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A review by seekaygee
Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In the land of Akhebulin, old tensions between the noble houses are rising. Due to a prophecy that the ruling family, the Zenzele, are destined to be dethroned if the two great houses, Nnamani and Mukundi come together, the paranoid and power-hungry Zenzele and their followers massacre the Mukundi family. But they miss one member of the house, the youngest son, M'Kuru. Terrified and with nowhere to go, M'Kuru stumbles upon a new life and is forced to bide his time before he can have his vengeance. In Winneba, the Nnamani family's youngest daughter, Zikora, has only one wish: to become one of the Seh Llinga Amazons, a group of elite female warriors. But as a daughter of a noble house, she isn't allowed to do so. When her father discovers she is about to be forcibly taken to the Zenzele capital as leverage against her family, he does the one thing he can to protect her: a ritual to ensure that Zikora will inherit the magic birthright of the family leader. Both children, rocked to their core by complex political allegiances and the loss of their loved ones, now must face the truth of their respective destinies: defeat the manipulative and violent Zenzele and take vengeance for those they have lost, and also for themselves.
Chinaza Bado has created an expansive, lush world steeped in complex political dynamics and ancient magical intrigue. What results is an absolutely compelling introduction to what promises to be an epic story where all morality is grey, no one is safe, and loyalties are ever-changing. All of the characters are flawed, desperate to prove themselves in one way or the other, so it's even difficult at times to root for our main characters (save, perhaps, Zikora, who I adore and would follow to the ends of the earth). But that is one of the ways that Bado has proven herself as an author in this grand debut: no one is, or truly can be, a true hero when they have their own agenda. Emotions and power are always in play, and even the most innocent can be corrupted. It may not be the friendliest of lessons, but it is poignant and a necessary reminder when so many in our current realities think exclusively in black and white.
While the story is a bit slow going, I'm hooked. As I said, this clearly just an introduction to the world and our primary players, and I'm so excited to find out what happens in the next chapter. I need to learn more about the lore and history of the various houses, and I know we'll all be treated to something fantastical as it plays out.
So many thanks to The Nerd Fam for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Chinaza Bado has created an expansive, lush world steeped in complex political dynamics and ancient magical intrigue. What results is an absolutely compelling introduction to what promises to be an epic story where all morality is grey, no one is safe, and loyalties are ever-changing. All of the characters are flawed, desperate to prove themselves in one way or the other, so it's even difficult at times to root for our main characters (save, perhaps, Zikora, who I adore and would follow to the ends of the earth). But that is one of the ways that Bado has proven herself as an author in this grand debut: no one is, or truly can be, a true hero when they have their own agenda. Emotions and power are always in play, and even the most innocent can be corrupted. It may not be the friendliest of lessons, but it is poignant and a necessary reminder when so many in our current realities think exclusively in black and white.
While the story is a bit slow going, I'm hooked. As I said, this clearly just an introduction to the world and our primary players, and I'm so excited to find out what happens in the next chapter. I need to learn more about the lore and history of the various houses, and I know we'll all be treated to something fantastical as it plays out.
So many thanks to The Nerd Fam for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!