Science fiction. Set in Nigeria with the main timeline in 2066 and flashbacks to earlier moments. Alien life arrived on earth at least 50 years prior, but just *life*, most readily observably fungal life, and not little green people or slender grey entities in space ships or anything like that. Other than North America sealing itself off from the rest of the world and a small subset of humans developing certain abilities to sense information and other people’s selves and thoughts, it doesn’t seem to have led to much. The energy dome in a once-rural part of Nigeria that opens once a year and heals those who are present – around which the city of Rosewater has grown – is connected to the alien life, but it is not clear how, or why it does what it does. The book follows one of the most proficient of the ‘sensitives’, a former thief (and kind of a jerk, though a charming one) who now reluctantly employs his skills working for both a bank and the Nigerian government – strange things start happening to him and it soon becomes clear that others like him are getting sick and dying for no apparent reason. Skilful worldbuilding, good writing, vibrant and interesting characters, and engaging storytelling. Really liked it, and keen to read the sequel.
Originally posted by Scott on Goodreads.