Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans (book 1) by Isi Hendrix | Book Review

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Disclosure here.

A girl makes a journey to find the true meaning of her powers.

Adia Kelbara, a twelve-year-old orphan, has always been ostracized from her village in the Swamplands (they believe she’s an ogbanje, a demon-possessed child). After escaping the town because she accidentally caused an earthquake, Adia gets an opportunity to work in the kitchens of the Shamans Academy. There, Adia is set on finding someone who could exorcise the demon she believes possesses her. But the academy is full of rich kids pretending to be shamans.
One day, she overhears that the emperor is taken over by Olark, an ancient demon who tried to destroy all of Zaria from some of the old gods. So, she leaves the academy and catches up with Gini, one of the gods, in her quest to destroy Olark once and for all.

Forget about the last fantasy you read; this brilliant and compelling story will leave you asking for more. The good news is that this is the first book in the trilogy.
This book is set in a fantasy world called Zaria. There is a map at the beginning of the book. I love to flip back while reading to see the map when locations are mentioned. Especially for the fantasy genre, it’s crucial for world-building.
I also love that this book has African folklore twisted into the story.
The students could have been more impressive, as Adia says. I wouldn’t want to go to the academy either. The monsters in Horrorbeyond were terrifying.

I liked this book because the writing style and characters were excellent. This book keeps you on your toes and excited for what will happen next.

Adia is an intelligent and very bright girl. Adia also has a great memory, like me. Mallorie (one of the fraud students) was so annoying. Gini is a very sassy and entertaining character.

Give this book to anyone driven to venture into the unknown and try new things. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast-paced African-inspired fantasy.

On a personal note, the author worked all over the world as an anthropologist, my dream job 🙂

My rating