Lagoon

Lagoon is a science fantasy novel about first contact with aliens in Lagos, Nigeria. The inclusion of superpowers and Nigerian mythology makes it a very unusual kind of science fiction story, and I enjoyed how entwined the Lagos setting was with the story. The perspective jumps wildly between the protagonists and many minor characters, showing the impact of the alien arrival on a wide variety of living things. However, I felt that the constantly shifting perspectives slowed down the plot and kept many of the characters one-dimensional. I was also not completely convinced of the coherence of the aliens' morality, and that led me to be unsatisfied with the way the main plot was eventually resolved. Despite my complaints, it was definitely an original book, and I have never read a first contact story quite like it!

Click below for my full review!