Dark, twisty fantasy. I love the world Rena Barron has created with its rich magic and history, and I loved its diversity too. 4 stars because while very enjoyable there were a few issues for me with pacing. Still, overall I would recommend this to anyone interested in a dark and complex fantasy read.

Enjoyed this book/audiobook! Full of twists and turns and a great YA fantasy with diverse characters and voices throughout. Will post a full review on waterstones.com on return to work from furlough.

I really enjoyed aspects of this book, I loved the world building which felt quite unique and interesting. And Arrah herself is a good strong main character, I like her relationship with her family and I really liked her friends. Having said that I think it is a shame they were reduced to little bit parts in the story, I felt like more could have been made of them. We never really go to know them enough for me. The villain in the first half of the book was amazing, very sinister and worked really well. The villain shift in the second half of the book felt over the top and not very sinister at all. It did drag in places for me as I felt the pacing could have been better but overall it was a decent read.

I really enjoyed several aspects of this book – the setting being the main one. The world Rena Barron has created is beautiful, I really felt like I was there in person while I was reading about it. The details included were rich and complex but well written so while I felt the writing was detailed, I didn’t get confused and need to reread anything or get lost.
My drawback for Kingdom of Souls is that while it isn’t the longest of fantasy novels out there, it moved incredibly slowly at first. I found myself really pushing to get through the first half of the novel and then the second moved so fast I didn't feel that enough of the narrative concentrated on building the characters before we got to the action. I would love to know more about the magic system as I really enjoyed that! At times I thought the narrative skimmed over details which could have been explored for the reader’s benefit although, with another two books coming, perhaps we will get those details soon!
So despite the slow burn first half, the second half of the narrative is non-stop. By this point I was enthralled in the world and enjoying the character's progression. Arrah is a great protagonist to follow, she isn’t perfect in the sense of the word - she doesn’t even have magic, but she wants it so desperately. I really felt for her and enjoyed following her journey through the story, her allegiance between two ‘clans’ is hard leaving her feeling like she doesn’t belong in either.
As a debut novel I am impressed with Rena Barron - I’ll be keeping an eye on her - and as the first novel in a series I’m really looking forward to continuing on with the story and seeing more of the characters. I feel like we’ve only glimpsed this fantasy world and because it is so rich I’m left wondering how three books is going to be enough?

Fantasy novels are not my usually go-to but I couldn't resist the sound of Kingdom of Souls. I did struggle at first but soon got pulled into the magic tale.

Arrah is a young woman from a long line of the most powerful witch doctors in the land. But she is a failure, she fails at magic, fails to call upon the ancestors and can't even cast the simplest curse. She is a massive disappointment to her own mother, you can't help but feel sorry for her and see her desperation. There are other ways to get the power, after local children start to go missing Arrah undergoes the dangerous and scorned process of selling years of her life for magic. This new power reveals betrayal and danger, Arrah must learn to master this new magic to save herself and those that she loves.

I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

Dnf at 30% -
This book is incredibly slow paced and at 30% not much had happened and once I put the book down, I just didn't have the pull to pick it back up again - at 8 months later I've finally decided that I'm not going to pick this one back up as it just isn't the book for me.

What a story! I loved this novel of magic and culture. There were a few scenes I didn't really like (rape/victim blaming), but they didn't overpower the story for me. This is a really dark story, so be warned; however, I tend to really like dark, so if that's your jam, have at it!! It wasn't what I expected, even still it was really good. I really loved Arrah and thought she was a very complex and well thought out character. The world was really interesting and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Content warning: parental abuse; child murder; rape (female on male); victim blaming; blood.

Oh, I found this very disappointing indeed. It's incredibly slow to get going, really weirdly paced throughout, and I really struggled to care about anything that was happening - there's a huge cast of characters, but we only get to see one of them, the first-person narrator, have anything like a personality (and I found her selfish and weirdly detached from what was going on around her). The world was really interesting, but we barely got to see any of it! It was, sadly, so forgettable to me that even two minutes after reading I could only have told you the bare bones of the plot. The villains are flatly villainous and the good guys flatly good; as I say, the only character with any nuance was Arrah, the main character, who I really disliked.

I will say that I'm not an own voices reviewer for this, so maybe I missed something in the style or the nuances - but for me, this was definitely not as good as I'd hoped. Two and a half stars.

What a story! I loved this novel of magic and culture. There were a few scenes I didn't really like (rape/victim blaming), but they didn't overpower the story for me. This is a really dark story, so be warned; however, I tend to really like dark, so if that's your jam, have at it!! It wasn't what I expected, even still it was really good. I really loved Arrah and thought she was a very complex and well thought out character. The world was really interesting and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Why doesn’t magic come to me, Father?”

Sixteen-year-old Arrah has been waiting her whole life for magic to be bestowed upon her. Granddaughter of an excellent witchdoctor and daughter of the Ka-Priestess of the Almighty Kingdom, she feels the load of the extraordinary legacy she must live up to but is forced to observe helplessly as other children younger than her are blessed the gift while she is omitted . Yet Arrah is presented in other ways – with intelligence, wit, the power to ascertain and to feel magic, and a fanatical loyalty to her friends which inspires from them fierce loyalty reciprocally .

“Magic features a price if you’re willing to pay.”

Haunted by strange dreams and her grandmother’s visions of demons long believed gone, Arrah seeks answers from the orishas and seers of the Temple. But when tragedy strikes her city of Tamar, the “girl without magic”, who wants such a lot to assist others, makes a fateful decision which will take her down the darkest and most dangerous of paths to sorcery, suffering and sacrifice. take care what you would like for …

A beautifully written, enthralling epic fantasy set during a fictional West African kingdom of myth and magic, Kingdom of Souls weaves an upscale tapestry with vibrant threads of genuine folklore, creating a substantive, complex, yet recognisable world of ancient pantheons, beliefs and cultures. it's to be said that sometimes the book goes to some seriously dark places, though this reviewer would argue that this is often one among the weather which makes the story so memorable and compelling. it's the courage of its convictions and is unafraid to venture into the human heart of darkness and misuse of magic. Blood rituals, child sacrifice, mind violation and familial abuse all play integral parts within the story – and certain relatives of Arrah are truly the things of nightmares.

However, amidst the darkness shine all-important rays of sunshine and hope. Arrah’s relationship together with her adored and adoring father is superbly evoked: she isn't happier than when taking note of his stories, helping him in his shop or learning herb lore from him. Her friendships and blossoming romance with the charming and lovely Vizier’s son are heartwarming, tinged with welcome affection and humour. And Arrah herself, telling her story within the person , draws the reader in with the facility of her personality, her sympathy, and her empathy for others. We feel everything with Arrah; we share her frustrations, her failures, her fear, her fury, and her helplessness at the inexorable turn of events.

With incendiary revelations at the top , which are hinted at and gradually unravelled throughout, one gets the sensation that, despite the richness and depth of Kingdom of Souls, the story is merely just beginning. Highly recommended, with a caveat regarding a number of the darker aspects of the book.

Overall, this was just an amazing book. This story follows a black girl that is tired of rejection and that will do anything to be accepted and to be successful. Kingdom of Souls also follows a story of a girl trying to handle gods and demons, let alone a controlling mother with malevolent intentions. Kingdom of Souls will be a story told for generations.

Powerful witch doctors run in Arrah's family, so she isn't the only person disappointed that she has no magic herself.
Children are disappearing and Arrah decides to do something incredibly dangerous - she gives years of her life in order to have magic.
Arrah uncovers dark and terrible secrets that will threaten not only the lives of her family, but also the kingdom itself.
Can Arrah save the children, her family and the kingdom?

The main reason I wanted to read Kingdom of Souls was for the witch doctors, but they weren't in the book as much as I expected.
Arrah was a likeable protagonist and I enjoyed reading about her relationship with her father who she was close to. It must have been so hard for Arrah being a disappointment to her mother and other people for not having magic.
The setting was interesting and I liked the concept of the different gods/orisha.
The plot was quite slow to get going, but I did enjoy it to begin with. However, after a while I found myself becoming bored and I struggled to stay interested in what was going on. I did consider stopping reading, but I was hopeful that the pace and storyline would pick up. I did end up finishing the book, but have to admit that I did skim-read several pages. There was a twist that I didn't see coming, but by that point I wasn't invested in what was happening and just wanted to get to the end, which is a shame as I was looking forward to reading Kingdom of Souls and am disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more.
The writing style was easy enough to follow, but it failed to grip me and hold my attention.
The concept was interesting, but it didn't reach its potential for me.
I won't be continuing with this series.

Overall, this was an okay read.

An epic fantasy story about a young woman who doesn't have magic of her own in a world where it is essential. Making some tough choices, but always trying to do what is right has she found her true self?

I really enjoyed this book so much that I bought a physical copy as soon as it was released!

A few things that were a little odd was the passing of time, I did get a little muddled with that, but might make more sense on a reread.

My full review of this will be up on my website but yes, yes absolutely yes.
Arrah is a fantastic heroine and lead character. Headstrong and loyal, she is determined to change the world for the better. The author manages to bring in a plethora of side characters who you couldn't help but adore.
The magical system was new and unique and the fresh voice was something I hadn't realised I had been craving.
The descriptive writing was magnificent and I found myself dragged headfirst into the story.
The world-building was truly immersive and I even loved the love story although I'm not one for the whole star-crossed lover's thing.
I did feel that the end was a little random for me as Arrah got more and more erratic and her choices stopped making complete sense but I know there is another book coming out so on the re-read maybe I'll get more out of it.

An AMAZING book -- Rena balances action with emotion effortlessly here, and I much preferred it to Children of B&B in that regard. I felt for the characters so much and the writing was rich. Loved it!

The echoes of Africa are everywhere evident in this delightful imaginarium. Like the stories of Arthur and Merlin the author has weaved a world that exists just on the edge of what we accept as the "real" world. Magic is accepted as real but only available to a limited few.
A powerful struggle between men and gods, think Greek Myths or Norse Sagas. The conduit for the struggle is a young girl/woman trying to understand her destiny in a world where she doesn't fit.
Powerfully told, eminently readable. Will recommend to all my friends into this genre.

I really enjoyed this book, although it took me a while to get into it, it is quite slow moving. It isn't boring, there is just a lot happening.

The story follows Arrah, a 16 year old who comes from a line of powerful witchdoctors. She feels inadequate, a disappointment to her powerful ancestry because of her seeming lack of power.

A number of disappearances set Arrah on a journey that has her questioning the price of magic, and what lengths she will go to to protect her friends and save the kingdom.

The story is so much more than this, it is multifaceted and a rich tapestry of themes, emotions, magic and tragedy. It evokes so many emotions throughout. There are some dark themes and the ending is foreshadowed intelligently throughout the book.

The book is very complex and there is a lot to keep up with, and many characters to keep track of. If you can get your head around all of that, it is a really good read, but one that I will probably have to read again to really understand fully. Although, the length and complexity means that I probably won't pick it up again.

It is worth reading, at least once!

Started reading this book but gave up. Was so excited to read this book but it just wasn’t for me so gave up half way thru yet I thought it was right up my street

This explosive fantasy is set in a West African world of magic and legend, that centres around the life of one girl, Arrah, who must sacrifice her life, year by year, to gain the power necessary to fight the mother she has never been good enough for.

Array is a young woman from a long line of the most powerful witch do gods in the land. But she fails at magic, fails to call upon the ancestors and can't even cast the simplest curse. Shame and disappoint dog her. When strange premonitions befall her family and children in the kingdom begin to disappesr, Arrah undergoes the dangerous and scorned process of selling years of her life for magic. This borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal and a danger beyond what she could have imagined. Now Array must find a way to master magic, or at least buy it, in order to save herself and everything she holds dear.

I loved the character of 16yo Arrah and how she is always courageous undetermined no matter what she is experiencing, even if she doesn't always make then right choices. Arrah never really felt as though she belonged as she was trapped in a world of high status whilst not having the 'power' that she needed to fulfil her place within society. I liked the fact that she didn't have everything easy and her only way to fit in was through sheer determination, hard work and sacrifice, which was quite refreshing. However, I felt sorry for her need to HAVE to work so hard to be accepted by her own family as she was constantly reminded of 'what a key down' she was. The irony being that she spent so long wishing for a life of magic, that when she finally managed to achieve her goal, she then wished for a time without magic.

The supporting characters were also well written, with Rudjek, Sukar, Essnai, Efiya, and Arti (the Demon King) being the main focus. I also scored her relationship with her father.

My main like for for this book was the descriptive and intricate world building of the tribal lands of West Africa. The descriptive content pertaining to the landscapes and the animals and the magic really made my mind imagine I was there visualising this book in real life and I loved it.

I am so excited that this is the first in a series and I cannot wait for book 2! Thanks Rena for a wonderful read and thank you Netgallery for providing me with an advanced copy

This is another case where I really wanted to love the book and intrigued by the premise and the magic system, but for me at this point in time doesn't work. I will for sure give it another go at a later date.

I loved the representation in this novel, however I really struggled to connect with the characters - the main character for some reason was getting on my nerves. At the time of reading, the story was having such a despairing air that I struggled to cope with it all, and coupled with the dense writing it did not work for me.