Reviews

Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms was absolutely so much fun. Jamar J. Perry delivered a very heart felt and personal middle grade debut. At the heart of this story it is all about family, whether that be by blood or found. Cameron Battle at the start has lost both his parents and lives with his Grandma. Him and his best friend Zion bring Aliyah into their circle and from there the big story takes form.

Cameron is a main character I want to root for. At such a young age he has overcome so much but their is still a part of him that is not completely whole. So in this story it is really about Cameron trying to come to terms with a past that is haunting him, so that he may make the most of his present and future. Along the way though he has friends like Zion and Aliyah to guide him. I also love how much this is inspired by African myths and folklore, especially Nigeria. You can feel the authenticity of it all in the way Jamar J. Perry writes.

I would say where this book stumbles, at least for me, is in the back half of this book. The beginning, up until I would say to the last like 70ish pages, is really great. The setup is strong, the plot is clear, and the characters have a central focus. Then I feel like the ending is just a tad rushed and choppy. The ending could have used a couple more pages just to breathe, but other then that this book is solid.

I am super happy I found this book and added it to my radar. As with my last read, The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, I see so much great potential in Jamar J. Perry. I am so looking forward to the rest of this series, which I believe is going to be a duology.

mylifeasjordanreads's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I really wanted to like this one more! I felt like it needed to be longer. I needed more time to get to know the characters before the action and I wanted more time to understand the world and what was going on. That being said, I think this book would be great for a lot of people and I hope it does well.

barberchicago_books's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Fan of Percy Jackson? Loved Tristan Strong? Can't get enough of Aru Shah? Love adventure stories, amazing mythical places, and beautifully world-built settings? Then Cameron Battle is for you!

Clearly the first in a series (of, I hope, so many books) Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms features complex yet relatable characters, a multi-layered, good vs. evil, save-humanity plot, and characters you'll be rooting for throughout the story. Chapters are short and crisp and there is no end to the action.

Cameron and his two best friends, Zion and Aliyah, each have their own strengths and rely on each other to complete the quest set before them to save the hidden kingdom of Chidani and all of mankind from the evil clutches of princess Amina. Cameron is wonderfully complex, learning about his ancestry, what his parents died for, and how he fits in to this land. Zion and Aliyah are by his side throughout, even as Cameron struggles with understandable insecurities about his abilities and his heritage.

The African people of Chidani are great to learn about. From the goddess Agbala to Queen Ramala to Makai and Bakari and Halifa, the characters who call Chidani home are amazing storytellers, imbuing the readers with a history of Igbo and African mythology that is engaging and so fulfilling.

And the setting! Perry's world-building is stunning, and that Cameron Battle is his debut makes it all the more impressive. The reader will feel like they are actually in Africa, dropped through the same portal that opened for the *new* golden trio.

I can't wait for the subsequent books in this (hopefully) series. I'm here for the entire ride!