The Shadow King

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste is a critically acclaimed historical novel set during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935. The story shines a spotlight on the often overlooked role of Ethiopian women warriors during this pivotal time in African history. The novel primarily follows Hirut, a young Ethiopian girl who, after losing her parents, becomes a servant in the household of Kidane, an officer in Emperor Haile Selassie’s army, and his wife, Aster.