Filled with action, thrills, empowerment, and irresistibly addictive storytelling, "Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels" stands out as a sequel to what I consider one of the most exciting, compelling, and well-written middle-grade series available.

I have previous reviewed and loved Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun so I HAD to read the second instalment!

The second book continues where the first one left off (so make sure you read book 1!), after uncovering Dr Doyinbo’s hidden agenda, Oneyka and the Nchebe are on the run, trying to find safe places but each time they find one it becomes uninhabitable. They finally turn to a very unlikely ally while all the while trying to restore Niyi’s Ike superpower, as well as enlighten and save the WHOLE Solari race…!

I loved meeting all the characters again and gaining a deeper understanding of them all, each one has unique skills and the imagery created by the author works beautifully.
The story is fast paced leaving you wanting more. The vibrant colours of Nigeria enrich the story.
Themes in the book are those of identity, love for friends and family, not always trusting your choices and dealing with changes.

I cannot wait for the next book!

ONYEKA AND THE RISE OF THE REBELS is a superhero story about facing up to a liar, and also your own fears.

Following on from ONYEKA AND THE ACADEMY OF THE SUN, Onyeka and her friends are on the run. This means the book takes place in many more settings than the previous book, as the characters hop from safe house to safe house, and see some of the natural wonders of Nigeria.

The near future world is well established, as are the Solari, meaning the book can spend more time on action and trying to take down the villain than introducing it all through a newbie character. It gives this book a very different tone to the first - it's not a "mastering unknown powers" book, but a "fight tyranny" book.

There is still a lot of interpersonal relationship friction and building between the cast though. Onyeka has her own insecurities to deal with, and the last book left the team with plenty of shocks, which all makes team work harder. I really liked the exploration of fear and its impact on teams.

While there is at least one more book coming, ONYEKA AND THE RISE OF THE REBELS does contain a series arc closure (I believe the series was first sold as a duology with additional books sold later, like DRAGON CITY is only book 3 of 5 of Dragon Realm but brings a story arc to an end.)

This means there feels like there is a lot of closure within the story. The villain they've been squaring up against is faced for (possibly) the last time, goals are met or failed, and the characters get an answer to the "who will win" question.

However, the ending sets up a new world for the characters to face, upheavals to society that I am sure will be key to the next book(s) - as well as a few plot hints.

What can I say other than 10/10 amazing I will be recommending this to everyone! Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun was my favorite middle-grade book that I read in 2022 and I couldn't contain my excitement to read the sequel! Great characters, exciting and action-packed plot, thoughtful messages (I thought the anxiety representation was done really really well), great friendships, and incredible young female characters! What more is there to love?

I completely fell in love with Onyeka and the incredible cast of characters in book one, and I’m pleased to say that book two certainly lived up to the hype!

You’re taken back into the Academy of the Sun to address the issues stated in book one, and oh what an action-packed ride it was! Learning more about the magic system was interesting, and I just love how it’s combined with youngsters coming to learn about their emotions and how to deal with them throughout life.


There were twists and turns that I just wasn’t expecting and the friendship and empowerment was second-to-none!

I can’t wait for more in this series. Definitely a favourite of all-time for me.

I can see this book appealing to many of our minority groups in school. Had a real cultural feel to the text/language which encouraged you to quickly care what happened to the characters.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book. I love this series, book 1 was one of my favourite books of 2022 and this sequel did not disappoint. The plot took this in a new direction and the character development took Onyeka to whole new level. Cannot wait for book 3.

This is the second book of the series, and it is really good.

It is fast-paced, with a great plot that is full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat whilst reading.

I think that the focus on friends, family and building a community is really important for children to read, and Okogwu does this so, so, well.

I really enjoyed this story. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

LOVE this series and I've been telling EVERYONE to read it. Book 1 was electrifying and Book 2 did NOT disappoint. Another pacy, twisty, edge-of-your-seat fantasy adventure with a beautiful thread of Nigerian culture running through it.

Although exciting, Onyeka's new life as a Solari in Nigeria has also been difficult and confusing. Yes, she has new friends and is finally gaining control of her Ike but her parents are both missing, her life at the Academy of the Sun is over, and she has been let down by one of those she thought would keep her safe. With their safe house compromised and nowhere else to turn, the only chance of survival lies with a group the four teenagers have been taught to avoid at all costs. Can Onyeka lower her guard and allow herself to trust the Rogues, or is it too late to save all those she loves the most?

In the second of Tolà Okogwu's excellent middle grade series, Onyeka and her friends adventure continues on where the first book left off. There is more introspection than before, with the previous adventure leaving its mark on everyone. This uncertainty adds to the storyline and makes it even more enjoyable as the human frailties of the main protagonists are explored.

I was able to read a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is great, but the series needs to be read in order as there are major spoilers here. Highly recommended.

Thank you for this advance copy. I even had the opportunity to listen to this sequel. I think it's admirable what Ms Tola is doing with these series and I'm excited for more young readers to experience this.

I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. This brilliant story continues where the 1st one finished, and I couldn't put it down.
Onyeka has some difficult choices to make and although she doesn't always make the right one, what she does is always done for the best of her family and friends. She has some good friends around her and along the way they all learn lessons in how to be better friends and listen to each other.
People are reunited, new characters are introduced and old characters are developed further.
The links to Nigeria are great, and I know there are Nigerian children in ny class who cannot wait for the 2nd instalment. I'm hoping there will be a third!

I really enjoyed this Sequel to Academy of the Sun! the story was exciting and captivating. The characters were likable and it felt like you quickly became engrossed and wanted to follow on with the story, it was hard to put down. I would recommend this book for children aged 9 and up.
(Thanks to Net Galley for this book)!

The sequel of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun is out and offers yet another grippingly pacy read with lots of twists and turns. As we begin to see more of the wider world of Nigeria and meet more characters, Onyeka finds she is battling her own feelings as much as anyone else...
After discovering the truth behind the Academy of the Sun, Onyeka and her friends are on the run. But where can they go and who can they trust? Will the serum her aunt administers allow her to use her Ike whilst curing her sickness? And can she track down her mum and Dad and find a way to defeat Dr. Doyinbo?

With the set-up established in book one, Tolá Okogwu launches us straight in to dramatic action, allowing us to pick up where we left off. Yet, as Onyeka and her friends face huge amounts of uncertainty, there's internal fractures to overcome too - within Onyeka herself and with her friends. I particularly enjoyed the banter between the group, the use of Pidgin English and Zarah and Adanna are great characters to watch.

Perfect for fans of superhero stories and those who have enjoyed Amari and the Night Brothers, Onyeka's power really comes into its own in this story. More in tune with her hair and power, there are some high octane superhero scenes held together by the bonds between family and friends. I loved the father figures in the novel and, after a unexpected ending, I'm keen to know whether there will be a third in the series. Onyeka is a relatable yet kickass feminine lead and it would be great if there was more to come.

A great follow up, the story explodes right from the start and holds your attention right to the end. A triumph.

After the trilling end to book 1, Onyeka and her friends are now on the run, depserate to escape Dr Doyinbo and his plans. They also need to find a way to get Niyi's powers back to him and find Onyeka's parents. The problem they have is they don't know who they can trust.

Having loved and raced through book 1 , I was absolutely thrilled to have been able to read book 2 on NetGalley before it was released, and it didn't disappoint. The book is full of twists and uncertainty as the group discover who they can trust. The action is ever-present and definitely kept me on my toes. I felt as though I got to know the characters more as the book progressed and the end of the book left me absolutely wanting more.

Full of fast-paced action and characters you will be rooting for, Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels will be a book that will leave you wanting more.

A second Onyeka adventure that sees her team up with The Rogues to stop a big bad taking over Nigeria with superpowered kids. Great character development & a fun story. It was great to be back.

An action-packed adventure set in Nigeria with superhero children! Tolá Okogwu has created an incredible cast of characters who show great courage and resilience in their fight for freedom. It is great to read a novel where there is a relatable Black female lead that so many young girls have been waiting for! I am sure that the children in my class will enjoy this amazing sequel and it’s inspirational characters.

I managed to get a preview copy from netgalley. I'm so grateful.

This is a book that needs to be in classrooms and libraries. It continues the story of Onyeka, definitely worth reading book 1 first to be able to fully understand the concept and the current storyline.

It's fast paced, action packed while also managing the idea of being hesitant about your choices, not trusting yourself and managing change.

After meeting Onyeka in The Academy of the Sun, she, along with her new friends, has to find a way to deal with Dr Dòyìnbó and his plans for the Solari army. Add in the Rogues, kidnapping and spies, you have an even more action packed story than last time! The colours and tastes of Nigeria enrich the adventure - everything is so vibrant. Onyeka has a lot to deal to deal with and her friendships, and the making of them, once again come to the fore. This will be another classroom hit.