Cameron Battle grew up hearing stories of a magical kingdom. Ever since his parents mysteriously vanished two years ago the stories from The Book of Chidani have remained locked in his grandma’s attic. One fateful evening, Cameron, along with his two friends Zion and Aliyah, open the book and are whisked away to another land. But far from the beautiful and peaceful place that Cameron has read about, Chidani is in chaos and the Queen is at war with her evil sister. Only a Descendant of The Book of Chidani can save the Kingdom but is Cameron ready to answer the call…
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms has been marketed as ‘Percy Jackson meets Black Panther’ and I would add a sprinkling of Jumanji and a dash of Narnia too. Portals to other worlds, mythical creatures, powerful Gods, fantastical lands, history, folklore and magic all play their part in Jamar J. Perry’s debut.
With its roots firmly planted in Igbo and West African mythology, this riveting fantasy adventure follows Cameron Battle as he leaves behind his normal life and steps into a world that he has only heard about from a legendary book. In Chidani he must grow-up fast as he struggles to come to terms with the pressures of being the only one with the power to save not only a Kingdom but probably the entire world. The fighting art of Dambé must be mastered, gryphons are to be bonded with, magical objects must be found and the trio must prepare themselves for epic battles against mighty adversaries who are hellbent on doing anything to get their hands on the book - the only way to do that…defeat the Descendant. A diverse cast of brave characters, an imaginative world and a compulsive plot make this fast-paced journey deep into the magical kingdom of Chidani a gripping read. Magic, history, adventure and action explode from every chapter whilst themes of love and loss, perseverance and cowardice, self-belief and doubt simmer on the surface as the children try to embrace their roles as unlikely heroes. A thrilling fantasy adventure full of dark magic and what it takes to defeat it. With huge thanks to Bloomsbury for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review. Recommended for 9+.
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