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Realms of the Mist

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Be it born to darkness and sacrifice,
or be it raised amidst love and hope;
for those who dwell under light and freedom,
and those who are shackled to ways preordained,
the cruellest curses stem from our greatest blessings.
And yet some are cursed, so that others may be blessed.

Kamau is born to a people who repress all emotion, but his first experience of grief shakes the foundations of all his beliefs. It thrusts him on a journey for answers, and ultimately pits him and a few unexpected companions against an ageless power.

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First published March 14, 2022

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About the author

Jude Kirya Itakali

6 books12 followers
Jude Itakali is a poet, writer and fiction author from the suburbs of Kampala, Uganda.

Itakali never liked sharing his books as a child. That has changed, especially since he started writing his own.

A lifelong obsession with 'the good story' evoked his personal phrase, "Reality is all around us, but fantasy is a part of us." Egged on by a conniving appetite to consume works across genres, Itakali crafts the compelling themes and rounded characters in his books.

When not 'life-ing' or pursuing infrequent exercise routines, you can find Itakali writing fiction in a small cubicle, or under a tree, furnishing his website, Tales told different, with life epiphanies, ponderous prose, and poetry.

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Chris Hall.
Author 7 books66 followers
March 19, 2022
Realms of the Mist opens with a beautiful lyrical description which sets the scene and the tone of the book. Here, in the remote and rugged hills of eastern Africa we meet Kamau, a young man on the brink of his coming-of-age ceremony. But Kamau is no ordinary young man. He is one of the Gifted, a member of the Hadiza, a spiritual and stoical people with the ability to transform into wild animals, and whose duty it is to keep darkness and evil from entering the world. Kamau is burdened with grief over the untimely and unexplained death of his younger sister and his desire to obtain justice and peace for her spirit drives him onwards throughout the story.

Soon we learn that Kamau is tasked with a crucial mission, although the details remain unclear. He must join forces with other members of the Gifted, and through their collaboration, fulfil a destiny that only he can.

The quest begins and we learn that although there are powerful friends on Kamau’s side, even more formidable forces are at work; evil so great that it threatens the entire world unless Kamau and his small band of friends can complete their mysterious mission.

As the story progresses, we are introduced to other members of the Gifted. Those like exotic Ninuwe, one of the Femi, who radiates charm and oozes sensuality, so contrary to the rigid and unemotional culture that Kamau and his proud and beautiful friend Irina share. The rivalry and banter between the two young women heap up further confusion on Kamau as he puzzles his way through his mission, while bringing sympathetic smiles to the reader’s face.

The narrative builds towards a terrifying battle as Kamau is betrayed and the most potent of all evil is unleashed. Although one battle might seem to have been won, the story ends on a huge cliff-hanger, leaving the reader open-mouthed and anxious to pick up the next book in the trilogy.

Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy, adventure and fast-paced action. This is another great story to add to the pantheon of modern literature emerging from the African continent.

Disclaimer: I did have a bit of behind the scenes input in the Jude’s book, but I can honestly say that it has not affected my review. From the first few chapters which Jude sent my way, I was bowled over by the story, Jude’s poetic use of language, his wonderful world-building and his charming and conflicted characters in whom I quickly became so invested.
Profile Image for D.L. Finn.
Author 25 books304 followers
October 6, 2022
“Realms of the Mist” takes place in the mountains of Africa within the hidden areas where the gifted live. Kamau is a part of the Hadiza, who are guardians of the veil between the living and the afterlife. They not only repress their emotions but are separated from family. There was a mistake, and Kamau and his sister, Kimya, ended up together. When his sister suddenly dies, he questions everything before becoming a full member of this community. He starts a quest to find answers about his sister but finds more than he could have ever imagined. I love the people he meets along the way that join him. His best friend, Irina, is the first to help, and their relationship is a favorite. When Ninwe from another realm becomes a part of this quest, the exchanges and undercurrent between her and Irina are a lot of fun and, at times, painful. The settings and poetic descriptions were amazing as they weaved a special depth to this story. As Kamau learns more about himself and his quest, it only gives him more questions. Each stop in his journey added to his knowledge, and there were some twists I didn’t expect. Although the ending answered some questions, it left many unanswered, making me eager for the next book. This unique fantasy offers gods, love, danger, hidden agendas, duty, and a young man trying to do the right thing as he must figure out what, and who, he can trust. I can easily recommend this fast-paced story I found hard to put down.
Profile Image for Colleen Chesebro.
Author 15 books88 followers
March 31, 2022
Poet and author Jude Itakali has released his debut fantasy novel, “Realms of the Mist,” Book One. I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader’s copy.

Get ready to travel as “Realms of the Mist” takes place in the mountains of Africa. First, we meet Kamau, who hails from the Hadiza people, who are also the guardians of the veil which exists between our world and the afterworld. Interestingly, these guardians can change into animal forms. However, their gifts come at a cost. The guardians must control their emotions at all times in order to serve the spirits. To abide by the rules, they separate families to grow up in different communities. However, somehow Kamau and his younger sister end up in the same community.

The unexpected death of his sister transforms Kamau. He grieves, which goes against the rules. He struggles to separate his feelings from his duties. Yet, they still choose him to save the people from the great doom, as the Hadiza believe Kamau is the only one who can fulfill this mission.

Along with his best friend, Irina, and Ninuwe from the Femi tribe, the three set off to save the world. Ninuwe has her own gifts with the ability to arouse others, which she uses to her advantage. Along the way, Timothy and Kena join the fight, bringing their own special gifts into the mix.

The world-building in this novel is some of the best. Look for African mythology, gods and goddesses, and the ultimate fight for good over evil. The author’s imagery is rich and detailed, placing you right in the middle of the action. The dialogue is engaging and the characters draw you into the story. There were even some surprises I never saw coming.

Kamau, the protagonist, is clearly the star of the show. I connected with his character immediately. His emotional growth is clear, and this journey into adulthood prepares him for the ultimate test: his coming of age ceremony. Can he pick only one emotion?

The book ends on a whopper of a cliff-hanger that left me begging for more! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If you’re looking for an unusual fantasy read, check out “Realms of the Mist.”
Profile Image for Robbie Cheadle.
Author 42 books156 followers
March 21, 2022
Realms of the Mist is a fantasy story set in the beautiful and majestic mountains of eastern Africa. The writing has a lyrical and poetic style which suits the mystical subject matter of the book.

The protagonist, Kamau, is a member of a tribe of people called the Hadiza. They are the Guardians of The Veil which separates the afterlife from life on earth. Their positions as Guardians come with gift and the Hadiza are able to transform into animals. There is also a price to be paid and they are expected to control their emotions and serve the spirits without emotional burdens. To this end, siblings are separated from their parents and from each other and grow up cared for by communities of people. This system failed for Kamau and his younger sister who accidently end up in the same community. Kamau succumbs and takes on the responsibilities of an older brother despite this being contrary to the beliefs of his people. The unexpected death of Kamau’s sister unbalances him and results in him nearly committing a terrible sin. Despite his failing to remain detached from his sister and his near failing, he is chosen to go on an important mission to save The Veil and his people. It is believed he is the only one who can fulfil this mission and his relationship with his sister and her death influence his behaviour and decisions.

I enjoyed Kamau’s character and his growth from a temperamental and selfish young man to a more mature and responsible man. With his best friend and guide, Irina, at his side, he sets off to overcome the forces of evil working to destroy his world. During his travels, he meets another lovely young woman called Ninuwe, who is of the Femi tribe. Her gift is to incite love and lust in others and she competes with Irina for Kamau’s affections. This competition makes for some fun and interesting dialogue and exchanges.

This is a great adventure with lots of excitement and action. It’s African setting and interesting mythological components make this an extraordinary read.
Profile Image for Li.
182 reviews39 followers
January 7, 2023
Realms of the Mist is action-packed adventure story set in a mystical world that feels familiar but at the same time new and exciting. The hero, Kamau, and his growing team of specialists from different regions in the realm and with different skill sets, are given a vitally important quest. The well-being of the the world is at stake.

The descriptions of people, their clothing, their mannerisms, and their ways of speaking are vivid. There are beautiful females that Kamau is pulled between in allegiance and affection. Most of the power players in the kingdoms are female, which is always refreshing.

I enjoyed this fantasy adventure romance story and look forward to the next chapter in the series.
6 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2022
I’ll try not to add any spoilers but be warned that I will be talking about a bit of the plot and the characters so if you would prefer not to read about that before you read the book you may not want to read ahead.

Kamau is part of a group of people known as Hadiza that are part of The Veil. They have certain gifts but those gifts come at a price. They must control and repress their human emotions otherwise there can be dire consequences for them, those around them and the spiritual world which they serve. Kamau, however, has particular difficulty controlling his emotions and this issue seems to have worsened since the sudden death of his sister Kimya. With the aid of his closest friend and ally Irina, Kamau must take an important journey to learn the truth about his sisters death among other things. Each step of the journey reveals many truths but some of them come at a price and the obstacles they face seem to be getting harder to overcome.

I’ll start with the characters because I have quite a lot to say about them. I really enjoyed all the characters and I appreciated how as the story continues you learn more about them. You also get to see them grow and evolve which is another thing I really enjoyed about the characters. As the characters go on their journey you realise that it’s not just about the physical journey itself. The characters also go on a personal journey, learning more about themselves, their powers, their past and those around them. As a reader, you feel your connection with the characters growing as you read on and begin to understand them and their lives better.

Kamau, the main character is particularly well written. Over the course of the book, we learn more about this character. He starts out as someone filled with anger over the injustices in his life but over time we see many different sides of him. His temperamental personality seems to contradict those around him who seem to be extremely levelheaded (sometimes frustratingly so).

Over time, we learn why he is different and why emotions flow through him so easily unlike those around him. We also get glimpses into his past and learn about his family. In particular, the bond he has with his sister is something that is explored throughout the book. I really enjoyed the little flashbacks as well as the information we were getting bit by bit. It made me keep wanting to read more and even though I first read the book when I was very busy I found it incredibly difficult to put it down.

The other characters such as Irina, Commander Nakai and Kamau’s deceased sister Kimya are also very interesting. We also learn more about their background which is quite fascinating. Other side characters which were present for shorter moments in the book were also interesting as we learnt about their relationship with the main character and those around him. There were definitely some surprising moment that caught me off guard and since this book is the first of a series I also have a lot of questions which I am hoping will be answered in the next few books.

The plot was something I truly enjoyed. It seems like I always say this but I am not a big fan of fantasy or anything that isn’t set in the real world. Sure there are a few exceptions over the years but generally I go out of my way to avoid fantasy. It’s just never been something I have particularly enjoyed but it seems that this book has really made me rethink my stance on fantasy. I’m starting to think that maybe I just hadn’t found something that was the right fit for me because this book really took my breath away. I loved imagining Kamau, the guardians and the places they explored. In particular, I thought the writer did a brilliant job describing the areas Kamau and Irina travelled through on their journey. He also really described the characters amazingly to the extent where I could really imagine what they looked like in my mind- outfits and all. His descriptions were a really great addition to an already appealing plot.

As someone who was born and raised in East Africa, most of the books I have read don’t contain characters I can relate to or that look/sound like those around me so this was a nice breath of fresh air. I feel that way about the areas he described too. I think that’s part of why I found his descriptions so fascinating.

I will not be revealing too much of the plot and ending but I will add that the ending left me very excited for the next book. Jude, if you’re reading this, we need the next book ASAP! And to everyone else reading this, remember the name of this book and add it to your TBR list because trust me when I say you do not want to miss out on it. Even if it doesn’t sound like something you read in general I would recommend giving it a read- you will be pleasantly surprised.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Gauffreau.
Author 8 books67 followers
November 9, 2022
I must say up front that I ventured out of my reading comfort zone when I accepted a review copy of Realms of the Mist from the author and agreed to provide an honest review. I have read very little fantasy except for a handful of short stories, so I am unfamiliar with the conventions of the genre.

Genre conventions are an important consideration to keep in mind when recommending a book to other readers, so I read a detailed article to inform myself. I am happy to say that experienced readers of fantasy will find in Realms of the Mist the world-building, magic systems, protagonist and antagonist with magical powers, action scenes, and overarching theme of good versus evil they have come to expect.

What’s more, the book is written in an engaging and thought-provoking way, as Kamou, a young man on the verge of his coming-of-age ceremony as a Hadiza–guardians of the veil between this world and the spirit world–sets off on a quest to learn who killed his beloved younger sister and avenge her death.

Adding to his burden, he soon learns he must also fulfill his destiny in a conflict between good and evil he does not fully understand: he must journey through the realms of the mist. The realms are hierarchical, representing various aspects of the human condition. As Kamou moves through each one, overcoming challenges characteristic of that realm, I was reminded of Plato’s allegory of the cave about the nature and acquisition of knowledge.

The world-building was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Each of the realms is quite different from the others in appearance, purpose, and inhabitants who carry out that purpose. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of each realm because the imagery was colorful, glowing, and unexpected. I also appreciated a jaw-dropping plot twist that drove a final, fast-paced battle scene where the various characters’ magical powers were on full display.

Realms of the Mist put me in mind of the archetypal hero’s journey seen in Gilgamesh, as well as the journey to spiritual enlightenment in Siddartha. In Kamou’s case, however, the journey has not yet reached its end. Stay tuned for books two and three of the trilogy!
Profile Image for Jane Aguiar.
8 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2022
Kamau is a member of a group of people known as Hadiza who are part of the Veil.
They are endowed with some divine powers for example, being close to spirits, having abilities, coming together in various remedies, taking the form of animals and they are trained to enter the spiritual world where they interact with the human soul, both dead and alive, but to make good use of that divine power, they must control and suppress their human emotions.Otherwise, it can affect the people around them and their spiritual service.

Kamau finds it difficult to control his emotions because of the sudden death of his sister Kimya. After Kimya's sudden death, Kamau's frustration turns to anger, and at the same time, while searching for the truth about his sister's death, he is introduced to an intelligent brown-eyed girl,Irina.

Irina cleverly accompanies him on his journey. Each stage of their journey reveals many adversities. He has to overcome many difficulties and pay the price because the truth does not come easily.

I like the protagonist of this story because he controls himself while being carried away by emotions. He never gives up on his goal. 

There are other characters in the story. For example, Commander Nakai (Irina's mother), Ninuwe and old Man Mutumba.These personas are also very interesting.

This is the first book in the series that has aroused my curiosity. I hope that in the next series I will find the answers to my questions.

I loved the story and it touched my heart. I think it's fun to read fictional stories when we're in the real world.
Profile Image for Jane Aguiar.
6 reviews2 followers
November 28, 2023
Control over emotions in any situation...

Kamau is a member of a group of people known as Hadiza who are part of the Veil.
They are endowed with some divine powers for example, being close to spirits, having abilities, coming together in various remedies, taking the form of animals and they are trained to enter the spiritual world where they interact with the human soul, both dead and alive, but to make good use of that divine power, they must control and suppress their human emotions.Otherwise, it can affect the people around them and their spiritual service.

This protagonist finds it difficult to control his emotions because of the sudden death of his sister and the story begins.

I like the protagonist of this story because he controls himself while being carried away by emotions.

This is the first book in the series that has aroused my curiosity. I hope that in the next series I will find the answers to my questions

I loved the story and it touched my heart. I think it's fun to read fictional stories when we're in the real world.
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