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A review by phyrre
The Royal Trials by Kwame Mbalia, Prince Joel Makonnen
5.0
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Overall
I feel like it’s pretty obvious by now that I will read anything and everything that Kwame Mbalia writes, ever since reading and loving the Tristan Strong series. So when I realized that he had a middle grade science fiction series, I was all over it! Plus, do you see how cool those covers look?! They promise all sorts of action and adventure . . . and let me tell you, these books deliver!
Last Gate of the Emperor series is a hilarious, rip-roaring science fiction adventure with a super relatable narrator, a cranky robotic guardian, and some fast-paced, video game-inspired action.
As far as I’m concerned, this series is a must-read for anyone who enjoys humor and science fiction. It has everything one might want in both: tongue-in-cheek humor and sarcasm, fast-paced action, a relatable protagonist, a super fun squad, and futuristic games! Science fiction is hit or miss for me, but I decided to just trust Mbalia’s writing and went with it, and I’m so glad I did! I’ll definitely be adding Prince Joel Makonnen to my “must-read” author list, as well, after this one.
My Thoughts
- If you thought there wasn’t enough action in Last Gate of the Emperor, hold on to your seats, because The Royal Trials dials it up to an eleven. I sat down to read this book in the evening, and I stayed up until it was done. Even though it was ridiculously late and the rational center of my brain was screaming that I needed sleep. But sleep is for the weak! Neither Sammie nor Yared TheGr8 are weak! Once I started this book, I just absolutely couldn’t stop, okay? I had to finish it.
If you thought the stakes were high in the first book, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Because now Yared is loose in the universe, which is objectionably bigger than just Addis Prime. So the stakes are much higher. Readers who enjoyed the gaming aspects of the first book won’t be disappointed with the gaming scenes in the second book, even though they take a backseat to the bigger plot. There’s still plenty of action and adventure to carry the story, even without the focus being on a game.
- Even though The Royal Trials isn’t any less funny than the first book, it does touch on some pretty heavy topics, as Yared learns exactly what it means to be a prince. Hint: it isn’t all good times and video games, surprisingly. Who knew? Yared is forced to do things he doesn’t particularly want to do, like give speeches and think through the consequences of his actions. They’re not at all easy things. Yared is having a hard time reconciling the idea of being Prince Yared rather than just Yared TheGr8, even though they’re not mutually exclusive.
The Royal Trials sees the heartwarming discussions of family and belonging in the first book and says, “Hold my tej.” The small squad Yared made in the first book is quickly growing . . . sometimes in ways Yared isn’t entirely comfortable with or prepared for. He isn’t the center of his friends’ attention anymore, as they go on to discover their own interests. And Yared doesn’t know yet who (or what) he wants to be enough to pursue interests of his own. There’s only so much change a kid from Addis Prime can handle in a year, right?!
- The old squad from book one is back and better than ever . . . with a few new exciting additions, of course. Yared is getting to know his family and also meeting family members he didn’t know he had. It’s a bit of an awkward time for him. But every squad needs more members, right? So it’s natural that Yared’s squad gain a member or two.
I can’t talk about any of the new members, of course, due to spoilers, except to say to expect the unexpected! Also, another AI. Because you can never have too many AIs on your team. If readers loved the old squad, though, not to fear because they’re back together. Albeit maybe a little reluctantly. Still, you know The Ibis and Besa could never let Yared go off into adventure on his own, as much as they grumble about it. Someone has to protect the kid from himself!
Overall
I feel like it’s pretty obvious by now that I will read anything and everything that Kwame Mbalia writes, ever since reading and loving the Tristan Strong series. So when I realized that he had a middle grade science fiction series, I was all over it! Plus, do you see how cool those covers look?! They promise all sorts of action and adventure . . . and let me tell you, these books deliver!
Last Gate of the Emperor series is a hilarious, rip-roaring science fiction adventure with a super relatable narrator, a cranky robotic guardian, and some fast-paced, video game-inspired action.
As far as I’m concerned, this series is a must-read for anyone who enjoys humor and science fiction. It has everything one might want in both: tongue-in-cheek humor and sarcasm, fast-paced action, a relatable protagonist, a super fun squad, and futuristic games! Science fiction is hit or miss for me, but I decided to just trust Mbalia’s writing and went with it, and I’m so glad I did! I’ll definitely be adding Prince Joel Makonnen to my “must-read” author list, as well, after this one.
My Thoughts
- If you thought there wasn’t enough action in Last Gate of the Emperor, hold on to your seats, because The Royal Trials dials it up to an eleven. I sat down to read this book in the evening, and I stayed up until it was done. Even though it was ridiculously late and the rational center of my brain was screaming that I needed sleep. But sleep is for the weak! Neither Sammie nor Yared TheGr8 are weak! Once I started this book, I just absolutely couldn’t stop, okay? I had to finish it.
If you thought the stakes were high in the first book, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Because now Yared is loose in the universe, which is objectionably bigger than just Addis Prime. So the stakes are much higher. Readers who enjoyed the gaming aspects of the first book won’t be disappointed with the gaming scenes in the second book, even though they take a backseat to the bigger plot. There’s still plenty of action and adventure to carry the story, even without the focus being on a game.
- Even though The Royal Trials isn’t any less funny than the first book, it does touch on some pretty heavy topics, as Yared learns exactly what it means to be a prince. Hint: it isn’t all good times and video games, surprisingly. Who knew? Yared is forced to do things he doesn’t particularly want to do, like give speeches and think through the consequences of his actions. They’re not at all easy things. Yared is having a hard time reconciling the idea of being Prince Yared rather than just Yared TheGr8, even though they’re not mutually exclusive.
The Royal Trials sees the heartwarming discussions of family and belonging in the first book and says, “Hold my tej.” The small squad Yared made in the first book is quickly growing . . . sometimes in ways Yared isn’t entirely comfortable with or prepared for. He isn’t the center of his friends’ attention anymore, as they go on to discover their own interests. And Yared doesn’t know yet who (or what) he wants to be enough to pursue interests of his own. There’s only so much change a kid from Addis Prime can handle in a year, right?!
- The old squad from book one is back and better than ever . . . with a few new exciting additions, of course. Yared is getting to know his family and also meeting family members he didn’t know he had. It’s a bit of an awkward time for him. But every squad needs more members, right? So it’s natural that Yared’s squad gain a member or two.
I can’t talk about any of the new members, of course, due to spoilers, except to say to expect the unexpected! Also, another AI. Because you can never have too many AIs on your team. If readers loved the old squad, though, not to fear because they’re back together. Albeit maybe a little reluctantly. Still, you know The Ibis and Besa could never let Yared go off into adventure on his own, as much as they grumble about it. Someone has to protect the kid from himself!