The Lies of the Ajungo [Hardcover]

Moses Ose Utomi's debut novella,The Lies of the Ajungo, follows one boys epic quest to bring water back to his city and save his mothers life. Prepare to enter the Forever Desert.

ALibrary JournalBest Book of the Month!

They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies?

In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother wont last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city. Thus begins Tutus quest for the salvation of his mother, his city, and himself.

The Lies of the Ajungoopens the curtains on a tremendous world, and begins the epic fable of the Forever Desert. With every word, Moses Ose Utomi weaves magic.

Moses Ose Utomi is a Nigerian-American fantasy writer and nomad currently based out of Honolulu, Hawaii. He has an MFA in fiction from Sarah Lawrence College and short fiction publications inFireside Fiction,Fantasy Magazine, and more. He is the author of the novellaThe Lies of the Ajungoand the YA fantasy novelDaughters of Oduma. When hes not writing, hes traveling, training martial arts, or doing karaokewith or without a backing track.

Winner of the Ignyte Award!
A Finalist for theLocusAward!
APolygonBest of 2023 Selection!

Utomis writing is both elegant and efficient, and the story is so eminently devourable that I finished it in a couple of hours. In keeping with the contradictions at the books heart, it left me perfectly sated and hungry for more. The New Yl£*