now being two species all made an impact on me. And her platonic relationship with Okwu randomly means a lot to me, your local platonic relationship stanner. But it’s just not the focus!!
Hey, maybe I’ll get some comment saying I just didn’t get it and I need to reread. Maybe I just don’t understand Good Literature. It’s chill.
Okay, let’s be fair to the book - I’ve seen a lot of reviews praising how subversive this book is. This book is also a part of a genre I have no knowledge of. Sooooo before taking my review as the gospel, please do consider that I may just not be the intended audience for this. As the #1 supporter of trope subversions everywhere, I would consider leaving this out of my review a huge waste.
Oh, but on the topic of tropes, because I’m angry: something I always appreciated about this series was the total lack of romance. Adding a romance in the final book with a newly-introduced character? Bad choice. I know I sorta hate romance, but really... why?
Listen, I hate giving it’s-not-you-it’s-me reviews. I hate feeling like I’m copping out or trying to avoid offending anyone when I write these. So trust me when I say I would not hesitate to trash these if they were bad - I just actually genuinely think this is a case of it’s-not-you-it’s-me.
I guess we can’t win them all.
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Let’s just admit this one is my fault. I knew this wasn’t going to be a book for me. I knew, going in, that both Binti and Binti:Home were extremely well-written and yet absolutely nothing I enjoy reading. I should not have read this, I should have stopped at Binti, and I regret my actions. I’m sorry, okay?
But... do you want to hear my severely mixed opinions on this book anyway? Because I’m giving them.
I think the problem with this novella series is it is entirely for people who looooooove worldbuilding. And here is the thing: I do not care that much about worldbuilding. I am so consistent on this that I have it in my bio - I read primarily for atmosphere, characters, and themes and I genuinely don’t think I have never enjoyed anything primarily because of the worldbuilding.
Okay, but I have mentioned characters and themes, right? So why aren’t those factors? Yes, the character work in this book is - occasionally - really fantastic, and the theme work even more so. I think my greatest excuse for not liking it is that… the themes just aren’t the focus. I know everyone markets these books as being all about theme work, but jesus, where the fuck is the theme work? Because to me, it is buried under about eight layers of worldbuilding that I don’t actually care that much about.
I would totally love these... if the themes were the focus. And I would probably evangelize them if Binti herself were the constant focus. Listen, the only reason I kept reading these is because I literally adore Binti - her coping mechanisms for ptsd, her mix of anger and calm, the occasional exploration of her now being two species all made an impact on me. And her platonic relationship with Okwu randomly means a lot to me, your local platonic relationship stanner. But it’s just not the focus!!
Hey, maybe I’ll get some comment saying I just didn’t get it and I need to reread. Maybe I just don’t understand Good Literature. It’s chill.
Okay, let’s be fair to the book - I’ve seen a lot of reviews praising how subversive this book is. This book is also a part of a genre I have no knowledge of. Sooooo before taking my review as the gospel, please do consider that I may just not be the intended audience for this. As the #1 supporter of trope subversions everywhere, I would consider leaving this out of my review a huge waste.
Oh, but on the topic of tropes, because I’m angry: something I always appreciated about this series was the total lack of romance. Adding a romance in the final book with a newly-introduced character? Bad choice. I know I sorta hate romance, but really... why?
Listen, I hate giving it’s-not-you-it’s-me reviews. I hate feeling like I’m copping out or trying to avoid offending anyone when I write these. So trust me when I say I would not hesitate to trash these if they were bad - I just actually genuinely think this is a case of it’s-not-you-it’s-me.
I guess we can’t win them all.
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September 6, 2018
Eh? This book has two sides to it. On one hand, there's deaths! There's a battle! There's an explanation finally behind the mysterious edan! On the other hand, (major spoilers!)
So this book SHOULD have been great, but it just wasn't. And I am disappointed. Everything that should have been emotional definitely wasn't. Everything that should have been a fun big reveal, was just crazy. The Mary Sue limit has been vastly exceeded.
Too bad, because I liked the previous two books.
So this book SHOULD have been great, but it just wasn't. And I am disappointed. Everything that should have been emotional definitely wasn't. Everything that should have been a fun big reveal, was just crazy. The Mary Sue limit has been vastly exceeded.
Too bad, because I liked the previous two books.
February 1, 2019
Binti is home in Namibia, hosting her friend Okwu the alien Meduse, and things are ... not going well, to say the least. The Meduse have a tentative peace treaty with the Khouse tribe, but Okwu being in their area has inflamed emotions. Binti's family is still struggling mightily with her life choices (going offworld to attend a galactic university) and Binti is having issues with PTSD and with new revelations about her life and ancestry.
When we left Binti at the end of Home, she had found out that her family and home were under attack and was rushing home as fast as possible. The Night Masquerade deals with what she finds when she gets home, and the fall-out from all of the problems that have been building up. It's up to Binti and her friends to try to prevent an all-out war between the Khouse and the Meduse.
So here's the deal: Binti is an exciting, unusual heroine as a member of the Himba tribe, though I'm getting a little tired of her emotional outbursts and PTSD after two books of dealing with them. And there are the bones of some good world-building here. But other than the unusual minority heroine and Africa setting, this is a VERY standard YA fantasy/SF novel with all of the typical tropes. There's the special snowflake, a love interest, punches pulled, and probably several other tropes that'll occur to me if I put my mind to it. The main characters all act pretty juvenile (fair enough; most of them are teens).
The writing is okay but basic, sometimes noticeably amateurish; something I noticed more as I got deeper into the trilogy. But if those kinds of things don't bother you too much, then this is worth reading.
Full review to come. I received a free copy of this book as part of Binti: The Complete Trilogy. Thank you!
When we left Binti at the end of Home, she had found out that her family and home were under attack and was rushing home as fast as possible. The Night Masquerade deals with what she finds when she gets home, and the fall-out from all of the problems that have been building up. It's up to Binti and her friends to try to prevent an all-out war between the Khouse and the Meduse.
So here's the deal: Binti is an exciting, unusual heroine as a member of the Himba tribe, though I'm getting a little tired of her emotional outbursts and PTSD after two books of dealing with them. And there are the bones of some good world-building here. But other than the unusual minority heroine and Africa setting, this is a VERY standard YA fantasy/SF novel with all of the typical tropes. There's the special snowflake, a love interest, punches pulled, and probably several other tropes that'll occur to me if I put my mind to it. The main characters all act pretty juvenile (fair enough; most of them are teens).
The writing is okay but basic, sometimes noticeably amateurish; something I noticed more as I got deeper into the trilogy. But if those kinds of things don't bother you too much, then this is worth reading.
Full review to come. I received a free copy of this book as part of Binti: The Complete Trilogy. Thank you!
July 3, 2019
1.) Binti ★★★★★
2.) Home ★★★★
3.) The Night Masquerade ★★★★.5
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I need moreeeeee!!!
2.) Home ★★★★
3.) The Night Masquerade ★★★★.5
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I need moreeeeee!!!
January 17, 2018
Things I love about the Binti series that are fully brought home in this satisfying conclusion:
1) The creation of a future that is genuinely DIFFERENT. Not just medieval Spain but in space! Or contemporary geopolitics, but in space! Or aliens, but with our exact same Western social structure. I get confused, I have to reread, because things are WEIRD in the world of Binti. Wonderfully so. (And yes, of course there are recognisable aspects of current societies, but it just feels like one thing Okorafor most certainly does not lack is imagination.)
2) The way the story highlights the struggle of acceptance and adoption of new ways, new cultures, heck, new body parts!, without losing the parts of your home culture that really truly matter. You can grow and change without losing sight of your roots, and Binti does this in the most remarkable ways.
So yes. A +++, would recommend, great finish to the series.
1) The creation of a future that is genuinely DIFFERENT. Not just medieval Spain but in space! Or contemporary geopolitics, but in space! Or aliens, but with our exact same Western social structure. I get confused, I have to reread, because things are WEIRD in the world of Binti. Wonderfully so. (And yes, of course there are recognisable aspects of current societies, but it just feels like one thing Okorafor most certainly does not lack is imagination.)
2) The way the story highlights the struggle of acceptance and adoption of new ways, new cultures, heck, new body parts!, without losing the parts of your home culture that really truly matter. You can grow and change without losing sight of your roots, and Binti does this in the most remarkable ways.
So yes. A +++, would recommend, great finish to the series.
February 16, 2020
Unfortunately this was my least favourite of the trilogy.
Following straight on from where we left off in ‘Homecoming’, we see Binti racing across the desert to save her family and homelands from the Khoush. It quickly turns into a war, one which Binti will do anything and everything to prevent in order to stop the destruction of her people, who will be caught in the crossfire. Amongst all this, she is still struggling with her identity and what it means to be Himba, Meduse and everything in between.
This feels a little messy, with several ideas and thought processes thrown together in a very short story. It would have felt better if we were given time to process some of the plot actions and developments, because it felt they were quite often discussed once and then swept under the carpet. It got quite confusing.
As before, Binti is the main appeal to these stories. She’s a wonderfully developed character who we see constantly struggling with her identity and culture while still trying to be a decent individual. With each new discovery, and each new puzzle piece to her ancestry (both old and new), we see her struggling to come to terms with who exactly she is and what that means for her future. I love her relationship with Okwu (who we don’t see enough of in this instalment in my opinion) and what exactly they mean to each other is complex and interesting.
This finished satisfactorily, but it just felt rushed, with too many plot points crammed into too few words - making it incoherent at times. However, some of the ideas are truly unique and insightful.
Following straight on from where we left off in ‘Homecoming’, we see Binti racing across the desert to save her family and homelands from the Khoush. It quickly turns into a war, one which Binti will do anything and everything to prevent in order to stop the destruction of her people, who will be caught in the crossfire. Amongst all this, she is still struggling with her identity and what it means to be Himba, Meduse and everything in between.
This feels a little messy, with several ideas and thought processes thrown together in a very short story. It would have felt better if we were given time to process some of the plot actions and developments, because it felt they were quite often discussed once and then swept under the carpet. It got quite confusing.
As before, Binti is the main appeal to these stories. She’s a wonderfully developed character who we see constantly struggling with her identity and culture while still trying to be a decent individual. With each new discovery, and each new puzzle piece to her ancestry (both old and new), we see her struggling to come to terms with who exactly she is and what that means for her future. I love her relationship with Okwu (who we don’t see enough of in this instalment in my opinion) and what exactly they mean to each other is complex and interesting.
This finished satisfactorily, but it just felt rushed, with too many plot points crammed into too few words - making it incoherent at times. However, some of the ideas are truly unique and insightful.
November 25, 2018
fulfilling book riot's 2018 read harder challenge task #17: A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author
no extry points this time...
review to come
no extry points this time...
review to come
November 21, 2023
A reread for my book club :)
A very fitting conclusion to the trilogy. I do like the things Nnedi Okorafor does with her imagination! This world has expanded – beginning in the second installment, and continuing here. I would have loved to explore it even more – the living spaceships, different kinds of harmonisers, more about zinariya, etc etc etc.
I am not sure how to feel about Okwu – now we have its friendship with Binti (very cute), some comic relief (being too happy must be bad for everyone), and general Meduse superpowers stuff. There is some focus on things that had happened in the first book, but it wasn’t satisfying, imo.
In all honesty, there is too much plot for the number of pages, but I flew through them with pleasure. Binti’s journey is a delight – coming to terms with her powers, who she really is, questioning things she had been taught. What I loved most about this story was Binti being awesome, powerful, curious, courageous, her “magic” going wild. The trope of
Who doesn’t love a happy ending, though?
*4.5 stars on this reread, rounded up.
A very fitting conclusion to the trilogy. I do like the things Nnedi Okorafor does with her imagination! This world has expanded – beginning in the second installment, and continuing here. I would have loved to explore it even more – the living spaceships, different kinds of harmonisers, more about zinariya, etc etc etc.
I am not sure how to feel about Okwu – now we have its friendship with Binti (very cute), some comic relief (being too happy must be bad for everyone), and general Meduse superpowers stuff. There is some focus on things that had happened in the first book, but it wasn’t satisfying, imo.
In all honesty, there is too much plot for the number of pages, but I flew through them with pleasure. Binti’s journey is a delight – coming to terms with her powers, who she really is, questioning things she had been taught. What I loved most about this story was Binti being awesome, powerful, curious, courageous, her “magic” going wild. The trope of
Who doesn’t love a happy ending, though?
*4.5 stars on this reread, rounded up.
January 19, 2018
At the end of Home, Binti had connected with her father's people, the Enyi Zinariya but while with them received news that both her family and her friend Okwu were under attack by the Khoush, another human tribe.
We pick up with Binti and Mwinyi heading back to Osemba and fearing the worst. The peace between the Meduse (Okwu's people, giant floating blue jellyfish) and the Khoush appears to be shattered and they will need a master harmonizer to restore it. But Binti may now be too different from her people for them to support her.
These books are flawed. A lot of plot developments come out of the blue with no previous mention and change everything. Some actions of key characters make little sense, and characterizations feel inconsistent even within the individual stories. That being sad, it's crazy inventive, and very different from most other science fictional futures, coming from both unfamiliar Earth cultures and very alien space cultures with even weirder technologies.
I recommend this whole series.
We pick up with Binti and Mwinyi heading back to Osemba and fearing the worst. The peace between the Meduse (Okwu's people, giant floating blue jellyfish) and the Khoush appears to be shattered and they will need a master harmonizer to restore it. But Binti may now be too different from her people for them to support her.
These books are flawed. A lot of plot developments come out of the blue with no previous mention and change everything. Some actions of key characters make little sense, and characterizations feel inconsistent even within the individual stories. That being sad, it's crazy inventive, and very different from most other science fictional futures, coming from both unfamiliar Earth cultures and very alien space cultures with even weirder technologies.
I recommend this whole series.
November 26, 2019
3,5 /5
Creo que la primera parte de Binti siempre será mi preferida (al contrario que para el resto del mundo) porque fue una sorpresa y un soplo de aire fresco tan impresionante, que todavía me dura el impacto que supuso para mi.
El desenlace de la trilogía me ha gustado, aunque creo que sobraba el interés amoroso y quizás en alguna cosilla me resultó redundante... ¡Y aún así! Binti no deja de ser una de las trilogías más originales y sorprendentes que he leído, su mezcla de cultura africana y ciencia ficción y sus estupendos mensajes me han calado, y no deja de fascinarme la imaginación desbordante de la autora.
No creo que sea una obra perfecta ni para todo el mundo pero a mi me ha encantado.
Creo que la primera parte de Binti siempre será mi preferida (al contrario que para el resto del mundo) porque fue una sorpresa y un soplo de aire fresco tan impresionante, que todavía me dura el impacto que supuso para mi.
El desenlace de la trilogía me ha gustado, aunque creo que sobraba el interés amoroso y quizás en alguna cosilla me resultó redundante... ¡Y aún así! Binti no deja de ser una de las trilogías más originales y sorprendentes que he leído, su mezcla de cultura africana y ciencia ficción y sus estupendos mensajes me han calado, y no deja de fascinarme la imaginación desbordante de la autora.
No creo que sea una obra perfecta ni para todo el mundo pero a mi me ha encantado.
April 3, 2018
Binti: The Night Masquerade
I enjoyed the Nebula and Hugo award-winning Binti very much, and thought the sequel, Binti: Home, was even better. There were many reasons to look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy: we were left with an exciting cliffhanger, some new revelations about the nature of Binti’s past, plenty of forward momentum on some of the bigger mysteries left to tell, and strong developments in Binti’s maturity and self-realization. Unfortunately, Binti: The Night Masquerade disappointed me in many of these areas.
Although Nnedi Okorafor’s elegant prose and imaginative ideas on culture and futurism are once again on display, there were several major plot points that seemed to dissolve into nothing. Okorafor seems to agree, as she describes the resolution of one of the major mysteries as “anti-climactic.” Not every plot point needs to have a grand reveal, but this choice felt like there wasn’t much effort to plan or solve this mystery from the start. I spent some time thinking about what argument Okorafor might be making on the nature of war or diplomacy, but the fallout of certain major events and their non-resolutions left me wondering why certain themes were included in the first place.
Once again, Binit’s identity expands outside herself, and she struggles to figure out who she really is. This was the underlying theme of Binti: Home and I was a bit surprised to discover that this situation was going to be leaned on again. The book ends abruptly and Binti appears to be in a more confusing and challenged mental state than she was before the story began. Instead of character progression, it felt like character regression. There’s nothing wrong with writing a character that follows that particular arc, but it felt like it was a sharp turn from the direction Binti had been moving all along. This was a story of how a girl relies on her intellect, intuition, and empathy to promote peace and harmony between races and technologies. By the third act, Binti’s survival comes into question, a peace accord is broken, and her identity crisis seems worse than ever.
Wbat is the author saying? Such a hopeful story, but from the way it ends, it almost felt like the message was that a lot of her efforts were an exercise in futility. Binti is still a teenager so she still has much room to grow, but I found it difficult to digest the mixed messages that the story landed on.
However, don’t let this mediocre score deter you from starting this trilogy; your results may vary. Even though this third novella was a slight disappointment in comparison to the first two, I still think Binti’s journey is a fascinating and worthwhile adventure to experience for yourself.
2.5/5
I enjoyed the Nebula and Hugo award-winning Binti very much, and thought the sequel, Binti: Home, was even better. There were many reasons to look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy: we were left with an exciting cliffhanger, some new revelations about the nature of Binti’s past, plenty of forward momentum on some of the bigger mysteries left to tell, and strong developments in Binti’s maturity and self-realization. Unfortunately, Binti: The Night Masquerade disappointed me in many of these areas.
Although Nnedi Okorafor’s elegant prose and imaginative ideas on culture and futurism are once again on display, there were several major plot points that seemed to dissolve into nothing. Okorafor seems to agree, as she describes the resolution of one of the major mysteries as “anti-climactic.” Not every plot point needs to have a grand reveal, but this choice felt like there wasn’t much effort to plan or solve this mystery from the start. I spent some time thinking about what argument Okorafor might be making on the nature of war or diplomacy, but the fallout of certain major events and their non-resolutions left me wondering why certain themes were included in the first place.
Once again, Binit’s identity expands outside herself, and she struggles to figure out who she really is. This was the underlying theme of Binti: Home and I was a bit surprised to discover that this situation was going to be leaned on again. The book ends abruptly and Binti appears to be in a more confusing and challenged mental state than she was before the story began. Instead of character progression, it felt like character regression. There’s nothing wrong with writing a character that follows that particular arc, but it felt like it was a sharp turn from the direction Binti had been moving all along. This was a story of how a girl relies on her intellect, intuition, and empathy to promote peace and harmony between races and technologies. By the third act, Binti’s survival comes into question, a peace accord is broken, and her identity crisis seems worse than ever.
Wbat is the author saying? Such a hopeful story, but from the way it ends, it almost felt like the message was that a lot of her efforts were an exercise in futility. Binti is still a teenager so she still has much room to grow, but I found it difficult to digest the mixed messages that the story landed on.
However, don’t let this mediocre score deter you from starting this trilogy; your results may vary. Even though this third novella was a slight disappointment in comparison to the first two, I still think Binti’s journey is a fascinating and worthwhile adventure to experience for yourself.
2.5/5
February 6, 2018
So, I'll admit this isn't my kind of sci-fi. I went into BINTI with high hopes because of all the hype and praise and came out confused and definitely on the wrong side of the fandom. That being said, though, I enjoyed HOME a lot more and was very keen to see where things would go for Binti and these characters for the final chapter of her story. Aaaand it was everything the first book was but worse. I absolutely did not enjoy this. I felt the writing was completely different, Binti herself was.. childish, and I was just completely underwhelmed by everything.
Not a series for me and not a series I would recommend.
Not a series for me and not a series I would recommend.
November 17, 2018
“I am Binti Ekeopara Zuzu Dambu Kaipka Meduse Enyi Zinariya Osemba, master harmonizer”--Binti
The title of this, the third and final volume of the Afro-futurist science fiction trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor, refers to a specter of change that appears to significant people at times of great crisis.
At one point Okorafor glibly summarized the book: "African girl leaves home. African girl returns home. African girl becomes home."
Binti is a Master Harmonizer (peacemaker) Himba woman who, in the first volume, defied her family and left home, Namibia, to go Oomza University (in space).
The third volume begins with a violent and confrontation in space that leads to a very surprising turn of events, and a trip home for the Himba Binti, who must continue the path to discover herself and see how she can contribute to peace for her people. There are some traditions worth keeping, and some that need to change.
“I’d seen myself as broken. But couldn’t you be broken and still bring change?”
Violent confrontation is everywhere. Can we indeed find a way to reach across differences to live together? Throughout the series, there’s been a spiritual component to Binti’s science and tech-centric world. Here, the mystical and the mathematical are fully revealed as essential, and the Night Masquerade, signaling change, becomes something other than what Binti feared it might be.
As with all of her work, strange and wonderful creatures and concepts populate this world. Binti’s hair, or her tentacle‐like okuoko almost becomes a character in its own right. As a Himba, she colors her skin with the Namimbian soil, Otjize, which gives her power and beauty. Her friend Okwu, a jellyfish-like alien from a race called the Meduse — is under attack from the Khoush, Earth's dominant ethnicity and the Meduse's ancestral enemies. That Binti is friends with Okwu is unusual, and a simple but important aspect of the story.
The Night Masquerade concludes by holding Oomza University up as a shining example of an ideal society — but what makes it ideal is its diversity, its principle accommodating difference. Okorafor has two masters degrees and a doctorate in English, and has been a long time professor, so she has spent many years in the university, so one site for hope is the uni, a laboratory for learning and the development of unity:
“The way people on Oomza Uni were so diverse and everyone handled that as if it were normal continued to surprise me. It was so unlike Earth, where wars were fought over and because of differences and most couldn't relate to anyone unless they were similar.”
In the end it is partly up to Binti, with another new friend, Mwinyi, to try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people. So, Binti is sci fi/fantasy with some sci but more heart, a hopeful allegory, a coming of age story with twists and turns, well-written.
The title of this, the third and final volume of the Afro-futurist science fiction trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor, refers to a specter of change that appears to significant people at times of great crisis.
At one point Okorafor glibly summarized the book: "African girl leaves home. African girl returns home. African girl becomes home."
Binti is a Master Harmonizer (peacemaker) Himba woman who, in the first volume, defied her family and left home, Namibia, to go Oomza University (in space).
The third volume begins with a violent and confrontation in space that leads to a very surprising turn of events, and a trip home for the Himba Binti, who must continue the path to discover herself and see how she can contribute to peace for her people. There are some traditions worth keeping, and some that need to change.
“I’d seen myself as broken. But couldn’t you be broken and still bring change?”
Violent confrontation is everywhere. Can we indeed find a way to reach across differences to live together? Throughout the series, there’s been a spiritual component to Binti’s science and tech-centric world. Here, the mystical and the mathematical are fully revealed as essential, and the Night Masquerade, signaling change, becomes something other than what Binti feared it might be.
As with all of her work, strange and wonderful creatures and concepts populate this world. Binti’s hair, or her tentacle‐like okuoko almost becomes a character in its own right. As a Himba, she colors her skin with the Namimbian soil, Otjize, which gives her power and beauty. Her friend Okwu, a jellyfish-like alien from a race called the Meduse — is under attack from the Khoush, Earth's dominant ethnicity and the Meduse's ancestral enemies. That Binti is friends with Okwu is unusual, and a simple but important aspect of the story.
The Night Masquerade concludes by holding Oomza University up as a shining example of an ideal society — but what makes it ideal is its diversity, its principle accommodating difference. Okorafor has two masters degrees and a doctorate in English, and has been a long time professor, so she has spent many years in the university, so one site for hope is the uni, a laboratory for learning and the development of unity:
“The way people on Oomza Uni were so diverse and everyone handled that as if it were normal continued to surprise me. It was so unlike Earth, where wars were fought over and because of differences and most couldn't relate to anyone unless they were similar.”
In the end it is partly up to Binti, with another new friend, Mwinyi, to try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people. So, Binti is sci fi/fantasy with some sci but more heart, a hopeful allegory, a coming of age story with twists and turns, well-written.
May 12, 2019
I think I liked this third Binti book better than the prior two novellas... but why?
For one, I think I liked the theme about going home, having conflicts WITH home, and in this third novella, Binti coming to grips with herself and her place in the universe.
It helps that she had to go through a ton of tragedy to get there. But that's the nature of storytelling. Conflict is everything.
Culturally, these books make up some of the strangest pieces of worldbuilding I've read. We've got an isolated African community intermixed with high-tech and alien-tech additions. There's also the greater galactic community full of inclusive aliens and the whole theme of excluding and including is rife throughout these stories.
How can the community be so closed-minded in one way while LIVING with an invasive alien for who knows how long? But that's the core of it, reaching right into Binti herself and everyone she knows.
And then there's the thing happens to her.
I really like the worldbuilding and the direction this one took. I mean, I REALLY like how it comes together. The SF in this SF satisfied the SF geek in me. :)
So why didn't I give it a 5 star? It's possible that while I appreciated the cultural weirdness on one level, I had a really hard time ENJOYING it. The alien and the Alien just kept coming back at me in a way that kinda clashed. Hard. I like how it explained itself, later, but I getting there took an uncomfortably long time.
That's on me.
Maybe I just have a hard time with the low-tech and downright strange customs -- read, superstitions -- STILL remaining as an OVERWHELMINGLY large part of this well-educated and smart girl's life. Look, maybe it's realistic to paint all your skin while doing tensor math in your head, getting on the WWW with your implants while putting up with your misogynic tribe members. Maybe it isn't. Maybe having gone to a galactic college and meeting tons of aliens and cultures should have LESSENED some of those old acceptances and traditions.
But then, maybe it's just Binti. She has a really open mind in so many ways but she doesn't apply the logic to herself well at all. A Master Harmonizer? Is this what it means? To be finding full harmony between her old life and her new? Helping others do the same? Sure. I LIKE this idea. But it gets very complicated very quickly. Because by being a person of two worlds, you often become part of none.
--The point of the novellas, I'm sure. --
For one, I think I liked the theme about going home, having conflicts WITH home, and in this third novella, Binti coming to grips with herself and her place in the universe.
It helps that she had to go through a ton of tragedy to get there. But that's the nature of storytelling. Conflict is everything.
Culturally, these books make up some of the strangest pieces of worldbuilding I've read. We've got an isolated African community intermixed with high-tech and alien-tech additions. There's also the greater galactic community full of inclusive aliens and the whole theme of excluding and including is rife throughout these stories.
How can the community be so closed-minded in one way while LIVING with an invasive alien for who knows how long? But that's the core of it, reaching right into Binti herself and everyone she knows.
And then there's the thing happens to her.
I really like the worldbuilding and the direction this one took. I mean, I REALLY like how it comes together. The SF in this SF satisfied the SF geek in me. :)
So why didn't I give it a 5 star? It's possible that while I appreciated the cultural weirdness on one level, I had a really hard time ENJOYING it. The alien and the Alien just kept coming back at me in a way that kinda clashed. Hard. I like how it explained itself, later, but I getting there took an uncomfortably long time.
That's on me.
Maybe I just have a hard time with the low-tech and downright strange customs -- read, superstitions -- STILL remaining as an OVERWHELMINGLY large part of this well-educated and smart girl's life. Look, maybe it's realistic to paint all your skin while doing tensor math in your head, getting on the WWW with your implants while putting up with your misogynic tribe members. Maybe it isn't. Maybe having gone to a galactic college and meeting tons of aliens and cultures should have LESSENED some of those old acceptances and traditions.
But then, maybe it's just Binti. She has a really open mind in so many ways but she doesn't apply the logic to herself well at all. A Master Harmonizer? Is this what it means? To be finding full harmony between her old life and her new? Helping others do the same? Sure. I LIKE this idea. But it gets very complicated very quickly. Because by being a person of two worlds, you often become part of none.
--The point of the novellas, I'm sure. --
February 5, 2019
#1 Binti ★★★★★
#2 Home ★★★★☆
#3 The Night Masquerade ★★★☆☆
#1-3 Complete Trilogy Edition ★★★★☆
Even back then I had changed things, and I didn’t even know it. When I should have reveled in this gift, instead, I’d seen myself as broken. But couldn’t you be broken and still bring change?
I feel a little bit guilty about this, so let me get it out of the way first: I know I said in my reviews of the first two novellas that I wanted more world-building, but I didn't want this much of it. Whoops! I definitely think the biggest drawback with The Night Masquerade is that it tries to cram in a lot of information to make up for the lack of depth in the world and history of the first two pieces of the series.
That said, I still more or less enjoyed this installment! It started off very slow for me, but around the halfway mark, picked up a lot and brought in some serious action and suspense, as well as a few tragic moments I wasn't expected and definitely got a few Feels from. I wouldn't say it wrecked me or anything, but things got heavy here and there.
Mostly, though, I just wish we'd gotten a little more time with certain characters—some new, some old. I found myself missing the weird little companionable moments I'd grown accustomed to, and I wasn't thrilled with the sudden introduction of romance to the plot.
All of that in mind, while this was a somewhat disappointing finale, it was still an enjoyable series that I'm glad I read. I think Nnedi Okorafor has a tremendous wealth of potential and natural talent to draw from, and I genuinely cannot wait to read her work again in the future.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 13, 2018
I would not read this without reading the previous Binti books, Binti and Home. So much of the detail in this story comes from the world-building in the first two, and reading the third is a much richer experience with that knowledge under your belt.
That said, this is an interesting exploration of a different type of conflict with species who can hardly communicate. Binti has a role to play although it is one she does not even understand entirely. She returns back to school, to a place that has demonstrated that people of all possible modes of communication and lifestyle can live in peace with a few simple accommodations and not only does it serve as a sharp contrast to her home planet, but to our world as well.
I don't want to say much more about it but this is a great conclusion to this imaginative trilogy. Don't forget your otjize on the journey.
Thanks to the publisher for providing access to this title via NetGalley. It comes out January 16, 2018.
That said, this is an interesting exploration of a different type of conflict with species who can hardly communicate. Binti has a role to play although it is one she does not even understand entirely. She returns back to school, to a place that has demonstrated that people of all possible modes of communication and lifestyle can live in peace with a few simple accommodations and not only does it serve as a sharp contrast to her home planet, but to our world as well.
I don't want to say much more about it but this is a great conclusion to this imaginative trilogy. Don't forget your otjize on the journey.
Thanks to the publisher for providing access to this title via NetGalley. It comes out January 16, 2018.
April 17, 2020
This review contains spoilers for Binti and Home.
I don’t have much to say about The Night Masquerade that I haven’t already said in my reviews of Binti and Home. Although The Night Masquerade was longer than the two previous books, it was very similar in tone and quality.
It seems Nnedi Okorafor has hit her stride in terms of plot and pacing. Whereas book one of this series felt rushed – likely because it was the shortest – the following two books have been well-paced, with enough room for development. The worldbuilding in The Night Masquerade was as unique and compelling as I’ve come to expect from Okorafor, although, being the final book in a series, it mostly filled in the details instead of introducing new concepts.
For the first third of the book, Binti annoyed me. She was helpless and confused and her behavior was erratic, swinging from one extreme to another. She became stronger and more self-assured as the story progressed and we finally saw the payoff of three books’ worth of character development. I also fell in love with the side characters more fully than I had in either of the previous books, particularly Okwu and Mwinyi and New Fish. They were undoubtedly the highlight of this story.
I have one final complaint that’s also a vague spoiler.
Overall, a decent conclusion to a decent series. Not my favorite, but certainly enjoyable and extremely unique. I’m glad I gave these books a chance.
I don’t have much to say about The Night Masquerade that I haven’t already said in my reviews of Binti and Home. Although The Night Masquerade was longer than the two previous books, it was very similar in tone and quality.
It seems Nnedi Okorafor has hit her stride in terms of plot and pacing. Whereas book one of this series felt rushed – likely because it was the shortest – the following two books have been well-paced, with enough room for development. The worldbuilding in The Night Masquerade was as unique and compelling as I’ve come to expect from Okorafor, although, being the final book in a series, it mostly filled in the details instead of introducing new concepts.
For the first third of the book, Binti annoyed me. She was helpless and confused and her behavior was erratic, swinging from one extreme to another. She became stronger and more self-assured as the story progressed and we finally saw the payoff of three books’ worth of character development. I also fell in love with the side characters more fully than I had in either of the previous books, particularly Okwu and Mwinyi and New Fish. They were undoubtedly the highlight of this story.
I have one final complaint that’s also a vague spoiler.
Overall, a decent conclusion to a decent series. Not my favorite, but certainly enjoyable and extremely unique. I’m glad I gave these books a chance.
May 11, 2018
This one was hard to get through. There was too much of Binti being hysterical, whiny, and unsure of herself, which I suppose was understandable considering everything going on with her, but it was exhausting and irritating to read about. Also, there were way too many things happening to her, there was the edan, the zinariya, the okukuo, her treeing, as well as the new fish thing at the end - it was one chaotic thing after another, it was quite ridiculous just how many changes and events she was involved in.
The parts which were most engrossing were when Binti was with her family and community, it was infuriating to read about her hypocritical, backwards and narrow minded family but it was also written well and those parts were the most engrossing.
The parts which were most engrossing were when Binti was with her family and community, it was infuriating to read about her hypocritical, backwards and narrow minded family but it was also written well and those parts were the most engrossing.
May 29, 2021
I really enjoyed the first book in Okorafor’s Binti Trilogy, but I was a little let down by both the 2nd and 3rd books. I appreciate Okorafor’s ambitious approach to weaving in mythology, unusual aliens, cultural traditions, and ancient grudges between societies, but somehow things just wound up feeling diffuse and lacked impact in the end.
I feel a tremendous amount of goodwill toward Okorafor, and I’m interested in reading more of her work, but I hope to be more fully captured by it than I was by this.
I feel a tremendous amount of goodwill toward Okorafor, and I’m interested in reading more of her work, but I hope to be more fully captured by it than I was by this.
April 6, 2022
No sé si la historia perdió fuego, o yo perdí interés, pero está última parte no me pareció ni un poquito entretenida (que es la principal razón por la que yo leo cualquier cosa). No voy a hacer reseña porque es una tercera parte y la trama está demasiado unida a su antecesora como para arriesgarme a soltar spoilers.
September 13, 2021
3.5 Stars
This book wraps up the Binti Trilogy which I thought would have been stronger as a standalone. I liked spending more time with Binti and enjoyed the expanded world building but I just didn't find the story was as strong as it was in the original book.
This book wraps up the Binti Trilogy which I thought would have been stronger as a standalone. I liked spending more time with Binti and enjoyed the expanded world building but I just didn't find the story was as strong as it was in the original book.
June 2, 2018
3.5 stars.
July 15, 2019
I probably shouldn't have read The Night Masquerade, to be honest -- of Okorafor, I've read her two previous Binti novellas, a children's novel, and an adult novel, and literally none of them have worked for me, to the extent that I had initially sworn off continuing Binti. Except that this one had to go get nominated for the Hugos again, so I decided to give it one more try. Maybe it turns around in the final installment? Maybe I'll finally find something to like about it??
Unfortunately, no. Spoilers in my review, but this novella retains all the flaws from before: Binti continues to be the super-special snowflake, being instantaneously powered-up to tidily resolve the plot (this time, channelling 'deep culture' which is some kind of empathic magic I guess, but is never fully explained?? then regrowing an entire arm and being resurrected from the literal dead and becoming symbiotic with a living spaceship, thanks I fucking hate it).
There's insta-love with her companion, in which he literally thinks about how he has fallen in love with her after only a couple days in each others' company. The only events of consequence are robbed of their stakes because all of the deaths are fakeouts: her family is fine, Okwu is fine, Binti is fine, everyone is always fine. Binti herself undergoes constant screaming sobbing hysterics that rival the worst of Harry in Order of the Phoenix. The prose is stiff and stilted, to the extent that I was falling asleep while reading.
And three novellas in, I still don't understand what the hell 'treeing' is!!!
It was a chore to get through and now, now I'm finally admitting that I might even actually hate this series. Sorry, y'all, I'm done with this author.
Unfortunately, no. Spoilers in my review, but this novella retains all the flaws from before: Binti continues to be the super-special snowflake, being instantaneously powered-up to tidily resolve the plot (this time, channelling 'deep culture' which is some kind of empathic magic I guess, but is never fully explained?? then regrowing an entire arm and being resurrected from the literal dead and becoming symbiotic with a living spaceship, thanks I fucking hate it).
There's insta-love with her companion, in which he literally thinks about how he has fallen in love with her after only a couple days in each others' company. The only events of consequence are robbed of their stakes because all of the deaths are fakeouts: her family is fine, Okwu is fine, Binti is fine, everyone is always fine. Binti herself undergoes constant screaming sobbing hysterics that rival the worst of Harry in Order of the Phoenix. The prose is stiff and stilted, to the extent that I was falling asleep while reading.
And three novellas in, I still don't understand what the hell 'treeing' is!!!
It was a chore to get through and now, now I'm finally admitting that I might even actually hate this series. Sorry, y'all, I'm done with this author.
August 1, 2018
4.5 stars for this title, 5 stars for the trilogy.
I am so glad I waited to read this until it was a complete set.
The audiobook is narrated beautifully, by the way.
I had some concerns that were never addressed, such as the Meduse stabbing Binti in the back(of the neck) without her consent which caused a physical change in her that she never agreed to. It was too similar to rape but was never portrayed as such and that bothered me.
At the same time, I loved the idea of physically being reformed after contact with something new, in Binti's case, other life forms. I also appreciated that she understood how all her components worked together and connected to each other to continue to make her the person she kept becoming; I think there's a kind of power in accepting and owning one's lineage, history, and experiences as the formation blocks of the individual.
I was a little miffed with the outcome of the trip to Saturn; I sort of pursed my lips and thought, "Really? That's what that was all about?" But it was worth it for that lovely cover art.
I'm kind of hoping there will be more chronicles from Oomza Uni because, while I'm usually underwhelmed by school stories, that place seems endlessly fascinating.
It’s all mathematics...life, the universe, everything.
And we know that math always equals 42.
I am so glad I waited to read this until it was a complete set.
The audiobook is narrated beautifully, by the way.
I had some concerns that were never addressed, such as the Meduse stabbing Binti in the back(of the neck) without her consent which caused a physical change in her that she never agreed to. It was too similar to rape but was never portrayed as such and that bothered me.
At the same time, I loved the idea of physically being reformed after contact with something new, in Binti's case, other life forms. I also appreciated that she understood how all her components worked together and connected to each other to continue to make her the person she kept becoming; I think there's a kind of power in accepting and owning one's lineage, history, and experiences as the formation blocks of the individual.
I was a little miffed with the outcome of the trip to Saturn; I sort of pursed my lips and thought, "Really? That's what that was all about?" But it was worth it for that lovely cover art.
I'm kind of hoping there will be more chronicles from Oomza Uni because, while I'm usually underwhelmed by school stories, that place seems endlessly fascinating.
It’s all mathematics...life, the universe, everything.
And we know that math always equals 42.
June 28, 2018
3.5 stars
While I didn't like this one quite as much as the previous two, it was still very good, and packed a real emotional punch in parts. I just generally love Okorafor's flowing and visual prose; her complex characters; and her imaginative worldbuilding.
Robin Miles does such an excellent job with the narration of the audio and is a joy to listen to.
While I didn't like this one quite as much as the previous two, it was still very good, and packed a real emotional punch in parts. I just generally love Okorafor's flowing and visual prose; her complex characters; and her imaginative worldbuilding.
Robin Miles does such an excellent job with the narration of the audio and is a joy to listen to.
October 22, 2019
Me ha gustado bastante más de lo que me esperaba. De hecho, la trilogía va en un claro ascenso (para mi gusto) y cada libro es mejor que el anterior. En este caso, hay alguna cosa que no me convence, pero en general creo que está mejor llevado tanto de ritmo como de trama. El final es un poco abrupto, pero creo que cierra bien la trilogía.
September 1, 2022
This was a great ending to the series. I honestly took a while to get back to it because I wanted to take my time. Okorafor does a great job of ending the series in a satisfying way. I will echo what some other readers said though which is that it felt like the story had several endings. I think it may have been better if it had ended differently too. Just because I think it would have made it a more “real” ending in my eyes. I felt myself losing a bit of interest towards the end. All together that is why I only gave this one 4 stars.
“The Night Masquerade” follows Binti who has returned to her home planet trying to do what she can to get back to her people with her knowing all of her family are lost to her now. The Khoush and Meduse still continue to attack one another, and unfortunately others are now in the cross-fire.
Binti is such a great character. She makes mistakes, but is trying her best to do what she can to keep her people safe. I felt for her still warring within herself to not lash out and try to change what she perceives may be coming next. I also loved the characters of Mwinyi and Okwu. And of course we see prior characters as well.
The writing was solid, an I saw echoes of topics that were covered in Octavia Butler’s books (Xenogenesis series). The pacing of the book was a bit off I thought. I think the bigger issue I saw though was that I felt that the book was over explaining a lot of things and it felt like we had several “endings” and that threw things up for me a bit too.
I read this for Cannonball Read 14:
Star: A book set in space or one that involves astronomy, a famous person, a character who wants to be famous or once was, a starfish.
“The Night Masquerade” does have Binti go into space once again. At one point Saturn is experienced.
“The Night Masquerade” follows Binti who has returned to her home planet trying to do what she can to get back to her people with her knowing all of her family are lost to her now. The Khoush and Meduse still continue to attack one another, and unfortunately others are now in the cross-fire.
Binti is such a great character. She makes mistakes, but is trying her best to do what she can to keep her people safe. I felt for her still warring within herself to not lash out and try to change what she perceives may be coming next. I also loved the characters of Mwinyi and Okwu. And of course we see prior characters as well.
The writing was solid, an I saw echoes of topics that were covered in Octavia Butler’s books (Xenogenesis series). The pacing of the book was a bit off I thought. I think the bigger issue I saw though was that I felt that the book was over explaining a lot of things and it felt like we had several “endings” and that threw things up for me a bit too.
I read this for Cannonball Read 14:
Star: A book set in space or one that involves astronomy, a famous person, a character who wants to be famous or once was, a starfish.
“The Night Masquerade” does have Binti go into space once again. At one point Saturn is experienced.
April 19, 2022
3.5 stars
I found this to be a fairly satisfying conclusion to the Binti trilogy, although it definitely has some plot conveniences and things left unexplained. As a trilogy the story can feel a bit uneven, with heavier world-building coming in part 3. That said, Binti is a great character and loved (finally!) completing her journey. This has been languishing on my shelves for far too long.
I found this to be a fairly satisfying conclusion to the Binti trilogy, although it definitely has some plot conveniences and things left unexplained. As a trilogy the story can feel a bit uneven, with heavier world-building coming in part 3. That said, Binti is a great character and loved (finally!) completing her journey. This has been languishing on my shelves for far too long.
January 13, 2018
Yes, this was a good conclusion.
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