Book Review: “The City of Factories” by Naomi Eselojor

“The City of Factories” by Naomi Eselojor (2026)

Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi, Steampunk, Fantasy

Page Length: 186 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

1859, Nigeria. In the fishing village of Itu Agan, nine-year-old Alabi and his inventor father test a new steamboat prototype when a platoon of automaton soldiers raid their village. The metal invaders execute the village chief and capture Korede, Alabi’s father, leaving him and his mother alone and devastated.

There is no choice but to accept the new order. All the village boys begin work as fishermen and plantation farmers as soon as they become teenagers and, for nine long years, Alabi must put the promise of invention nurtured in his childhood to rest.

When he discovers that his father Korede is alive, working for the colonizer regime, Alabi is determined to reconnect with him. After years of hard work to obtain a travel permit and with threats of his mother’s imprisonment should he not return in two months, Alabi sails to the city of factories, unprepared for the resistance that is brewing and the adventure that awaits…

Review:

The City of Factories is a novella I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened the story, but the plot and writing had me hooked instantly. The world of the story mirrors ours in so many ways even with the fantasy elements. It allows the readers to immerse themselves in a world where steampunk inventions contributions have helped to advance society (and as we quickly find out) also ruin it too. This quote sums it up best:

“Whenever a worker in the city gets sick, the automation government quickly looks a for a replacement. It is like changing the worn wheels of a cart. Why fix it when you have many others to choose from? The only problem is that people aren’t wheels. They’re humans, and their lives should be valuable.”

The messaging and social commentary of the novel is a stark reminder that too much of technology can be dangerous and how we are stronger united rather divided. Harsh lessons are learned as we follow Alabi’s coming-of-age story as he navigates city life and is forced to grow up much faster because of the destruction and violence he’s exposed to. He’s a character who has such resilience in the face of adversity which makes the reader wants to root for him. I appreciated his journey and how he overcomes obstacles while also reflecting on what he can do to help make a change and stop the madness.

I loved Eselojor’s attention to detail throughout the novel. Especially when it came to the concept of automation machines and the different types of machinery used. It gave the world an added layer of depth and made the battle scenes that much more exciting (when we see what they can do). The action in this novella was top notch and it had me on edge at times on top of the suspenseful aspects of the story.

This story of resistance does a great job of handling topics of colonialism, cultural conflict, and technology. The world building is strong, the characters feel developed, and it packs a lot of depth. Highly recommended for those who are new readers who want to dip their toes into the Steampunk genre or those who are already fans of it!

Final Verdict: