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Black as Diamond
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26A cursed warrior. A reckless healer. A chance to save the world—or condemn it.
Like the rest of the winged eresh keyel, warrior Asaru has spent his life fighting the remnants of a long-dead enemy. When his brother’s squadron disappears from a border keep, Asaru travels into the human realm to investigate, only to become ensnared by a fatal—and unbreakable—curse that could wipe out his people.
When he inadvertently commits a terrible crime, Asaru is thrown into the path of Wren, an emotionally tortured former healer playing with dangerous magic. Bound to one another by a spell gone wrong, and on the run from freelance killers, they set out to find the Chronicler, keeper of the eresh keyel’s history who could bring them answers, redemption, and the cure to Asaru’s curse. But the truths they uncover about the past have the power to break the world into pieces, ending human civilization and settling its remnants into something entirely new.
From Nigerian Canadian author U. M. Agoawike, Black as Diamond is a fresh, dark, and thrilling debut that untangles questions of queer identity, history, and power, illuminating a society crushed by the lingering actions of a few.
Like the rest of the winged eresh keyel, warrior Asaru has spent his life fighting the remnants of a long-dead enemy. When his brother’s squadron disappears from a border keep, Asaru travels into the human realm to investigate, only to become ensnared by a fatal—and unbreakable—curse that could wipe out his people.
When he inadvertently commits a terrible crime, Asaru is thrown into the path of Wren, an emotionally tortured former healer playing with dangerous magic. Bound to one another by a spell gone wrong, and on the run from freelance killers, they set out to find the Chronicler, keeper of the eresh keyel’s history who could bring them answers, redemption, and the cure to Asaru’s curse. But the truths they uncover about the past have the power to break the world into pieces, ending human civilization and settling its remnants into something entirely new.
From Nigerian Canadian author U. M. Agoawike, Black as Diamond is a fresh, dark, and thrilling debut that untangles questions of queer identity, history, and power, illuminating a society crushed by the lingering actions of a few.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
14 people are currently reading
1881 people want to read
About the author
U.M. Agoawike
2 books9 followersU.M. Agoawike is a Nigerian-Canadian author of speculative fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 29, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Had I known this book was the start of a series and ended on a cliffhanger , I wouldn't have requested it.
The last third dragged on, getting lost in scene after scene of abstract, "dream-like" imagery that didn't add much to the story, only to culminate in a frustrating cliffhanger.
The characters are lovely and different enough to feel well-defined. The few moments of humor can be a bit much, but they're still charming overall.
The book's biggest flaw, for me, was how overwritten it felt: it kept pulling me out of the story. There were plenty of familiar clichés ("[releasing] a breath [they were] holding," "If [something], well, no one had to know"), far too many adjectives, and thesaurus-heavy prose. As well as a few moments that seemed like genuine editing mistakes, such as a sword "clattering to the ground, echoing loudly through the forest" (huh, is the floor made of marble in this forest?) or the peculiar word "moribund" repeated twice in the span of two pages, then disappearing, never to be seen again.
All of this really bogged down the narrative for me. In the end, the book never quite grabbed me. I can see its strengths (detailed worldbuilding, polished lore, cute characters) but reading it was more of a chore than a pleasure. The plot just felt hard to follow all the way through.
It would've been a 4-star read if not for that cliffhanger. Please, just tell readers when your books are part of a series! Urg!
Had I known this book was the start of a series and ended on a cliffhanger , I wouldn't have requested it.
The last third dragged on, getting lost in scene after scene of abstract, "dream-like" imagery that didn't add much to the story, only to culminate in a frustrating cliffhanger.
The characters are lovely and different enough to feel well-defined. The few moments of humor can be a bit much, but they're still charming overall.
The book's biggest flaw, for me, was how overwritten it felt: it kept pulling me out of the story. There were plenty of familiar clichés ("[releasing] a breath [they were] holding," "If [something], well, no one had to know"), far too many adjectives, and thesaurus-heavy prose. As well as a few moments that seemed like genuine editing mistakes, such as a sword "clattering to the ground, echoing loudly through the forest" (huh, is the floor made of marble in this forest?) or the peculiar word "moribund" repeated twice in the span of two pages, then disappearing, never to be seen again.
All of this really bogged down the narrative for me. In the end, the book never quite grabbed me. I can see its strengths (detailed worldbuilding, polished lore, cute characters) but reading it was more of a chore than a pleasure. The plot just felt hard to follow all the way through.
It would've been a 4-star read if not for that cliffhanger. Please, just tell readers when your books are part of a series! Urg!
did-not-finish
January 13, 2026DNF @ 30%
It reads very older YA and feels like an RPG or a D&D session. There's a party of four, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and backstories. They go on a quest together, they have their various likes and dislikes, and their relationships to each other vary from estranged friends (Rishé and Wren) to a magical bond (Wren and Asaru).
Honestly, it's nothing I haven't read before. It didn't feel distinct enough for me to stay seated throughout the entire novel, unfortunately.
I think this would be great for beginner fantasy readers looking to dip their toes into something more intermediate that includes more worldbuilding and political intrigue without the grand scale of an epic fantasy.
Thank you Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc.
It reads very older YA and feels like an RPG or a D&D session. There's a party of four, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and backstories. They go on a quest together, they have their various likes and dislikes, and their relationships to each other vary from estranged friends (Rishé and Wren) to a magical bond (Wren and Asaru).
Honestly, it's nothing I haven't read before. It didn't feel distinct enough for me to stay seated throughout the entire novel, unfortunately.
I think this would be great for beginner fantasy readers looking to dip their toes into something more intermediate that includes more worldbuilding and political intrigue without the grand scale of an epic fantasy.
Thank you Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc.
July 3, 2025
Read for work, very wild epic dark fantasy!!
December 6, 2025
Thanks Netgalley & the Bindery for the ARC!
I was quite excited about this premise, and wanted to love it, but unfortunately I had some issues with it. I wasn't bored, and the story kept me engaged enough to keep reading to the end, and the characters had some interesting moments, but at the same time I constantly felt like I was missing information. I rarely had a good grasp of where characters were or what was happening, and that made it very difficult to follow along with the plot.
The book has 4 POV characters, with Asaru and Wren being the main characters, though the POVs are quite equally divided. The other two characters were Palenisa, a former nun of sorts, and Rishé, a childhood friend of Wren. Palenisa is a character who confused me for some time, it wasn't until the end I really figured out what her deal was, but overall all characters felt developed and had interesting moments.
The world building is vast, but at the same time underexplained. There's various species, religions, countries, but I never really got a good grasp of the world. There's perhaps a bit too much, and we don't linger much in the parts that are relevant and might need some further explaining.
The pacing was generally fast, and I think sometimes too fast to really get a graps of what's happening. Often characters are somewhere and I'm not sure how they got there, and that might be on me for missing things, but it was a constant for reading this book.
The plot and characters did keep me engaged, and I was curious about what was going to happen to keep reading, but overall I would have preferred less plot points with more development of what we had to make sure I could actually follow along with everything that was happening
The ending was interesting and made it clear this was first in a series, and I am curious what happens next, but not yet sure if I'll pick up the next installment.
I was quite excited about this premise, and wanted to love it, but unfortunately I had some issues with it. I wasn't bored, and the story kept me engaged enough to keep reading to the end, and the characters had some interesting moments, but at the same time I constantly felt like I was missing information. I rarely had a good grasp of where characters were or what was happening, and that made it very difficult to follow along with the plot.
The book has 4 POV characters, with Asaru and Wren being the main characters, though the POVs are quite equally divided. The other two characters were Palenisa, a former nun of sorts, and Rishé, a childhood friend of Wren. Palenisa is a character who confused me for some time, it wasn't until the end I really figured out what her deal was, but overall all characters felt developed and had interesting moments.
The world building is vast, but at the same time underexplained. There's various species, religions, countries, but I never really got a good grasp of the world. There's perhaps a bit too much, and we don't linger much in the parts that are relevant and might need some further explaining.
The pacing was generally fast, and I think sometimes too fast to really get a graps of what's happening. Often characters are somewhere and I'm not sure how they got there, and that might be on me for missing things, but it was a constant for reading this book.
The plot and characters did keep me engaged, and I was curious about what was going to happen to keep reading, but overall I would have preferred less plot points with more development of what we had to make sure I could actually follow along with everything that was happening
The ending was interesting and made it clear this was first in a series, and I am curious what happens next, but not yet sure if I'll pick up the next installment.
November 11, 2025
I received a free copy from Bindery Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date March 3rd, 2026.
I saw this new release and I thought I'd give the high fantasy premise a shot. In Black as Diamond, failed healer Wren accidentally casts a spell that ties him to Asaru, who is suffering from a curse and desperately trying to find his brother. Joined by Wren's old friend and an exiled warrior, the four journey across the continent in search for the Archivist, who may hold the answers they seek.
I'll preface this review by saying that one of my favorite things is confusing books. I enjoy the art of puzzling out twisty plot and worldbuilding where many key details remain unspoken, like in Hexwood, Rakesfall, or Harrow the Ninth. Having said that. Black as Diamond is totally incomprehensible. It feels like jumping in at book 10 of a series, and not the kind that has helpful asides summarizing details from the last books, either. It doesn't feel the need to explain minor details, like why 65 years old is considered youthful or why Asaru has wings, which I actually prefer as a worldbuilding technique. But it also has great gaping chunks missing out of critical details explaining the characters' motivations and goals. It feels like a long fantasy novel was skeletonized by a swarm of bookworms down to half the size, leaving a book where it was difficult to engage with the story because the central stakes are barely explained.
On the character side, the book was split up into four POV characters, each of which get relatively equal narrative focus. The divided focus was perhaps a bit ambitious for a modest fantasy novel of only four hundred pages. Out of the four characters, Wren probably had the most character development, which was unfortunate because I didn't gel with his character. He's pathologically insecure and constantly takes the blame for everything, and the self-flagellation gets tiresome. All four of the main leads are paired off in the beginnings of two different romances, which felt a touch forced. But perhaps after the cliffhanger that ends the novel, the next novel will flesh the relationships out a bit more.
I think there were some interesting bones here, especially in Wren's magic tie to Asaru and complicated relationship with healing. But this book desperately cries out for the rest of the novel. What's on page just doesn't make sense.
I saw this new release and I thought I'd give the high fantasy premise a shot. In Black as Diamond, failed healer Wren accidentally casts a spell that ties him to Asaru, who is suffering from a curse and desperately trying to find his brother. Joined by Wren's old friend and an exiled warrior, the four journey across the continent in search for the Archivist, who may hold the answers they seek.
I'll preface this review by saying that one of my favorite things is confusing books. I enjoy the art of puzzling out twisty plot and worldbuilding where many key details remain unspoken, like in Hexwood, Rakesfall, or Harrow the Ninth. Having said that. Black as Diamond is totally incomprehensible. It feels like jumping in at book 10 of a series, and not the kind that has helpful asides summarizing details from the last books, either. It doesn't feel the need to explain minor details, like why 65 years old is considered youthful or why Asaru has wings, which I actually prefer as a worldbuilding technique. But it also has great gaping chunks missing out of critical details explaining the characters' motivations and goals. It feels like a long fantasy novel was skeletonized by a swarm of bookworms down to half the size, leaving a book where it was difficult to engage with the story because the central stakes are barely explained.
On the character side, the book was split up into four POV characters, each of which get relatively equal narrative focus. The divided focus was perhaps a bit ambitious for a modest fantasy novel of only four hundred pages. Out of the four characters, Wren probably had the most character development, which was unfortunate because I didn't gel with his character. He's pathologically insecure and constantly takes the blame for everything, and the self-flagellation gets tiresome. All four of the main leads are paired off in the beginnings of two different romances, which felt a touch forced. But perhaps after the cliffhanger that ends the novel, the next novel will flesh the relationships out a bit more.
I think there were some interesting bones here, especially in Wren's magic tie to Asaru and complicated relationship with healing. But this book desperately cries out for the rest of the novel. What's on page just doesn't make sense.
November 27, 2025
Black as Diamond
U.M. Agoawike
The first book (I assume based off the cliffhanger ending) of a new high fantasy series. Eresh keyel warrior Asaru is on the run after killing a king under possession while tracking down his brother and the Chronicler. His paths magically cross with Wren and a slew of other characters as they work together to find The Chronicler.
Each chapter is told through the POV of one of four main characters. Each character has their strengths and flaws in narration as well as overall arc. It’s possible focusing on four characters might be a bit much for the short length (compared to other high fantasy novels) of the book. While it is interesting seeing the events from other characters besides Wren and Asaru by the end the other two didn’t have much to add to the story.
The plot is dense and the world building is admirable, however there were some aspects of the world rules that never made sense, nor were they explained or seemed to have any effect on the story. At times you could see that the author knows the rules intimately but either forgot to include details or just wanted to leave readers in the dark, and it is possible that in future installments they will be explained.
The story takes its time setting up the world while also focusing on action with a pinch of queer romance. There are also some descriptions used multiple times that don’t read well or translate through writing but are ubiquitous to the genre.
As a first novel I was left intrigued where it will go but I do worry if it takes time for the next book I’ll either forget the details or not have interest to follow up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eARC in return for a review
U.M. Agoawike
The first book (I assume based off the cliffhanger ending) of a new high fantasy series. Eresh keyel warrior Asaru is on the run after killing a king under possession while tracking down his brother and the Chronicler. His paths magically cross with Wren and a slew of other characters as they work together to find The Chronicler.
Each chapter is told through the POV of one of four main characters. Each character has their strengths and flaws in narration as well as overall arc. It’s possible focusing on four characters might be a bit much for the short length (compared to other high fantasy novels) of the book. While it is interesting seeing the events from other characters besides Wren and Asaru by the end the other two didn’t have much to add to the story.
The plot is dense and the world building is admirable, however there were some aspects of the world rules that never made sense, nor were they explained or seemed to have any effect on the story. At times you could see that the author knows the rules intimately but either forgot to include details or just wanted to leave readers in the dark, and it is possible that in future installments they will be explained.
The story takes its time setting up the world while also focusing on action with a pinch of queer romance. There are also some descriptions used multiple times that don’t read well or translate through writing but are ubiquitous to the genre.
As a first novel I was left intrigued where it will go but I do worry if it takes time for the next book I’ll either forget the details or not have interest to follow up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eARC in return for a review
October 16, 2025
Where this book struggles is in the writing. While, for the most part it’s … serviceable, it’s also clunky with misused words, confusing sentences, and grammatically incorrectly ordered adjectives. Words mean things, and the book uses them in ways that make almost no sense. There’s an order to adjectives that flows naturally to a native English speaker’s ear, and this book doesn’t always match that order. Likewise in descriptions, or lines of action, the subject and the action aren’t always in a way that reads … easily. It comes across as stilted and stiff.
Personally, it made reading this book feel more like work than pleasure. The style isn’t bad … it’s just not one I find pleasant to read. My brain kept wanting to rephrase sentences to something that felt smoother.
There are also some repeated phrases, such as “kissed his/her teeth” — which stands out, especially in sentences like: “Asaru shoved [Wren] away and kissed his teeth.” where I don’t think Asaru is kissing Wren so much as … kissing his own teeth. Or using palfrey for a cart horse when that’s the wrong sort of horse. It’d be like saying someone used a ladle to stir their tea. Same shape, but not used correctly.
However, for all that — and there is quite a bit of that — there is something to this book. I honestly believe that the author had a vision and a passion for the world they created; the magic system feels fully realized and the characters are all very aware of their world and how it works. But … I think there’s a missing chunk, maybe as much as 20% of the book, that is still in the author’s head. As if they knew the world and characters so well they didn’t need to explain everything, which is an excellent way to drop a reader into the book but … too much was left out.
For example, there are three races: ordinary humans, the eresh keyel — who are winged, tailed, clawed and horned — and a hybrid of both called the lulaik who … also have tails? What kind of tails? Are they feathered tails like birds, furred and tufted like a lion’s? Are they barbed at the tip like a demon? And the book only remembers to mention the tails every now and then without describing them. They’re long enough someone can step on them, but what do they look like? Eresh keyel have feathered wings, but long sinuous tails. I think. And I’m sorry, but that lack of description was confusing, and the tails are only there when they serve a plot point.
If you’re looking for a new world and magic system, something not based on ye olde knights and firebreathing dragons, this book has that in spades. The world feels large and lush and the exposition dumps are almost invisible. Every bit of information comes to a character from another character, or through some in world action. The religion, the races, it’s all very interesting. But the writing. And the fact that I strongly feel like the author didn’t manage to put enough of their vision into the book, leaving me floundering when it comes to large sections of the world building.
Still. If this author ever puts out another book I’d still pick it up, so there’s that. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Personally, it made reading this book feel more like work than pleasure. The style isn’t bad … it’s just not one I find pleasant to read. My brain kept wanting to rephrase sentences to something that felt smoother.
There are also some repeated phrases, such as “kissed his/her teeth” — which stands out, especially in sentences like: “Asaru shoved [Wren] away and kissed his teeth.” where I don’t think Asaru is kissing Wren so much as … kissing his own teeth. Or using palfrey for a cart horse when that’s the wrong sort of horse. It’d be like saying someone used a ladle to stir their tea. Same shape, but not used correctly.
However, for all that — and there is quite a bit of that — there is something to this book. I honestly believe that the author had a vision and a passion for the world they created; the magic system feels fully realized and the characters are all very aware of their world and how it works. But … I think there’s a missing chunk, maybe as much as 20% of the book, that is still in the author’s head. As if they knew the world and characters so well they didn’t need to explain everything, which is an excellent way to drop a reader into the book but … too much was left out.
For example, there are three races: ordinary humans, the eresh keyel — who are winged, tailed, clawed and horned — and a hybrid of both called the lulaik who … also have tails? What kind of tails? Are they feathered tails like birds, furred and tufted like a lion’s? Are they barbed at the tip like a demon? And the book only remembers to mention the tails every now and then without describing them. They’re long enough someone can step on them, but what do they look like? Eresh keyel have feathered wings, but long sinuous tails. I think. And I’m sorry, but that lack of description was confusing, and the tails are only there when they serve a plot point.
If you’re looking for a new world and magic system, something not based on ye olde knights and firebreathing dragons, this book has that in spades. The world feels large and lush and the exposition dumps are almost invisible. Every bit of information comes to a character from another character, or through some in world action. The religion, the races, it’s all very interesting. But the writing. And the fact that I strongly feel like the author didn’t manage to put enough of their vision into the book, leaving me floundering when it comes to large sections of the world building.
Still. If this author ever puts out another book I’d still pick it up, so there’s that. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC!
“Black as Diamond” is a high fantasy novel by U.M. Agoawike, full of intensive worldbuilding and interesting characters. Our journey starts as Asaru, a warrior of the race of eresh keyel, has to travel to the human realm to investigate the disappearance of his brother’s squadron. While there he inadvertently commits a terrible crime, but is saved from facing consequences when a spell gone wrong binds him to healer Wren. They set out to find Asaru’s brother, as well as the Chronicler, the keeper of the history of the eresh keyel. Along the way they fight, find friends, and make discoveries which may just change the world as they know it.
I would say that the strongest aspects of this book are its worldbuilding and its characters. Personally I don’t really love expansive worldbuilding, so I did struggle with that aspect, but I think it’s going to be very enjoyable for those readers who do like it. There is maybe a little bit too much information thrown at you at once at certain times, especially in the beginning, but it is relatively easy to find your way as you continue reading. However, this worldbuilding aspect is what makes the characters so interesting, as there are several different races in this world, and I really enjoyed seeing how they differed from one another, both visually and in their traditions and cultures. I wouldn’t say I necessarily liked all the characters, not even the main ones, but I did find them enjoyable to read about and I liked seeing this world through their eyes.
Another thing I liked about this book is just how queer it is. All the main characters are queer, with several different identities represented, and I especially liked that there was trans man rep, because I can’t think of a single fantasy book with that specific rep I have seen or even just heard of before.
Really my only issue is that I felt this book needed a lot tighter editing. There are several sentences that don’t fit right (I wish I could show all the examples I collected as I was reading, unfortunately the NetGalley Reader deleted all my annotations :,)) and a few sections felt too drawn out.
If you like heavy fantasy with lots of worldbuilding and interesting characters, as well as lots of queer rep, and are willing to overlook a few flaws for a promising debut author, I think you should give this book a shot! My rating is heavily subjective, and this book just wasn’t for me.
“Black as Diamond” is a high fantasy novel by U.M. Agoawike, full of intensive worldbuilding and interesting characters. Our journey starts as Asaru, a warrior of the race of eresh keyel, has to travel to the human realm to investigate the disappearance of his brother’s squadron. While there he inadvertently commits a terrible crime, but is saved from facing consequences when a spell gone wrong binds him to healer Wren. They set out to find Asaru’s brother, as well as the Chronicler, the keeper of the history of the eresh keyel. Along the way they fight, find friends, and make discoveries which may just change the world as they know it.
I would say that the strongest aspects of this book are its worldbuilding and its characters. Personally I don’t really love expansive worldbuilding, so I did struggle with that aspect, but I think it’s going to be very enjoyable for those readers who do like it. There is maybe a little bit too much information thrown at you at once at certain times, especially in the beginning, but it is relatively easy to find your way as you continue reading. However, this worldbuilding aspect is what makes the characters so interesting, as there are several different races in this world, and I really enjoyed seeing how they differed from one another, both visually and in their traditions and cultures. I wouldn’t say I necessarily liked all the characters, not even the main ones, but I did find them enjoyable to read about and I liked seeing this world through their eyes.
Another thing I liked about this book is just how queer it is. All the main characters are queer, with several different identities represented, and I especially liked that there was trans man rep, because I can’t think of a single fantasy book with that specific rep I have seen or even just heard of before.
Really my only issue is that I felt this book needed a lot tighter editing. There are several sentences that don’t fit right (I wish I could show all the examples I collected as I was reading, unfortunately the NetGalley Reader deleted all my annotations :,)) and a few sections felt too drawn out.
If you like heavy fantasy with lots of worldbuilding and interesting characters, as well as lots of queer rep, and are willing to overlook a few flaws for a promising debut author, I think you should give this book a shot! My rating is heavily subjective, and this book just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a multi-POV fantasy book. While it does have a really interesting premise this book was a little bit of a slog for me to get through. My biggest issue was I felt like this book could have really benefited from a prologue. So much of this book was building up what the different races and history of the world was. I felt like so much of that extra history and description could have been done in an introductory chapter. Having so much history and explanation really bogged down the book for me. At times it felt like I was reading a sequel instead of the first book.
The characters themselves were interesting if a little repetitive. Wren was a little to self-deprecating; I've struggled with anxiety and depression my whole life and even I can have a positive thought about myself. I also felt like Wren's backstory wasn't fully fleshed out. There was a story about how he got a distinctive scar, but I felt like we never really got the full story and what the motivation was for him experimenting. I did love the way Wren's sexuality was handled, I felt like we don't see enough characters on the asexual spectrum.
I had similar issues with the other characters, I felt like I learned a lot about the cultures the different characters come from, but not enough about the characters. Asaru is the one character who I feel like we got to know the most. I thought his storyline was the most heartbreaking. The plot its self is very much a group of misfits going on a quest. Again, there was a lot of characters being introspective and focusing on their individual quests. It almost felt like I was reading 4 books in one.
This book wasn't for me, but if you enjoy high fantasy books with epic quests, you might enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
The characters themselves were interesting if a little repetitive. Wren was a little to self-deprecating; I've struggled with anxiety and depression my whole life and even I can have a positive thought about myself. I also felt like Wren's backstory wasn't fully fleshed out. There was a story about how he got a distinctive scar, but I felt like we never really got the full story and what the motivation was for him experimenting. I did love the way Wren's sexuality was handled, I felt like we don't see enough characters on the asexual spectrum.
I had similar issues with the other characters, I felt like I learned a lot about the cultures the different characters come from, but not enough about the characters. Asaru is the one character who I feel like we got to know the most. I thought his storyline was the most heartbreaking. The plot its self is very much a group of misfits going on a quest. Again, there was a lot of characters being introspective and focusing on their individual quests. It almost felt like I was reading 4 books in one.
This book wasn't for me, but if you enjoy high fantasy books with epic quests, you might enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
October 23, 2025
4.5 stars
This one is Bold but memorable... The narrative follows Asaru, a winged soldier bound by duty and curse, and Wren, a healer whose defiance blurs the line between salvation and destruction. Together, they navigate a world where history, identity, and power collide in unexpected ways. Agoawike builds a setting rich in tension and consequence, where every choice matters.
The author’s approach to fantasy is refreshingly grounded. There are themes of guilt, power, and belonging. These fore the characters to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world they’re trying to save. The result is a story that feels epic but deeply personal in tone.
The relationship between Asaru and Wren unfolds with complexity but also restrain. It felt more than just a simple romance or partnership. I think the relationship was more of a layered bond formed under pressure, filled with doubt, anger, and fragile hope.
Black as Diamond is dark, imaginative, and strikingly original. This fantasy also questions what are the costs that come with survival and what it means to be truly free.
For readers looking for something that challenges the familiar characteristics of the genre, but also something that offers power and emotion... this one might be for you.
Thank you NetGally, Bindery Books, and Ezeekat Press for the ARC. Can't wait to get my hard copy!
This one is Bold but memorable... The narrative follows Asaru, a winged soldier bound by duty and curse, and Wren, a healer whose defiance blurs the line between salvation and destruction. Together, they navigate a world where history, identity, and power collide in unexpected ways. Agoawike builds a setting rich in tension and consequence, where every choice matters.
The author’s approach to fantasy is refreshingly grounded. There are themes of guilt, power, and belonging. These fore the characters to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world they’re trying to save. The result is a story that feels epic but deeply personal in tone.
The relationship between Asaru and Wren unfolds with complexity but also restrain. It felt more than just a simple romance or partnership. I think the relationship was more of a layered bond formed under pressure, filled with doubt, anger, and fragile hope.
Black as Diamond is dark, imaginative, and strikingly original. This fantasy also questions what are the costs that come with survival and what it means to be truly free.
For readers looking for something that challenges the familiar characteristics of the genre, but also something that offers power and emotion... this one might be for you.
Thank you NetGally, Bindery Books, and Ezeekat Press for the ARC. Can't wait to get my hard copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was kind of difficult to stay interested in. I requested because the plot sounded right up my alley, described as like old school 80s classic fantasy but from a Nigerian author. It fell a little short for me but I can appreciate what they were trying to do here.
Each of the 4 characters gets their own POV which makes it a little muddy and it takes a bit for their paths to converge so for a minute you’re reading each individual’s story without much context. The story did hit a lot of old school fantasy beats but I just found it a bit too difficult to follow. I think where I struggled with this was the use of the fantasy element words were not easy to identify in context because this was really overwritten.
No one likes a surprise cliff hanger. I doubt I will be continuing with this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.
Each of the 4 characters gets their own POV which makes it a little muddy and it takes a bit for their paths to converge so for a minute you’re reading each individual’s story without much context. The story did hit a lot of old school fantasy beats but I just found it a bit too difficult to follow. I think where I struggled with this was the use of the fantasy element words were not easy to identify in context because this was really overwritten.
No one likes a surprise cliff hanger. I doubt I will be continuing with this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.
December 1, 2025
Black as Diamond is a fantasy book following four main characters: a human alchemist, a half human failed healer, an eresh keyel warrior (winged humanoid creature with tail) and a priestess, working together to break a curse and save the realm. While I enjoyed the story, at times I had to stop and re-read parts because they wording didn't make sense. The world building was vast and intriguing, but missing some details leaving me a little confused at times. I felt that the relationships were a little rushed since most of the time the characters were snapping at each other and in stressful situations. I would have liked a little more building of the relationships.
Overall, good fantasy book. Interesting characters, world, and magic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, good fantasy book. Interesting characters, world, and magic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2025
At times dark and wrenching, at other moments full of blade-sharpened wit, or sometimes brimming with gritty hope that settles beneath your fingernails—above all, unforgettable.
I’m pleased to be the first to say it here: U. M. Agoawike is the freshest new voice in epic fantasy. Prepare to take note, and to be utterly transported.
I’m pleased to be the first to say it here: U. M. Agoawike is the freshest new voice in epic fantasy. Prepare to take note, and to be utterly transported.
August 4, 2025
A wickedly original epic fantasy bound by the familiar threads of friendship, family, and fate. Agoawike's masterful world-building is in rare balance with characters who shine bright within a world where nobody quite fits and nothing is as it seems. Dark but boldly hopeful, Black as Diamond is fantasy at its most brilliant!
November 3, 2025
I love epic fantasy. This is a great start to a multi-book series and I'm excited to see where the story goes. I think I should have referred to the glossary more often because there is a ton of new vocab/lore that could have been explained a little more.
A huge thanks to Bindery and Net Galley for the EARC!
A huge thanks to Bindery and Net Galley for the EARC!
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