I loved this!

I went into this book blind having not looked into it too much as I wanted a fresh perspective. I found the plot captured my attention immediately, as it went straight into the action and didn’t wait about which I liked.

Our story mainly follows M’Kuru, the sole survivor of his family’s murder, and Zikora, the daughter of Lord Nnamani. Although these are our main characters, we were also provided other characters povs such as the nanny, Prince Efffiom and so on. Sometimes it can be confusing and not as interesting with multiple povs, however this was not the case in this book. I loved having an insight into the different characters perspectives as it was done well, and I found it did not take away from the character depth or interest in the main characters and the plot.

This was rich with politics and political intrigue, as well as royalty and status and I found this was all done very well. I was able to understand and keep up with the different nobility and how they all worked (or didn’t work) together and the power plays.

This story gripped me and I can’t wait for the next to come out and continue the story. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book sets up so much potential for a new favourite series and I am invested.

I went into this blind knowing it involved politics, non-Western fantasy, and royalty. I would advise you do the same.

M’Kuru is the sole surviving member of the High Noble House Mukundi of Madada and he vows revenge. M’kuru flees to a small village where he assumes the guise of a ten year old farm boy.

Elsewhere Zikora, the only daughter of Lord Nnamani is an innocent 8 year old who is wild and free and beloved by all despite her carefree, stubborn attitude.
A prophecy places her in danger as the only living threat to their dynasty ruling forever.

We have other perspectives related to these two main characters interspersed throughout. We have a three year time jump that was executed perfectly and a converging that you see coming and cannot wait for.

I also have to shout out Zikora’s family, especially her brothers and the obvious love and the dynamic between them.

This is a set-up book. The politicking is mostly left to the adults around them, but we can see these two fated children slot into their potential roles.

Every character was rich with motivation and emotions and I hold out hopes for The Dandelion Dynasty comparison later on in the series.

Arc gifted by Harper Voyager.

2.5 stars

I'm always excited for fantasy in an African-inspired setting, but I didn't think this was particularly well executed. The prose felt clunky. The first thing that jumped out at me was the use of "hollered", "yelled" and "screeched" as dialogue tags - not just too often, but also in instances where it just didn't make sense to me that the speaker would be shouting. The version I read was the ARC, so it is possible that some of the specific wording may change in the final text.

I didn't particularly like any of the characters, which made it hard to be invested. Based on the first chapter I thought this one might be a DNF for me, and to be fair, I did get more into it after that. The prose improved (or at least bothered me less), and the plot was interesting enough to be worth continuing with.

This might be more of a hit with people who are into Game of Thrones type political intrigue and edginess. There's some graphic violence and a fair number of references to/threats of rape and attempted rape.

Birth of a Dynasty is a remarkable debut that completely exceeded my expectations. What starts as an intimate, cinematic portrayal of childhood and legacy quickly unfolds into something much bigger—an epic tale grounded in emotional truth, political intrigue, and beautifully layered world building.

The writing is stunning—lyrical without being overdone, emotionally resonant without veering into melodrama. Every line feels purposeful, with an undercurrent of wisdom that lingers long after the chapter ends. From the very first page, the tone is confident and immersive, drawing you into a world that feels both fresh and ancient, clearly inspired by African cultures but rich with its own mythos and political complexity.

Though the story follows its protagonists through their childhood, this is far from a “young” book. The narrative explores themes of loss, loyalty, trauma, and identity with a maturity that gives the early years of these characters incredible weight. It’s a bold move to set an entire book during this formative stage, but it pays off: by the end, you know these characters—what shaped them, what haunts them, and what drives them.

The plot is tight, well-paced, and often surprising. The twists are genuinely unpredictable, and the political undercurrents are compelling without being overwhelming. I especially appreciated the use of multiple POVs, which added depth without ever pulling me out of the narrative. Everyone has their own motives, their own agendas—and no one is truly safe.

Khalil’s resilience and Zikora’s fiery intelligence stand out, but every character feels fully realized. The court politics kept me guessing, and the world—its customs, names, places—feels completely lived in. It’s rare to find a fantasy book that balances emotional intimacy with expansive lore this effectively.

Birth of a Dynasty doesn’t just tell a story—it lays the foundation for something much bigger. You can feel that this is only the beginning, and I, for one, can’t wait to see where it goes next. A powerful, original, and deeply thoughtful start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.

Highly recommended for readers looking for epic fantasy that feels both timeless and completely new.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

Birth of a Dynasty completely blew me away. I picked it up without high expectations, and it ended up being one of the most emotionally resonant and beautifully written books I’ve read this year.

The opening is cinematic and powerful — raw, immersive, and immediately impactful. The writing is subtle yet deeply moving, with an underlying wisdom that’s hard to describe but easy to feel. It’s never overly dramatic, and yet it carries immense emotional weight.

The pacing is sharp and focused — every scene drives the story forward without unnecessary filler. I especially appreciated how unpredictable the twists were. I often find myself guessing outcomes early on, but here, I was surprised again and again.

The worldbuilding, likely inspired by African cultures, was vibrant and refreshing. It added a sense of richness and originality to the story, making it feel distinct and immersive.

Although the main characters are children for much of the book, it never felt limiting. Their perspectives were written with maturity, depth, and grace. Everything felt natural and organic — never forced or oversimplified.

This book is powerful, poetic, and full of heart. I’m already wishing I had the sequel.

Minor Spoiler Note:
One of the most moving parts was the bond between Khalil and the elderly man he sees as his grandfather. Their relationship was filled with wisdom, care, and emotional strength — and those scenes brought actual tears to my eyes. A quiet highlight that added even more depth to the story.

This book is like unlike anything I’ve read and I’m struggling to put into words how much I enjoyed it. This is high fantasy and I actually really enjoyed the different POVs although a few chapters felt like they could have been edited out and I’m not sure how they contributed to the story too much, such as Khalils mothers part in it.

The development in the characters as the book went along were remarkable and I loved the politics in this book. The lore is incredible and I’m excited to read the next book. The world is set in a place that no other book has really explored yet so it was refreshing to read.

Over all a really interesting and engaging read and I look forward to reading the next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars, this is absolutely epic!

I loved Birth of a Dynasty, it had everything I look for in a fantasy:
-court politics
- hidden heirs
-betrayals
-false identities
- prophecy
And secrets, so many secrets.

This book has short bursts of intense unputdownable action, interspersed with incredible world building and intricate politics.

What I loved in particular:
- Zikora, I really liked the contrast between her smart and mature POV and the childlike and blunt way she handled the court. We only really touched on her use of the Blessing of Winneba but already it is intriguing and I can’t wait to see what happens with it in the next book.
- The court at Ahalon, a real den of vipers.
- the multiple POVs. I really liked that we got to read the inner monologues of less prominent characters, particularly ones like Lord and Lady Nmamani, otherwise it might have been harder to sympathise with their reasons for sending their daughter away.
- Prince Effiom, I haven’t hated a villain so much in a while but he makes it really easy to be on Zikora and M’kuru/Khalil’s side.

In this book I definitely preferred following Zikora’s journey but that might be because Khalil had to make much harder choices. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A brilliant beginning to what could very well be an amazing series! I massively enjoyed this one, even though I was a bit surprised with the timeline (ie the whole first book takes place during the MCs childhood). The flipside to that is that we get solid and well weaved world building, given masterfully and in an organic way which does not overwhewlm and of course we get to know and love our main characters so much better and deeper as we're experiencing all those formative incidents that biuld the foundation of 'And Above All , Choose Vengeance.' I think the groundwork has been set for some explosive developments in the next installment. The writing is beautiful.

I loved the lore and the world, the unique names and places. Court politics kept my head spinning and I loved how everyone have ulterior motives. The multiple POVs kept me interested and didn't make me less invested, I thought it was quite a clever device to push the narrative further. I loved Khalil's (iykyk) resilience and Zikora's wit and fire! And even though I hadn't realised what the actual chronology would be when I started the book, I am very curious to see how the story will progress.

This is a very original and unique take and I highly recommend this to anyone who feels that the genre is becoming increasingly more tick-boxy. A huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.