Book Review: Queen of Ice 

When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear-S.F. Chandler

Queen of Ice is a fiction written by Aminat Sanmi-Kamal. She’s called Aminatawa by friends and I prefer to call her that too. She’s a final year student of Law at the University of Ilorin. When she’s not writing or blogging, she’s either in class, reading a book, watching a movie, or sleeping and she also like to gist with her girlfriends. y’all should go check out her blog Aminatawastories. Her strong views about issues are too captivating and magical.

Today, I will be reviewing her new book Queen of Ice. Y’all need to get that book please. It’s different from the norm. To see download link, you have to read to the end  😀  

Synopsis

Aminatawa through the character of Ademolawa explored the aftermath of rape on a victim. Ademolawa, a princess, survived a rape attempt after her father rescued her. However, life wasn’t the same with her after that. She shut out completely and refused to trust or love again. Society did not take time to name her Queen of Ice. Even without anyone trying to find out why she suddenly became cold.

Her grandmother however did not back down after her father involved her to help bring Ademolawa back to her usual self. This was after she insulted her fiancé and left him with no choice than to break their engagement.

Through her grandma’s character, we traveled through an history of the original princess, Ademolawa who has supernatural Ice power and has always been known as Queen of Ice. Mo realized why she was named after this ancient princess and mirrored her life through her acts.

She realized she has pushed those who loved her genuinely too far simply because she was hurt. She also discovered that if she doesn’t soften up her heart, she would forever lose these people and never get a chance to live, love and be happy.

Review
With the recent news on rape and suicide, we manage to see from the eyes of the character of Ademolawa that most victim of rape always first consider suicide as an escape from the stigma. 

I’ve been reading traditional/Western fiction and this I must confess is quite different and intriguing. Aminatawa introduces us into the mind of each character in a unique way. With each chapter is the introduction of a character and what has shaped them into what they’ve become.

She also went across season (I love the use of seasons as against years), wow! I was actually spellbound about the vivid description of the urban life. Took me to imagery I’ve seen on screens about this kind of life.

Every character portrayed in the book played a strong part in shaping the sequence and plot of the story. 

Aminatawa uses story reading as opposed to flashback to allow her reader understand the history of the first Ademolawa who was reborn.  Most readers through the characters can relate to an aspect of their life or the other especially when it involves love, friendship and relationship with families.

The themes I penned down while reading this book include:
Parental love: King Adebayo Adekitan, parental love to her daughter was second to none. He played both the role of a mother and father to his only child in the most loving way, showing that a child can get the care and love she deserves in life with one parent too.

Slave Trade: Slave trade has been an history in Africa. And this was also portrayed in the book in the ancient Eruoledomo kingdom. The waging of war against them and winning shows that when we unite as one against forces, we can conquer.

Child abuse/Polygamy: Child abuse in polygamy are like two Siamese twin, especially in a typical African home where love is missing. The ancient Ademolawa princess never enjoyed her childhood because of her evil step mother who sees her as nothing but a threat in her home. She tried everything to kill her until her father was left with no choice but to take her out of the kingdom which almost led to her death.

Modern vs Traditional Monarchy system: Aminatawa paints the difference between the modern and traditional monarchy system with the use of laws, customs, way of life, wars and common beliefs.

Rebirth: I’ve read quite a number of story about rebirth in Africa. While we’ve seen and heard of these, many of us have failed to agree this exist. Aminatawa however, recreates this in her fiction and I was force to agree with her that we do have reincarnation and rebirth in Africa, call me myopic ?more like a doppelgänger kindda thing…

Gender Equality: where a woman is free to do what she wishes and no job is stereotyped as strictly for male as portrayed through the people of Irepodun.

Queen of Ice is a book for all race, gender and age. The language use is simple. I rate it 8/10.

This book is available on Okadabooks, please click  on this link to download and read:

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