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Tales from Esowon #1
The Kishi
An African fantasy based on the Angola folklore of the kishi!
The Kishi—shape-shifting demons who lure young women to gruesome deaths.
They can’t be real, can they?
Something has slain a villager, and the locals of Bajok point their fingers at Amana, a pacifist monk running from his dark past.
But Amana knows there’s something else, something much darker, lurking in the village.
Can he save the village, his name, and his principles? To save one would mean the sacrifice of the others, if he has the strength.
The Kishi—shape-shifting demons who lure young women to gruesome deaths.
They can’t be real, can they?
Something has slain a villager, and the locals of Bajok point their fingers at Amana, a pacifist monk running from his dark past.
But Amana knows there’s something else, something much darker, lurking in the village.
Can he save the village, his name, and his principles? To save one would mean the sacrifice of the others, if he has the strength.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2018
250 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
About the author
Antoine Bandele
24 books447 followersHOW I RATE
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Very Profound and/or Entertaining.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed it.
⭐⭐⭐ It was okay.
⭐⭐ I didn't enjoy it.
⭐ I hated it.
ABOUT ME
ANTOINE BANDELE IS AN AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR IN AFRICAN LITERATURE.
He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his girlfriend, where he produces work on YouTube for his own channel and others, such as JustKiddingFilms, Fanalysis, and more. During the summer he is a camp counselor. Whenever he has the time he’s writing his debut series: Tales from Esowon.
SINCE 1990 ...
I've been a creative kid, whether writing stories, drawing comics, or directing home movies. I remember the first time I thought I was a "published" author. My father took my brother and I to an office supply store, where we got our books (which were made out of wide-ruled notebook paper) laminated and copied.
It felt so legit.
In elementary school, I kept filling out more notebooks with my stories. I was even brave enough to share those stories with friends during recess. The underside of the playground slide became my own library, but the only inventory was my books. They were stories about kung fu fighting teenagers who were stuck in their own dreams (still might develop that one day), or fan fiction covering my favorite franchises.
Growing up in Los Angeles, only a few miles from Hollywood, I started flirting with the film industry. This became my focus throughout my young adult years. I majored in Multimedia at California State University Northridge (though my diploma is still incomplete). That eventually got me on YouTube which (for most filmmakers in those early days) was the best place to archive and share your work. YouTube has turned into a different beast today, but I still seek out that sense of community it had among like-minded individuals.
If there is one thing that encompasses my life so far, one theme, it would be the pursuit of art. Whether I'm writing, drawing, editing or otherwise (though I really wish I had a talent for music), I've always been drawn to crafting art. That's all I'm really about when it comes right down to the bare bones, everything stripped away. I'm fueled by creating make-believe, letting my imagination take me to wonderful worlds filled with characters who speak to my inner muse.
So join me here on my small corner of the internet (a bit of an upgrade to the underside of a playground). I want to share my creativity with you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Very Profound and/or Entertaining.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed it.
⭐⭐⭐ It was okay.
⭐⭐ I didn't enjoy it.
⭐ I hated it.
ABOUT ME
ANTOINE BANDELE IS AN AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR IN AFRICAN LITERATURE.
He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his girlfriend, where he produces work on YouTube for his own channel and others, such as JustKiddingFilms, Fanalysis, and more. During the summer he is a camp counselor. Whenever he has the time he’s writing his debut series: Tales from Esowon.
SINCE 1990 ...
I've been a creative kid, whether writing stories, drawing comics, or directing home movies. I remember the first time I thought I was a "published" author. My father took my brother and I to an office supply store, where we got our books (which were made out of wide-ruled notebook paper) laminated and copied.
It felt so legit.
In elementary school, I kept filling out more notebooks with my stories. I was even brave enough to share those stories with friends during recess. The underside of the playground slide became my own library, but the only inventory was my books. They were stories about kung fu fighting teenagers who were stuck in their own dreams (still might develop that one day), or fan fiction covering my favorite franchises.
Growing up in Los Angeles, only a few miles from Hollywood, I started flirting with the film industry. This became my focus throughout my young adult years. I majored in Multimedia at California State University Northridge (though my diploma is still incomplete). That eventually got me on YouTube which (for most filmmakers in those early days) was the best place to archive and share your work. YouTube has turned into a different beast today, but I still seek out that sense of community it had among like-minded individuals.
If there is one thing that encompasses my life so far, one theme, it would be the pursuit of art. Whether I'm writing, drawing, editing or otherwise (though I really wish I had a talent for music), I've always been drawn to crafting art. That's all I'm really about when it comes right down to the bare bones, everything stripped away. I'm fueled by creating make-believe, letting my imagination take me to wonderful worlds filled with characters who speak to my inner muse.
So join me here on my small corner of the internet (a bit of an upgrade to the underside of a playground). I want to share my creativity with you.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 5, 2018
I wrote the book. I am bias. But I’m also happy I wrote it, because it is a book I would read and would want to follow. Take this review with a LARGE grain of salt. In fact, disregard this review entirely. I just wanted to make sure I gave it something for my own reading list.
March 21, 2023
The Kishi is a novel that blends African folkloric elements with the usual tropes of fantasy such as the Hero’s Journey to create a unique alchemy strangely melodic in tone. This debut novel was the vision of Antoine Bandele whose main character is a pacifist monk, former pirate named Amana that witnesses the attack of a village girl by demonic shapeshifters called the Kishi. Because Amana is a stranger to the village, a man cloaked in a veil of mystery, confessing a seedy past, he is initially suspected of the attack which further compels him to act to find both the abducted and the antagonist abductors. Along the way, there is a gathering of magical protagonists that go on a quest very similar to books of this genre, and there is also a love story initiated, but because enacted amid an African folkloric backdrop, the story feels fresh and distinctive, bearing the weight of a constructed mythology destined to have amplification by sequels.
July 15, 2020
This was SUCH a pleasant surprise from an incredibly talented debut author!!
An amazing story based on African mythology and folklore - more specifically on the Angola folklore - which I knew nothing about but reminded me in many ways of some of the West African folk-tales.
I definitely rooted for the main character - Amana - who is training as a Junga monk and ends up being caught up in the drama that is about to unfold in the village of Bajok. My favorite characters were Esi and Inneka by far - I very often have a preference for supporting characters in most books I read lol no idea why! I do not want to say more than that because I would be giving away too much about the story - in particular what kishi do and who they are. To be honest the first chapter does introduce them pretty quickly!
This was very well written for a debut novel and I can absolutely see the potential for the author to grow as a writer - very well done! It is the only reason why I did not give the book a 5-star rating.
No stupid nonsense/insta love/characters changing their mind a million times before you even finish to read the page/unrealistic fast-paced action (which I profoundly dislike in most YA fantasy novels I have read so far). Perfectly balanced!
I definitely want to know more about the world the characters find themselves in and will definitely read more of his work.
Thank you for a beautiful piece of work! (The audiobook is available for free on Youtube if you want to give it a go! (Please make sure to buy the book if you like it and show support to the author ;)))
An amazing story based on African mythology and folklore - more specifically on the Angola folklore - which I knew nothing about but reminded me in many ways of some of the West African folk-tales.
I definitely rooted for the main character - Amana - who is training as a Junga monk and ends up being caught up in the drama that is about to unfold in the village of Bajok. My favorite characters were Esi and Inneka by far - I very often have a preference for supporting characters in most books I read lol no idea why! I do not want to say more than that because I would be giving away too much about the story - in particular what kishi do and who they are. To be honest the first chapter does introduce them pretty quickly!
This was very well written for a debut novel and I can absolutely see the potential for the author to grow as a writer - very well done! It is the only reason why I did not give the book a 5-star rating.
No stupid nonsense/insta love/characters changing their mind a million times before you even finish to read the page/unrealistic fast-paced action (which I profoundly dislike in most YA fantasy novels I have read so far). Perfectly balanced!
I definitely want to know more about the world the characters find themselves in and will definitely read more of his work.
Thank you for a beautiful piece of work! (The audiobook is available for free on Youtube if you want to give it a go! (Please make sure to buy the book if you like it and show support to the author ;)))
February 9, 2022
This was a breath of fresh air to the fantasy genre. Loved it! There better be more from this author!
March 13, 2020
This starts with a woman who is attending a big wedding. She is on the younger side and came with her friend, and she's met a man who has sparked her interest. He's charming, smart, kind, and is showing interest in her as well. Her friend isn't diggin' it though, and warns her against leaving the party with this strange man she doesn't know. Her friend had the right idea, the young woman is murdered, and pretty horrifically at that. The man turns out to be a Kishi - a demon. Kishi can appear to be human, but they transform into a hyena and feast on humans. They have the ability to lull their prey into a false sense of security through empathic powers making them adept at taking people by surprise. They are silent, leaving no footprints, and making no noise ... they can even run on top of the water.
A man named Amana has traveled a long way after a tough life searching for a legendary warrior. He wants to apprentice under Uzomo and came all the way out to this small village trying to track him down and ends up attending the same wedding where the young woman is killed. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was first accused of murdering the young woman, but the spirits cleared his name (shamans can summon spirits). After that, he helps the villagers try and track down these Kishi after it becomes apparent there's more than one, and it's urgent because the Kishi are stealing young women off of farms in the surrounding area and also captured the bride to be.
I liked Amana, he had a good heart, he has a tragic backstory that makes you hope he will have success in finding his inner peace. He lost his family to a fire and constantly is plagued by nightmares reliving those moments over and over again. He thought that joining up with some monks would help with that, but they rejected him... probably because he still has a lot of anger and bitterness. There's a cute romance going on between Amana and another warrior, Niya. (Spelling uncertain, I audiobooked) She is the captain of the guard for the visiting nation who came there for the wedding with the bride. They have a slower beginning which is almost a requirement for me to enjoy a romance. A hot and heavy whirlwind romance or love at first sight stories annoy me.
There were some parts of this that just didn't work for me, but they were mostly subjective things. I kind of giggle to myself when men in books (or real life) are trying to be seductive, especially if it's through dance. I just don't find men dancing all that alluring, so reading about a woman being attracted to gyrating hips just... eh. However, I seem to be the only person who just does not understand dancing. It seems to be a big part of humanity that everyone else gets but me, so take that with a grain of salt - gyrating hips sure worked for Elvis. The other thing is the silly way a woman's "breasts throbbed" when she was getting hot and heavy with a demon. Boobs don't throb like that, y'all.
The magic in this was pretty neat, and there were all different types of magic that kept things interesting. There were shamans that worked to the sound of drums to call out to the spirits. There are various types of shapeshifters with some people having the ability to turn into lions, or leopards, or hyenas. There are people who have "Sight" and can predict what's going to happen just a few seconds before it does - which is very useful in fights. There are people who can wield elemental magic and bring rocks and dust up from the ground during a fight. This felt very high fantasy and yet also grounded here on Earth. To me, everything felt thought out and seamless which is a nice way to present a book. There was basically no info-dumping, the world was built organically and through context rather than spelling it all out. Women's roles in this world varied on where they are from. It's not uncommon to see women archers, but Niya was captain of the guard, and that ruffled some feathers in the village. A man tried making fun of her for it, poking at her appearance and making lude comments... and then she knocked him in the face with her bow. Sexism in books is at its worst when it's unclear if the author intentionally put it in there or not. If you're doing John Travolta hands trying to figure out what the intentions were, things have gone awry
When it's clear the character who's sexist is a douche-bag it makes it much less grating. Dude was an ass, so he got knocked in the face for it. Fair enough. There were other times that things seemed a tad unintentional, however. Specifically with reducing women to their appearance more than a few times.
All in all, this was a solid read that I enjoyed a lot. I would highly recommend it if any of this sounded interesting to you. There's also an audiobook that I thought was well-performed, edited, and the sound quality was great.
TLDR: African based fantasy with demons, elemental magic, shapeshifters, and more. Women are being captured by demons and MC has to try and stop it.
Ratings:
Plot: 11/15
Character: 12/15
World-Building: 13.5/15
Writing: 12/15
Pacing: 13/15
Originality: 13/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 82.5/100 or 4/5 stars
A man named Amana has traveled a long way after a tough life searching for a legendary warrior. He wants to apprentice under Uzomo and came all the way out to this small village trying to track him down and ends up attending the same wedding where the young woman is killed. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was first accused of murdering the young woman, but the spirits cleared his name (shamans can summon spirits). After that, he helps the villagers try and track down these Kishi after it becomes apparent there's more than one, and it's urgent because the Kishi are stealing young women off of farms in the surrounding area and also captured the bride to be.
I liked Amana, he had a good heart, he has a tragic backstory that makes you hope he will have success in finding his inner peace. He lost his family to a fire and constantly is plagued by nightmares reliving those moments over and over again. He thought that joining up with some monks would help with that, but they rejected him... probably because he still has a lot of anger and bitterness. There's a cute romance going on between Amana and another warrior, Niya. (Spelling uncertain, I audiobooked) She is the captain of the guard for the visiting nation who came there for the wedding with the bride. They have a slower beginning which is almost a requirement for me to enjoy a romance. A hot and heavy whirlwind romance or love at first sight stories annoy me.
There were some parts of this that just didn't work for me, but they were mostly subjective things. I kind of giggle to myself when men in books (or real life) are trying to be seductive, especially if it's through dance. I just don't find men dancing all that alluring, so reading about a woman being attracted to gyrating hips just... eh. However, I seem to be the only person who just does not understand dancing. It seems to be a big part of humanity that everyone else gets but me, so take that with a grain of salt - gyrating hips sure worked for Elvis. The other thing is the silly way a woman's "breasts throbbed" when she was getting hot and heavy with a demon. Boobs don't throb like that, y'all.
The magic in this was pretty neat, and there were all different types of magic that kept things interesting. There were shamans that worked to the sound of drums to call out to the spirits. There are various types of shapeshifters with some people having the ability to turn into lions, or leopards, or hyenas. There are people who have "Sight" and can predict what's going to happen just a few seconds before it does - which is very useful in fights. There are people who can wield elemental magic and bring rocks and dust up from the ground during a fight. This felt very high fantasy and yet also grounded here on Earth. To me, everything felt thought out and seamless which is a nice way to present a book. There was basically no info-dumping, the world was built organically and through context rather than spelling it all out. Women's roles in this world varied on where they are from. It's not uncommon to see women archers, but Niya was captain of the guard, and that ruffled some feathers in the village. A man tried making fun of her for it, poking at her appearance and making lude comments... and then she knocked him in the face with her bow. Sexism in books is at its worst when it's unclear if the author intentionally put it in there or not. If you're doing John Travolta hands trying to figure out what the intentions were, things have gone awry
When it's clear the character who's sexist is a douche-bag it makes it much less grating. Dude was an ass, so he got knocked in the face for it. Fair enough. There were other times that things seemed a tad unintentional, however. Specifically with reducing women to their appearance more than a few times.
All in all, this was a solid read that I enjoyed a lot. I would highly recommend it if any of this sounded interesting to you. There's also an audiobook that I thought was well-performed, edited, and the sound quality was great.
TLDR: African based fantasy with demons, elemental magic, shapeshifters, and more. Women are being captured by demons and MC has to try and stop it.
Ratings:
Plot: 11/15
Character: 12/15
World-Building: 13.5/15
Writing: 12/15
Pacing: 13/15
Originality: 13/15
Personal Enjoyment: 8/10
Final Score: 82.5/100 or 4/5 stars
October 4, 2019
Read and reviewed for SPFBO5 (2019) as part of The Fantasy Team: https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/08/sp...
***The below contains minor spoilers***
This book had me intrigued from the very moment I heard the title. ‘The Kishi’ – a word I had heard previously. For those of you who don’t know, a Kishi is a being from African folklore (Angolan specifically) that is a highly charismatic male humanoid… but with a hyena face on the back of its head. They prey upon women using their charm and wit, and once they’ve lured them in, they kill and, well, eat them. In modern parlance, think Quirinus Quirrell from Harry Potter (who has Voldemort’s face on the back of his head) crossed with a D&D Gnoll, who has a +5 charisma modifier, sneak attack abilities, and advantage on bite attacks.
With this in mind, before I started reading, I was expecting an African-inspired folklore type fantasy with added romance, and a little bit of horror.
I was not disappointed.
So as not to go into any significant spoilers, the opening chapter launches into a vibrant African village setting which then embraces the dark and violent nature of the Kishi. It delivered everything I wanted from it in that first chapter – though the ‘throbbing breasts’ did let it down, I have to say – which had me ready and raring for more.
***The below contains minor spoilers***
This book had me intrigued from the very moment I heard the title. ‘The Kishi’ – a word I had heard previously. For those of you who don’t know, a Kishi is a being from African folklore (Angolan specifically) that is a highly charismatic male humanoid… but with a hyena face on the back of its head. They prey upon women using their charm and wit, and once they’ve lured them in, they kill and, well, eat them. In modern parlance, think Quirinus Quirrell from Harry Potter (who has Voldemort’s face on the back of his head) crossed with a D&D Gnoll, who has a +5 charisma modifier, sneak attack abilities, and advantage on bite attacks.
With this in mind, before I started reading, I was expecting an African-inspired folklore type fantasy with added romance, and a little bit of horror.
I was not disappointed.
So as not to go into any significant spoilers, the opening chapter launches into a vibrant African village setting which then embraces the dark and violent nature of the Kishi. It delivered everything I wanted from it in that first chapter – though the ‘throbbing breasts’ did let it down, I have to say – which had me ready and raring for more.
October 29, 2020
The only reason I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 is because when I got about halfway through and wanted to give up reading it, the overall storyline kept me going. And I'll admit that I wanted to see how it ended. That in itself is what fiction should really be about.
But (and its a big "but") while the writing was good, the execution of the plot was awful. Character development was all over the ball park. Some characters were given great development and others almost totally ignored except for where their character intersected the plot.
The worst part of the book, though, was how certain things were so poorly foreshadowed. The author dropped hints that were about a subtle as a Mack truck where a character would make some statement that gave away the farm, and yet everyone else went on as if it had never been said. And this didn't happen once. It happened over and over and over again. It was really annoying.
Simply put, it seems like the author was operating under the assumption that his readers are stupid and needed to be strung along with these massive plot tells. But the effect was to make his main characters look stupid because they never seemed to hear what the other characters were plainly saying. The whole book suffers from a distinct lack of subtlety.
But (and its a big "but") while the writing was good, the execution of the plot was awful. Character development was all over the ball park. Some characters were given great development and others almost totally ignored except for where their character intersected the plot.
The worst part of the book, though, was how certain things were so poorly foreshadowed. The author dropped hints that were about a subtle as a Mack truck where a character would make some statement that gave away the farm, and yet everyone else went on as if it had never been said. And this didn't happen once. It happened over and over and over again. It was really annoying.
Simply put, it seems like the author was operating under the assumption that his readers are stupid and needed to be strung along with these massive plot tells. But the effect was to make his main characters look stupid because they never seemed to hear what the other characters were plainly saying. The whole book suffers from a distinct lack of subtlety.
April 2, 2023
4/2/23: 4.5 stars. A really great Angolan mythology-inspired secondary world fantasy with some great characters and a great plot. Held back from a full 5 star due to some small pacing issues in first half and the fact that the prologue is the best part of the entire first half of the book—but still would absolutely recommend this.
July 11, 2021
The opening scene almost had me give up on the book, as there was a creepy – romance? If one can call it that… – scene with “throbbing breast” and all. Luckily this is not at all the direction the rest of the book was going, and I was hooked at the end of chapter two.
I enjoyed the characters, and especially the different POV to all the usual medieval Europe type of fantasy books. The dialogue was mostly well done, and only rarely sounded a bit stilted to me. I enjoyed spending time with them, and most of the time I understood their motivations and they felt quite real to me.
The different setting and background made for a fresh read. I also really liked following the tribes and their traditions. A few times things seemed to happen the way they did just for the plot, or felt a bit unrealistic even for fantasy, but all in all I was happy to suspend my disbelief for the time it took me to read the whole story.
All in all a quick and entertaining and intriguing read!
I enjoyed the characters, and especially the different POV to all the usual medieval Europe type of fantasy books. The dialogue was mostly well done, and only rarely sounded a bit stilted to me. I enjoyed spending time with them, and most of the time I understood their motivations and they felt quite real to me.
The different setting and background made for a fresh read. I also really liked following the tribes and their traditions. A few times things seemed to happen the way they did just for the plot, or felt a bit unrealistic even for fantasy, but all in all I was happy to suspend my disbelief for the time it took me to read the whole story.
All in all a quick and entertaining and intriguing read!
March 10, 2019
The Kishi by Antoine Bandele was refreshingly unique! Its fantasy world of Esowon is based on African folklore which immediately sets it apart from the classic fantasy tropes. I enjoyed exploring this world and really enjoyed the creative main character of Amana. After travelling to the village of Bajok, this pacifist monk must battle the forces of darkness at great cost to his own soul. This one’s perfect for anyone who loves fantasy and mythology like me!
February 1, 2018
The Kishi is a great book and I really enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading anything else you write and would definitely recommend the book to anyone who is interested in anything from supernatural storied or even cultural ones. Thank you for writing such a book and allowing me to read an advanced copy. An easy 5/5 stars. Keep up the great work and once again I look forward to reading your next book.
January 19, 2020
Wonderful debut
This was an interesting read containing African folklore - not sure what the original folklore is but seems interesting and will look it up.
Writing style is decent, not the usual type I've come across - in terms of descriptions, the way people talk. The characters are well developed and story is interesting though the mysteries were very predictable. There's even a picture of the main character at the end and that was nice. Overall enjoyable.
This was an interesting read containing African folklore - not sure what the original folklore is but seems interesting and will look it up.
Writing style is decent, not the usual type I've come across - in terms of descriptions, the way people talk. The characters are well developed and story is interesting though the mysteries were very predictable. There's even a picture of the main character at the end and that was nice. Overall enjoyable.
November 26, 2024
4.7⭐
This was a book recommended to me to read. I'm glad for that recommendation!
I really liked this book as it was such a good read. The characters were well developed and everyone had a purpose so the community felt well structured and real.
The world building was also well structured I could imagine the places and see the landscape, where everything was and where the story was taking place.
The plot of the story was really well written and stayed in focus. It drove the characters on both sides to completion and didn't waver.
The mythology within the story was really well integrated and you could really get a sense of how this affected the people and their beliefs. Very well written!
Even though I took a hiatus from this book, it was really easy to pick up from where I stopped and immediately get Back into the story.
This book is actually the second book in the series so some of the past of the main character was a mystery to me, but this didn't ruin the story at all, in fact it made it easier to see the main character from the perspective of the other characters and to try and figure out who he was and what his motives were.
While it would have been better to read the first book to get the backstory of the main character, it wasn't essential.
This is definitely one series that I will look to read in full!
This was a book recommended to me to read. I'm glad for that recommendation!
I really liked this book as it was such a good read. The characters were well developed and everyone had a purpose so the community felt well structured and real.
The world building was also well structured I could imagine the places and see the landscape, where everything was and where the story was taking place.
The plot of the story was really well written and stayed in focus. It drove the characters on both sides to completion and didn't waver.
The mythology within the story was really well integrated and you could really get a sense of how this affected the people and their beliefs. Very well written!
Even though I took a hiatus from this book, it was really easy to pick up from where I stopped and immediately get Back into the story.
This book is actually the second book in the series so some of the past of the main character was a mystery to me, but this didn't ruin the story at all, in fact it made it easier to see the main character from the perspective of the other characters and to try and figure out who he was and what his motives were.
While it would have been better to read the first book to get the backstory of the main character, it wasn't essential.
This is definitely one series that I will look to read in full!
January 11, 2020
You have the chupacabra, the yeti, and the Big Foot. All are scary, but don't hold a candle to the kishi! This book starts off with a hook that keeps you hooked. The descriptions are vivid. I felt my heart race, every time a man battled the ferocious kishi. I felt like I was in the African bush, along with the characters. What a fantastic introduction to this mythical creature!
I was happy to read about The Motherland, too. Often times, I don't see books about my ancestors, and it was refreshing. Our ancestors were badasses, and so are the current Africans. They deserve to be much more than peripheral characters in books and movies. Speaking of movies, I want to see this book as a movie one day.
I was happy to read about The Motherland, too. Often times, I don't see books about my ancestors, and it was refreshing. Our ancestors were badasses, and so are the current Africans. They deserve to be much more than peripheral characters in books and movies. Speaking of movies, I want to see this book as a movie one day.
February 4, 2018
Antoine set out to write an African fantasy, and dadgum it, he wrote the hell out of this story. I was intrigued and enthralled from beginning to end. I can see the time, passion and creativity Antoine put into the characters, settings and theming, which also had me captivated. If you want a great read, pick up a copy.
February 19, 2018
Before you continue reading this review, I do have to mention something. I've been an active follower of this author's Youtube page long before I knew he was going to write a book, I was a beta reader for this book, and I was also a Kickstart backer.
So am I slightly biased? Depends on your perspective. Yes, I'm a big fan of Antoine's work, so there is a possibility of bias, but I'm also very critical of it (I remember the paragraphs and paragraphs of notes I gave him when I was a beta reader). I also had very high expectations for this book since not only was I involved in the process of making it, but also because I've been following it's progress ever since Antoine first announced he was writing it.
Now that that's out of the way, I can give my total and completely honest opinion:
This. Book. Is. Fantastic!
First off, it combines two of my favorite genres: Mystery and Fantasy. Second, this book is different from other fantasy stories in the sense that is incorporates elements of African folklore, something which I normally don't see a lot of. Third, the writing is just good!
This is a perfect way to introduce a new series/fantasy world. It sets the stage for future stories, and yet the world building doesn't detract from the book's central mystery. The world develops bit by bit, and it always keeps you wondering as to what new thing will be revealed about it.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the characters. All of them are wonderfully different, and each one brings something new and exciting to the story. I won't go into too much detail since that would include heavy spoiler, but I will say Amana, Nya, and Esi were amazing and a pleasure to get to know.
And the fight scenes. The fight scenes! If you're looking for an author who can write a fight scene, it's this guy right here. His fights are clear, fast-paced, and exciting. And best of all, the fights have weight to them. What I mean by that is that the fights are well-thought out. A character has their strengths, their weaknesses, and a presence in the story's environment. This makes all the fight scenes just... click.
This book is an introduction into the new world of Esowon, and I can truthfully say that it was a pleasure to be involved in the production of this book, and that I am very proud of what Antoine has accomplished.
If there is anything for you to take away from this review, let it be this: I have read this book, I have loved it, and I am looking forward to more.
So am I slightly biased? Depends on your perspective. Yes, I'm a big fan of Antoine's work, so there is a possibility of bias, but I'm also very critical of it (I remember the paragraphs and paragraphs of notes I gave him when I was a beta reader). I also had very high expectations for this book since not only was I involved in the process of making it, but also because I've been following it's progress ever since Antoine first announced he was writing it.
Now that that's out of the way, I can give my total and completely honest opinion:
This. Book. Is. Fantastic!
First off, it combines two of my favorite genres: Mystery and Fantasy. Second, this book is different from other fantasy stories in the sense that is incorporates elements of African folklore, something which I normally don't see a lot of. Third, the writing is just good!
This is a perfect way to introduce a new series/fantasy world. It sets the stage for future stories, and yet the world building doesn't detract from the book's central mystery. The world develops bit by bit, and it always keeps you wondering as to what new thing will be revealed about it.
One of my favorite parts of the book were the characters. All of them are wonderfully different, and each one brings something new and exciting to the story. I won't go into too much detail since that would include heavy spoiler, but I will say Amana, Nya, and Esi were amazing and a pleasure to get to know.
And the fight scenes. The fight scenes! If you're looking for an author who can write a fight scene, it's this guy right here. His fights are clear, fast-paced, and exciting. And best of all, the fights have weight to them. What I mean by that is that the fights are well-thought out. A character has their strengths, their weaknesses, and a presence in the story's environment. This makes all the fight scenes just... click.
This book is an introduction into the new world of Esowon, and I can truthfully say that it was a pleasure to be involved in the production of this book, and that I am very proud of what Antoine has accomplished.
If there is anything for you to take away from this review, let it be this: I have read this book, I have loved it, and I am looking forward to more.
April 12, 2024
The first third of the book is really good. The who, what, where, how, when flows seamlessly with the action and keeps one riveted.
Then, suddenly, the language doesn’t fit that first third: syntax changes, modern expressions, and swearing (quite jarring). There are also scenes that don’t add to the story (a whole chapter of walking off over the savannah in case they came across signs of the kishi – despite knowing where they live – and a disturbing scene of cheetah cubs being killed.) The on-page sex was also unnecessary.
I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.
The first third, though, was good enough to make one want to read to the end. Even the first chapter which is actually a prologue/standalone short story added to the story. And yes: I was right about who the kishi are, where they live, who their chief is, and who their enemies are – but it was fun to read it anyway.
I would have liked more information about the other creatures and the folklore behind them. Only that of the kishi was properly explored. (I do have a folklore podcast – link in bio – which explores the kishi, jengu, obayifo, Mami Wata and more.)
Great cover, an okay blurb, and a good story.
Then, suddenly, the language doesn’t fit that first third: syntax changes, modern expressions, and swearing (quite jarring). There are also scenes that don’t add to the story (a whole chapter of walking off over the savannah in case they came across signs of the kishi – despite knowing where they live – and a disturbing scene of cheetah cubs being killed.) The on-page sex was also unnecessary.
I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.
The first third, though, was good enough to make one want to read to the end. Even the first chapter which is actually a prologue/standalone short story added to the story. And yes: I was right about who the kishi are, where they live, who their chief is, and who their enemies are – but it was fun to read it anyway.
I would have liked more information about the other creatures and the folklore behind them. Only that of the kishi was properly explored. (I do have a folklore podcast – link in bio – which explores the kishi, jengu, obayifo, Mami Wata and more.)
Great cover, an okay blurb, and a good story.
September 24, 2019
An original idea which is hard to find these days! I love the African mythology, I loved the setting that was very different than most fantasy. And I can really see the potential. However, the building up of the characters I think needs to be a little more consistent and at times the writing seemed really blunt. And that confused me. I am not so worried about the occasional typos I write as well and typos creep in no matter how often something is proofread.
I was initially going to rate this as three stars but I realize that I keep thinking about it. And to me that is a sign of a good book if I keep going over it in my mind to try and understand things better. There was also bits of profundity in it, the emphasis on balance and the need for both good and bad. I really enjoyed that. I think I will get the sequel as well, I am just curious to see what happens the way I think I will read another book in between just to give it a little bit of a break. It was actually quite intense.
I was initially going to rate this as three stars but I realize that I keep thinking about it. And to me that is a sign of a good book if I keep going over it in my mind to try and understand things better. There was also bits of profundity in it, the emphasis on balance and the need for both good and bad. I really enjoyed that. I think I will get the sequel as well, I am just curious to see what happens the way I think I will read another book in between just to give it a little bit of a break. It was actually quite intense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
I seriously was not expecting this book to be the page turner it turned out to be. It wasn't too deep and over explanatory as some authors tend to be, specifically in the fantasy genre.
This book is the opposite, it reads like a breath of fresh air.
The author is not afraid to take risks with his characters, and does an excellent job allowing the reader to paint these beautiful people and places in their own minds. I'm looking forward to more from this series and the main character Amana.
This book is the opposite, it reads like a breath of fresh air.
The author is not afraid to take risks with his characters, and does an excellent job allowing the reader to paint these beautiful people and places in their own minds. I'm looking forward to more from this series and the main character Amana.
December 4, 2019
I quite liked the interesting world set up, and I liked a number of the characters. The "Kishi" of the title (a demon that looks superficially like a man, but which can transform into a sort of man/hyena hybrid) was interesting. There's some magic, not too much, but often used for fast healing or something similar.
I wish the writing had been up to the world-building, though. I got a little bored about half-way through. I finished it, but I mostly skimmed through the last half.
A solid 2.5 stars, rounded to 3 for an interesting world.
I wish the writing had been up to the world-building, though. I got a little bored about half-way through. I finished it, but I mostly skimmed through the last half.
A solid 2.5 stars, rounded to 3 for an interesting world.
April 28, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book it started out as a book that I thought I was going to read with my son but I quickly as I preview did realize this may not be a story for my younger son so I want a reading it by myself and was excited about it I got my sisters to read it I got my friends to read it now we just I feel bad for what happy what happened to you and me but I am so excited with how things turned out in the end for the others I'm not going to say too much cuz I don't want to spoil it but I suggest people put this on their must-reads
November 29, 2019
This is a fantastic Angolan-inspired fantasy folklore/horror novel. Full review here.
May 11, 2020
Refreshing
It was nice to read a story based on a culture that I personally know little about. It was fun to get lost in a world that was unique from my normal reads. I plan on reading more from this author.
It was nice to read a story based on a culture that I personally know little about. It was fun to get lost in a world that was unique from my normal reads. I plan on reading more from this author.
February 1, 2022
This is enjoyable read about mythological demons - shape-shifters, I haven't come across before. It has magical powers, cool fights, mystery and overall engaging plot.
I would recommend this one and I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
I would recommend this one and I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
May 9, 2020
The blurb intrigued me - a blend of Angolan folklore and fantasy.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am glad I happened on it. It moves along at a steady pace and is full of action. And I really liked the characters. I'll be looking for the other books in this series.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am glad I happened on it. It moves along at a steady pace and is full of action. And I really liked the characters. I'll be looking for the other books in this series.
April 20, 2020
Awesome read. Easily one of my favorite fantasy books of the year. Unique setting. Great characters, interesting magic system and well-written. I found I was thinking about the story a lot.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next Esowan books.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next Esowan books.
December 4, 2019
I first read this as one of the fantasy-hive's semifinalists in the fifth Self Publishing Fantasy Blog Off.
It's a fascinating tale set in a different fantasy context, African rather than European in its feel and motifs. Even if the cover is a bit of a giveaway the story has plenty of surprises, strange magics and an engagingly imperfect protagonist.
you can read more about what the team thought of it here
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/11/th...
It's a fascinating tale set in a different fantasy context, African rather than European in its feel and motifs. Even if the cover is a bit of a giveaway the story has plenty of surprises, strange magics and an engagingly imperfect protagonist.
you can read more about what the team thought of it here
https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/11/th...
August 17, 2019
I rate very few books five stars, but this one earned all five. It has everything a story needs. A man struggling to understand himself and others. A touch of love. And a compelling, believable story of the supernatural. What more could you ask for? And I found it free of typos or grammatical errors.
October 5, 2018
Great book! I really enjoyed every moment of it. Think of this book as a D&D campaign. I liked the imagery and world-building. I want to know more. The Twin Moon Goddesses intrigued me. When i talked with a friend that was also reading it, I, at first, thought I was going to give it a C+, but when I got home and spoke with my husband who had already read it, I got really passionate talking about some of the characters, which upped my grade to a solid B or a 4-star rating on here.
The only negatives: Fight scenes seemed a little lacking. And at the end the main character seemed to dismiss things that I (as a reader) feel he should want to know.
I listened to this book on Audible. The voice actor was amazing. Tons of different voices from creepy to soothing. Even the female voices were convincing enough. Great stuff. Very impressive.
I loved all the characters. I wonder who the next book will center around.
Bechdel test: Passed!
The only negatives: Fight scenes seemed a little lacking. And at the end the main character seemed to dismiss things that I (as a reader) feel he should want to know.
I listened to this book on Audible. The voice actor was amazing. Tons of different voices from creepy to soothing. Even the female voices were convincing enough. Great stuff. Very impressive.
I loved all the characters. I wonder who the next book will center around.
Bechdel test: Passed!
February 17, 2019
Although the fantasy genre has many beloved titles like The Wheel of Time, The Dragonlance Chronicles, Lord of the Rings, and A Game of Thrones, these fantasy worlds often share very similar influences, world-building, and mythologies. In recent years, fantasy is becoming more diverse as emerging authors breathe new life into the genre. One such contribution is Bandele's book, The Kishi.
Undoubtedly, the world-building of The Kishi is unique. Drawn from African culture and mythology, it's a fresh take on shape-shifting, although the core elements follow familiar, already-established themes. World building is littered throughout the book, not all at once, making it easy for readers to absorb.
The characters were likable but not without their weaknesses, especially Nya, although at some points her hotheadedness got to be borderline ridiculous . Amana isn't without his weaknesses, either: always doubting himself and his abilities, and generally putting himself down. This wasn't consistent enough to bother me, but it sometimes toed the line. Minor characters like Kojo, Ikenna, Baako, and Shanaki weren't introduced deeply enough to make me connect with them, but they seemed believable enough and added some depth to the story.
All in all, I found The Kishi to be a fun ride in a new world. It needs more editing to filter out some typos and awkward phrasing, especially the use of idioms and slang that aren't consistent enough to be realistically part of the established world and are modern enough to be distracting. However, the plot was entertaining and fast-paced and characters likable but fallible. I'll most likely be reading future installments in the series.
Undoubtedly, the world-building of The Kishi is unique. Drawn from African culture and mythology, it's a fresh take on shape-shifting, although the core elements follow familiar, already-established themes. World building is littered throughout the book, not all at once, making it easy for readers to absorb.
The characters were likable but not without their weaknesses, especially Nya, although at some points her hotheadedness got to be borderline ridiculous . Amana isn't without his weaknesses, either: always doubting himself and his abilities, and generally putting himself down. This wasn't consistent enough to bother me, but it sometimes toed the line. Minor characters like Kojo, Ikenna, Baako, and Shanaki weren't introduced deeply enough to make me connect with them, but they seemed believable enough and added some depth to the story.
All in all, I found The Kishi to be a fun ride in a new world. It needs more editing to filter out some typos and awkward phrasing, especially the use of idioms and slang that aren't consistent enough to be realistically part of the established world and are modern enough to be distracting. However, the plot was entertaining and fast-paced and characters likable but fallible. I'll most likely be reading future installments in the series.
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