Binti: The Night Masquerade

"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?"

The Night Masquerade concludes the Binti trilogy, and I couldn't wait to read it. The first two books were engaging, entirely unique, and full of sociological depth. I was not disappointed by the third. It was an ending that I couldn't have predicted, although now it makes perfect sense. I felt like I grew alongside Binti, understanding her struggles and learning her lessons.

The story starts where the second book left off: Binti has learned that her family is in danger. She has just had an ancient, advanced capability of her DNA activated, and her preconceived notions about the people whom she did not know were hers have only just begun to crumble. A member of that community named Mwinyi accompanies her back across the desert as she tries to reach her family before it's too late. The journey back tests her even more than the journey out.

When they finally arrive back in Binti's world, her home is burned and her community is on the brink of war. As a master harmonizer and the person who is easiest to blame for the discord, Binti knows she must convince everyone to set aside ancient, forgotten transgressions in order to save countless lives.

I wish I could tell you more without ruining the book, because there is so, so much more.

“'Ah, that explains why you’ve never seen an Icarus,' he said. 'They’re large green grasshoppers who like to fly into fires. Then they fly out of the flames and dance with their new wings of fire and fall to the ground wingless. The wings grow back in a few days. Then they do it again.'"

There are so many great themes and layers to this book. Among them are a sense of self, identity, and home; prejudices and learning to be open-minded; culture and belonging; duty to your family and heritage; and so much more.

I particularly loved the symbolism of the otjize (a clay mixed from the earth) and Binti's struggle with it. The women in her culture cover their skin and hair with otjize at all time, and it is considered shameful and indecent to be seen without it. Throughout the book, Binti has it on, then off, then on, then off. Part of her wants to set it aside, and part of her can't let it go. There's so much to unpack there, especially from a gender perspective; if you've read these books, I'd love to talk about it with you.

"My rage stayed and I was glad."

I also loved that Binti really began to accept—even embrace—the rage that had become a genetic part of her body and mind. She really reclaimed her anger as a piece of herself, her whole self. It became something that just was, something that could be directed or ignored or used a fuel for good. I am all about reclaiming things that are "supposed" to be negative and showing that it is always possible to create good from something you inherently are.

Nnedi Okorafor's style is different from everything I've read before. There were some moments in which she'd explain the characters' reactions before describing what caused them, which threw me off a little, but I always found my way back. But her writing is always powerful, unashamed, engaging, and purposeful.

Highly recommend, my friends.

Ahoy there me mateys! I was mesmerized by books one and two of the Binti series and was happy to finally get me hands on the third and last book. If ye haven’t read the first book then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

This novella was another stunning read in the series. In this installment, Binti is yet again fighting to maintain peace between two warring alien cultures. But this time, the resurgence has occurred in Binti’s home town and brings her family into the thick of things.

I continue to find the juxtaposition of maintaining a sense of culture and self with the additions of change and technology to be fascinating. I found Binti’s predicament in this regard to be heart-wrenching. And yet she continues to be an intelligent, thoughtful, resourceful, and beautiful within her being. I also loved the addition of the new ship and getting to know Mwinyi better.

The main problem I had with this book was the ending. It felt anti-climatic – mostly because I just wanted more! While the story did resolve the conflict in Binti’s town, it just seems to halt Binti’s growth and story while there is still so much unanswered. With the addition of the new ship and Mwinyi, I would love to know more. The afterward made it clear that the author told the story she wanted to tell and I do respect that. But I, for one, would be willing to read anything else she choses to write in this marvelous world.

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. (via Goodreads)

I received an eARC of The Night Masquerade from Tor.com, the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved this entire series since I bought the first book on a whim from Audible. I reviewed the first book here, and the second book here. Check them out if you haven’t read then!

This book picks up immediately after the cliffhanger that was the ending of Binti: Home, and throws you right back into the action and the heartbreak that Binti is going through. I highly recommend rereading before you open this one up, because you might otherwise find yourself confused. However, you will never find yourself disappointed.

Yet again, I found myself absolutely sucked into this world, feeling every single one of Binti’s emotions as if they were my own. This story grabbed me by the throat and never let me go.

Nnedi Okorafor does an amazing job of combining the wonders of space with the wonders that are right here on Earth. This was another five star read for me. You can pick up a copy on the store or Indiebound!

Binti: The Night Masquerade is the conclusion to Nnedi Okorafor's spellbinding series of novellas. It follows directly on from Binti: Home, which may come as a relief to readers anxious about the cliffhanger ending.

There's a lot packed into this novella, which is reflective of the many identities with which Binti is coming to terms. It's a story that put me in mind of the lines from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself": Do I contradict myself?/ Very well, I contradict myself;/ (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Like the poem, Binti contains many identities, with each book adding more. These identities don't always sit easily together; in The Night Masquerade, we see more of how the angry, warlike Meduse part of Binti conflicts with her identity as a harmonizer. We also see Binti exploring her heritage as one of the Desert People, a minority she has been taught to look down on. These conflicting identities make Binti a complex and interesting character.

One of my favourite things about this book was the way Binti isn't above reproach. She has flaws, makes assumptions and mistakes. However, she learns from these and strives to do better and treat others with respect.

This internal exploration is balanced with external conflict, as fighting between the Khoush and the Meduse breaks out once more. This aspect of the book touches on themes of good faith and the impact large warring forces have on the individuals around them (and vice versa). It's a violent story, but this is in keeping with the series--particularly the first book.

The settings throughout the book were evocative, forming characters in their own right. The desert in particular has a wonderful presence, conveying the sense of home Binti feels.

There were a number of twists in the last third of the book. Not all of them worked for me, though I did find them thought-provoking.

Overall, Binti: The Night Masquerade was a satisfying conclusion to what has been a fascinating trilogy.

The third and final installment in the series! This installment showed such vivid creativity and wonderful world building in a brilliant conclusion! I have to say i am deeply in love with this world by now. I’m sad to see it end and would love to see more or maybe a spin off in this wold setting.

In this installment I feel like we finally see Binti find her own voice and truly become who she is meant to be both spiritually and as a person. The prose of this writer keeps me hooked. The story grows more and more imaginative and the world builds upon itself in each installment.

Binti’s friendship has grown and you see how much more relateable she becomes. She finally accepts her power and realizes who is she is without letting it change her or make her into some conceited. You see how culture is expanded and how each one differs and what it means to be apart of that one you belong to. I love seeing how you can fight for a cause and stand up to the adversity without being violent. Kind of reminds me of a sci-fi Harry Potter in its elements like that. 5/5 stars from me.

Since the last book ended on a major cliffhanger, I was eager to read the conclusion. And, the author did not disappoint! I found Binti’s African heritage to be a great way to explore SciFi.

In the first story, Binti defied tradition to travel off-world to an alien university, and found herself in the center of a war between Meduse and Koush. In the second novella, she traveled home with her Meduse friend Okwu along for the visit. She struggles with her new outsider status, discovers her heritage was not what she was lead to believe and gets caught up in world-shattering events once again. In this conclusion, the war reignites and Binti must not only embrace major changes in herself, but also help her people to do so as well.

I loved how unpredictable this story was! Despite the short length, the story had several exciting twists and went in unexpected directions. Okorafor’s world-building is excellent, especially the African cultural aspects, but she didn’t shy from breaking it down either. Tradition can often be used as a cover for prejudice and intransience, and Binti can fall into the trap as easily as anyone. Overall, this conclusion was satisfying, but I truly hope the author returns to this world in the future. Highly recommended, and I will definitely read more from this author.

Final note: as with the first two parts, this is not a full novel and is still way overpriced. I much prefer books to ebook, but in this case, I would recommend people buy the Kindle versions. However, I would love to see all three novellas packaged together as a special edition hardcover.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from Netgalley.

Binti: The Night Masquerade concludes the saga of one of the more memorable, compelling characters in recent speculative fiction, Binti Ekeopara Zuzu Dambu Kaipka of Namib. The length (200 pages) allows author Nnedi Okorafor to resolve the multiple plot lines of the first two shorter volumes in the trilogy. This volume is especially satisfying in that it fills out some of the plot devices from the first two books, giving a richer context to the events that some early reviews derided as deus ex machina. I enjoyed the first two books, accepting the plot shortcuts as part of the package in a novella. Now that the series is completed, it feels more like a serialized novel than three different novellas. Taken together, they (it?) tell of a talented young person's struggle to come to terms with surviving an episode of genocidal violence. Binti: The Night Masquerade also shows the protagonist overcoming the social limits of her own nonviolent, but patriarchal culture.

In this concluding novella, Okorafor continues to incorporate the traditions of the real Himba people of Namibia to great effect. She does not romanticize the Himba, but frankly shows Binti pushing at the limits imposed by a culture that sees women's roles as fixed and not to be questioned by even a gifted "master harmonizer." Binti also discovers the human actions that lie behind what she had perceived as supernatural.

Okarafor treats interplanetary difference with the same complexity as she does the Himba culture. Fans of complex world-building will marvel at Binti's multi-layered galaxy, which includes deep intercultural misunderstandings and long-lasting hostility that are not erased by its technological marvels. The conflict between the Meduse and Khoush is not easily resolved, nor is Binti able to simply forget about the former's mass slaughter of the latter on board Third Fish in the first novella. She works with a therapist to control her panic attacks triggered by the scent of blood or even the color red, and this self-care helps her cope with the further challenges she faces in the series' conclusion. Through all her transformations, Binti is a hero for our times.

This is the third book in the Binti science fiction series that is set in a very believable future where races from all over the galaxy send their best students to Oomza University to study at the highest level.
Binti, is a member of the African Himba tribe, and she is the first person of her desert people to travel across the galaxy to the distant university called Oomza to study advanced mathematics. Binti must find out more about her exceptional heritage and the almost magical abilities she has.
But, she must also find a way to try and prevent an all out war from destroying her best friend Okwu and his race of Meduse as they confront the war-like race of Khoush.
I think this final book in the series is amazing. It is almost three times longer than the first book, and Nnedi Okorafor took advantage of every page to expand upon the world she created.
I highly recommend this book!

More, please? I received the Kindle edition last night and did not sleep until it was read. Such wonderful, imaginative trilogy. I am very sorry to have reached the end and truly hope it is not the end. This is a well developed original universe that would be a delight to further explore.
This story contained original ideas about the nature of the universe that were sometimes hard for me to grasp. But the magic of a great storyteller made even the most genuinely alien characters truly interesting and Binti is both endearingly a human girl and fascinatingly different all at the same time. Likewise the story to my Western mind has many unique and unfamiliar elements and yet was absolutely engrossing and included enough familiar story arcs to be deeply satisfying. Highly reccomended for any age group (I am in my 50's but my teen age daughter would enjoy this also).

I've enjoyed the characters and Afrofuturism concepts of the Binti novellas, but this last book in Nnedi Okorafor's sci-fi trilogy is the only one that's really soared for me. Although just as short as the previous volumes, it lacks their abruptness, and manages to both tell a solid story of its own and wrap up the overall narrative arc of the series. Binti is a great character poised as an ambassador figure between warring worlds and cultures, and I'm glad she gets to go out in a story that showcases her so well.

Binti's story comes full circle. She is no longer a girl leaving home to find herself but is a woman who comes home and transforms herself; she stands up for herself and for peace. I was not expecting Binti's identity to become even more complex in Binti 3. Nnedi Okorafor outdoes herself here. It was solid ending to a fascinating trilogy. Can't wait for more of Nnedi's books to come out. She has become one of my favorite authors.

On a superficial level this entertains and I liked the well constructed alias alongside the trace of ancient DNA. There is even a moral message in Binti's endeavor to strike harmony amongst the warring community.

There was a good amount throughout that was just so far fetched as to strain any credibility but, after all, this is fiction, albeit science fiction.

Another wonderful story... Binti is a strong, amazing, wonderful young woman who pulled me in to her story in the first book and made me happy I stayed until the end of the trilogy.
I recommend this book to all young ladies so they can see that no matter the adversities they face they can overcome and go on to wonderfulness.

I cannot praise this book series and Nnedi Okorafor enough. I found myself in awe of how Okorafor so seemingly effortlessly is able to create such a creative and dynamic world in so few pages. She stretched the limits of my own imagination in ways that have not been challenged since childhood. In the worlds that Okorafor create, the unimaginable truly becomes tangible and visceral. She takes you beyond your imagination to create new realities and that is the highest form of art that one can encounter.

In Binti’s journey the idea of different-ness and brokenness are explored so thoroughly as to be celebratory and healing. Binti personifies chaotic good living within chaotic trauma. How does one incorporate all of those pieces of oneself that may expel us from our own society? How do we embrace our other-ness without cynicism and bitterness towards those who use it as an excuse to shun us? How can we use what makes us an outlier to shape the world around us for the better? At what point do we allow ourselves to rest in the realization of our other-ness and when does our other-ness become a call to action?

Read this series. Let it shape you. Let it move you. Let it stretch the boundaries of your imagination and allow you to live in a new and terrifyingly beautiful reality.

Really enjoyed the end of the Binti trilogy, if indeed it is the end. I'm most interested in seeing how this story ultimately fits with Okorafor's other works, especially the Who Fears Death cycle. It may be that they just use similar source material, but I can't help feeling there's more of a direct narrative connection, as if they are different times in the same universe. I suppose we'll see. Quite a good read regardless.

Binti's story comes full circle. She is no longer a girl leaving home to find herself but is a woman who comes home and transforms herself; she stands up for herself and for peace. I was not expecting Binti's identity to become even more complex in Binti 3. Nnedi Okorafor outdoes herself here. It was solid ending to a fascinating trilogy. Can't wait for more of Nnedi's books to come out. She has become one of my favorite authors.

On a superficial level this entertains and I liked the well constructed alias alongside the trace of ancient DNA. There is even a moral message in Binti's endeavor to strike harmony amongst the warring community.

There was a good amount throughout that was just so far fetched as to strain any credibility but, after all, this is fiction, albeit science fiction.

Another wonderful story... Binti is a strong, amazing, wonderful young woman who pulled me in to her story in the first book and made me happy I stayed until the end of the trilogy.
I recommend this book to all young ladies so they can see that no matter the adversities they face they can overcome and go on to wonderfulness.

Just finished this seconds ago and immediately had to start telling as many people as possible to read the whole series. Binti and Okwu and Mwinyi will now fly along with me in New Fish (never more than five miles away) for the rest of my life.

I cannot praise this book series and Nnedi Okorafor enough. I found myself in awe of how Okorafor so seemingly effortlessly is able to create such a creative and dynamic world in so few pages. She stretched the limits of my own imagination in ways that have not been challenged since childhood. In the worlds that Okorafor create, the unimaginable truly becomes tangible and visceral. She takes you beyond your imagination to create new realities and that is the highest form of art that one can encounter.

In Binti’s journey the idea of different-ness and brokenness are explored so thoroughly as to be celebratory and healing. Binti personifies chaotic good living within chaotic trauma. How does one incorporate all of those pieces of oneself that may expel us from our own society? How do we embrace our other-ness without cynicism and bitterness towards those who use it as an excuse to shun us? How can we use what makes us an outlier to shape the world around us for the better? At what point do we allow ourselves to rest in the realization of our other-ness and when does our other-ness become a call to action?

Read this series. Let it shape you. Let it move you. Let it stretch the boundaries of your imagination and allow you to live in a new and terrifyingly beautiful reality.

Really enjoyed the end of the Binti trilogy, if indeed it is the end. I'm most interested in seeing how this story ultimately fits with Okorafor's other works, especially the Who Fears Death cycle. It may be that they just use similar source material, but I can't help feeling there's more of a direct narrative connection, as if they are different times in the same universe. I suppose we'll see. Quite a good read regardless.

One of my favorite collections , I hope she continues this story line. She does such a good job telling the COMPLETE story! I always feel satisfied all questions are answered yet hungry for more at the same time. Great collection!