Name: Binti: The Night Masquerade
ISBN: 9780765393135

Nnedi Okorafor

The concluding part of the highly-acclaimed science fiction trilogy that began with Nnedi Okorafor's Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning BINTI. Binti has returned to her home planet, believing that the violence of the Meduse has been left behind. Unfortunately, although her people are peaceful on the whole, the same cannot be said for the Khoush, who fan the flames of their ancient rivalry with the Meduse. Far from her village when the conflicts start, Binti hurries home, but anger and resentment has already claimed the lives of many close to her. Once again it is up to Binti, and her intriguing new friend Mwinyi, to intervene--though the elders of her people do not entirely trust her motives--and try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people, once and for all. Don't miss this essential concluding volume in the Binti trilogy.

Binti: The Night Masquerade

Let's be clear, this is more of a 3.5 stars, but I liked it more than the previous book.

I still am in awe with what the author managed to do with such a short trilogy. 
The characters are good. I had a bit of an issue remembering what I've learned about the world and again I think it would have benefited having a bit more pages than these about 400 for entire trilogy. Then again... It was still okay and the pacing was incredible especially in the first one which remains my favourite of the three.

I think I would recommend this for sci fi fans and it even kept me interested even though I'm not that much into sci fi... Interesting novels for sure.

Ryan LaFerney

Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti: The Night Masquerade is the third and concluding volume in her trilogy of novellas starring a young Himba woman who defies cultural expectations to go to an off-planet university. Binti is a har­moniser, with a natural talent for mathematics and a predisposition towards bringing people into new, better, more peaceful connections with each other. 

In Binti, she left home, suffered significant trauma, formed a connection with Okwu, a mem­ber of an alien species (the Meduse) who have a long-standing rivalry with the Khoush – the people who rule the area in which Binti’s people live, and who look down on her people – and be­came part-alien herself. In Binti: Home, she re­turned home with Okwu, discovered new things about herself and her family, and found herself and Okwu at the centre of a flashpoint of renewed conflict between the Khoush and the Meduse. Binti is in the desert, learning about another side to her heritage from her father’s mother’s people, when the conflict starts. This is where Binti: Home ends, and Binti: The Night Masquerade begins.

Binti: The Night Masquerade is a story that is part science fiction and part fantasy and in many ways it defies genre. Its a story about self-discovery, political agency, the bonds of family, and of attempting to overcome the prejudices that define one's own worldview. It's also a story of two aspects of war: of the ignorant foolishness that keeps two peoples at each others throats for generations, but also of war as a metaphor for change. 

As we reach the end of Binti’s journey, she’s been through so much of it that she’s barely even human, at least, not in a way we’d understand. Her very DNA has been altered and mixed with other alien forms. And, though this is challenging news for her, she’s the better for it.

I suppose the Binti trilogy could be read as a metaphor for the effects of cultural assimilation: both its challenges and its benefits. 

Highly recommended.

Fraser Simons

This book did a bunch more world-building, which I loved, but the pace throughout is way slower than the previous two novels which culminated into a bit of an anti-climax. Still great stuff, though.

The Night Masquerade

Sahi K

Another solid 3.5. 

There have been so many mysteries and questions since the beginning of this trilogy and we finally get some answers here.. but mind you, only some. I can understand why the author may have chosen to leave some of them unanswered and it actually goes well with the theme of illogical unending wars between two peoples, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. However, whatever clarity we got was great. 

I have definitely fallen in love with Okwu more as the series has gone by. It has grown to be such a loyal and faithful partner to Binti and I wasn’t expecting that. Binti has some amazing character development and shows great bravery and commitment to peace which I admired, but she is still fragile and the author leaves the ending on a hopeful note. Mwinyi is a new addition and while the romance came about suddenly, I thought he was a delightful character and just wished we had been able to see more of him. 

As with the theme of the previous books, I’m not sure I completely understand what the author was trying to convey here. Maybe it’s about self acceptance - Binti accepting all parts of herself to live a happier life. There’s also commentary about the futility of endless wars, and that sometimes we don’t even know why we are fighting them. And even if the majority want peace, it may not always be possible. I thought this came across as cynical but I guess it’s not too far away from reality. 

Overall, I thought this was a fascinating trilogy. As someone who doesn’t know much of sci-fi, I can’t really judge it based on quality but I liked the author’s ideas and characterizations. I just think it would have been better in a longer format because so much of it feels too open for interpretation. But I did have fun and that’s all that matters.

Toni Turner

I’m going to have to re-read this whole series together because I was a little lost after my break between the second and third book. But I still love Binti and I still cried

Kaitee Tredway

Great ending to the trilogy. Kinda wish it was all one book because the cliff hangers killed me

Nickie Mohler

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series. I wasn't that impressed with this one though. It was still decent, but I didn't care for the ending. I still think it's a great series overall.

Cheryl Hedlund

Really a 3.5. I was let down by the ending and there were so many convenient things. The character of Binti just started to feel like a typical magical chosen one. It did something that really annoys me in some fantasy/sci-fi stories. I can't say exactly, because spoilers.

Antonella Romani

Each book of this trilogy gets better and better from the previous one. Great writing, fantastic creativity, and overall amazing story!! Definitely an enjoyable read. I highly reccomend it. 😊

Judy Hudgins

Daryl Houston

This is the weakest of the three in the series. It just jams so many random things together, and neither the plot nor the prose struck me as especially good. I really liked the first in the series. I feel like the whole story needed to be either shorter than the three novellas together (with less random stuff thrown in) or much longer, with world building that seemed perfunctory than it does at times.

Ben Nathan

Much better than book 2, not nearly as good as book 1. It's solid, but I don't know if it's great by any means. I would suggest it for people that really love afrofuturism or specifically adored the first Binti book. There are better ones out there, but this was enjoyable.

The concluding part of the highly-acclaimed science fiction trilogy that began with Nnedi Okorafor's Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning BINTI. Binti has returned to her home planet, believing that the violence of the Meduse has been left behind. Unfortunately, although her people are peaceful on the whole, the same cannot be said for the Khoush, who fan the flames of their ancient rivalry with the Meduse. Far from her village when the conflicts start, Binti hurries home, but anger and resentment has already claimed the lives of many close to her. Once again it is up to Binti, and her intriguing new friend Mwinyi, to intervene--though the elders of her people do not entirely trust her motives--and try to prevent a war that could wipe out her people, once and for all. Don't miss this essential concluding volume in the Binti trilogy. The Binti Series Book 1: Binti Book 2: Binti: Home Book 3: Binti: The Night Masquerade At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Brook

Loved this 

A beautiful and sad short story. I quite liked this. The aliens are truly alien, and the main character is charming and brilliant. I wish there were more tales from this world.