New and Future Releases from Pede Hollist, Obinna Udenwe and Nnedi Okorafor

Even more new and future releases to look forward to. The first two come from Jacaranda Books Art Music Ltd, which describes itself as 'a fresh and exciting new independent publishing house based in London'. They publish adult fiction and non-fiction, including illustrated books and have a particular interest in 'works related to Africa, the Caribbean, and the experiences of those peoples in the Diaspora'. I love that their mission is ' to create the space for those voices [unheard, under-represented] to be seen and heard by new readers'. 
So the Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist Finaba Marah yearns to fit in with the other girls of her age, and nothing will allow her to do that more than the initiation ceremony that her grandmother Baramusu has told her so much about. Finaba’s parents’ fiercely object to the ceremony, which they believe claimed the life of her elder sister, so one night Finaba is secretly whisked away by her grandmother, but before her initiation is complete, Finaba’s father storms in and brings the circumcision ceremony to a halt. The family is advised to leave their home, and the events that follow set Finaba’s life on an unexpected path. So the Path Does Not Die is a touching coming of age story that follows Finaba through her childhood and adolescence into adulthood, from her native Sierra Leone to the new and exciting land of opportunity, the USA. This modern story addresses issues of ethnicity, sexuality, gender and Female Genital Mutilation told through the life of this feisty, intelligent and determined young African woman as she makes her way through the world while balancing the weights of tradition and modernity. But most of all, it is a story of survival. So the Path Does Not Die, at times funny, at times sad, is a modern, must-read debut novel from the exceptionally talented, Caine Prize shortlisted writer Pede Hollist. Satan & Shaitans by Obinna Udenwe Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s ongoing terrorism tensions, Satans and Shaitans tells the story of two powerful men, Chief Donald Amechi and world acclaimed televangelist, Chris Chuba, both members of the internationally renowned Sacred Order of the Universal Forces. Members of the Order from Southern Nigeria, desperate to gain control of their country, deceive an Islamic terrorist organization into carrying out attacks in order to undermine and overrule the Nigerian President, a northerner, by convincing them that their plans would help to bring about Islamic rule, all the while setting them up for failure. Amidst this turmoil, Evangelist Chuba’s daughter, Adeline, falls deeply in love with young naïve artist Donaldo Amechi, the only son of the Chief. The two try to keep their love hidden from their controlling parents, but when the Chief secretly finds out about the relationship, the Sacred Order demands that the Evangelist sacrifice his daughter. Adeline goes missing and is eventually found murdered, however it is soon revealed that the men sent to carry out the sacrifice were killed in a car accident before they could reach her, leaving the Chief and the Evangelist with the terrifying mystery of what really happened to the young girl. The death of Adeline and the search for her murderer takes the story into the very hearts of corruption in the Nigerian security forces and the government. The story takes the reader into the state of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria, suicide bombings, family secrets, betrayals, political assassinations, and treachery. It is a novel of morality, choices and consequences, political and religious powers, terrorism and jihad. Finally, here's a future release to look forward to from Nnedi Okorafor. 
The Book of the Phoenix is the long-awaited sequel to Who Fears Death and will be published February 5th 2015. Here's a brief synopsis via Hodder & Stoughton:

The Book of Phoenix  is an extraordinary science fiction novel set in a distant - but not so very different - future.

There is no book about me. Well, not yet. No matter. I shall create it myself; it's better that way. My beginnings were in the dark. We all dwelled in the darkness, mad scientist and specimen alike. This was when the goddess Ani's still slept, when her back was still turned. Before she grew angry at what she saw and pulled in the blazing sun. My story is called The Book of Phoenix.

I will update with book cover image and more information on the book as I find out more.