Excerpt from Noor by Nnedi Okorafor, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"What kind of woman are you?" the beautiful man asked me in English. He had a robust, well-groomed beard that he'd dyed reddish orange, full lips, bright sparkling light brown eyes. He was as tall as me and standing way too close. I could smell the perfumed oil he wore. Yes, sandalwood. One of my favorite scents.

I looked him in the eye. I could feel every part of my body, my pumping heart, my shaking hands. Adrenaline. I was furious. My head throbbed harder than ever. People knew me here. I took my time. I chose my words carefully. The beautiful Hausa man reminded me of my fiancé who'd asked the same question not long before he walked out the door. "What kind of woman are you?"

I said to him what I said to Olaniyi who hated all my aug;mentations so much yet still loved me, "I will never answer your question." My voice was cold, even hard, and it was low. And as I spoke, I looked the beautiful man dead in the eye, just as I had looked into Olaniyi's eyes.

And like Olaniyi, he slapped me in the face. But much much harder. Hard enough for my world to burst into silver, red and blue. It was as if Amadioha or Shango had slapped me. With an electrified hand. Like lightning. I was in a nightmare with my eyes open. I blinked and for a moment, I saw a million eyes, red red red eyes, a honeycomb of eyes, a pomegranate of eyes, all on me. Then all those men started beating me, and it was their wild eyes I saw between fists and feet. I don't know when they'd stood from their stools.

No one helped me.

I don't remember if anyone spoke or shouted. But I know that no one helped me. My eyes were open. I saw between the feet and legs, past the arms and I smelled the fear.

So I helped myself.

Excerpted from Noor by Nnedi Okorafor. Copyright © 2021 by Nnedi Okorafor. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.