What do you think?
Rate this book
Forever Desert #2
The Truth of the Aleke
Moses Ose Utomi returns to his Forever Desert series with The Truth of the Aleke , continuing his epic fable about truth, falsehood, and the shackles of history.
The Aleke is cruel. The Aleke is clever. The Aleke is coming.
500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , the City of Truth stands as is the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered the near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged it for three centuries, attempting to destroy its warriors and subjugate its people.
17-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the City. When the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God's Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home. For his bravery he is tasked with a tremendous responsibility―destroy the Cult of Tutu, bring back the God's Eyes, and discover the truth of the Aleke.
The Forever Desert series
The Lies of the Ajungo
The Truth of the Aleke
The Aleke is cruel. The Aleke is clever. The Aleke is coming.
500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , the City of Truth stands as is the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered the near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged it for three centuries, attempting to destroy its warriors and subjugate its people.
17-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the City. When the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God's Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home. For his bravery he is tasked with a tremendous responsibility―destroy the Cult of Tutu, bring back the God's Eyes, and discover the truth of the Aleke.
The Forever Desert series
The Lies of the Ajungo
The Truth of the Aleke
103 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
February 24, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
I think this was even better than the first novella in the series, and a story with deeper character work and more nuance. The authors note at the end offers context to what this story is trying to accomplish, but at its core this is about power, evil, and what it's like to become disillusioned about what you thought was true and what you thought was right. Excellent. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I think this was even better than the first novella in the series, and a story with deeper character work and more nuance. The authors note at the end offers context to what this story is trying to accomplish, but at its core this is about power, evil, and what it's like to become disillusioned about what you thought was true and what you thought was right. Excellent. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 18, 2024
“The Lies of The Ajungo” (1st book of The Forever Desert series) was one of my favorite read last year, it was only 100ish pages short book (a novella) but it was so wellwritten with great characterization, amazing worldbuilding and engaging plot.. It truely gave me amazing experience even tho ofcourse it felt short.. now Moses Ose Utomi back with the second book “The Truth Of The Aleke” and i immediately dive into it the second i got the ebook! and it was JUST AS GOOD AS BOOK 1 😍😍 Moses Ose Utomi did it again!!
The event on this book happened 500 years after the event on “The Lies Of The Ajungo” This time we follow Osi, a young man who just want to contribute to his city “The City Of Truth” and became a warrior like his father, The City Of Truth is in war with The Aleke, evil warlord who want to conquered them. Raised with story about how cruel but clever The Aleke is Osi accidently choosen as a “Truthseeker” a special warrior of 4 with magical ability & skill to fight The Aleke… BUT soon Osi learned that war is actually far from simple, his enemy also own their complex reason to attack them
“I will not help you win this war,” he said. “But I will help you bring peace.”
This is a story about sacrifice, truth, power, action and being true to yourself, i really wish this series got more recognition it deserved and i cannot wait to see what’s Moses Ose Utomi has in store for the next book 😍😍
The event on this book happened 500 years after the event on “The Lies Of The Ajungo” This time we follow Osi, a young man who just want to contribute to his city “The City Of Truth” and became a warrior like his father, The City Of Truth is in war with The Aleke, evil warlord who want to conquered them. Raised with story about how cruel but clever The Aleke is Osi accidently choosen as a “Truthseeker” a special warrior of 4 with magical ability & skill to fight The Aleke… BUT soon Osi learned that war is actually far from simple, his enemy also own their complex reason to attack them
“I will not help you win this war,” he said. “But I will help you bring peace.”
This is a story about sacrifice, truth, power, action and being true to yourself, i really wish this series got more recognition it deserved and i cannot wait to see what’s Moses Ose Utomi has in store for the next book 😍😍
February 29, 2024
4.5/5
"Truth is a cruel teacher. It does not appease.It does not reconsider. Its lessons vary in delivery - sometimes tickling in over decades, sometimes crashing down all at once - but consistently disregard the desires of the student.
The Truth of the Aleke is an excellent sequel to The Lies of the Ayungo. It's self-contained and technically works as a standalone, but I highly encourage you to read the series in the publication order. It'll make the impact of the ending much stronger.
Five hundred years have passed since the events of The Lies of The Ajungo, and history has replaced truth. The City of Truth and its leaders have been at war with the Cult of Tutu and its cruel leader, Aleke, for three centuries. Both sides of the conflict have different versions of history, with neither fully interested in the truth.
Young Osi believes his city stands as the final bastion in the fight against the ruthless hordes of Aleke, who bring nothing but suffering and destruction. Aleke's actions seem to confirm his belief: their attacks leave the city wrecked and its citizens massacred. Osi survives (not gonna tell you how) and embarks on a quest to defeat Aleke and retrieve the ancient magical artifacts stolen from the City during the bloodbath.
His journey into the desert reveals the depth of the lies. And Osi's fate is brutal and gut-wrenching. Osi is a flawed and naive hero, desperate for truth, and easily manipulated by others. His desire for glory blinds him and results in rather poor choices. The clash of his youthful idealism with the harsh realities of the world and political cunning is painful to watch.
I loved how Utomi approached themes of truth, power, and history, showing their ambiguity and complexity. The way he packed excellent world-building in just 112 pages impressed me, too. And I can't forget about awesome action sequences and awesome magical powers that enhance the readability of the story.
The Forever Desert is shaping to be a brilliant trilogy of novellas somewhere on the intersection of dark fantasy and fable. I can’t wait to read the last one in the series.
"Truth is a cruel teacher. It does not appease.It does not reconsider. Its lessons vary in delivery - sometimes tickling in over decades, sometimes crashing down all at once - but consistently disregard the desires of the student.
The Truth of the Aleke is an excellent sequel to The Lies of the Ayungo. It's self-contained and technically works as a standalone, but I highly encourage you to read the series in the publication order. It'll make the impact of the ending much stronger.
Five hundred years have passed since the events of The Lies of The Ajungo, and history has replaced truth. The City of Truth and its leaders have been at war with the Cult of Tutu and its cruel leader, Aleke, for three centuries. Both sides of the conflict have different versions of history, with neither fully interested in the truth.
Young Osi believes his city stands as the final bastion in the fight against the ruthless hordes of Aleke, who bring nothing but suffering and destruction. Aleke's actions seem to confirm his belief: their attacks leave the city wrecked and its citizens massacred. Osi survives (not gonna tell you how) and embarks on a quest to defeat Aleke and retrieve the ancient magical artifacts stolen from the City during the bloodbath.
His journey into the desert reveals the depth of the lies. And Osi's fate is brutal and gut-wrenching. Osi is a flawed and naive hero, desperate for truth, and easily manipulated by others. His desire for glory blinds him and results in rather poor choices. The clash of his youthful idealism with the harsh realities of the world and political cunning is painful to watch.
I loved how Utomi approached themes of truth, power, and history, showing their ambiguity and complexity. The way he packed excellent world-building in just 112 pages impressed me, too. And I can't forget about awesome action sequences and awesome magical powers that enhance the readability of the story.
The Forever Desert is shaping to be a brilliant trilogy of novellas somewhere on the intersection of dark fantasy and fable. I can’t wait to read the last one in the series.
March 12, 2024
the lies of the ajungo was one of my absolute favorite reads of last year and it seemed like the truth of the aleke was gearing up to be the same - the writing is as strong as ever and i was really hooked and absorbed - until the last few pages. this has one of the strangest endings i've read in a long time, i'm still scratching my head over it. the ending just feels unsatisfying and a bit pointless. like we really went through all that just for it to come to....this?
June 2, 2024
4.5 stars
In The Truth of the Aleke, Utomi returns to the brutal Forever Desert and once again crafts an unforgettable modern fable that will crush your soul in just a few pages.
Taking place 500 years after the first novella, The Lies of the Ajungo, this story follows the young Osi as his relatively quiet life is turned brutally upside down by a brutal attack from the Cult of Tutu on his city. Through a series of miraculously unfortunate events, he finds himself launched into a quest to bring down the leader of the Cult, but the truth of the Aleke is nothing like he ever could have imagined.
Now, I’ll have to admit I was nervous to see if Utomi would be able to recapture the same magic from the first novella, but that concern flew straight out the window the moment I read the first page. Though this sequel maintains most of its fable-like quality that made its predecessor so unique, I actually think the more intimate and character-driven storytelling in The Truth of the Aleke increased the brilliance and impact of the narrative.
Osi is a much more emotionally complex protagonist than Tutu was, but that only endeared him more to me. All his virtues and vices are on full display, and I loved how Utomi played around with the idea of heroism and the typical hero’s journey through his quest. Osi is allowed to be flawed and messy, and his actions are shown to have dire and devastating consequences, which I absolutely loved (even though it broke my heart).
Moreover, by creating such a large time-gap between the first and second novella, Utomi was able to really hit home the themes and messages that lie at the core of this narrative. Especially the themes of corruption, the vicious cycles of war, and of history being just another fantastical story written by the people with the most power shine bright in this novella, which makes this both a very timely and (unfortunately) timeless story that will resonate with any and all humans who have witnessed these atrocities in the real world over and over again.
Even though this technically works as a self-contained story, I really think you would do yourself a disservice by not reading the series in release order. The way that the legacy of characters in The Lies of the Ajungo has been twisted over time was both very fascinating and disheartening to see, and I already can’t wait to see how the events of this novella are going to influence the future of the Forever Desert in the upcoming finale of this series.
I can't truly say I enjoyed reading this novella considering how harrowing its events are, but that is exactly why I love it so much. If you like the idea of being transported into a lush desert fantasy setting that will fill you with wonder, while also being taken on a difficult journey that confronts and challenges you with some of the most uncomfortable moral and ethical quandaries, then I can't recommend The Truth of the Aleke highly enough. Utomi is a master at his craft, and I absolutely want to read anything and everything he ever writes, thank you very much!
In The Truth of the Aleke, Utomi returns to the brutal Forever Desert and once again crafts an unforgettable modern fable that will crush your soul in just a few pages.
Taking place 500 years after the first novella, The Lies of the Ajungo, this story follows the young Osi as his relatively quiet life is turned brutally upside down by a brutal attack from the Cult of Tutu on his city. Through a series of miraculously unfortunate events, he finds himself launched into a quest to bring down the leader of the Cult, but the truth of the Aleke is nothing like he ever could have imagined.
Now, I’ll have to admit I was nervous to see if Utomi would be able to recapture the same magic from the first novella, but that concern flew straight out the window the moment I read the first page. Though this sequel maintains most of its fable-like quality that made its predecessor so unique, I actually think the more intimate and character-driven storytelling in The Truth of the Aleke increased the brilliance and impact of the narrative.
Osi is a much more emotionally complex protagonist than Tutu was, but that only endeared him more to me. All his virtues and vices are on full display, and I loved how Utomi played around with the idea of heroism and the typical hero’s journey through his quest. Osi is allowed to be flawed and messy, and his actions are shown to have dire and devastating consequences, which I absolutely loved (even though it broke my heart).
Moreover, by creating such a large time-gap between the first and second novella, Utomi was able to really hit home the themes and messages that lie at the core of this narrative. Especially the themes of corruption, the vicious cycles of war, and of history being just another fantastical story written by the people with the most power shine bright in this novella, which makes this both a very timely and (unfortunately) timeless story that will resonate with any and all humans who have witnessed these atrocities in the real world over and over again.
Even though this technically works as a self-contained story, I really think you would do yourself a disservice by not reading the series in release order. The way that the legacy of characters in The Lies of the Ajungo has been twisted over time was both very fascinating and disheartening to see, and I already can’t wait to see how the events of this novella are going to influence the future of the Forever Desert in the upcoming finale of this series.
I can't truly say I enjoyed reading this novella considering how harrowing its events are, but that is exactly why I love it so much. If you like the idea of being transported into a lush desert fantasy setting that will fill you with wonder, while also being taken on a difficult journey that confronts and challenges you with some of the most uncomfortable moral and ethical quandaries, then I can't recommend The Truth of the Aleke highly enough. Utomi is a master at his craft, and I absolutely want to read anything and everything he ever writes, thank you very much!
January 25, 2024
Definitely a solid 4.5.
After loving The Lies of the Ajungo, I just had to read this one immediately and though it’s a fundamentally different kind of story, the author does a great job with the twists and turns in this one, even more than the first book.
I’ll keep this review short because I feel that this book works best if one doesn’t know what to expect from it. It did take me a while for me to start liking it though coz the protagonist Osi isn’t immediately endearing like Tutu, and it was only after finishing the book and going over his whole character arc (and especially reading the author’s note) that I realized what his character was all about.
If the first book was about what the powerful would do to hoard their power, this one is about the perils of distorted history and keeping a populace ignorant; how people believing naively in their own righteousness maybe gullible to manipulation; how realizing that one has been lied to all their life can lead to disillusionment and may have unforeseen far reaching consequences.
Overall, I’m just very glad to have read these two novellas now even though I missed the first one in 2023. But now I have to wait for probably a year for the final third and it���s gonna be long and eagerly awaited. I’m very impressed by the author’s writing and very excited to see what more surprises the author has for us in the next. And to anyone new to this series, you can start with either book first and experience this superb world and characters.
After loving The Lies of the Ajungo, I just had to read this one immediately and though it’s a fundamentally different kind of story, the author does a great job with the twists and turns in this one, even more than the first book.
I’ll keep this review short because I feel that this book works best if one doesn’t know what to expect from it. It did take me a while for me to start liking it though coz the protagonist Osi isn’t immediately endearing like Tutu, and it was only after finishing the book and going over his whole character arc (and especially reading the author’s note) that I realized what his character was all about.
If the first book was about what the powerful would do to hoard their power, this one is about the perils of distorted history and keeping a populace ignorant; how people believing naively in their own righteousness maybe gullible to manipulation; how realizing that one has been lied to all their life can lead to disillusionment and may have unforeseen far reaching consequences.
Overall, I’m just very glad to have read these two novellas now even though I missed the first one in 2023. But now I have to wait for probably a year for the final third and it���s gonna be long and eagerly awaited. I’m very impressed by the author’s writing and very excited to see what more surprises the author has for us in the next. And to anyone new to this series, you can start with either book first and experience this superb world and characters.
April 13, 2024
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up
Rep: Black boy protagonist, Black characters, desert setting, disabled characters
TW: classim, violence (resulting in loss of limbs), war, death, brutalization of children, child soldiers, corruption
Although this review will not contain any spoilers forThe Truth of the Aleke I would advise not reading this, if you do not wish to be spoiled for any of the events of book one,The Lies of the Ajungo .
My sincere apologies for not posting my written review sooner. I excitedly gobbled this book up, posted some video reviews and then procrastinated writing this one. I hope you can forgive me. /j
This review is actually a bit difficult to write, the The Truth of the Aleke is the sequel to The Lies of the Ajungo . There is not a ton I can say that will not spoil the book, because yet again, Utomi has shown us that he has a crafty mind. I’ll backtrack for a bit and say that I read The Lies of the Ajungo in either August or September of 2023 and I truly loved it. For such a small book, it packed an immense punch, the sequel is still rather short, but does slightly exceed one hundred pages. Initially, I was not as enamored with our protagonist, Osi, the same way I was with Tutu. It’s not that he was unlikeable, he was simply a different character, more stubborn, a bit arrogant, very steadfast, which contrasted with Tutu’s resilience, innocence, and sheer determination to help his Ma, his people. They did serve as parallels, sometimes even mirrors, during this story which was imperative.
The book picks up 500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , but everything we read previously holds relevance. I did have some separation between reading the books as I read my e-ARC in late January of this year. That did provide a reading experience that was conducive to this story, because much like the people of the land I was navigating truths from lies, truths from half-truths and crafty omissions. I definitely do not recommend reading this if you remember nothing from the first book, but some time between is fine and also you can always read them back to back for the most refreshed reading experience. Honestly, I do not want to say much more except pay attention and enjoy the story.
The last piece I will leave you with is to ensure you do not skip the acknowledgements when you read this one. The first page or so really serves as more of an Author’s Note, a very rewarding one to boot, once you have finished. I’m very excited and mildly anxious to read the third and final installment, hopefully in 2025 (I have no idea about the pub date).
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up
Rep: Black boy protagonist, Black characters, desert setting, disabled characters
TW: classim, violence (resulting in loss of limbs), war, death, brutalization of children, child soldiers, corruption
Although this review will not contain any spoilers forThe Truth of the Aleke I would advise not reading this, if you do not wish to be spoiled for any of the events of book one,The Lies of the Ajungo .
My sincere apologies for not posting my written review sooner. I excitedly gobbled this book up, posted some video reviews and then procrastinated writing this one. I hope you can forgive me. /j
This review is actually a bit difficult to write, the The Truth of the Aleke is the sequel to The Lies of the Ajungo . There is not a ton I can say that will not spoil the book, because yet again, Utomi has shown us that he has a crafty mind. I’ll backtrack for a bit and say that I read The Lies of the Ajungo in either August or September of 2023 and I truly loved it. For such a small book, it packed an immense punch, the sequel is still rather short, but does slightly exceed one hundred pages. Initially, I was not as enamored with our protagonist, Osi, the same way I was with Tutu. It’s not that he was unlikeable, he was simply a different character, more stubborn, a bit arrogant, very steadfast, which contrasted with Tutu’s resilience, innocence, and sheer determination to help his Ma, his people. They did serve as parallels, sometimes even mirrors, during this story which was imperative.
The book picks up 500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , but everything we read previously holds relevance. I did have some separation between reading the books as I read my e-ARC in late January of this year. That did provide a reading experience that was conducive to this story, because much like the people of the land I was navigating truths from lies, truths from half-truths and crafty omissions. I definitely do not recommend reading this if you remember nothing from the first book, but some time between is fine and also you can always read them back to back for the most refreshed reading experience. Honestly, I do not want to say much more except pay attention and enjoy the story.
The last piece I will leave you with is to ensure you do not skip the acknowledgements when you read this one. The first page or so really serves as more of an Author’s Note, a very rewarding one to boot, once you have finished. I’m very excited and mildly anxious to read the third and final installment, hopefully in 2025 (I have no idea about the pub date).
March 30, 2024
#1) The Lies of the Ajungo ★★★☆☆
we're getting more from this world! ♥
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
January 21, 2024
I have such mixed feelings about this instalment because I didn’t necessarily enjoy the reading process…. But after reading the after note from the author I GET IT and I am now frothing at the mouth for book 3.
This book is not as enjoyable as book 1 but I now understand that it’s not meant to be. Osi is not the same character archetype as Tutu and the story doesn’t unfold in the way that readers are familiar with.
That being said, this book is equally as captivating and beautifully written as book 1 and the setup is destined for an explosive conclusion.
Probably 3.5⭐️
This book is not as enjoyable as book 1 but I now understand that it’s not meant to be. Osi is not the same character archetype as Tutu and the story doesn’t unfold in the way that readers are familiar with.
That being said, this book is equally as captivating and beautifully written as book 1 and the setup is destined for an explosive conclusion.
Probably 3.5⭐️
March 3, 2024
My thanks go out to the publisher and netgalley for offering me access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
While I initially thought I was gonna end up loving this one less than I did the Lies of the Ajungo, the final 10% made me reconsider. I thought I had the story figured out, turns out I was still in for a surprise.
I like the insights the author shares about this in his afterword and it is the sentiments he shares there that explain why I ultimately think this one is gonna take the cake.but mind you, I thoroughly enjoyed both and I thought both were really impressive. Very eager to see what the author will do in book 3.
While I initially thought I was gonna end up loving this one less than I did the Lies of the Ajungo, the final 10% made me reconsider. I thought I had the story figured out, turns out I was still in for a surprise.
I like the insights the author shares about this in his afterword and it is the sentiments he shares there that explain why I ultimately think this one is gonna take the cake.but mind you, I thoroughly enjoyed both and I thought both were really impressive. Very eager to see what the author will do in book 3.
May 7, 2024
Dare I say this was even better than the first installment? To start, this novella's characterizations are much more complex, with several in-depth layers to Osi's character. I found myself emotionally invested almost immediately. It also maintains the mixture of fable and fantasy, which I loved from the first novella, while taking on a darker, more tangled element in this installment. If you're wondering whether or not you should continue The Forever Desert series, please please do!!!
March 17, 2024
"Do you know why I will never trust your Truthseekers, young Osi?" he asked. "Because they are powerful. Many people liken power to a spear. Or an oba. But is it neither. Power is like water." He rolled the die. One. "It is not loyal. It is not honest. It has no desire but to grow." He rolled again. One. "Even when defeated, it simply changes shape or place, filling any vacuum it finds, persisting until the day it can resume its growth."
Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, for the chance to read and review this book.
I was a big fan of the first book, The Lies of the Ajungo, and was really excited to read this one! Moses Ose Utomi has a distinctive style of writing that carries through both books. Both books unpack power and what people will do to maintain it. Both leave you feeling unsettled, and this one doesn't have the happiest of endings either. I also really appreciate how this book told the story of another city where Tutu is considered something else entirely.
That being said, the characters of this book, while realistic, fell flat. We don't need to have a clear good or bad thing happening, but some more details could have helped them become more distinctive and allowed some personality to make them more discernible; Hizo is the one who gives us the most in that regard.
"You numb yourself," Hizojie said. He was away from them, sitting with his head leaned back against the lunch table bench, staring at the sky. His voice lacked its usual bite. It was soft and calm, as sincere as Osi had ever heard it. "A Seer does not suffer when he steps on the sand. Because he feels nothing for the sand. That is all people are, Osi. Grains of sand. Burn them, crush them, step on them. You will learn to feel nothing."
Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, for the chance to read and review this book.
I was a big fan of the first book, The Lies of the Ajungo, and was really excited to read this one! Moses Ose Utomi has a distinctive style of writing that carries through both books. Both books unpack power and what people will do to maintain it. Both leave you feeling unsettled, and this one doesn't have the happiest of endings either. I also really appreciate how this book told the story of another city where Tutu is considered something else entirely.
That being said, the characters of this book, while realistic, fell flat. We don't need to have a clear good or bad thing happening, but some more details could have helped them become more distinctive and allowed some personality to make them more discernible; Hizo is the one who gives us the most in that regard.
"You numb yourself," Hizojie said. He was away from them, sitting with his head leaned back against the lunch table bench, staring at the sky. His voice lacked its usual bite. It was soft and calm, as sincere as Osi had ever heard it. "A Seer does not suffer when he steps on the sand. Because he feels nothing for the sand. That is all people are, Osi. Grains of sand. Burn them, crush them, step on them. You will learn to feel nothing."
January 2, 2024
I thought since this book takes place 500 years after the first book set in the Forever Desert, it wouldn’t be a big deal if I read it first. Now I wish I had read The Lies of the Ajungo first. This entry is what the story from the first book becomes after 500 years of retelling.
The Truth of the Aleke is a stylized fable, repeating certain phrases like one does when telling a fairy tale. I found some of the writing quite entrancing, but the story itself is as simple in the telling as a fairy tale. He did this, this happened; he did this, this happened.
I’m not sure what the moral of this fable is. The main character The author acknowledges this book’s connection to what happened on 9/11. “It was a cruel and chaotic time when the dichotomy of allies and enemies, of good and evil, ceased to make sense.” I guess that’s as good a way to describe The Truth of the Aleke as any. It’s depressing and puzzling. I keep puzzling over what it means, which I suppose is a victory for the author.
I’m not sure whether I will go back and read the The Lies of the Ajungo, or if I will read the third book. The Forever Desert is not a happy place to spend time.
I read an advance reader copy of The Truth of the Aleke.
The Truth of the Aleke is a stylized fable, repeating certain phrases like one does when telling a fairy tale. I found some of the writing quite entrancing, but the story itself is as simple in the telling as a fairy tale. He did this, this happened; he did this, this happened.
I’m not sure what the moral of this fable is. The main character The author acknowledges this book’s connection to what happened on 9/11. “It was a cruel and chaotic time when the dichotomy of allies and enemies, of good and evil, ceased to make sense.” I guess that’s as good a way to describe The Truth of the Aleke as any. It’s depressing and puzzling. I keep puzzling over what it means, which I suppose is a victory for the author.
I’m not sure whether I will go back and read the The Lies of the Ajungo, or if I will read the third book. The Forever Desert is not a happy place to spend time.
I read an advance reader copy of The Truth of the Aleke.
March 4, 2024
4.5*
Another fabulous installment in the Forever Desert series! Man, the author has a way of pulling you into the world and characters in so few pages! Just like its predecessor, we are treated to a glimpse of the world, though much time has passed since the first book. Still, the characters and plot are incredibly compelling, and I felt so very emotionally connected to the characters. There are moments of humor mixed in with the more serious matters at hand, and I just found this an equally strong installment. If you have not yet started this series… well, what the heck are you waiting for?
Bottom Line: Great commentary, amazing characters, and a very intriguing world, I cannot wait for book 3!
Another fabulous installment in the Forever Desert series! Man, the author has a way of pulling you into the world and characters in so few pages! Just like its predecessor, we are treated to a glimpse of the world, though much time has passed since the first book. Still, the characters and plot are incredibly compelling, and I felt so very emotionally connected to the characters. There are moments of humor mixed in with the more serious matters at hand, and I just found this an equally strong installment. If you have not yet started this series… well, what the heck are you waiting for?
Bottom Line: Great commentary, amazing characters, and a very intriguing world, I cannot wait for book 3!
April 14, 2024
A deeply complex sequel, I loved it so much. Utomi writes about truth and propaganda with eviscerating insight into our present days and conflicts.
June 5, 2024
I was very curious as to how this book would go, especially considering that there is a third book, and I was not disappointed. The cycle of violence and power rolls on.
June 16, 2024
4.5 stars
June 14, 2024
Maybe 2.5? Not as impactful as the first one and despite it being longer I really felt that not much happened. History do be repeating itself huh.
March 17, 2024
3.5⭐️
May 20, 2024
“He revisited memories in the way of a rejected lover, searching in vain for the moment that would explain everything, not realizing that moment had occurred in the heart, a place he couldn’t see.”
Book 2 starts half a millenia after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo. Truth be told I didn’t even know there was a book 2 till I checked goodreads. The Lies of the Ajungo had such a satisfying conclusion and stands alone really well. I loved it and was excited to find out that there was a sequel. Jumped in immediately.
It was interesting reading how differently the history is being perceived in the current times when the actual events were very different (from Book 1.) The book was also much slower paced than Book 1. Osi is not as likable a protagonist as Tutu was. But he’s more real. The plot takes a backseat and we get a much more character driven story this time around. Osi goes through a much bigger character arc than Tutu’s. The politics of the world are much more complex than in Book 1 and as a result Osi’s journey and growth involves a lot more nuance.
The undoing of the book comes in the ending. In book 1, the ending was an absolute highlight. There was a series of reveals, each elevating the stakes and the story higher. It was very satisfying and I was convinced it was a standalone. In this one, the ending falls flat. It was a case of “and we’re here” after a long journey. The twist was very predictable and the story is left incomplete. It doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. The whole book just feels like a prologue. Textbook middle book syndrome - doesn’t live up to the first book, basically serves as a setup for the third-book.
The writing was still very strong and I’m definitely going to pick up Book 3 when it comes out. I’m just not very eager to.
“Truth is a cruel teacher. It does not appease. It does not reconsider. Its lessons vary in delivery- sometimes trickling in over decades, sometimes crashing down all at once- but consistently disregard the desires of the student.”
Book 2 starts half a millenia after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo. Truth be told I didn’t even know there was a book 2 till I checked goodreads. The Lies of the Ajungo had such a satisfying conclusion and stands alone really well. I loved it and was excited to find out that there was a sequel. Jumped in immediately.
It was interesting reading how differently the history is being perceived in the current times when the actual events were very different (from Book 1.) The book was also much slower paced than Book 1. Osi is not as likable a protagonist as Tutu was. But he’s more real. The plot takes a backseat and we get a much more character driven story this time around. Osi goes through a much bigger character arc than Tutu’s. The politics of the world are much more complex than in Book 1 and as a result Osi’s journey and growth involves a lot more nuance.
The undoing of the book comes in the ending. In book 1, the ending was an absolute highlight. There was a series of reveals, each elevating the stakes and the story higher. It was very satisfying and I was convinced it was a standalone. In this one, the ending falls flat. It was a case of “and we’re here” after a long journey. The twist was very predictable and the story is left incomplete. It doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. The whole book just feels like a prologue. Textbook middle book syndrome - doesn’t live up to the first book, basically serves as a setup for the third-book.
The writing was still very strong and I’m definitely going to pick up Book 3 when it comes out. I’m just not very eager to.
“Truth is a cruel teacher. It does not appease. It does not reconsider. Its lessons vary in delivery- sometimes trickling in over decades, sometimes crashing down all at once- but consistently disregard the desires of the student.”
February 1, 2024
Thank you Tordotcome for the complimentary ARC.
Truth of the Aleke is book 2 in the Forever Desert series. Unfortunately, I didn't love it quite as much as Lies of the Ajungo. This one had much more content, and for the amount of characters, and twists in this story it needed to be longer. At just over 100 pages, I ended up having to reread a couple sections because everything happened so quickly that I was confused. The ending though, left me with my mouth hanging open. I need a book 3! Just a note, if you pick this up, make sure to read the author's note when you're done.
Truth of the Aleke is book 2 in the Forever Desert series. Unfortunately, I didn't love it quite as much as Lies of the Ajungo. This one had much more content, and for the amount of characters, and twists in this story it needed to be longer. At just over 100 pages, I ended up having to reread a couple sections because everything happened so quickly that I was confused. The ending though, left me with my mouth hanging open. I need a book 3! Just a note, if you pick this up, make sure to read the author's note when you're done.
November 30, 2023
This is a fantastic follow-up to one of my favourite reads of 2023, The Lies of the Ajungo. The Truth of the Aleke is at once familiar in tone and style, yet every element from the themes to the characters to the history/worldbuilding feels much more vivid and nuanced. It's incredible how much emotion and detail can be packed into such a short novel, which is a testament to Moses Ose Utomi's fantastic writing.
Osi, the main character, is flawed, tragic, and ultimately quite naive. He makes mistakes, sometimes fatal and devastating ones, in his quest for clarity, which (even until the very end of this book) you're not quite sure he actually finds. Truth or lie, friend or foe, are all muddled and shrouded in mystery and suspicion. The plot twists are genuinely shocking - though maybe that's just because I'm as fallible as Osi.
Overall, this is a great sequel, and I am super excited to see what mindbending twists Book 3 has in store for me!
Thank you to Tor.com and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Osi, the main character, is flawed, tragic, and ultimately quite naive. He makes mistakes, sometimes fatal and devastating ones, in his quest for clarity, which (even until the very end of this book) you're not quite sure he actually finds. Truth or lie, friend or foe, are all muddled and shrouded in mystery and suspicion. The plot twists are genuinely shocking - though maybe that's just because I'm as fallible as Osi.
Overall, this is a great sequel, and I am super excited to see what mindbending twists Book 3 has in store for me!
Thank you to Tor.com and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 13, 2024
The Lies of the Ajungo is one of my favorite novellas. An outstanding showcase of how by cutting the chaff you can get a streamlined and impactful story. Naturally, the moment I realized its sequel was out, I had to read it right away.
And Truth of the Aleke is a fantastic sequel. Maybe even better than the first book. It expands upon the world while showing more detail about the magic and societies that exist within it, all while providing well written characters and wonderful twists.
And Truth of the Aleke is a fantastic sequel. Maybe even better than the first book. It expands upon the world while showing more detail about the magic and societies that exist within it, all while providing well written characters and wonderful twists.
May 16, 2024
“History is only a story, told by those with power to justify why they have it. The truth does not bend to power’s whim.”
The Truth of the Aleke is the second installment int he Forever Desert Series. Utomi is an excellent world builder and great at character development. I loved the exploration of truth, power, and what is behind the stories we are told. Excellent novella.
The Truth of the Aleke is the second installment int he Forever Desert Series. Utomi is an excellent world builder and great at character development. I loved the exploration of truth, power, and what is behind the stories we are told. Excellent novella.
February 3, 2024
Thank you to @tordotcompub for the gifted advanced reading copy!
I was thrilled to return to the world of The Forever Desert that began with The Lies of the Ajungo. The excellent writing and world-building present in the first book I was happy to find was here as well. An interesting turn of events has happened since The Lies of the Ajungo. We are following a new hero and the twists were many!! I had to keep going back and forth and even busted out my copy of Ajungo to check on events. I definitely had a harder time keeping up with ‘who was on first’ in this book but still greatly enjoyed it. The author’s note at the end provided some chilling context to Utomi’s thoughts behind his writing and the underlying messages of the book. Thrilled to see a third book is on its way!
I was thrilled to return to the world of The Forever Desert that began with The Lies of the Ajungo. The excellent writing and world-building present in the first book I was happy to find was here as well. An interesting turn of events has happened since The Lies of the Ajungo. We are following a new hero and the twists were many!! I had to keep going back and forth and even busted out my copy of Ajungo to check on events. I definitely had a harder time keeping up with ‘who was on first’ in this book but still greatly enjoyed it. The author’s note at the end provided some chilling context to Utomi’s thoughts behind his writing and the underlying messages of the book. Thrilled to see a third book is on its way!
June 18, 2024
A wonderful addition to the Forever Desert lore and legends. Back again is the winner gets to tell the story but even that story is carefully cultivated for each individual. The blind faith, the search for truth and being blindsided by what you believed as truth and being a lie
June 19, 2024
Just as amazing and poignant a short tale as the first, but it hits much harder at the end. Also, the inevitable cycle of death and violence and the pursuit of more and more power, truth and lies. This has been an incredible series that packs such a punch in so few words.
May 3, 2024
i know why that ending was the way it was, but it doesn’t mean i have to like it. the plot of this book was understandable but predictable, but im excited to see where the third book ends.
May 15, 2024
Quite disappointing, not captivating and sadly not enjoyable like the first
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews