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The Lies of the Ajungo

By Moses Ose Utomi
Series: The Forever Desert
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi, young Tutu embarks on a perilous journey to find water for his drought-stricken city, controlled by the oppressive Ajungo Empire. His quest reveals deep secrets about his society and challenges everything he thought he knew.
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Format: Hardback
$3799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate immersive fantasy worlds with rich, cultural roots. It expertly blends elements of adventure and intrigue, offering a fresh take on heroism and resistance against oppression.

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Moses Ose Utomi's debut novella, The Lies of the Ajungo, follows one boy’s epic quest to bring water back to his city and save his mother’s life. Prepare to enter the Forever Desert.

Moses Ose Utomi's debut novella, The Lies of the Ajungo, follows one boy's epic quest to bring water back to his city and save his mother's life. Prepare to enter the Forever Desert.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies?

In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother won't last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city. Thus begins Tutu's quest for the salvation of his mother, his city, and himself.

The Lies of the Ajungo opens the curtains on a tremendous world, and begins the epic fable of the Forever Desert. With every word, Moses Ose Utomi weaves magic.

Series: The Forever Desert

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  • The Lies of the Ajungo
    They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies? In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to...
    By Moses Ose Utomi
    Hardback
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Memory of the Ogisi
    Even deserts have a beginning. Even gardens have an end. Even water has a story. The City of a Thousand Stories stands resolute on the edge of the Forever Desert. It is a lush metropolis where water flows into every mouth that thirsts and knowledge sprouts in every mind that craves it. Yet, despite their prosperity, no one can remember...
    By Moses Ose Utomi
    Hardback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi, a finalist for multiple awards, has received praise for its elegant writing and compelling storytelling. Reviews highlight its blend of fantasy and fable, describing it as both gripping and heartwarming, with deep emotional impact. The novella's tight pacing, mythical elements, and thought-provoking narrative have left readers eager for more from the author.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250849069

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 17 April 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Tor Books

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 147.0mm

Height: 219.0mm

Weight: 196g

Pages: 96

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About the Author

Moses Ose Utomi is a Nigerian-American fantasy writer and nomad currently based out of Honolulu, Hawaii. He has an MFA in fiction from Sarah Lawrence College and short fiction publications in Fireside Fiction, Fantasy Magazine, and more. His debut YA fantasy novel, Daughters of Oduma, will be coming out in early 2023. When he's not writing, he's traveling, training martial arts, or doing karaoke-with or without a backing track.

Also by Moses Ose Utomi

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  • The Truth of the Aleke
    The Aleke is cruel. The Aleke is clever. The Aleke is coming. Five hundred years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo, the City of Truth stands as the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged...
    By Moses Ose Utomi
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  • Children of Useyi
    Children of Useyi
    Children of Useyi by Moses Ose Utomi explores the thrilling tale of an elite female fighter and her found family of sisters as they battle gods and monsters for their existence. This "action-packed" (Kirkus Reviews) West African-inspired young adult fantasy is the sequel to Daughters of Oduma, perfect for fans of The Gilded Ones and Legendborn. Eat. Dance. Fight for...
    By Moses Ose Utomi
    Paperback
    $4099
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  • The Memory of the Ogisi
    Even deserts have a beginning. Even gardens have an end. Even water has a story. The City of a Thousand Stories stands resolute on the edge of the Forever Desert. It is a lush metropolis where water flows into every mouth that thirsts and knowledge sprouts in every mind that craves it. Yet, despite their prosperity, no one can remember...
    By Moses Ose Utomi
    Hardback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Daughters of Oduma
    An elite female fighter must re-enter the competition to protect her found family of younger sisters in this “absorbing, striking” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) young adult fantasy inspired by West African culture, perfect for fans of The Gilded Ones and Creed. Eat. Dance. Fight. This is the life of the girls who compete in the Isle’s elite, all-female fighting sport...
    By Moses Ose Utomi
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