Awakened
The page-turning, spiritual and captivating debut novel
Published on 26. June 2025
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-3987-1294-2 (ISBN)
Description
A hidden power. A sinister force. A mystery she can't ignore.
In a near-future London where technology affects everything from our bodies to our politics, journalist Pels Badmus wants to make a real difference. She's desperate to solve a spate of disappearances of young Black kids-including her friend's brother. But her boss doesn't want to hear it. Instead, he assigns her to cover the "unreasonable" protests thousands of miles away in Benin, against culturally oblivious tourists travelling to partake in sacred Spirit Vine rituals.
Pels soon finds herself in West Africa, ignoring her boss's motives in assigning her to this piece and hoping to use it as leverage later. She's also trying to ignore the strange, ethereal dreams she's been having...
However, when Pels takes the Spirit Vine herself, she experiences something mind-boggling. Something that points to an unfulfilled destiny that could change the course of her life. But first she must return home and confront an otherworldly conspiracy related to the missing children.
Because she may just be the only one able to stop it.
A bold imagining of our future through the lens of ancient spirituality, Awakened is a page-turning fable about a Black woman coming into her power, perfect for fans of N.K Jemisin and Netflix's Supacell.
In a near-future London where technology affects everything from our bodies to our politics, journalist Pels Badmus wants to make a real difference. She's desperate to solve a spate of disappearances of young Black kids-including her friend's brother. But her boss doesn't want to hear it. Instead, he assigns her to cover the "unreasonable" protests thousands of miles away in Benin, against culturally oblivious tourists travelling to partake in sacred Spirit Vine rituals.
Pels soon finds herself in West Africa, ignoring her boss's motives in assigning her to this piece and hoping to use it as leverage later. She's also trying to ignore the strange, ethereal dreams she's been having...
However, when Pels takes the Spirit Vine herself, she experiences something mind-boggling. Something that points to an unfulfilled destiny that could change the course of her life. But first she must return home and confront an otherworldly conspiracy related to the missing children.
Because she may just be the only one able to stop it.
A bold imagining of our future through the lens of ancient spirituality, Awakened is a page-turning fable about a Black woman coming into her power, perfect for fans of N.K Jemisin and Netflix's Supacell.
Reviews / Votes
a dazzling dystopian fantasy novel * iNews * Written with vision and ambition, abounding in wit and wisdom, Kelechi Okafor challenges the apathetic film that suffocates our modern existence. Weaving together spirituality, science fiction and contemporary concerns, Awakened is utterly enthralling. * Jendella Benson, Author of HOPE & GLORY *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
462 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3987-1294-2 (9781398712942)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2025
TRAPEZE
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Kelechi Okafor is a Nigerian-born, London-based lover of words-whether that's crafting works of fiction, articles, stageplays or screenplays; from directing others on stage to expressing her thoughts on society one episode at a time alongside esteemed interview guests on her award-winning former podcast Say Your Mind.
In February 2024, Kelechi launched her new subscription-based channel on her website, Keleidoscope. No matter what form Kelechi's creativity takes, her work remains rooted in globally relevant conversations and events, framed through a lens of understanding that is firmly anti-colonial, anti-white-supremacy and anti-heteropatriarchy. Keleidoscope serves both as a personal exploration, and as a way to build a community that is challenged to think critically.
Known online as @Kelechnekoff, Kelechi also affectionately known as "just a Baby Girl" by her followers, listeners and community. Kelechi's path has been forged in the flames left by writers like Flora Nwapa, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, bell hooks, Audre Lorde and Chika Unigwe, deities like Oshun and Yemoja, and countless other voices from the past and present.
In February 2024, Kelechi launched her new subscription-based channel on her website, Keleidoscope. No matter what form Kelechi's creativity takes, her work remains rooted in globally relevant conversations and events, framed through a lens of understanding that is firmly anti-colonial, anti-white-supremacy and anti-heteropatriarchy. Keleidoscope serves both as a personal exploration, and as a way to build a community that is challenged to think critically.
Known online as @Kelechnekoff, Kelechi also affectionately known as "just a Baby Girl" by her followers, listeners and community. Kelechi's path has been forged in the flames left by writers like Flora Nwapa, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, bell hooks, Audre Lorde and Chika Unigwe, deities like Oshun and Yemoja, and countless other voices from the past and present.