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Spirit Warriors
Ancient magic and all-new heroes in a battle between the living and the dead - an epic story of chaos, myth and adventure for fans of Percy Jackson, from the author of The Boy to Beat the Gods.
When her island home is overrun by evil spirits, Evie is saved only by the powerful gemstone her parents entrusted to her. Her best friend Arthur is not so lucky - caught in the magical crossfire, he finds himself in the body of a cat.
On a mission to return him to his body and defeat the ghouls, Evie and Arthur team up with Cai, a trainee shaman, who helps them discover the truth. The terrifying Blackheart Man is plotting to steal the island's four magical gemstones and use their power to destroy the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead. It will take all of Evie's magic, Cai's bravery and Arthur's talent for thievery to stop him.
"Children's fiction at its finest. Thorpe is a talent to watch!" Lizzie Huxley-Jones on Ashley's debut THE BOY TO BEAT THE GODS.
When her island home is overrun by evil spirits, Evie is saved only by the powerful gemstone her parents entrusted to her. Her best friend Arthur is not so lucky - caught in the magical crossfire, he finds himself in the body of a cat.
On a mission to return him to his body and defeat the ghouls, Evie and Arthur team up with Cai, a trainee shaman, who helps them discover the truth. The terrifying Blackheart Man is plotting to steal the island's four magical gemstones and use their power to destroy the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead. It will take all of Evie's magic, Cai's bravery and Arthur's talent for thievery to stop him.
"Children's fiction at its finest. Thorpe is a talent to watch!" Lizzie Huxley-Jones on Ashley's debut THE BOY TO BEAT THE GODS.
- GenresMiddle Grade
336 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 26, 2025
He's done it again!! After Boy to Beat the Gods became my standout read of 2024, Ashley has returned with another absolute masterpiece. This Jamaican inspired mythology is fantastic, filled with heart, adrenaline-pumping action, and storytelling that pulls you in and won't let go.
Ashley doesn’t just write fantasy; he reshapes it. He’s a force of nature in this genre, weaving real history with rich, magical Caribbean folklore in a way that feels both powerful and deeply personal.
I couldn’t put it down, the action is electric, the twists had me gasping, and before I knew it, it was 2 a.m. The emotional moments land with real weight. I’m in awe once again.
This is the kind of book that reminds you of why you fell in love with stories in the first place 📚❤️
Ashley doesn’t just write fantasy; he reshapes it. He’s a force of nature in this genre, weaving real history with rich, magical Caribbean folklore in a way that feels both powerful and deeply personal.
I couldn’t put it down, the action is electric, the twists had me gasping, and before I knew it, it was 2 a.m. The emotional moments land with real weight. I’m in awe once again.
This is the kind of book that reminds you of why you fell in love with stories in the first place 📚❤️
September 9, 2025
If you like a book that makes you want to go and do some research while also enjoying a brilliant adventure rooted in Jamaican folklore, then this is the book for you!
Set in Jamaica where the British were successfully fought off, the people still acknowledge the ancestral ways. After a disastrous night sneaking out of her magical hotel home to contact her dead parents, Evie, Arthur, and trainee shaman Cai find themselves on a quest to save Jamaica from Blackheart Man, who wants to steal the island’s four magical gemstones to break the barrier between the living and the dead.
I absolutely adored how the rich history and culture of Jamaican was explored in this book, and how it opened the discussion on Obeah and its history in such a thoughtful way. I especially appreciated how this book was inclusive of indigenous Taino heritage also. The language use was absolutely perfect. There is patwa but it’s written in a way that anyone can enjoy, nothing too difficult! It had me going away to read up on so many aspects of my heritage and history.
Perfect read for decolonising your bookshelf in a magical, family friendly way!
Set in Jamaica where the British were successfully fought off, the people still acknowledge the ancestral ways. After a disastrous night sneaking out of her magical hotel home to contact her dead parents, Evie, Arthur, and trainee shaman Cai find themselves on a quest to save Jamaica from Blackheart Man, who wants to steal the island’s four magical gemstones to break the barrier between the living and the dead.
I absolutely adored how the rich history and culture of Jamaican was explored in this book, and how it opened the discussion on Obeah and its history in such a thoughtful way. I especially appreciated how this book was inclusive of indigenous Taino heritage also. The language use was absolutely perfect. There is patwa but it’s written in a way that anyone can enjoy, nothing too difficult! It had me going away to read up on so many aspects of my heritage and history.
Perfect read for decolonising your bookshelf in a magical, family friendly way!
August 13, 2025
In the words of Arthur, Me Laaaawwddd! 🐈⬛
This book swept me away on an unforgettable journey of ancestral magic and discovery. Ashley’s vivid descriptions transported me straight to Xaymaca. Starting with the moment we first step foot in the enchanted mangrove hotel all the way to the spirit world, I was immersed in a world that felt both mystical but also deeply routed in history. I absolutely loved the relationship between the characters and their sense of chosen family, and Arthur’s mishap provides some great comedic relief during some of the more intense scenes!
This book swept me away on an unforgettable journey of ancestral magic and discovery. Ashley’s vivid descriptions transported me straight to Xaymaca. Starting with the moment we first step foot in the enchanted mangrove hotel all the way to the spirit world, I was immersed in a world that felt both mystical but also deeply routed in history. I absolutely loved the relationship between the characters and their sense of chosen family, and Arthur’s mishap provides some great comedic relief during some of the more intense scenes!
July 15, 2025
I’m going to make a rather large statement, but I feel it necessary to open this review. Ashley Thorpe is a powerhouse authority in crafting fantasy novel out of real-world history. And not only that, but beyond this, he continues to weave the history so seemingly effortlessly throughout the novel that you’re learning whilst reading without ever really realising it. From the wonder of the Maroons of Jamaica to the magic of Obeah, to the beauties of Xaymaca, much like The Boy to Beat the Gods, I came away from Spirit Warriors researching and reading up more on parts of history I was ignorant to. And, yet again, I am mesmerised as I’m sure most readers will be.
And to match the history sewn into the plot, the fantasy creations of Ashley Thorpe’s add to the brilliance. From the introduction of the larimar, I understood that there was going to be a quest of sorts to come about, but the intergenerational, multi-faceted nature of the gemstones, their powers and their meanings and representations within the culture of Spirit Warriors was a thing of magnificence. Explained in a way younger readers will eat up, but opening up in a way for older readers to question and think beyond the text, this truly is and will always be my favourite style of fantasy.
Our trio of Spirit Warriors, Evie, Cai and Arthur, are the perfect type of characters to lead an adventure like this. I say this because whilst we’re unravelling the mystery they’ve found themselves in, they’re also solving the riddle of who they are, and I think this partnership is super enjoyable. Evie’s rise in confidence and self-understanding, Cai’s understanding that strength can be more than physical, and Arthur’s realisation of what he brings to the world were truly fantastic to read and I adored this group so much.
The villains, or The Heartless, of Spirit Warriors, are also incredibly exceptional characters. La Diablesse, at times, had me completely petrified of her, and the evil of Blackheart Man is the type of character that you will ponder on for time to come. The best types of antagonists are those grounded in humanity because it reminds you how someone becomes evil and that it is possible. Both of these characters make for brilliant cautionary tales for younger readers, and I really loved getting to read them.
Safe to say, the plot of Spirit Warriors starts at superspeed and never lets up, making it a surefire hit for this summer holidays with readers aged 9+. The emotional punches (yes, I cried!), the action sequences, and the revelations never miss a beat, which means every time I went to put the book down, I would do the justification of ‘Just one more chapter’ and find myself reading an hour longer! Ashley Thorpe always strikes magic with his writing and Spirit Warriors is further testament to that.
So while I go inspect the amethyst I keep on my chest of drawers a little differently (you’ll discover why when you read), I recommend you get a shuffle of preorder Spirit Warriors now!
And to match the history sewn into the plot, the fantasy creations of Ashley Thorpe’s add to the brilliance. From the introduction of the larimar, I understood that there was going to be a quest of sorts to come about, but the intergenerational, multi-faceted nature of the gemstones, their powers and their meanings and representations within the culture of Spirit Warriors was a thing of magnificence. Explained in a way younger readers will eat up, but opening up in a way for older readers to question and think beyond the text, this truly is and will always be my favourite style of fantasy.
Our trio of Spirit Warriors, Evie, Cai and Arthur, are the perfect type of characters to lead an adventure like this. I say this because whilst we’re unravelling the mystery they’ve found themselves in, they’re also solving the riddle of who they are, and I think this partnership is super enjoyable. Evie’s rise in confidence and self-understanding, Cai’s understanding that strength can be more than physical, and Arthur’s realisation of what he brings to the world were truly fantastic to read and I adored this group so much.
The villains, or The Heartless, of Spirit Warriors, are also incredibly exceptional characters. La Diablesse, at times, had me completely petrified of her, and the evil of Blackheart Man is the type of character that you will ponder on for time to come. The best types of antagonists are those grounded in humanity because it reminds you how someone becomes evil and that it is possible. Both of these characters make for brilliant cautionary tales for younger readers, and I really loved getting to read them.
Safe to say, the plot of Spirit Warriors starts at superspeed and never lets up, making it a surefire hit for this summer holidays with readers aged 9+. The emotional punches (yes, I cried!), the action sequences, and the revelations never miss a beat, which means every time I went to put the book down, I would do the justification of ‘Just one more chapter’ and find myself reading an hour longer! Ashley Thorpe always strikes magic with his writing and Spirit Warriors is further testament to that.
So while I go inspect the amethyst I keep on my chest of drawers a little differently (you’ll discover why when you read), I recommend you get a shuffle of preorder Spirit Warriors now!
September 18, 2025
Full disclosure: I'm friends with the author.
This was such a fun, action-packed adventure! I really enjoyed the friendship between the three main characters and how it blossomed over the course of the story. The worldbuilding was a great mixture of magic, history, and anime! The action scenes were very visual and exciting, I know kids will just eat this up. There were lots of twists and turns near the end, and real stakes. Overall, this was a really unique and imaginative story, balancing a fun plot with some more serious themes of grief and loss.
This was such a fun, action-packed adventure! I really enjoyed the friendship between the three main characters and how it blossomed over the course of the story. The worldbuilding was a great mixture of magic, history, and anime! The action scenes were very visual and exciting, I know kids will just eat this up. There were lots of twists and turns near the end, and real stakes. Overall, this was a really unique and imaginative story, balancing a fun plot with some more serious themes of grief and loss.
July 16, 2025
It's a wonderful blend of Caribbean history, adventure and folklore. I loved the fast paced action and adventure but also the emotional depth to not only the protagonists but also the villains. The setting in an alternative Jamaica that fought off the British is wonderfully drawn and I loved the exploration of Caribbean folklore. I was a huge fan of this authors first book The Boy Who Beat the Gods and this was possibly even better.
September 7, 2025
4.5 stars
This is so rich in culture and history (I loved reading the author note at the end). The magic and the characters in this are so vivid. I love the messages of found family and embracing change. This is one I slowly devoured and I’m GUTTED to be finished.
This is so rich in culture and history (I loved reading the author note at the end). The magic and the characters in this are so vivid. I love the messages of found family and embracing change. This is one I slowly devoured and I’m GUTTED to be finished.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews