Book Review: The Gatekeeper’s Staff
BOOK REVIEW: THE GATEKEEPER’S STAFF BY ANTOINE BANDELE
TJ has been surrounded by ashe, a type of magic, his entire life, yet he can’t manifest it like the rest of his family. But when a masked group crash his famous sister’s funeral, something awakens within him. Desperate to find out what really happened to his sister, he enrolls at Camp Olosa, a magic camp, and learns how to harness his ashe while getting entwined in something bigger concerning the Orishas.
What I liked:
– The world building. There were a lot of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter vibes, but done well enough to make it its own.
– The West-African lore. I’m still learning about the Orishas myself, so reading about them mixed into this story was fun. Also, I love tricksters, so every mention of Eshu just made me smile.
– Own voice. This story, with diverse characters, is written by an author who shares that same identity.
What I didn’t like:
– The pacing. While the plot was fast-paced, there were certain times that the story dragged.
Overall:
– I enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to delve deeper into this world!
Have you read The Gatekeeper’s Staff yet? Do you plan on reading it?
Raine