The Braid Blog

A literary billet-doux to the African world.

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meet the blogger

Hi! Kedu ka i mere! I’m Joy, a 26-year-old Nigerian-American literati with a B.A. & M.A. in English Language and Literature. I’ve always had a passion for reading, writing, and research. As a Louisiana native, my interests encompass all facets of the Black/African experience. Feel free to look around and read what speaks to you, leave a comment, share a post with your mutuals, contact me even. Connect with me on my various socials below, too. I’m excited to be your new blogger bestie!

Tag: book-reviews

  • Read, Rinse, Repeat: Bemused by Farrah Rochon

    Read, Rinse, Repeat: Bemused by Farrah Rochon

    Joy Chibuzo
    6–9 minutes

    Let’s rewind to the Muses—five sisters who sang Hercules into legend and now rise again in Farrah Rochon’s Bemused. This Greek mythology retelling fuses Disney nostalgia, Black girl magic, and divine sisterhood, reminding us that unity isn’t weakness. It’s the truest form of power.

  • Read, Rinse, Repeat: When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago

    Read, Rinse, Repeat: When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago

    Joy Chibuzo
    6–10 minutes

    Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring Esmeralda Santiago’s When I Was Puerto Rican. This powerful memoir traces girlhood, identity, and assimilation, following a first-generation Puerto Rican daughter navigating rural roots and Brooklyn life. A vital read for understanding Hispanic voices, culture, and resilience across generations.

  • Read, Rinse, Repeat: Almost There by Farrah Rochon

    Read, Rinse, Repeat: Almost There by Farrah Rochon

    Joy Chibuzo
    4–6 minutes

    What if Princess Tiana’s dream came true—but at a devastating cost? Farrah Rochon’s Almost There: A Twisted Tale reimagines the story of Disney’s only Black princess, navigating magic, grief, and resilience through the misty streets of New Orleans. Step into this haunting retelling where Tiana’s choices blur the line between dreams and darkness.

  • Read, Rinse, Repeat: Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

    Read, Rinse, Repeat: Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

    Joy Chibuzo
    3–5 minutes

    Kalynn Bayron, an acclaimed author known for her fantasy novels like Cinderella Is Dead, blends captivating plots with social justice themes. Her debut novel features a queer Black protagonist challenging misogynistic norms in a fairy-tale world. Bayron’s work has opened doors to Black-fantasy literature, making significant waves in contemporary feminist discourse.