Our Thoughts Precisely: Isi Hendrix

Title: Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans

Series:
Author: Isi Hendrix
Source/Format: Publisher; ARC
More Details: Fantasy; Middle Grade
Publisher/Publication Date: Balzer + Bray; September 19, 2023

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The first book in a fast-paced, witty, and big-hearted debut Afrofantasy trilogy about a twelve-year-old apprenticing in the kitchens at the prestigious Academy of Shamans, who must ally with a snarky goddess and a knife-wielding warrior to save her kingdom. Perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and The School for Good and Evil.

Life is tough for twelve-year-old orphan Adia. Her aunt and uncle believe she’s an ogbanje, a demon-possessed child that brings misfortune wherever they go, and Adia can’t disagree—especially when she suddenly manifests mysterious powers that she can’t control, causing an earthquake in her village. So when Adia is offered a kitchen apprenticeship at the faraway Academy of Shamans, she flees with nothing but a pouch of change, her cat Bubbles, and the hope that someone there can figure out what's wrong with her—and fix it. But just as she's settling in, Adia stumbles upon a shocking Unlike her, the kingdom's emperor really is possessed—by a demon more wicked than any other. And he’s on his way to the Academy for a visit. Joining forces with a snarky goddess, a 500-year-old warrior girl, and an annoying soldier-in-training, Adia must travel through hidden realms to exorcise the emperor and save her kingdom. But to succeed, she first must come to understand the powers inside her…. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

I had no expectations going into Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans by Isi Hendrix, but it was an absolute delight to read. From the endearing characters to an adventure full of danger, magic, and a little bit of a mystery, I was thoroughly charmed by this middle grade fantasy.

The story itself is relatively complicated. There were layers of lore woven into the fantasy setting, and the quest to save the kingdom had plenty of action and was exciting to read about. But the book also delved into more serious topics. Zaria is a place with a history of being colonialized. The village the titular Adia Kelbara comes from is described as “missionary infested”—where she was judged and labeled an “ogbanji.” The effects of Zaria's colonization appeared in various ways throughout the story: from the way Adia viewed herself to the disappearance (or abandonment) of beliefs.

But the book was also a coming of age story with a big central theme of self-acceptance. Adia didn’t start out in the best situation, and because of that I found it easy to sympathize with her plight and to root for her to succeed. Her journey wasn’t an easy one. She held a lot of instilled believes that proved challenging to let go of. But overall Hendrix handled the development of Adia’s character in a good way. She had a lot of potential, and it was gratifying to see something become of it.

There were other characters, and they were just as well-written as Adia. In particular, Bubbles, Adia’s cat, was mischievous and the occasional comic relief. The Academy of Shamans, though, was something else. I wasn’t expecting it to be that way. And it was ridiculous, but the reason behind it was anything but humorous. It was, after all, tied closely to the aforementioned history of Zaria.

Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans is the first book of a new series, and it was an excellent introduction. There are so many aspects left that I would want to see explored in another story, and I’m looking forward to what adventures await the characters next.

About the author....

Isi Hendrix is a Nigerian American children’s book author who has been lucky enough to live and work all over the world, from the Himalayas to the Amazon rainforest, during her past life as an anthropologist. Now she’s based in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY, where she lives with a rotating roster of foster kittens and a stubborn refusal to accept that she is highly allergic to cats. You can find her at www.isihendrix.com.

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