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amrsalehduat's reviews
149 reviews
Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer
5.0
There isn’t a single thing I didn’t absolutely love about Kwame Crashes the Underworld. I’m always on the lookout for fantasy inspired by African culture so I was very excited when I read that Craig Kofi Farmer’s debut was inspired by Ghanaian mythology. This story didn’t just live up to my already high expectations, it lived up to the title and crushed them.
The story explores important themes like grief, hope, identity, family, and culture. I was really happy that Farmer didn’t shy away from these topics in his MG debut but gave them the attention and care they deserved. So much in fact that even I, an adult, found the way these topics were handled in the story to be inspiring. So, hats off to the author.
But on the other hand, this is a very funny story. I found myself constantly laughing out loud. There is a line specifically that Kwame’s Mom said in the early chapters that had me rolling.
Speaking of which, Kwame was an awesome protagonist. As a son of immigrants myself, I was able to identify with his struggles since I lived through them myself when I was his age. But I also loved his resourcefulness, adaptability, intelligence, and courage. Really, he was just the type of protagonist one couldn’t help but get behind.
Autumn, however, was the highlight of the story for me. Her friendship with Kwame was so wholesome and inspiring. But to add to that, she was an incredible person in her own right, often dictating the narrative herself as she found her own strength. I really appreciate that the book didn’t treat her as the protagonist’s sidekick but rather as her own person with her own story that is just as important and valid.
The mythology aspect of the novel was fantastic. I wasn’t quite familiar with Ghanaian mythology, hence my search for stories inspired by African cultures. But quite honestly Kwame Crashes the Underworld inspired me to research this rich culture on my own. I found the integration into the story to be very well executed and I wasn’t lost for even a second. Quite the opposite. I was constantly looking forward to the new thing I was going to learn.
Kwame Crashes the Underworld is an incredible debut by Craig Kofi Farmer that will leave you screaming “woooooo!”
The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow
5.0
The Scarlet Throne is definitely one of these books that you should judge by its cover. Amy Leow has written a story that was able to grip me from the first line and I’m not even exaggerating. The world was rich and colorful and filled with politics and drama. Like really what not to love?! Also, Binsa was an incredible protagonist. Exactly the type that I just LOVE to read and follow in a story. Without spoiling anything, I can guarantee you that she’ll leave a lasting impression on you. I’ve already freed up some space in my shelf for The Scarlet Throne because I’m certain I’m going to read it again.
Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan
5.0
I’m the type of person who loves art, history, heists, and I’m a sucker for well-written stories with a diverse three-dimensional cast of characters. If you look at the books I read you’d discover that all of them deliver on one or two of the things I love. I never thought I would ever find a book that could deliver on all of these points. That was until I read Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan. Medici Heist is an absolute unicorn of a story that took everything I love about the world and packaged it in a thrilling tale that I simply couldn’t put down.
The Age of Larkspur by Aleighsha Parke
5.0
I would've given The Age of Larkspur all the stars in the night sky just for Flora alone if I could. Honestly, I think I need to write an essay about how much I loved Flora. I found her so relatable and despite all the differences between us, I could still see so many aspects of my teen years being played right in front of me as I followed her tale.
But aside from Flora, The Age of Larkspur was fantastic. The plot on its own was very intriguing but the fantasy nerd in me couldn’t help but be fascinated by the world-building and the magic system. I can’t really give a higher compliment to an author than saying that their story made me so interested in a culture that I decided to spend a good chunk of my time researching the folklore the story is based on.
The Age of Larkspur is an incredible debut by Aleighsha Parke. It’s a magical story with an incredible and relatable protagonist that you really don’t want to miss.
But aside from Flora, The Age of Larkspur was fantastic. The plot on its own was very intriguing but the fantasy nerd in me couldn’t help but be fascinated by the world-building and the magic system. I can’t really give a higher compliment to an author than saying that their story made me so interested in a culture that I decided to spend a good chunk of my time researching the folklore the story is based on.
The Age of Larkspur is an incredible debut by Aleighsha Parke. It’s a magical story with an incredible and relatable protagonist that you really don’t want to miss.
The Nightward by R.S.A. Garcia
5.0
Yeah, The Nightward really does deserve all the awards it has been receiving. If anything I expect it to win even more in the future because I simply couldn’t find anything that didn’t fascinate me. R.S.A. Garcia’s world-building was the highlight for me. It was so unique, intricate, and imaginative that I was simply absorbed into the colorful world she had created. Quite honestly, I am simply obsessed with the mastery of craft behind Garcia’s writing. The world was so vast, its politics so fascinating, and its characters so complex, and yet Garcia was painting on her canvas with such ease that elevated my admiration of her work. I am very much looking forward to R.S.A. Garcia’s future novels but I was delighted to find out that I can read her short stories to bridge the gap.
The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines
5.0
I haven’t read many spooky fantasy if at all but maybe I should. But I’m afraid that The Hollow and the Haunted did raise the bar of my expectations so high that it will be a long time before I find something that can even compare to its level. I cannot express enough how riveting this book is. I was planning to read a chapter or two just to get a feel for the story and I ended up simply consuming it without even realizing what was happening. This is an incredible debut by Camilla Raines. Please do yourself a favor and get a copy on release day!
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
5.0
If you are still skeptical about the hype surrounding the sudden popularity of cozy fantasy stories Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy will definitely convince you that the hype is real. This book has been a delight to read. So much in fact that it took away my Saturday and you know what it definitely deserved it. Sorcery and Small Magics is a delightful debut by Maiga Doocy that will make a great addition to your bookshelf.