Return of the Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novel by Tatiana Obey Exclusive Cover Reveal!!!!!

I remember when Tatiana Obey said she was writing a story inspired by Afro Samurai that centered a Black woman. Having already read a book from Obey, I was immediately intrigued because it already had the proper ingredients for a masterpiece: a phenomenal writer and a great premise. So, I followed her writing process on social media. I was so set on reading the story, I refused to be a beta reader. I only wanted to read the final product because who wishes to view a masterpiece half-done? And, of course, Sistah Samurai did not disappoint. Obey weaves a beautiful ode to Black women, expectations, and identity, masterfully blending Black and Japanese cultural influences with humor and powerful retrospect. This year, Tatiana is blessing us with the sequel to Sistah Samurai, titled Return of the Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novel on Juneteenth 2025, and I am so excited to share the cover with you here!!!

Without further ado, I give you the blurb for Return of the Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novel by Tatiana Obey:

Afro Samurai meets The Boondocks in this anime-inspired novel

I’ve wanted nothing more than to become a Sistah Samurai. When I was expelled from the training academy for sneaking in my stupid ex-boyfriend, I still had hope that I could cry enough to convince them to take me back. Then, demons invaded the capital and decimated the clan, and there went my dreams of ever naming my own pair of pink swords.

Until I heard a rumor of one last Sistah Samurai. I packed my favorite outfits and my trusty teddy bear, and recruited my forever bestie to help me find her. If we could manage not to interrupt her lunch, maybe we could convince her to train us? We were ready to do whatever she asked, even if that meant confronting old flames and taking down the patriarchy.

As long as we looked good while doing it.

This summer blockbuster sequel to Sistah Samurai is an homage to the anime, Afro Samurai. Both works feature a feudal Japan-inspired setting that is rife with anachronisms. In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, “Is that a motherf—ing RPG?”

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For book two, now a novel of about 70- 80,000 words, Obey tapped Felix Ortiz again for the second cover, and he did not disappoint!!  At first glance, it feels so peaceful. Just Black folks sitting in the sunflower fields, taking in the stillness of the world. Each character gives just enough expression to hint at their personality and what’s to come in the story. My favorite, which is in direct contrast to everyone else’s peaceful/serious expressions, is the little kids in the back with two afro puffs with the peace sign lol. Just as happy as ever with a giant teddy bear, lol. According to Tatiana, everyone on the cover is getting a POV, which means we’ll get more of the Brotha Monks, Little Sistah, and it looks like the little girl that Sistah Samurai interacted with on page 7 of Sistah Samurai!! I’m so interested in what the little one has to say!!!

The cover is sooooooo beautiful, but of course, because it’s an Obey cover, it has so many layers to it, and everything is connected. For one, the color palette and flowers have changed. On the cover of Sistah Samurai, we had a pink and grey palette with cherry blossoms, signaling the colors of the Sistah Samurai, ferocity, and new beginnings. With this sequel, we’ve shifted to summer and sunflowers!! During the summer, growth is abundant, and with that and our title, I can safely assume the Sistah Samurai are going to grow in numbers (or mindset)!! Also, with seasons changing, it obviously means a change for our main character and those around her!!! CAN YOU FEEL MY EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!

Tatiana was kind enough to share Ortiz’s process pictures, and by the looks of this one, it has very similar vibes to the hardcover design of the first book! I’m hoping that Return of the Sistah Samurai has a Black haiku somewhere on the cover, like in book one! As a quick recap, Black haikus is a genre of poetry created by Lewis G. Alexander, but it was popularized during the Black Arts Movement of the late 1960s-1970s. The genre combines the structure and natural motifs of the Japanese haiku with the Black experience. Some of my favorite Black haikus were written by Ethridge Knight!!

Much like the last book, I will not read the story until it is published. But when it’s here, you better believe I’m spending my Juneteenth deeply immersed in Obey’s beautiful world where Black women are loved, protect one another, and find beautiful and sometimes humorous ways to persevere.

Pre-ordering is incredibly important in the publishing industry and helps to sustain our phenomenal Black and Brown writers and Artists, so PLEASE pre-order! Starting today, March 31, 2025, you can use this link here to pre-order directly from the author Tatiana Obey! She’s doing this exclusive pre-order to ensure everyone has their copies on Juneteenth!!!! 

Also, if you haven’t already, get a copy of the award-winning Sistah Samurai novella, check out my 2024 interview with Tatiana Obey (shameless self-plug), and make sure you write a review somewhere or talk about Sistah Samurai and Return to the Sistah Samurai to everyone you know!

Author Bio: 

Tatiana Obey writes badass characters slaying dragons. She enjoys combining action with character-driven stories that feature diverse heroes and heroines. She is the author of Bones to the Wind, a 2022 BBA Award Winner, and Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novella, a 2023 Indie Ink Award Winner. Locus award nominated, she has published short stories in various anthologies and Fiyah Literary Magazine and is also a contributing editor for Magic in the Melanin: A Black Fantasy Anthology. She taught English in South Korea, studied abroad in Japan, and spent her debut year traveling the world. Learn more about her at www.tatianaobey.com.

Preorder Link: https://www.tatianaobey.com/shop/