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arkh 's review for:

Alexander and the Realm Beneath by Assana K. Coulibaly
4.0

A surprisingly impressive light fantasy!
Alex’s story is powerful, set against a vivid and unique backdrop. Kamala’s mission doesn’t instantly make him strut with an inflated ego. Instead, he learns. He feels. His will hardens, layer upon layer, like a delicate weave of impossibly complex magic—yet he masters it with astonishing speed. That struggle is genuinely impressive. Several conflicts appear suddenly—as if everything spills out at once with a mysterious train rushing at full speed—which stays consistent with Alex’s initial promise. He soon meets people full of stories and missions, and this will only grow deeper if Alex has enough time to understand their emotions beyond the clash with his own newly solid principles.

However, as with many of Kamala’s tales involving her companions—Husein and the others—their bond still doesn’t quite come across as that of true teammates. And of course, the reason Alex undertakes this mission remains a compelling challenge, one that keeps us wanting to follow his journey.