Scan barcode
theeuphoriczat's review
4.0
This is was just so good and most importantly very easy to read. I read the whole book in about 3 hours and I am ready for the next book now. I cannot wait to see what Zion, Aliyah and Cameron will get up to in the next book.
Cameron Battle our titular main character is still grieving the loss of his parents (i.e., he knows that his parents despaired), so one day when he decides to go to the attic where is grandmother has hidden away The Book of Chidani, which happens to be a magical book that is handed down in the family. Just has Cameron and his friends start to question the strange occurrences around them, a portal opens and suck them in.
The softly land into an entirely new world hidden away and frozen in time to protect its habitants. This is where Cameron learns about his parents and the power that his mother held before she was killed. In this world, the Queen is trying to hold onto power even when her sister is doing everything in her power to take over. Even learning to fight and becoming the book (the passage way of power) would not save Cameron and his friends. They have to go on an adventure to find the three powerful artefacts that would help them stop Amina. This leads them to fighting old gods, flying on gryphons, hanging lucidly in the past and in the future.
It was a whole as ride and I really enjoyed it. I just loved the culture oozing from each page of the book. As a Nigerian, I just felt so much pride being able to imagine and relate to the characters!
Thanks to #pridebooktours for making this book available to me.
Cameron Battle our titular main character is still grieving the loss of his parents (i.e., he knows that his parents despaired), so one day when he decides to go to the attic where is grandmother has hidden away The Book of Chidani, which happens to be a magical book that is handed down in the family. Just has Cameron and his friends start to question the strange occurrences around them, a portal opens and suck them in.
The softly land into an entirely new world hidden away and frozen in time to protect its habitants. This is where Cameron learns about his parents and the power that his mother held before she was killed. In this world, the Queen is trying to hold onto power even when her sister is doing everything in her power to take over. Even learning to fight and becoming the book (the passage way of power) would not save Cameron and his friends. They have to go on an adventure to find the three powerful artefacts that would help them stop Amina. This leads them to fighting old gods, flying on gryphons, hanging lucidly in the past and in the future.
It was a whole as ride and I really enjoyed it. I just loved the culture oozing from each page of the book. As a Nigerian, I just felt so much pride being able to imagine and relate to the characters!
Thanks to #pridebooktours for making this book available to me.
nerdysread's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
At first, I was... more than perplexed. But I started enjoying the book. Is it perfect? Not really. The pacing was off sometimes and the author lost me. But the characters are good and we get attached to them. I just wish we saw more of Alilyah and Zion. Especially the first one. Kind of hard to understand her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and War
isabelle_rosewrites's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bibliobrittish's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - I'll definitely want to read the sequel, but had a really hard time falling into this the way the synopsis/pitch would've suggested to me. I loved the way Jamar wove the mythos through this world, the close-knit friends, and subtle hints at queerness.
readingismagical's review against another edition
3.0
The pacing didn't always work for me, but I really enjoyed the characters and the world of the story. Would recommend for fans of Tristan Strong, the Bookwanderers, and Amari and the Night Brothers.
tosmeabook27's review
5.0
Such a vivid and colourful tale showcasing the best of Nigerian ( Igbo) history/mythology. This is just the type of book I prayed for growing up. Thank you to the author for delivering this for future generations to enjoy. I read this in one sitting and honestly I NEED MORE! The ending had me siting with my mouth open.
Zion was my favourite character, his growth within this book was amazing, his connection with Cameron was beautiful, and he was all-round the funniest person in the book which was refreshing considering the heaviness of some of the books topics. BUT ol boy had hunger make him think like a THEIF! HE REALLY SAID *" A smell like that can't mean anything evil."* FAVE, WE ARE IN HIGH STAKES YOUR STOMACH CAN WAIT
Zion was my favourite character, his growth within this book was amazing, his connection with Cameron was beautiful, and he was all-round the funniest person in the book which was refreshing considering the heaviness of some of the books topics. BUT ol boy had hunger make him think like a THEIF! HE REALLY SAID *" A smell like that can't mean anything evil."* FAVE, WE ARE IN HIGH STAKES YOUR STOMACH CAN WAIT
adriannawaters's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mochimustreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
girlreading's review
3.0
An exciting, imaginative and action-packed middle grade fantasy, inspired by West-African and Igbo mythology, following a young boy as he comes to terms with the loss of his parents and the legacy they left behind.
TW: discussions of slavery and racism
TW: discussions of slavery and racism