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Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans

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Book Synopsis

Life in the Swamplands is tough for twelve-year-old orphan Adia. Her aunt and uncle believe she is an ogbanje, a demon-possessed child thought to bring misfortune. And when Adia manifests mysterious powers, accidentally destroying her village, she starts to think they might be right.

Adia flees to the faraway Academy of Shamans, hoping someone at the school can figure out what is wrong with her and fix it. But she doesn’t expect to stumble across a bunch of squabbling deities with a secret…

Joining forces with a snarky Goddess, a 500 year old warrior girl and a status-obsessed soldier boy, Adia goes on a mission through hidden realms to save her kingdom. But if she is to succeed, she must learn to wield her mysterious powers and figure out who she really is.

Discover an action-packed new series from a brilliantly exciting debut author, perfect for fans of SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL and NEVERMOOR.

Our Review Panel says...

As a 12-year-old orphan, life for Adia has not been easy. Raised by her Aunt and Uncle, in the swamplands as a member of the Igbo tribe, Adia is marked to be an Ogbanje – an evil spirit, thought to bring misfortune on those around her. When Adia mistakenly destroys her village she flees to the Academy of Shamans, hoping to free herself from the curse.

She stumbles upon a greater danger, one that threatens to destroy her entire kingdom. With the help of three unlikely allies, can she learn to control her powers and confront the evil before it is too late…

I was intrigued to delve into the world of Adia Kelbara – a debut novel from Isi Hendrix. The narrative provided a beautiful mix entwining the author’s Igbo heritage and folklore with a fantasy world of deities and magic, while developing Adia from a clumsy, social outcast into a brave yet believably flawed heroine, empowered by and proud of her experiences rather than held back by them. A story of hope, friendship and resilience, I look forward to reading the sequel. Best suited to upper KS2 or lower KS3.