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The Divide Series: War
Ancient Curse.
Two Kingdoms.
Imminent War.
When her dreams are plagued with visions of horrific battles, Sarai must return to her kingdom, Zunoro, after a ten-year absence. Crossing the border Sarai meets the stern and proud Ayize, whom she convinces to join her army. It is a decision she might come to regret, for Sarai soon discovers she is under the influence of an ancient Inmakwe curse. Self-preservation and the fate of her people collide.
Sarai assumes the mantle of leadership as the war with neighboring kingdom Dunoro erupts. All too quickly, her world quickly descends into chaos, bloodshed, betrayal. Perhaps worse are the deepening feelings for one of her soldiers who might not live long enough for her to love.
It’ll take every ounce of strength to keep her head to walk the delicate lines of politics, family ties; chilling curses that raise blades on the frontline. Death and victory await. For whom remains to be seen.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2019
4 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 17, 2020
I really liked this book. It drew me in in the first few pages. I was actually so surprised how quickly I was intrigued by the story. It's full of interesting magic, it has a unique setting and story, it is fact paced that piques enough curiosity to keep turning the pages. I found myself sneaking in a 5 page read here and there because I just wanted to continue.
There are times when the story is a little bit hard to follow, but I think ultimately that adds to the realizations along the way. The parallels between at times were confusing between shared memories and reality, but the author distinguishes memory from reality through formatting, which definitely helps. I think there are moments when the reader's confusion between reality and shared memories hints to the characters confusion, so it serves it's purpose.
The characters were all loveable with clear desires and personalities. The women were strong, independent and tender. The men were respectful even in their cruel moments. The curse really made a statement on how easily any fiction can fall into just a sappy love story, but how fighting that urge with a story can make it come out stronger. Even if you don't completely get rid of love. A beautiful balance, Magdalene Asante. Bravo.
Overall this is an absolutely stunning debut novel by a powerful new voice in African American Fantasy Fiction. I'm excited for what is to come from this author!
*I received a copy of this book for free, and am leaving a review voluntarily
There are times when the story is a little bit hard to follow, but I think ultimately that adds to the realizations along the way. The parallels between at times were confusing between shared memories and reality, but the author distinguishes memory from reality through formatting, which definitely helps. I think there are moments when the reader's confusion between reality and shared memories hints to the characters confusion, so it serves it's purpose.
The characters were all loveable with clear desires and personalities. The women were strong, independent and tender. The men were respectful even in their cruel moments. The curse really made a statement on how easily any fiction can fall into just a sappy love story, but how fighting that urge with a story can make it come out stronger. Even if you don't completely get rid of love. A beautiful balance, Magdalene Asante. Bravo.
Overall this is an absolutely stunning debut novel by a powerful new voice in African American Fantasy Fiction. I'm excited for what is to come from this author!
*I received a copy of this book for free, and am leaving a review voluntarily
September 22, 2020
Three Princesses. Two Kingdoms. Imminent War.
When the lives of Sarah, Keyayle and Adora are seized by an ancient curse that demands a life for a life; self-preservation and the fate of their kingdoms collide. Now they must decide between love and duty. For one, the decision comes easily. For the others, they must learn to walk the delicate lines of politics, family ties and deal with the matters of the heart.
Death and victory await.
For whom remains to be seen.
Firstly, the biggest thank you ever to Magdalene for contacting me and asking if I’d like to read her book!
As a lover of fantasy (especially YA fantasy) this book was right up my street. The fantasy element is so seamlessly interwoven that most of the time you forget you have immersed yourself in a totally different world.
I was so invested in the plot of this book!! Just when I thought I’d predicted something there was another twist that threw everything off course! And some of those twists ... wow they were good!!
The characters were also so beautifully written. I felt love and hatred and everything in between, I was rooting for romance - which was also written about so tastefully - and was left wanting more ... seriously .. that ending though?!!
“She is my moon. And like the working tides, I only come alive when she is around.”
Overall this book was magnificent. I cannot wait to see where the story continues in the books to come!
When the lives of Sarah, Keyayle and Adora are seized by an ancient curse that demands a life for a life; self-preservation and the fate of their kingdoms collide. Now they must decide between love and duty. For one, the decision comes easily. For the others, they must learn to walk the delicate lines of politics, family ties and deal with the matters of the heart.
Death and victory await.
For whom remains to be seen.
Firstly, the biggest thank you ever to Magdalene for contacting me and asking if I’d like to read her book!
As a lover of fantasy (especially YA fantasy) this book was right up my street. The fantasy element is so seamlessly interwoven that most of the time you forget you have immersed yourself in a totally different world.
I was so invested in the plot of this book!! Just when I thought I’d predicted something there was another twist that threw everything off course! And some of those twists ... wow they were good!!
The characters were also so beautifully written. I felt love and hatred and everything in between, I was rooting for romance - which was also written about so tastefully - and was left wanting more ... seriously .. that ending though?!!
“She is my moon. And like the working tides, I only come alive when she is around.”
Overall this book was magnificent. I cannot wait to see where the story continues in the books to come!
December 22, 2020
*I'd like to thank the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!*
I have to say I really enjoyed this book! We followed multiple perspectives aside from Sarai and Ayize and I found that they all were unique in their own way and made it engaging. The writing was very well done, with many quotable phrases and beautiful prose. The plot kept my attention the entire time and I was constantly wondering what would happen. That said, I never could guess the plot twists, which were spread all throughout the story. It was action packed right from the first page and never had a dull moment. Something I loved was all of the strong female main characters, they each were resilient and determined to achieve their goals. All of the characters had their own unique personality and background which made for a rich world history. One thing that I would have liked was more scenes without action so that we could get to know the characters even more and to get a feel for them personally. I really enjoyed seeing how the politics between the kingdoms played a vital role in the story. There was also a great balance between a story of vengeance and power with heartfelt love.
With that shocking ending I am definitely excited to read the sequel! I recommend this to anyone looking for an exciting fantasy story!
I have to say I really enjoyed this book! We followed multiple perspectives aside from Sarai and Ayize and I found that they all were unique in their own way and made it engaging. The writing was very well done, with many quotable phrases and beautiful prose. The plot kept my attention the entire time and I was constantly wondering what would happen. That said, I never could guess the plot twists, which were spread all throughout the story. It was action packed right from the first page and never had a dull moment. Something I loved was all of the strong female main characters, they each were resilient and determined to achieve their goals. All of the characters had their own unique personality and background which made for a rich world history. One thing that I would have liked was more scenes without action so that we could get to know the characters even more and to get a feel for them personally. I really enjoyed seeing how the politics between the kingdoms played a vital role in the story. There was also a great balance between a story of vengeance and power with heartfelt love.
With that shocking ending I am definitely excited to read the sequel! I recommend this to anyone looking for an exciting fantasy story!
December 19, 2020
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. War is a very innovative, original story about fierce women protecting their kingdoms in each their own way. Asante created a fascinating world with interesting characters. We read from multiple perspectives, which I am all in for. In the beginning it was hard sometimes to follow who was who, but that improved when I got to know the characters better. I do wish we got a better view of the world Asante created. The world with different kingdoms sounded really interesting, but the descriptions remained rather superficial. I would have loved to read more about their individual customs.
The author drew me in from the first page with her descriptive writing style. However, sometimes her writing felt too forced because she used quite a lot of unnecessary metaphors, as if she wanted to try too hard for her debut novel. Very understandable of course, but that sometimes interrupted the flow of the story.
I do recommend this very entertaining, fantasy story! Congratulations, Magdalene, it’s a strong debut!
I really enjoyed this book. War is a very innovative, original story about fierce women protecting their kingdoms in each their own way. Asante created a fascinating world with interesting characters. We read from multiple perspectives, which I am all in for. In the beginning it was hard sometimes to follow who was who, but that improved when I got to know the characters better. I do wish we got a better view of the world Asante created. The world with different kingdoms sounded really interesting, but the descriptions remained rather superficial. I would have loved to read more about their individual customs.
The author drew me in from the first page with her descriptive writing style. However, sometimes her writing felt too forced because she used quite a lot of unnecessary metaphors, as if she wanted to try too hard for her debut novel. Very understandable of course, but that sometimes interrupted the flow of the story.
I do recommend this very entertaining, fantasy story! Congratulations, Magdalene, it’s a strong debut!
July 23, 2020
The scope of this story is impressive for a debut novel. Each leading character is clearly defined and their motivations are understandable. The author poured her heart and emotions into the making of this book, and ended up with an engaging result. Her unique writing style adds form to the turmoil and drive of the main characters, and pulls the reader along. It will be interesting to see where the author takes the story from here!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
December 10, 2020
*I received this book from the author for free via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review*
I loved this book! There are so many angles and intricacies to this story that would be impossible to explain in one review, but this story was wonderfully written and I enjoyed it very much. Everything from the characters to the plot twists were executed very well, and I felt immersed in the world of curses and gatekeepers and kingdoms.
I have a few other points to raise, however, as with most books. I found Sarai to be a somewhat dry protagonist when compared with the other characters. Her strength is certainly admirable but her rashness and stubborn nature became irritating towards the end, particularly on the final scene. Keyayle and Adora, even Ayize and Asim were much more interesting as characters - they were written with a depth that Sarai, in my opinion, very much lacked. Sarai, as the protagonist, seldom offers the reader the critical thought processes that protagonists usually offer, and the gaping hole of her ten year absence is never explained - where she was, what she did etc. She remained rather mysterious throughout, which would be fine as a secondary character, but grew on my patience as the protagonist. However, this was redeemed by the multiple POVs. The author does a marvellous job at combining multiple POVs and even different storylines at many points (such as that with Mano and Asha, and Ayize’s back story) but I felt that some parts were brushed over too fast. The changes in POV periods were okay for the most part, but time indicators may have aided the clarity for Ayize’s story. Moreover, some parts missed vital elaboration - I needed more world-building into this densely built, elaborate web of fascinating kingdoms. I think more background on the Inmakwe curse would also have been helpful to better appreciate Sarai’s POV, as well as Asim’s encounters with Mano etc.
Despite this, I sped through this story for the simple fact that it had me hooked from the beginning, and had me enthralled until the end. I marvel at the creation Asante has created as a debut author, and I cannot wait to read more from the author!
I loved this book! There are so many angles and intricacies to this story that would be impossible to explain in one review, but this story was wonderfully written and I enjoyed it very much. Everything from the characters to the plot twists were executed very well, and I felt immersed in the world of curses and gatekeepers and kingdoms.
I have a few other points to raise, however, as with most books. I found Sarai to be a somewhat dry protagonist when compared with the other characters. Her strength is certainly admirable but her rashness and stubborn nature became irritating towards the end, particularly on the final scene. Keyayle and Adora, even Ayize and Asim were much more interesting as characters - they were written with a depth that Sarai, in my opinion, very much lacked. Sarai, as the protagonist, seldom offers the reader the critical thought processes that protagonists usually offer, and the gaping hole of her ten year absence is never explained - where she was, what she did etc. She remained rather mysterious throughout, which would be fine as a secondary character, but grew on my patience as the protagonist. However, this was redeemed by the multiple POVs. The author does a marvellous job at combining multiple POVs and even different storylines at many points (such as that with Mano and Asha, and Ayize’s back story) but I felt that some parts were brushed over too fast. The changes in POV periods were okay for the most part, but time indicators may have aided the clarity for Ayize’s story. Moreover, some parts missed vital elaboration - I needed more world-building into this densely built, elaborate web of fascinating kingdoms. I think more background on the Inmakwe curse would also have been helpful to better appreciate Sarai’s POV, as well as Asim’s encounters with Mano etc.
Despite this, I sped through this story for the simple fact that it had me hooked from the beginning, and had me enthralled until the end. I marvel at the creation Asante has created as a debut author, and I cannot wait to read more from the author!
March 1, 2021
The ebook version of the book was kindly gifted to me for an honest review. After a few pages, i had already inhaled the story and had to get myself a printed copy. German translation below.
In the very fast and captivating beginning, I dived into the story. But the pace of the plot dindn´t slow down, the short chapters and sometimes the lack of descriptions caused me some confusion and i constantly had to go back to catch up the storyline. Nevertheless I loved the plot and the twists and also the worldbuilding inspired by african culture. The idea of a fantasy world with modern impacts like cars really got me, even though I missed an overall setting or a deeper look on the five kingdoms. I had no problem to stick with the characters, the change between the differnt POVs and timelines kept the story alive. Concluding, it was a very nice debut, that got me hooked up for a sequel, especially after that cliffhanger…
Der schnelle und mitreißende Beginn hat mich direkt in die Geschichte eintauchen lassen. Aber die Geschwindigkeit der Handlung hat nicht abgenommen, die sehr kurzen Kapitel und manchmal auch das Fehlen von Beschreibungen haben mich oft verwirrt und mich ständig vor- und zurückblättern lassen, um den Plot nicht zu verlieren. Dennoch fand ich die Handlung großartig mit all den unerwarteten Wendungen und dem Worldbuilding, das auf der afrikanischen Kultur basiert. Die Idee einer Fantasy Welt mit modernen Einflüssen, wie Fahrzeugen, hat mich wirklich gepackt, auch wenn ich mir ein umfassenderer Überblick über die Welt in der Geschichte oder wenigstens ein genauerer Blick auf die fünf Königreiche gefehlt hat. Ich hatte keine Schwierigkeiten damit, mich mit den Charakteren anzufreunden, der Wechsel zwischen den Sichtweisen und verschiedenen Zeitlinien hat die Handlung lebendig gehalten. Insgesamt ein wirklich mitreißender Reihenauftakt, der mir Lust auf eine Fortsetzung gemacht hat, vor allem nach dem Cliffhanger am Ende…
In the very fast and captivating beginning, I dived into the story. But the pace of the plot dindn´t slow down, the short chapters and sometimes the lack of descriptions caused me some confusion and i constantly had to go back to catch up the storyline. Nevertheless I loved the plot and the twists and also the worldbuilding inspired by african culture. The idea of a fantasy world with modern impacts like cars really got me, even though I missed an overall setting or a deeper look on the five kingdoms. I had no problem to stick with the characters, the change between the differnt POVs and timelines kept the story alive. Concluding, it was a very nice debut, that got me hooked up for a sequel, especially after that cliffhanger…
Der schnelle und mitreißende Beginn hat mich direkt in die Geschichte eintauchen lassen. Aber die Geschwindigkeit der Handlung hat nicht abgenommen, die sehr kurzen Kapitel und manchmal auch das Fehlen von Beschreibungen haben mich oft verwirrt und mich ständig vor- und zurückblättern lassen, um den Plot nicht zu verlieren. Dennoch fand ich die Handlung großartig mit all den unerwarteten Wendungen und dem Worldbuilding, das auf der afrikanischen Kultur basiert. Die Idee einer Fantasy Welt mit modernen Einflüssen, wie Fahrzeugen, hat mich wirklich gepackt, auch wenn ich mir ein umfassenderer Überblick über die Welt in der Geschichte oder wenigstens ein genauerer Blick auf die fünf Königreiche gefehlt hat. Ich hatte keine Schwierigkeiten damit, mich mit den Charakteren anzufreunden, der Wechsel zwischen den Sichtweisen und verschiedenen Zeitlinien hat die Handlung lebendig gehalten. Insgesamt ein wirklich mitreißender Reihenauftakt, der mir Lust auf eine Fortsetzung gemacht hat, vor allem nach dem Cliffhanger am Ende…
March 20, 2021
3.5
I was very kindly given a copy by the author, thank you Magdalene Asante!
War follows three princesses from two kingdoms on the brink of war. Sarai, Keyayle and Adora all want to protect their kingdoms but discover they are under the influence of the ancient Inmakwe curse that demands they find their soulmate or die. They have to decide what is more important, defending their kingdoms or themselves.
There were 5 POVs in this book, which would normally be fine, but the characters were all introduced very quickly and I did struggle to jump between each character's story without getting confused. It would have been good if we were gradually introduced to each person and their storyline. As the story progressed though I did start to connect with the characters individually and did like most of them!
Adora ended up being my favourite, she's the more 'villainous' character here and I realise I really like seeing why people do the terrible things they do, it helped me to understand and appreciate her character more. I did also like Sarai and Keyayle, the curse plot was definitely my favourite part of this book and seeing how it affected each of them and their kingdoms as a whole was interesting! The other two POVs were Asim and Ayize, I had a harder time connecting with them and unfortunately I didn't enjoy their chapters as much as the others.
It did take me awhile to properly get into this one but about half way through it did get better and the ending especially was really good! I definitely expect the series to get better with the next book(s) and think this was a good set up! I hope the world will be explored more and we can learn more about the cultures of each kingdom as well as the magic system because it wasn't explained as well as I would like and is another thing that confused me.
Overall, it wasn't my favourite but I still enjoyed reading it and do think the series will get better with each book!
I was very kindly given a copy by the author, thank you Magdalene Asante!
War follows three princesses from two kingdoms on the brink of war. Sarai, Keyayle and Adora all want to protect their kingdoms but discover they are under the influence of the ancient Inmakwe curse that demands they find their soulmate or die. They have to decide what is more important, defending their kingdoms or themselves.
There were 5 POVs in this book, which would normally be fine, but the characters were all introduced very quickly and I did struggle to jump between each character's story without getting confused. It would have been good if we were gradually introduced to each person and their storyline. As the story progressed though I did start to connect with the characters individually and did like most of them!
Adora ended up being my favourite, she's the more 'villainous' character here and I realise I really like seeing why people do the terrible things they do, it helped me to understand and appreciate her character more. I did also like Sarai and Keyayle, the curse plot was definitely my favourite part of this book and seeing how it affected each of them and their kingdoms as a whole was interesting! The other two POVs were Asim and Ayize, I had a harder time connecting with them and unfortunately I didn't enjoy their chapters as much as the others.
It did take me awhile to properly get into this one but about half way through it did get better and the ending especially was really good! I definitely expect the series to get better with the next book(s) and think this was a good set up! I hope the world will be explored more and we can learn more about the cultures of each kingdom as well as the magic system because it wasn't explained as well as I would like and is another thing that confused me.
Overall, it wasn't my favourite but I still enjoyed reading it and do think the series will get better with each book!
October 9, 2020
***** ARC Review - I received a complimentary copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only *****
Ok. So. Here’s the thing: i wanted SO BADLY to love this book but i found it so hard to get into. I can definitely see how/why it’s suggested to people who love CBB; the world building is similarly steeped in what feels like a mix of African cultures, the dialogue is similarly laid out, etc...but it’s not for me. I DNF’d less than halfway through tbh.
Characters’ names are randomly dropped into scenes with no intro or context; it’s really hard to keep track of who’s speaking because half the time, it’s not identified; some characters’ POV voices are stronger/better-written than others; the prologue was...not my favourite. All of this was really distracting and made it hard for me to follow along.
Now, don’t get me wrong - it’s definitely got promise and potential! I really like the overall lore and the world building is great, as well! I love the idea of the Prodigal Princess (see: my obsession with the ToG series by Sarah J. Maas); i would love to read the final, edited book once available because I’m sure it’ll be strong.
I’m setting it aside for a bit and will likely come back to it and start again, because I hate to leave things unfinished. I’d love to see how the climax and ending were written and give a final review then. But, for now, I’ll have to put this one back on the shelf to marinate.
Ok. So. Here’s the thing: i wanted SO BADLY to love this book but i found it so hard to get into. I can definitely see how/why it’s suggested to people who love CBB; the world building is similarly steeped in what feels like a mix of African cultures, the dialogue is similarly laid out, etc...but it’s not for me. I DNF’d less than halfway through tbh.
Characters’ names are randomly dropped into scenes with no intro or context; it’s really hard to keep track of who’s speaking because half the time, it’s not identified; some characters’ POV voices are stronger/better-written than others; the prologue was...not my favourite. All of this was really distracting and made it hard for me to follow along.
Now, don’t get me wrong - it’s definitely got promise and potential! I really like the overall lore and the world building is great, as well! I love the idea of the Prodigal Princess (see: my obsession with the ToG series by Sarah J. Maas); i would love to read the final, edited book once available because I’m sure it’ll be strong.
I’m setting it aside for a bit and will likely come back to it and start again, because I hate to leave things unfinished. I’d love to see how the climax and ending were written and give a final review then. But, for now, I’ll have to put this one back on the shelf to marinate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
Rating: 4/5 stars
~
First off, I want to give a hug thank you to Magdalene Asante who messaged me if I wanted a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. She was the sweetest person to converse with and it really showed throughout the book.
Now on the novel. I have so many thoughts about it, but I need to say that I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't a slow dip into the pool, but more like a straight drop into the chaos and madness that is multiple monarchies all fighting within each other and royalty showing up everywhere. I loved how interwoven the story was with the first family we read about to the present day monarchies, and hints given along the way as to who is connected to whom and could break the curse. I also have to say that I'm not usually a fan of multiple POVs, but this book really pulled it off and I loved going into each character's mind to see what they thought, and if I could empathize with them and what they were doing.
I also need to say that this ending killed me. It left so many questions and I just really need to know what happens next. I definitely want to see and hope that a publishing company picks this book up because it has so much potential and I would love for others to read about amazing queens with hidden agendas and a subtle but very interesting magic system!
~
First off, I want to give a hug thank you to Magdalene Asante who messaged me if I wanted a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. She was the sweetest person to converse with and it really showed throughout the book.
Now on the novel. I have so many thoughts about it, but I need to say that I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't a slow dip into the pool, but more like a straight drop into the chaos and madness that is multiple monarchies all fighting within each other and royalty showing up everywhere. I loved how interwoven the story was with the first family we read about to the present day monarchies, and hints given along the way as to who is connected to whom and could break the curse. I also have to say that I'm not usually a fan of multiple POVs, but this book really pulled it off and I loved going into each character's mind to see what they thought, and if I could empathize with them and what they were doing.
I also need to say that this ending killed me. It left so many questions and I just really need to know what happens next. I definitely want to see and hope that a publishing company picks this book up because it has so much potential and I would love for others to read about amazing queens with hidden agendas and a subtle but very interesting magic system!
October 28, 2020
*Disclaimer: The author reached out to me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Divide Series: War is the first book in a series in which the ancient Inmakwe curse wrecks havoc upon two waring, royal brothers and the aftermath of their separate kingdoms. Princess Sarai, one of the characters we follow, is plagued with the curse and returns to her kingdom ten years later after having visions of war concerning her home.
Here we have the makings of a fantastic start of a mind-blowing series with a questionable execution. This is a story that I think would benefit greatly from an editor’s hand, from both a technical standpoint and a plot and pacing one. Unfortunately there were many times where I had to reread sentences or passages due to confusing dialogue tags, a sudden break between first and third person point of view, and awkward punctuation that made it difficult to understand what was happening in the story. I think that a combination of these factors made it difficult for me to feel for the characters and to truly get engrossed in the story. As amazing and intriguing as the story was, told through multiple points of view, I felt very much like an outsider looking in instead of going through the story along with the characters.
*full review on https://bookish-black-girl.tumblr.com/
The Divide Series: War is the first book in a series in which the ancient Inmakwe curse wrecks havoc upon two waring, royal brothers and the aftermath of their separate kingdoms. Princess Sarai, one of the characters we follow, is plagued with the curse and returns to her kingdom ten years later after having visions of war concerning her home.
Here we have the makings of a fantastic start of a mind-blowing series with a questionable execution. This is a story that I think would benefit greatly from an editor’s hand, from both a technical standpoint and a plot and pacing one. Unfortunately there were many times where I had to reread sentences or passages due to confusing dialogue tags, a sudden break between first and third person point of view, and awkward punctuation that made it difficult to understand what was happening in the story. I think that a combination of these factors made it difficult for me to feel for the characters and to truly get engrossed in the story. As amazing and intriguing as the story was, told through multiple points of view, I felt very much like an outsider looking in instead of going through the story along with the characters.
*full review on https://bookish-black-girl.tumblr.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2020
This book is a great YA fantasy novel with a rich world and a lot of potential as a series. I had trouble connecting to some of the characters but I'd be interested to see where it goes!
I really liked the world and would have liked more world building and detail into the world's history, each tribe's cultures and practices, and the magic system. Hopefully there will be more in the future books. I found the blend of technology and pre-technological society interesting because the characters in many ways didn't seem to live frivolously or with a lot of technology but there are enough hints (the cars/caravans, the glass buildings) to indicate they have some tech.
I had trouble connecting to the characters although that honestly may also have been because I was in the process of moving when I read this and it took a lot longer to get through this book than I normally need. I would really like to know more about where Sarai was for the 10 years while she was missing and there are clues that something important happened that night 10 years ago, that we still don't know about. Lots of teasers to entice the reader to keep reading. I also really liked how the Gatekeeper's story ended, as that was a surprise twist.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
I really liked the world and would have liked more world building and detail into the world's history, each tribe's cultures and practices, and the magic system. Hopefully there will be more in the future books. I found the blend of technology and pre-technological society interesting because the characters in many ways didn't seem to live frivolously or with a lot of technology but there are enough hints (the cars/caravans, the glass buildings) to indicate they have some tech.
I had trouble connecting to the characters although that honestly may also have been because I was in the process of moving when I read this and it took a lot longer to get through this book than I normally need. I would really like to know more about where Sarai was for the 10 years while she was missing and there are clues that something important happened that night 10 years ago, that we still don't know about. Lots of teasers to entice the reader to keep reading. I also really liked how the Gatekeeper's story ended, as that was a surprise twist.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
October 24, 2020
*Book sent Free in return for an Honest Review*
Now lets begin with what I enjoyed about this book. I loved the concept of this book! The ideas behind it was fasinating! I was so excited to read this book when I heard the blurb it sounded so entertaining!
I believe this would be a wonderful coming of age story! About the lengths people go to for their people and also their country!
Now I did find the story a bit young for me, some aspects were very YA and not mature enough for me!
I found it hard to connect to the characters as they were introduced so quickly and did not give time for them to be involved and connected in the story before they were acting on decisions and having connections with people before we even got to know who they were!
There was also holes in the plot about how long characters had been away for at times they said 5 years and at other points it was 10.
Also the main character having been away for so long would not be able to all of a sudden pick up on how to be a princess again, and know what to say! It would be impossible for someone to live on the run from a kid only to return as a young adult and perfectly remember how to act and what to say!
I believe with a bit of work on the storyline this would be a great YA novel!
Now lets begin with what I enjoyed about this book. I loved the concept of this book! The ideas behind it was fasinating! I was so excited to read this book when I heard the blurb it sounded so entertaining!
I believe this would be a wonderful coming of age story! About the lengths people go to for their people and also their country!
Now I did find the story a bit young for me, some aspects were very YA and not mature enough for me!
I found it hard to connect to the characters as they were introduced so quickly and did not give time for them to be involved and connected in the story before they were acting on decisions and having connections with people before we even got to know who they were!
There was also holes in the plot about how long characters had been away for at times they said 5 years and at other points it was 10.
Also the main character having been away for so long would not be able to all of a sudden pick up on how to be a princess again, and know what to say! It would be impossible for someone to live on the run from a kid only to return as a young adult and perfectly remember how to act and what to say!
I believe with a bit of work on the storyline this would be a great YA novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2020
*In exchange for an honest review, I received an e-copy of this book from the author*
Thank you Magdalene!
I didn't find myself being too invested in any of the characters since most of them felt pretty one dimensional. With that in mind, there felt like there were too many characters to follow, and I couldn't always remember whose store is whose. Since this book felt more plot-driven, I'm hoping the next book will delve more into the characters.
The world Asante built was very intriguing for me! While we didn't get too much information about the two kingdoms yet, I was still very interested in what info we did get. I also enjoyed the plot overall, and I liked how unpredictable a lot of the events were. As for the magical elements, they were a bit confusing to follow at times, but I did find them to be interesting. The soulmate aspect is also a plus for me. Whether it be romantic or platonic, I'm a fan.
As a person who doesn't read much YA Fantasy or Fantasy, I enjoyed War overall.
Thank you Magdalene!
I didn't find myself being too invested in any of the characters since most of them felt pretty one dimensional. With that in mind, there felt like there were too many characters to follow, and I couldn't always remember whose store is whose. Since this book felt more plot-driven, I'm hoping the next book will delve more into the characters.
The world Asante built was very intriguing for me! While we didn't get too much information about the two kingdoms yet, I was still very interested in what info we did get. I also enjoyed the plot overall, and I liked how unpredictable a lot of the events were. As for the magical elements, they were a bit confusing to follow at times, but I did find them to be interesting. The soulmate aspect is also a plus for me. Whether it be romantic or platonic, I'm a fan.
As a person who doesn't read much YA Fantasy or Fantasy, I enjoyed War overall.
August 29, 2020
After a 10 year absence, Sarai returns to a Kingdom who has long believed her to be dead. With an army at her back Sarai must face an ancient curse and an imminent war in order to protect her Kingdom.
Although I found it hard to get into this book I found it to be an interesting and unique story. The world building and character development was impressive for a debut author. I loved reading about the cultural differences as well as the history of the kingdoms. I quite enjoyed the storyline and see a lot of potential for this series in the future.
Despite enjoying the character building and the paths they took I did not feel any connection to them and this overall brought the book down for me.
While I enjoyed the storyline I just did not love this book. It was a fantastic first novel and I look forward to seeing where this series goes.
Many thanks to Voracious Readers Only and Magdalene Asante for providing me with this ebook in return for an honest review.
Although I found it hard to get into this book I found it to be an interesting and unique story. The world building and character development was impressive for a debut author. I loved reading about the cultural differences as well as the history of the kingdoms. I quite enjoyed the storyline and see a lot of potential for this series in the future.
Despite enjoying the character building and the paths they took I did not feel any connection to them and this overall brought the book down for me.
While I enjoyed the storyline I just did not love this book. It was a fantastic first novel and I look forward to seeing where this series goes.
Many thanks to Voracious Readers Only and Magdalene Asante for providing me with this ebook in return for an honest review.
November 2, 2020
The author reached out to me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Sarai is a princess who has fled her kingdom after a terrible event. But she has learned through dreams that her people are in danger, so she returns to warn them and protect them. Who is the enemy and whom can she trust?
You get several different POVs, which I appreciate. But this made the beginning of the book somewhat confusing, especially as it begins with a prologue with several people involved. None of those people are included in the first chapter, where we are presented to another set of characters.
I usually appreciate when there is not too much world building in fantasy, but here I would need more explanations. I would like more environmental descriptions and more facts about the world itself.
I really like that several of those in power in this book are women, and that they can be both good and evil.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read Magdalele Asante!
Sarai is a princess who has fled her kingdom after a terrible event. But she has learned through dreams that her people are in danger, so she returns to warn them and protect them. Who is the enemy and whom can she trust?
You get several different POVs, which I appreciate. But this made the beginning of the book somewhat confusing, especially as it begins with a prologue with several people involved. None of those people are included in the first chapter, where we are presented to another set of characters.
I usually appreciate when there is not too much world building in fantasy, but here I would need more explanations. I would like more environmental descriptions and more facts about the world itself.
I really like that several of those in power in this book are women, and that they can be both good and evil.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read Magdalele Asante!
December 4, 2020
War, family, betrayal and curses.
It was such a good ride, reading this book. The story was great. It reminded me of 'children of blood and bone' and a bit of the story of 'ATLA'.
The world building was amazing, the detail put into it was really good, it was as if I could see everything. The characters were nicely written, I love keyayle. She is so poised and regal. I wish we could have seen more of her, maybe that will come in the next book. And maybe together with king Dakari ( wink, wink).
Don't get me started about the prologue, that was so good! It intrigued me immediately and pulled me in.
The only thing that bothered me were some slight inconsistenties in the story. It made it somewhat confusing at times. Which made the experience a little less good.
But seriously the ending, how could you leave me hanging like that. What is going to happen now?! I need more on that.
This is definitely a good debut novel, I cannot wait to see what the author comes with next.
It was such a good ride, reading this book. The story was great. It reminded me of 'children of blood and bone' and a bit of the story of 'ATLA'.
The world building was amazing, the detail put into it was really good, it was as if I could see everything. The characters were nicely written, I love keyayle. She is so poised and regal. I wish we could have seen more of her, maybe that will come in the next book. And maybe together with king Dakari ( wink, wink).
Don't get me started about the prologue, that was so good! It intrigued me immediately and pulled me in.
The only thing that bothered me were some slight inconsistenties in the story. It made it somewhat confusing at times. Which made the experience a little less good.
But seriously the ending, how could you leave me hanging like that. What is going to happen now?! I need more on that.
This is definitely a good debut novel, I cannot wait to see what the author comes with next.
Read
April 3, 2021This book is very plot heavy. Lots of great twists and turns, but I wish there had been more of a build up of the world & characters. The magic system was very vague and I wanted to know more about how it worked, especially surrounding the temple and folklore of this fantasy world. Same with the main characters. We switch perspectives a lot in this book and most of the main characters have ‘history’ together before the timeline of this book. It was hard to feel connected to the characters when we didn’t get a lot of information on their motives and backstory that led them to the point they were currently at. I was confused by the dynamics of the characters relationships because of a lack of information. The concept and general story was good and had so much potential, but I struggled with the execution.
December 1, 2020
I enjoyed parts of this book but struggled with other parts. I felt like there were too many characters views to follow along with and this meant I didn’t connect that well to the characters. I only really connected to Keyayle, and I enjoyed her chapters.
Parts of this book really confused me and at times I found it hard to follow, but I got the overarching plot and found it a clever storyline. However, it could’ve done with some more explanations and to be made clearer. Sometimes it seemed to jump scenes which confused me a little.
The world building was good and I was interested in the universe that the author created. I like the African folklore elements and thought this was well done.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Parts of this book really confused me and at times I found it hard to follow, but I got the overarching plot and found it a clever storyline. However, it could’ve done with some more explanations and to be made clearer. Sometimes it seemed to jump scenes which confused me a little.
The world building was good and I was interested in the universe that the author created. I like the African folklore elements and thought this was well done.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2020
I am leaving an honest review at the request of the author who sought me out through Voracious Readers Only. The author explained to me that this has been a labor of love for eight years now and it shows with every word she wrote. The fantasy world she creates is nothing short of incredible and the characters are so real in their short comings. At times however; I found it a little difficult to follow what was happening between the real world and the spirit world, but regardless the plot of the story was easy to grasp and kept me reading. The author blew me away with the ending and it left me wanting to know what happens with these characters. It was an extremely great debut!
October 28, 2020
I love it!
The characters were clearly defined and I could connect to them. The twist with the Gatekeeper and the Cold Creeper was... Wow! I didn't expect that. Also, I loved the way the story did not focus on romantic love and it fed us with things such as duty, determination (even if it's the bad kind, in the case of Adora), and dread, with the war. It was beautifully written to be honest and the author did a great job.
There were so many unanswered questions that I hope the coming sequels would address, such as how the Gatekeeper got his title, where Sarai was during her time away from her kingdom and Ayise's back story.
The characters were clearly defined and I could connect to them. The twist with the Gatekeeper and the Cold Creeper was... Wow! I didn't expect that. Also, I loved the way the story did not focus on romantic love and it fed us with things such as duty, determination (even if it's the bad kind, in the case of Adora), and dread, with the war. It was beautifully written to be honest and the author did a great job.
There were so many unanswered questions that I hope the coming sequels would address, such as how the Gatekeeper got his title, where Sarai was during her time away from her kingdom and Ayise's back story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2020
DNF at 25%
I just, absolutely could not get into this one. I’ve kinda moved on from classic YA and I couldn’t force myself to read it anymore. I might pick it up again someday but for now I’m done with it.
- I like the more modern setting! It was fun to get a YA epic fantasy with cars and modern clothes
- The magic system was solid and I was quite intrigued by it
- From what I could tell of the plot it seemed pretty standard YA
- Nothing about the characters really stood out to me, they seemed to only be defined by trauma rather than traits
- I think I would have loved it two years ago, but it’s just very stereotypical YA down to the writing style
Again, no real opinion on the book overall it just didn’t really stand out to me enough to continue
I just, absolutely could not get into this one. I’ve kinda moved on from classic YA and I couldn’t force myself to read it anymore. I might pick it up again someday but for now I’m done with it.
- I like the more modern setting! It was fun to get a YA epic fantasy with cars and modern clothes
- The magic system was solid and I was quite intrigued by it
- From what I could tell of the plot it seemed pretty standard YA
- Nothing about the characters really stood out to me, they seemed to only be defined by trauma rather than traits
- I think I would have loved it two years ago, but it’s just very stereotypical YA down to the writing style
Again, no real opinion on the book overall it just didn’t really stand out to me enough to continue
September 22, 2020
Set in Africa, it chronicles the struggle between warring kingdoms with some amazing #blackgirlmagic representation. Asante writes about curses, love, family, and the effects of war, all while leaving a lasting impression on the heart that’s sure to inspire and entertain. You don’t want to miss this book!
August 23, 2020
Voracious Readers review: How dare you end so abruptly! I was not looking for a happilly ever after but the least you could do is give a better ending than a clif hanger. Now I have to patiently wait for the next book.
August 18, 2021
I recently received a copy of this book to review through voracious readers only. The story itself is great and I look forward to finding out how it continues in the next book. There are however quite a few mistakes with regards to grammar that make the book harder to read than it should be.
October 26, 2020
It is a great book with a new porprosal of plot twist, with mutiples point’s of view. I love it. With captivating characters.
October 27, 2020
This book is very well written. For a YA/New Adult book, I really enjoyed reading about Africa in a modern and traditional light. For a debut book, the writing, world-building, and character development were very well done. The creativity of this book is unmatched. My favorite character surprisingly wasn't the protagonist. Although, I was of course rooting for the protagonist. I loved the twist and turns in the book, and could imagine the world that was built masterfully. For me, I loved the modern touches of some of the kingdoms and tribes but also loved the traditional garb and colors of others. It was a great way to bring this world into the modern age without giving up the rich traditions.
The end will drop your jaw. I couldn't anticipate where the story was going and there were so many mysteries I couldn't wait to uncover. But I can't wait to see what creative plot the author will bring to this series.
Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to escape.
The end will drop your jaw. I couldn't anticipate where the story was going and there were so many mysteries I couldn't wait to uncover. But I can't wait to see what creative plot the author will bring to this series.
Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to escape.
July 29, 2025
Review Copy – This book was sent to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Divide Series: War is Magdalene Asante’s debut novel. This is the first book in a fantasy series and follows Sarai, Adora, Asim, Keyayle and Ayize as they battle love, ancient curses and family politics amid the backdrop of a rapidly escalating war.
I really loved the concept of this story (I am a sucker for a soulmate storyline) and I’d be interested to see where it goes in the next book. I liked that just as you thought the plot was going in one direction, something would happen and completely change the direction.
I did enjoy getting to know the characters and I really liked that you never knew which side they were on. One of the great things about this book is that, despite the soulmate storyline, it is not romance heavy and so allows for good development of the characters.
The main issues I had was the world building and the magic system. I found it quite hard to differentiate between the various countries and to understand what had caused this rift between the brothers in the first place.
I also think that the curse was difficult to understand, especially the way it had been passed down to Sarai and Adora, as I did not think that they were direct descendants of the original brothers. There were other points that I struggled with such as Adora using a locator to find her ‘other’ and the powers that the brothers had, as I thought that they were just mentioned and not talked of again.
I do think that the above issues could be easily solved with a few brief explanations throughout the book. The pacing is quite fast, which is great because I was never bored while reading, but it did not leave much breathing room in between the big plot points, so a few breaks in between would help.
Overall, I did enjoy this story. It was a fun and exciting read. I’d definitely be interested to see where things go for the characters and to see how the world develops.
The Divide Series: War is Magdalene Asante’s debut novel. This is the first book in a fantasy series and follows Sarai, Adora, Asim, Keyayle and Ayize as they battle love, ancient curses and family politics amid the backdrop of a rapidly escalating war.
I really loved the concept of this story (I am a sucker for a soulmate storyline) and I’d be interested to see where it goes in the next book. I liked that just as you thought the plot was going in one direction, something would happen and completely change the direction.
I did enjoy getting to know the characters and I really liked that you never knew which side they were on. One of the great things about this book is that, despite the soulmate storyline, it is not romance heavy and so allows for good development of the characters.
The main issues I had was the world building and the magic system. I found it quite hard to differentiate between the various countries and to understand what had caused this rift between the brothers in the first place.
I also think that the curse was difficult to understand, especially the way it had been passed down to Sarai and Adora, as I did not think that they were direct descendants of the original brothers. There were other points that I struggled with such as Adora using a locator to find her ‘other’ and the powers that the brothers had, as I thought that they were just mentioned and not talked of again.
I do think that the above issues could be easily solved with a few brief explanations throughout the book. The pacing is quite fast, which is great because I was never bored while reading, but it did not leave much breathing room in between the big plot points, so a few breaks in between would help.
Overall, I did enjoy this story. It was a fun and exciting read. I’d definitely be interested to see where things go for the characters and to see how the world develops.
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