Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl saves kingdom in gripping, mildly violent Afrofantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When ADIA KELBARA AND THE HIGH QUEEN'S TOMB begins, 12-year-old Adia, having conquered a demon and saved her kingdom, is now a student in the Academy of Shamans. People at the school begin mysteriously passing out, and Adia gets word that the same thing is happening throughout her empire. To find answers, Adia sets off to find the queen's tomb where secrets may be buried, a journey that takes her through the underworld.
Is It Any Good?
This page-turning sequel will leave readers clamoring for the next installment. Author Isi Hendrix has main character Adia step more fully into the power that caused her to leave her home in the previous book, and it's a joy to watch. The challenges are tricker in Adia Kelbara and the High Queen's Tomb, and the girl is more self-assured and decisive. The novel is engaging on its own, but reading them in order reveals a rich character arc spanning the two books.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how curiosity pushes the characters to grow in Adia Kelbara and the High Queen's Tomb. Has your curiosity ever helped you overcome fear or hesitation to try something?
How do the characters bolster their courage in the face of genuine danger? How do you tell the difference between feeling fear and being in danger?
What are the kinds of small milestones that tell the characters their perseverance is paying off? Have you ever broken up a goal into smaller pieces? Did that help you stay motivated?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Storytide
- Publication date : June 3, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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