Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans

The first book in a fast-paced, witty, and bighearted 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 secret: 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 five-hundred-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.

This bighearted Afrofantasy adventure delivers:

A Reluctant Hero with Uncontrollable Magic: Twelve-year-old Adia is just trying to survive, but when her mysterious powers cause an earthquake, she must learn to control them or risk destroying everything she wants to save. A High-Stakes Quest: To save her kingdom, Adia must travel through hidden realms and face down the wicked demon possessing the emperor before it’s too late. Gods and Demons: Inspired by rich mythology, Adia’s world is filled with snarky goddesses, ancient warriors, and the legend of the demon-possessed ogbanje. An Unlikely Team of Misfits: Adia can’t do it alone. She’ll need the help of a sarcastic goddess, a five-hundred-year-old warrior, and an irritating soldier-in-training to succeed.