Natu Shimike ~ Kalaba

  Another week, another book review. Book two of the Dark Powers Collection , The Deceived by Bill Myers , picks up right where the first book leaves off and honestly, it goes straight for the heart. Becca comes face to face with a terrifying realization: it is incredibly easy to cross the line between what is godly and what is merely spiritual . And the scariest part? That line is razor thin. Not everything spiritual is godly. If you don’t know the difference, you can easily find yourself on the wrong side without even realizing it. The devil’s voice and God’s voice aren’t always obvious opposites. Someone once said the difference between light and darkness isn’t black and white, it’s white and off-white. Almost the same. Close enough to confuse you if you’re not paying attention. And that’s what hit me the most. This idea struck a chord because we live in a time where it’s easy to be lazy in our digging for truth. To rely on other people to tell us what God wants. But those are ...

Another week, another book review! This one comes from a deeper place, a shelf in my past. My mom bought The Dark Power Collection by Bill Myers when I was in primary school, but I wasn’t a reader yet. They just waited. Patiently. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I finally picked them up and they didn’t just change my reading habits. They changed me. Seeking them out again as an adult felt like a pilgrimage. A longing to return to a time when my faith burned hot, like a scorching sun. I wouldn’t be honest if I said these books didn’t shape my early walk with Christ. They carved into my understanding of faith, discernment, and spiritual awareness during my most formative years as a young believer. This review focuses only on the first book: The Society . I’ll give The Deceived and The Spell their own space in the coming weeks, because each one deserves to breathe. The Society centers on Becca, a teenage girl who moves from South America to North America after a profound family l...

  Another week, another book review! After being completely obsessed with Zikora in 2024, I read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ’s short story over and over until the pages felt like my own memories. I was beyond excited for the full-length novel. I counted down the days. I refreshed my preorder like a ritual. This wasn't just a new book; it was a return to a world that had already cracked me open. And at first, it cracked me open in a different way. I’ll be honest, I struggled. Adichie’s voice is unmistakable, always powerful, but she refuses to repeat herself. I came in holding the rhythm of Zikora, and this was a new rhythm. It took a minute for my heart to sync with it. But once I let go of what I thought this story should be, I realized something important: I wasn't just reading a book. I was being invited to listen. Dream Count follows four women: Chiamaka (Zikora’s best friend), Zikora herself, Omelogor (Chiamaka’s cousin), and Kadiatou (Chiamaka’s help). Their lives brus...

  Another week, another book review! Happy 2026, fellow readers! We're starting the year on a high note with one of my favorite novels. I'm not going to lie, I was hesitant to review this book. It has so many layers, and keeping it spoiler-free feels impossible. But I'll try my best to give you the five-star review this true gem deserves. Reading  Tomorrow I Become a Woman  by  Aiwanose Odafen  was like being pulled into a world where love, culture, tragedy, and courage collide. Sounds familiar? Well, this might be most people's reality. From the start, I was swept up in the innocence and intensity of first love, the overwhelming feeling of giving your whole heart for the very first time. But intertwined with that sweetness was the ache of regret: the pain of looking back and wondering what life might have been. That tension between personal desire and what everyone else expects broke something inside me as I read. Set during the  Nigerian Civil War ...

Another week, another book review! This week, I want to talk about a story that touched me deeply, one that felt less like reading and more like a gentle shaking of the soul. Under a Zambian Tree has been on my TBR for a while, mostly because finding a physical copy where I live proved impossible. But the moment I realized I could get the digital version through Kindle Unlimited , it was an immediate yes. Under a Zambian Tree is a biography of Dora Moono Nyambe , a remarkable woman whose life and work left a lasting legacy. Dora passed away late last year, but the impact of her mission lives on beyond her time on earth. She was and continues to be an inspiration to me personally, because the work she dedicated her life to is something I, too, feel called to pursue. Have you ever dreamed of something quietly in your heart, and then encountered someone living out that very dream so boldly that it ignites you? That was my reason for picking up this book in March. The biography transports...

Another week, another book review! Between sips of coffee and the beautiful chaos of everyday life, I’ve been finding refuge in stories. Here’s another one that left me thinking long after I turned the last page.  The Visit  by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie , part of the  Black Stars   series featuring cosmic short stories by different African authors. I picked this one up in February and, given that it’s by one of my literary favorites, naturally, I had to read it. It’s also the first in the series, which made it an easy choice to start with. This might be a short read, but the topic is one that’s sure to ruffle some feathers, and I’m not one to shy away from such thought-provoking stories, lol. Sometimes the most uncomfortable conversations are the ones that push us toward growth. Stories like this remind us why it’s important to shed light on the issues we’d rather not talk about because the younger generations are watching, listening, and learning from the narratives ...