Amari and the Night Brothers

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones.com
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 21 Jan 2021 | Archive Date 21 Jan 2021

Talking about this book? Use #AmariandtheNightBrothers #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

"Sharp, funny and brightly imaginative - a big adventure filled with magic and heart"
Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Nevermoor series

An epic middle grade supernatural adventure series, soon to be a major movie starring Marsai Martin. Perfect for readers aged 8+ and fans of Percy Jackson, Nevermoor and Men in Black!

Amari Peters knows three things.

Her big brother Quinton has gone missing.
No one will talk about it.
His mysterious job holds the secret . . .

So when Amari gets an invitation to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain this is her chance to find Quinton. But first she has to get her head around the new world of the Bureau, where mermaids, aliens and magicians are real, and her roommate is a weredragon.

Amari must compete against kids who’ve known about the supernatural world their whole lives, and when each trainee is awarded a special supernatural talent, Amari is given an illegal talent – one that the Bureau views as dangerous.

With an evil magician threatening the whole supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she is the enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t pass the three tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton . . .

Cover artwork by Brittany Jackson

B. B. Alston lives in Lexington, SC. Amari and the Night Brothers is his debut middle grade novel. When not writing, he can be found eating too many sweets and exploring country roads to see where they lead.

Cover illustrations from rising star artist Brittany Jackson.

"Sharp, funny and brightly imaginative - a big adventure filled with magic and heart"
Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Nevermoor series

An epic middle grade supernatural...


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781405298179
PRICE £12.99 (GBP)
PAGES 384

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)

Average rating from 98 members


Featured Reviews

Amari and the Night Brothers is a fun and insightful story exploring the injustices of being judged by an attribute you are born with, whether it's your skin color or supernatural ability.

The premise of this story is great fun and highly captivating. A magical world within the ordinary world fuels the imagination of kids and adults alike. Don't we all like to imagine a magical world that we might be invited to join one day? I know imagining it takes me away to a place where good triumphs over evil, and I can make things happen but just waving a wand.

I adore the main character Amari who is smart, sassy, determined, and focused. She lost her brother and has to deal with social bullying and prejudice because of her skin color and where she lives. She deals with her problems forcibly, and though understandable, it landed her in the principal's office, where she lost her scholarship. A package from her brother shows up, and in it is a Nomination for Consideration for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. This leads her to a supernatural world within our world where she again faces social bullying and prejudice, not for her skin color, but because she is a magician who is the most feared ability in the supernatural world. I found Amari's path toward dealing with prejudice very inspiring, and I enjoyed watching her grow and learn.

There is a bit of a mystery thread throughout the plot that delightfully builds the suspense. The twist is not unexpected, but it does start a whole new twist for future novels to explore. And, it is the thread that pushes Amari forward in her quest to join the Bureau and find her brother, who disappeared during an investigation for the Bureau.

I love the fantastical world of the "summer camp" with its different departments that are as interesting to read about as they would be to explore. It's a very imaginative and creative world full of wonder, dangerous beasts, cool inventions, and many little details to hold the reader's attention as they are revealed sometimes in small bits and other times in big chunks as the story progresses.

Amari and the Night Brothers is a new fun, and socially educational world to fascinate and delight the MG reader and their adults.

Was this review helpful?

A truly imaginative and explosive start to what promises to be an exciting new middle grade series to watch out for!

Amari has felt rather lost since the disappearance of her brother, but when she discovers a strange suitcase in his room, she has no idea how much bigger his disappearance - and the world around her - actually are. Enter the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where Amari begins to train as a junior agent in a world where aliens, witches, dragons and way, way more exist.

This book has all the makings of a beloved adventure, perfect for kids and adults who want a fresh dose of action in their life. I loved the opening up of this incredible new world that feels rather real, and there are so many possibilities with this world that I am extremely excited for what's to come. Amari is a hugely likeable protagonist who has faced oppression all her life, so she jumps at the opportunity to discover new things, but even more so to discover what happened to her brother. Amari ends up making some close friends whom I love, and other characters are rather complex too. There are some brilliant twists and turns by the end of the book, setting us up for a brilliant sequel to come.

Plot-driven, action-packed, character-focused and just absolutely-brilliant.

Was this review helpful?

I had so much fun reading this, I really can’t wait to introduce children to Amari and her adventure. It’s the kind of joyous, cinematic experience that could easily become a phenomenal success and reach reluctant readers.

Was this review helpful?

Balancing secret organisations, wondrous magical creatures, and the compelling tale of a young black girl rising up and overcoming prejudices is no small task. Fortunately for children all over the world, middle-grade debut author B. B. Alston has done just that in magnificent fashion.

Was this review helpful?

Oh. My. God. I have not read a book this fast or been this absorbed in a story since...
...
...

I'm not fully sure honestly. I'm thinking maybe two years ago when I read The Girl Who Drank the Moon? but in all honesty, what a book! Honestly, what made the book brilliant is that it is an amalgamation of all my favourite things in a book. It is middle-grade which is a genre that I have not read in quite a while, but I enjoyed it so much that I might have forgotten exactly what age range this book is for. Regardless, age is but a number and this book is anything but simply words on a page.

The story and the characters leap off the page and into the world. Which I suppose makes sense considering the fact that the story is set in this world...just...it's a world+ edition where we all live in the lite version. The supernatural coexisting with our world is hardly new, but the idea of there being a Bureau was not only new but an interesting take that I loved. The idea that it is a place where children train to later become a part of the Bureau was interesting because of the summer camp feel of the entire novel. In giving the story a timeline there was also a heightened sense of urgency. Amari had just the summer to try and find her brother, someone who went missing six months ago and no one seems to know why.

Of course, aside from the setting- the summer camp Bureau was a mix of school and club so I loved that too, one of my favourite things were the characters. There is, of course, Amari who is a beautiful combination of confident yet insecure. She knows what she knows and yet, she is confident that she is not good enough which is so relatable that I forgot that she is only 13 because that is a feeling even I understand. With her worries and her awkwardness, she stumbles out of the page and seems so real I'm still wondering about what adventure she's having now that summer is over. Then there is, of course, all the people that Amari meets in the Bureau, each with their own vices and virtues, each with their own baggage and backgrounds. I loved meeting them all.

Now, with all this said, I've got to talk about the actual plot at some point I'm sure. The adventure that Amari goes on, which granted comes with its own stipulations and time limits, is so...surprising. The truths she uncovers and the quests she has to complete in order to find her brother are fun to read, and on occasion leave you at the edge of your seat. There's this overwhelming feeling that Amari will come out of it fine (maybe bruised a bit but okay otherwise) but her brother's fate is dependent on her performances. But most of all, what I love is how single-mindedly Amari pursues any clue she finds about her brother and how she will let nothing stop her from her (semi self-assigned) mission

The writing style and pacing of the book both match Amari, self-assured yet hesitant. There are hints of what might be happening in the background, but there is always this air of "don't quote me on it" throughout the book. I also loved how descriptive it was. Some of the ways in which the world (both lite and + versions) are described paint such vivid images, if I'm being really honest, it almost felt like the Night Circus. The way it's written it's like The Night Circus meets Harry Potter. With Magic and Mayhem and Mystery (and the occasional fear for life), this book is a treat and one I look forward to the official release of! For a debut novel, this one is a firecracker...much like the main character.

With all this said, let me just say: I am so glad that this is the first book in a series because I can't wait to read what happens next.

Was this review helpful?

From the very first chapters I had this feeling that Amari’s adventures in Supernatural Investigations are going to be huge in the future. These are the books that will be on every reader’s lips, every bookshelf in homes, schools and libraries and will be shared with children for years to come.
Amari and the Night Brothers is the first book in a new series that strongly resembles a cross between Harry Potter and Men in Black. It’s a delightful series with a strong, curious and intelligent female lead and will captivate any young reader’s attention. I cannot wait to get it in school and share with pupils and adults.
Amari’s brother Quentin is missing, and nobody seems to be able to explain anything – until a mysterious message is delivered and Amari finds herself as a trainee in the Bureau of Supernatural Investigations. Surrounded by people who have grown up all their lives knowing this hidden world exists and it’s secrets, Amari has to work hard and defy all barriers to keep her place and her only way of finding out what happened to her brother. Armani is soon marked as the enemy and with a sinister threat hanging over the supernatural world, can she find the courage and strength to do what is needed?
Amari is a fabulous character. A fierce, black female lead who knows what it’s like to be bullied and belittled but who refuses to change herself or give up. Her characteristics and values are a really good example for middle grade ages and she is so easy to fall in love with.
The supernatural world is just fabulous. The bureau and summer school are such magical places to be and I was in awe of all the different creatures that existed. I loved how there were a variety of roles for different abilities and enjoyed the world where everyone’s strengths were played to. As Amari travelled the halls of the bureau, I was as enthralled as she was. I completely fell into the book and was sad when it was time to leave (for now). Lots of little details added to the magic of the setting including elevators with different personalities.
A cleverly created magical world, a strong and fierce female lead, witty and captivating writing all mix together to create a wonderful new world that will be on everyone’s tongues in 2021. I cannot wait for the next instalment but until then – I highly recommend you pre-order a copy of this and get ready to have some fun.

Was this review helpful?

This is a truly magical, adventurous book that I completely loved from start to finish! It is so easy to read and there is just so much to love. The whole magical world is so creative and fun. I couldn’t wait to see and learn more about this life Amari would be joining. The writing style is amazing and the way everything is described in so much detail makes it easy to visualise. There wasn’t a dull moment when reading this book and I found it completely mesmerising and I even caught myself smiling and getting emotional nearly all the way through!

I LOVE Amari! She is the perfect protagonist and sends the perfect message to readers as she always stands up for herself and what she believes in. She’s lovable, smart, funny and a lot stronger than she thinks she is. She wants nothing more to find her brother who always looked out for her. Now he’s gone she feels alone. She’s constantly being bullied at her fancy scholarship school and her mum always being at work, she doesn’t really have anyone to turn to.

Now she’s at summer training camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, the place where her brother was last seen. She is quickly pushed into a world of special abilities and magic that she must learn and understand in order to save Quinton. But first, she needs to beat the other trainees to make Junior Agent and earn her keep at the Bureau!



All the characters are so enjoyable and unique. But Elsie quickly became one of my favourite characters. She’s an incredibly smart weredragon who is struggling to shift. Yes, into a dragon! I love how she is such a good friend to Amari. She always finds a way to help her however she can. The gadgets she invents are also so creative, I couldn’t wait to see what she would come up with next! This just shows how much creativity and imagination B.B. Alston has put into this book.

Overall, the whole book is great! I don’t think there is anything I could fault! It’s an extremely fun, fast-paced and very imaginative book that is perfect for children and adults! I never got bored and I was completely shocked at the end, I just didn’t see it coming. This is definitely going to be a great book for 2021!

Rating: 5/5

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Was this review helpful?

I fell in love with Amari from the very first page. Her voice is a distinct one that is full of truth and hope. There isn’t a book that comes along all the time that gives you such a rich world and compelling characters. I found that the most interesting parts of the book were just the realness of it all mixed beautifully with the magic that surrounds Amari.

The Bureau that she finds herself in, the magic and world building is unique because it keeps a grip in reality to make it feel like it is possible. Supernatural anything is always fun to read, especially new takes on them, this novel is more wonderful for it.

I don’t want to give too much away but this is a story that all ages should read. It gives you perspective and the reality of today that I found to make all the trials she experiences mean just a bit more. Her passion to find her brother, to solve the mystery of what happened to him kept me reading.

There is no down that you’ll find yourself a fan of B.B. Alston’s work. This is a debut that is worth every bit of praise that it receives and I do hope to have the pleasure of reading more of his writing.

Was this review helpful?

Alton's debut fully lives up to its hype. It's fresh, smart, and fiercely imaginative, and quite simply one of the best middle grade books I've read in a while.

Utterly mesmerising from start to finish, Amari and the Night Brothers has all the makings of a classic adventure - cinematic writing, superior world-building, wonderful characters, page-turner sensation - and has boldly conjured a fresh, action-packed take on the magical fantasy genre. It’s like an electrifying twist of Harry Potter meets Men in Black. And Amari! Amari is the bright, young heroine we all need in 2021 and many will willingly follow her wherever her adventure takes her next.

Unmissable. Unforgettable.

Was this review helpful?

Amari and the Night Brothers so perfectly weaves some of our best loved fables into a heart stopping adventure as Amari fights to find her brother. The structure of this story is perfectly crafted; leading the reader on Amari's adventure as she learns about the hidden world just beyond her fingertips. She learns how special her brother is, and how special and unique she is. A truly beautiful story about the power Amari holds in her heart, and the strength in being good and kind and brave.

Was this review helpful?

Whenever I read books about kids going to a magic school, I never felt like they were perfect for me. I could get swept up into the world, but I never quite felt like it was real or like I was there. There often were black characters at the school, but oftentimes they were either a sidekick to the main character or they were random characters that got maybe 3 pages worth of dialogue in the entire series. This year, I tried to make an effort to read books featuring more black main characters, to see if I felt a difference in connection with a character of color in magical/fantasy settings. This is one of those books where the difference was so vivid, I wanted to cry.


I could relate to Amari in so many ways. Although she knew her brother hadn’t gotten into any illegal activities when he went missing, law enforcement wasn’t willing to do much. I haven’t had any family members that I know of go missing this way, but I have heard of it happening in our community so often that I am sure many readers can relate to this. The part that I can relate to most were all the charity case comments that Amari faced daily. Even though she had proved that she was worthy of getting into the school, she was constantly bullied and ridiculed by students as if she didn’t deserve to be there as much as the students who paid. When she left her boarding school for the magical summer camp, she was still treated as if she wasn’t good enough since she wasn’t a member of one of the “old” families in the school. Technically her brother had invited her so her family had been involved in the society, but she was still too “new” for the old families to accept her. I know how it feels to be treated as if you are only in a situation as a charity case and not because of the actual merits of your work, and it really sucks. Amari is a character that lets teens know that they are not alone if they have felt this way before and that it is okay to feel angry when placed in these situations.

The world that this story creates is simply magical. The contrast between Amari’s neighborhood where people are struggling and the camp full of affluent teens from a hidden section of the world is stark and intriguing. I wanted to find out more about the battle between the magicians and the other supernatural beings of this universe, and I hope to find out more about it in future books. I look at this book as more of being a brief intro to the world, as so much drama was going on that we didn’t get the chance to explore it properly. We should be able to learn more about the entire world in future novels, and I personally can’t wait to read more about Amari.

This book flows so smoothly from one chapter to the next that I wanted to finish the entire book in one night. I couldn’t because I had to go to work early the next morning. Instead, I read the book on the train on the way to work, and finished it before I went to sleep that night. It was that good that I just could not put it down, and I don’t think you’ll be able to put it down either.

I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a new YA or upper middle-grade fantasy novel to read, especially if they are looking for a fantasy novel featuring a black main character with a very relatable story.


I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

Was this review helpful?

Amari and the Night Brothers wasn’t supposed to be the ARC that I was to receive from NetGalley. Thank God for small favors though! This book was an absolute delight from the front cover to the back cover. Look at the cover! It is so beautiful!!

Amari and the Night Brothers is set at Amari’s home in the Rosewood apartments and The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. I cannot remember if there is a specific city but it could be Detroit, Chicago, New York. Maybe even London or Sydney.

Her brother, Quinton, has been missing without a clue to his location. Quinton has the Midas touch. Everything he does is amazing. It’s hard to live in the shadow of a perfect person, especially for 13 year-old Amari. She is an incredible person but she gets overlooked all of the time, except when she is in trouble with one authority figure or another.

Amari discovers that her brother worked for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She attends the summer tryouts at the Bureau. It’s mostly so she can find more clues about Quinton. Amari does not expect to be so well-known. Her brother is kind of a big deal in the supernatural world. She also doesn’t expect to have any magical powers.

It sounds cliche but the magic was within her the whole time. She definitely brings a new definition to #blackgirlmagic. You know, we all need to hear that we are magical and powerful, especially a teenager who doesn’t believe in herself. Everyone around her is so quick to judge what she can do before she has a chance to prove them wrong. They don’t even have a good reason to not believe in Amari. Her magic isn’t based on wealth or social status.

Amari already has most of those things that people need to succeed. She is smart, kind and resourceful. She just needs a couple of friends and a bit of confidence to help her fight the Night Brothers.

The Night Brothers are an interesting pair. Moreau is an evil magician, sort of like Voldemort but with a nose. Vladimir is basically Dracula, except that he needs to be resurrected to some extent. So Moreau is making plans to escape from prison and get Vladimir back to living the non-living life that he was before. So Amari has her work cut out for her. She has to overcome all of her insecurities and doubt. If Amari can overcome her fears, she still needs find the strength to fight powerful magicians and hopefully find her brother.

If you liked Percy Jackson, then you will probably love this book. Also, if you are interested in books with underdogs, teenagers and at least one good magician, then you should definitely read Amari and the Night Brothers. I would give this book 5 stars if I did that sort of thing.

However, if you are an evil magician, this book will probably make you cry the tears of a sad, creepy clown.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, how I loved Amari and the Night Brothers! This rollicking supernatural adventure book rivals Harry Potter for excellent world-building, and it has an infinitely more likeable main character. Amari is spunky, intelligent, and wholly original.

When the book opens, Amari is trying to succeed in a school where she’s not wanted while learning to cope with the fact that everyone thinks her missing brother is dead. She refuses to believe it, and when she gets invited to try out for a spot at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she finds herself entering a world she didn’t even know existed in an effort to find him.

And what a world! Were-dragons, illusionists, and even escalators with personalities make appearances. There is never a dull moment, and I loved seeing what new surprise would pop up next. This is a world that I’d love to see more of (luckily, this is a series, so I’ll get to).

The characters were phenomenal. Among the many awesome people, my favorites were Magnus, whose prickly demeanor hides a heart of gold, and Amari herself. She’s the kind of main character that I love to see my children reading about. She is moral, smart, and resourceful. And she persists, no matter what.

The plot is fantastic, with the mystery of Amari’s brother framing a coming-of-age story. There’s adventure galore, but the book also deals with themes that are a little more real-world, like feelings of not fitting in, and the ugly things people see (such as racism). It’s done in a way that is not too much for the intended age group, while also not dumbing things down.

Amari and the Night Brothers is a fantastic fantasy, one that older elementary kids and middle-graders will love. I loved it too. It’s an adventure of the best kind, one that will capture the imagination of anyone who reads it. I was immediately sucked in and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Was this review helpful?

Starting with the writing style, the author was able to craft such a cool and whimsical supernatural world along side our own and it was fun being in it, with that the writing was the perfect amount of descriptive and immersive and I was lost in the story from the moment I began reading it.

The plot of the story was fantastic, it was a whimsical story with a great underlying message.

Tbh, I do not know where to begin describing it because I loved this book a lot and all I wanna say in this review is awesome and amazing over and over again (time to open the thesaurus tab).

This was a pretty paced book that balanced character growth along with a great plot really well, I was hooked in from page one and once we entered into the secret world of the supernatural I was totally immersed in the whimsy and fun this books had to offer.

It has so many supernatural creatures including a wereDRAGON-that’s right a WEREDRAGON-and I loved getting to know them, it was even more fun to explore the various different departments in the Supernatural Bureau and I think my favorite was the Department of Good Fortunes and Bad Omens because it was the most “magical” department of them all and damn I want my future and past read that way….so cool.

The tryout element was fantastic and even though I knew on a certain level what would happen, the journey there was so damn awesome and I loved the anticipation and excitement feeling that this book created leading up to and during each of the tryouts.

I also really enjoyed reading the history about the magicians and finding out who and what the Night Brothers were, this added with the quest to find Amari’s brother added a lot of extra layers to the story.

The book also relayed a beautiful message of friendship, believing in oneself and taught to accept ourselves as we our because we are amazing and I think it is a wonderful message to impart to the kids who will be reading it soon.

The ending though….WOW….I need the next book, NOW, please.

Amari Peters was such a great character, I loved her willpower and her fierceness plus she was such a lively character to follow around who had a heart of gold and also really intelligent and observant, I adored following her around and seeing her grow throughout the book

Elise, the weredragon, she was such a loyal and great friend, she was always by Amari’s side supporting her o matter what and I loved the friendship these two outcast girls developed over the course of the book and I loved the wonderful inventions that she created, they were all awesome.

Dylan Van Helsing, I really liked his character as well he was kinda mature for his age and kind of an enigma in the start but I really did like him quite a lot.

Overall, this was a great book with a fast paced plot, great characters and an amazing message, it hooked me in from the first page and kept me turning pages till the very ending and I cannot wait to read the enxt book in this middle grade series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Middle Grades with the above mentioned characteristics and is looking for a fast read.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you, The Write Reads, for organizing and inviting me to be part of this blog tour! Thank you to the publisher (Egmont Books) and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Hangover (n): (1) a term used to describe the feeling of not knowing what to do with your life because you just finished an amazing book that you can’t stop thinking about; (2) the feeling I have after finishing Amari and the Night Brothers.

Amari is thirteen. She lives in a bad part of town, and bullies are something she deals with regularly. To make matters worse, her brother has been missing for months, and far too many people suggest that he was involved with something illegal. After a particularly bad last day of school, Amari finds a briefcase that her brother left her that introduces her to the supernatural world and a very exclusive and competitive summer camp. Amari is determined to use this opportunity to become a junior agent and to find out what happened to her brother, even if it turns out that she has an illegal supernatural ability and that the supernatural world is in danger. What follows is an amazing adventure, led by an amazing main character, that you can’t help but root for and fall in love with.

The best part about Amari and the Night Brothers is Amari. She is such a memorable character, and she is so easy to fall in love with. She’s determined, tenacious, and brave, but she’s also nervous and scared about everything that’s going on around her. I loved that she was able to find the courage to face the obstacles in her way of achieving her goals and that she had human moments where she faltered and second-guessed herself. Amari is by far one of the best characters I’ve been introduced to in 2020, and I hope that this book falls into the hands of young people everywhere because she is the hero that the world needs.

I loved the challenges aspect of this book. I think that it’s a fairly common trope for there to be a series of challenges to complete to complete a quest, but I love it. I thought the puzzles were clever, and I loved seeing the different parts of the supernatural world. I also liked that the challenges tested the competitors on multiple things at once and that they had a lot of layers. Generally speaking, I loved all of the twists and turns in this book. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how everything would tie together. Most of the twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I did not see a lot of them coming.

On a broader note, I loved the world-building in this book. The supernatural world co-exists with the normal world, and I had so much fun learning about it. I loved the different creatures, the different departments, and the different abilities that everyone has.

Overall, Amari and the Night Brothers is fantastic. I think everyone should read this book and buy a copy for someone else so they can fall in love with it too. It’s been a while since I’ve had a book hangover, and I think this book hangover will last a long time because this book is that good.

Was this review helpful?

Men In Black meets Harry Potter!
I absolutely loved this, such a fantastic story and it's going to be a series, which is always a bonus.
A brilliant mix of adventure, humour and moral dilemmas. There are some great characters and the whole supernatural element is done beautifully.. I loved Amari, she is strong and although she's had a difficult life she's still positive and radiates goodness.
I think this is going to be a massive hit.

Was this review helpful?

Amari and the Night Brothers was, simply put, brilliant! I would have loved this book as a teen, and luckily enjoyed it just as much as an adult. It was magical and fun whilst still bringing to light some social commentary but in a way it relates to it’s target audience and it was that good, I read it in one sitting.

If Amari Peters knows one thing it’s that her brother Quentin is still alive, despite what the police are saying. So when a random package appears and she gets an invitation to the summer camp her brother Quentin went too, Amari has questions. Questions that triple when she realises that the summer camp is actually a training academy for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and not only has her brother nominated her for the programme, but he was their golden boy. Amari knows that if she is ever to find out the truth of what has happened to Quentin she has to join this programme and investigate from the inside. But she is a fish out of water, she is competing against kids who have known about the supernatural world all their lives, and she finds that the prejudices she had to deal with in the outside world are just as prevalent here. She will have to overcome a multitude of difficulties, and make sure she puts her trust in the right people if she is to find her brother, and leave the programme alive.

Amari is such a brilliantly written character. She is unbelievably resilient, even in the face of the police telling her that Quentin must have been involved with illegal activities and that’s why he’s disappeared. She is loyal to her family, and anyone she classes as a friend and she is fierce and unbelievably strong for someone who has been bullied and told she is lesser most of her life. She finds it hard to believe she is special, that she is made for something more, but her time at the Bureau shows her that maybe there is somewhere out there for her, somewhere were she can excel and live up to the legacy of her brother. What makes this extra special is the author talks about how long it took him to be able to write Amari’s story and how once he gave himself the chance it just flew from him. It’s amazing seeing more and more books out there with POC main characters, dealing with the issues they deal with in day to day life and exploring their culture.

As well as Amari we are treated to a wealth of well built side characters, my favourites being Elsie, Amari’s roommate and best friend at the Bureau and Agent Magnus, one of her supervisors at the Bureau. It was such a treat seeing Amari building relationships throughout the book, we have Elsie and Dylan, her two friends. They are very different relationships with Elsie and Amari both knowing what it’s like to be an outcast, whereas Dylan is the golden boy with a secret that he feels only Amari can understand. And then there is the relationship between Amari and Agent Magnus, he fears for her, not wanting her to get hurt looking for her brother, but seeing the same drive in her he saw in Quentin and knowing that there is very little he can do to stop her.

There will be the usual comparisons to the likes of Harry Potter, and whilst there are some similarities, Amari and the Night Brothers is completely its own. The mix of the mundane and the magical is brilliantly done, and boy would I have killed to get a spot at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. There is everything from a wide variety of magical beings, to talking elevators and its all gets wondrously brought to life as we visit all the different sections alongside Amari. It may not be worldbuilding as we have come to know it, but the author creates an almost ‘mini world’ inside the Bureau and I got absolutely swept away learning about all the different divisions and seeing how they mix the magical creatures and beings into a world that doesn’t know they exist.

Amari and the Night Brothers is action packed to the max. It pretty much sets off from the word go and it isn’t hard to get completely swept away by the story. Amari entering the Bureau sets off a chain of events that no body saw coming and made the magical community start asking questions of itself. I really liked how the author made Amari different, magic wise, and used that to show how archaic the Bureau is. She is the face of change, and though the book doesn’t end on a traditional cliff hanger, it does hint at more potential drama in the next book.

Filled with a wide breadth of characters, plenty of twists and turns and one hell of an ending, you need to get this book for any teen in your life. I can guarantee you and they wont be disappointed. One of the easiest 5* I’ve given all year and a new firm favourite, I am incredibly excited to see where Amari’s story goes next.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: