The Enchanted Castle (Shioni of Sheba #1)

The Enchanted Castle (Shioni of Sheba #1)
Author(s)
Co-Authors / Illustrators
  • Senait Worku
Publisher Name
CreateSpace
Age Range
9+
Release Date
February 03, 2013
ISBN13
1482348667
ISBN10 or ASIN
      

A king bent on conquest. A murderous warrior tribe. And the slave-girl who dares to stand between them!

Shioni of Sheba: The Enchanted Castle is the first book in a unique African fantasy series set in the ancient Kingdom of Sheba, for middle grades/secondary age readers.

"A cracking story which catches the imagination..." "I was enthralled, each character came alive off the page”

When Shioni, slave to the Princess of Sheba, travels to the legendary Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, she encounters adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Little does she imagine the powerful forces lurking in this jagged volcanic wilderness; forces that could tear the Kingdom of Sheba apart.

Kalcha, the Wasabi leader, has prepared a deadly trap, an evil sorcery rooted within the castle the King has chosen for his fortress. Kalcha is massing her warriors and her giant hyenas, intent on annihilating the Sheban forces.

As the Wasabi attack it is left to Shioni to show the way with courage and the conviction of her heart. Can she overcome the wrath of a lion, outwit the treacherous Captain Dabir, and defuse General Getu’s inexplicable hatred? With the help of her friends Mama Nomuula, Princess Annakiya, and the fiuri Azurelle, Shioni must uncover the hidden secrets of the Enchanted Castle before Kalcha destroys all she holds dear.

Experience the myth and magic of ancient Sheba in this truly African adventure. Includes original illustrations by the Ethiopian artist Senait Worku.

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4.0
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3.0(1)
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4.0(1)
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5.0(1)
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Great Story For Kids
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4.0
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I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a middle grades/young teen story about a slave girl, who understands her lowly place in the kingdom. But for some reason, she begins to have extraordinary abilities, and she uses them for good. Finally she does her best to save the slave-filled kingdom she lives in.

Okay, now on to the really good stuff. I really enjoyed this story. I felt I was there. It was well written and filled with colorful detail that I could see and feel, taste and smell. The detailed descriptions were well fleshed out.

The main character has a good heart and even though she is often abused terribly, she does not strike out in vengeance against her masters. She has many self-doubts, but they don't overtake her, nor do they cause her to make the wrong decision. Even with punishment so close by, she consistently makes the brave decision to help others.

The minor characters are colorful and the suspense is well-placed. The ending had a twist that I was not looking for, so it was a pleasant surprise.

The connections between chapters sometimes caused problems with story integrity and suspense, and with some work, I think those items could be fixed. However, in all it was a great story and I am glad the author plans to make a series out of it.
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