Exclusive Cover Reveal + Q&A: Thrilling African YA Fantasy Debut The Smoke That Thunders

One of the most exhilarating trends in fantasy in recent years in both fantasy and young adult publishing has been the rise of African-inspired and influenced stories. In a world where it feels like every other fantasy novel is set in some thinly veiled pseudo-medieval version of Europe, stories based in entirely new worlds and that feature diverse magical and religious systems are incredibly refreshing and fascinating to read.

This is a big part of the reason why Erhu Kome’s forthcoming debut novel, The Smoke That Thunders, is so exciting. A contemporary YA fantasy that’s strongly rooted in the author’s own Urhobo tribal mythology and folklore, the novel hails from the publishing imprint Accord Books, which has partnered with Norton Young Readers to publish exciting new African authors in the middle grade and young adult spaces. (Kome herself is from Asaba, Nigeria.)

Described as perfect for anyone who loved Namina Forma’s The Gilded Ones or African lore in general, The Smoke That Thunders follows the story of a young girl who dreams of a life beyond what’s expected of her: a husband, marriage, the duties of children and keeping house. But when her life is turned upside down by a series of unexplainable events – and the arrival of the son of an Oracle from a rival kingdom—she discovers she’s destined for a very different kind of future.

Here’s how the publisher describes the story:

All sixteen-year-old Naborhi dreams of is sailing the seas. Instead, she feels suffocated, her life already laid out: she’ll have her rite of passage and spend her life bound to her house, husband, and children. 

Then Naborhi begins having strange dreams and finds a mysterious animal that becomes instantly bonded to her. When she meets Atai, the son of an Oracle from a rival kingdom, she learns that she is being guided by the gods. She and Atai journey to find the boy Naborhi is dreaming of, but when that boy turns out to be a kidnapped prince, Naborhi realizes there is more than just her freedom at stake: she must stop a war that has already been set in motion.

The Smoke That Thunders won’t be released until April 9, 2024, but we’re thrilled to be able to reveal its (gorgeous!) cover for you right now. 

We also had the chance to chat with Kome herself about what to expect from The Smoke That Thunders, her West African cultural heritage, and the experience of being a debut author. 

Paste Magazine: Tell us about The Smoke That Thunders! What can readers expect from this story? What excited you most about the idea behind it?

 Erhu Kome: The Smoke That Thunders is a young adult fantasy novel about sixteen-year-old Naborhi, who dreams of a life where she is not constricted by the traditions of her tribe and the expectations of her family. But leaving her sister and the only home she’s ever known would be no easy feat. 

Readers can expect a little bit of family drama, memorable characters, and magic! I was excited to explore Naborhi’s experience, which is a realistic experience for a lot of girls, but in a fantastical setting. 

Paste: What can you tease for us about your heroine Naborhi and the journey she goes on over the course of this book?

Naborhi is ‘if respect your elders was a person’ kind of girl, lol. Apart from the physical challenges along the way, there are also a lot of emotional ones which Naborhi handles as well as she could. 

Paste: This is a novel that incorporates your own West African cultural heritage and folklore. Can you describe some of those elements for us and why you think it’s important to tell these stories to a broader global audience?

Kome: One of them is Urhobo food. I really wanted to incorporate the foods my mother cooked while I was growing up. Another is the social aspect, from weddings to festivals and activities with peer groups. 

I think it’s important to tell these stories to a broader global audience so a lot of people can learn something new and be a part of a cultural experience they’ve never heard of before. I bet some people haven’t even heard of the Urhobo people and a lot of the other southern Nigerian tribes I drew inspiration from. Now they will. This will give them the opportunity to start asking questions to broaden their knowledge. 

Paste: What particular element of this book excited you the most while you were writing it? Do you have a particular moment from this story that you are most excited for readers to experience?

Kome: Wanting to know more about my people fired me up. From learning through books about our myths and legends, to posing questions to my elders with knowledge I couldn’t find online or in books. I was excited to incorporate everything I could into the foundation of the story. I don’t have a particular moment I want readers to experience—I’m hoping readers will enjoy following Naborhi’s journey from start to finish.

Paste: This is your debut novel—congratulations by the way!!—can you share a little bit about what this process has been like for you?

Kome: Thank you! It has been challenging, in a good way. I’ve learned to write better, edit better, and have learned to be a lot more patient. It’s also been really exciting. I’m communicating with people who live so far away and we’ve done such incredible work together. I’m in awe of that. And I’m so grateful. 

The Smoke That Thunders will be released on April 9, 2024 but you can pre-order it right now. 

Lacy Baugher Milas is the Books Editor at Paste Magazine, but loves nerding out about all sorts of pop culture. You can find her on Twitter @LacyMB.