One war, one soldier, one enduring love

1939: In a village in south-east Nigeria on the brink of the Second World War, young Obi watches from a mango tree as a colonial army jeep speeds by, filled with soldiers laughing and shouting, their buttons shining in the sun. To Obi, their promise of a smart uniform and regular wages is hard to resist, especially as he has his sweetheart Rose to impress and a family to support.

Years later, when Rose falls pregnant to another man, his heart is shattered. As the Burma Campaign mounts, and Obi is shipped out to fight, he is haunted by the mystery of Rose’s lover. When his identity comes to light, Obi’s devastation leads to a tragic chain of unexpected events.

In ROSE AND THE BURMA SKY, Rosanna Amaka weaves together the realities of war, the pain of first love and how following your heart might not always be the best course of action. Its gritty boy’s-eye view brings a spare and impassioned intensity, charging it with universal resonance and power.

Part love story, party mystery. Superb ― GLAMOUR, Best Books for February

[H]er narrative soars … Amaka’s perspective is refreshing. She vividly conveys how the historical injustice of colonialism continues to reverberate down the decades. ― OBSERVER

An emotionally resonant and lyrically written story of one young man’s heartbreak, set against the trauma of a world falling apart ― IRISH TIMES

Tackling themes of war, colonialism and first love, this novel follows a boy from a Nigerian village on the cusp of the Second World War. ― COSMOPOLITAN, The Best New Books Out in February 2023

‘Powerful, lyrical, and with a central character so wracked with love, he goes to war, deeply relatable’ ANN NAPOLITANO, author of Dear Edward

‘Refreshing. Vividly conveys how the historical injustice of colonialism continues to reverberate’ GUARDIAN

‘Stunning. Both an unrequited love story and a mystery. It will live with me for a long time.
JENDELLA BENSON

‘Wholly beguiling and spirited’ THE TIMES