The Kishi: An Esowon Story (Tales from Esowon Book 1) Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed this book, and in truth, was hooked from the first page. Mr. Bandele, that first chapter was simply amazing!!The books main character, Amana, was easily likable, and very human and as the story unfolds you really feel the push and pull of who he is develop. You experience his struggle as it’s woven quite seamlessly into the fabric of the plot and its rewarding when everything comes to a head. The secondary characters are also well thought out and feel so utterly genuine, and I hope that they appear in future books. I am still having a hard time deciding between NYA or UZOMA for my favorite character.I truly admired the tenacity in both of them.The world building of Golah was refreshing and layered though drawn from true African folklore. From the various language(s), theology, philosophy, and history of the world imagined in a fantasy setting wonderfully, developed and detailed. And of course, then there are the KISHI, my new favorite kind of shapeshifter. Let’s just say that the kishi were deliciously described, and I am glad that the author was not afraid to hold back on the sheer level of their brutality – or their intellect.The book had great action scenes and a touch of romance that I did not expect, nor did the romance, when it developed, over power the core of the story – all very enjoyable. All in all, THE KISHI was a fantastic read, that I simply could not put down until I turned the last page. I look forward to the next book from Mr. Bandele in the Tales From Esowon series.

This may be Antoines first book but it certainly doesn't read like it!I'm an avid reader. Fantasy and mythology are definitely my favorites with books like The Gate Thief (Norse) and the Kane Chronicles (Egyptian) lining my shelf. But it hit me that I knew nothing about African mythology outside of Egyptian mythology. I'm both glad and excited to now have this as my introduction to it.First of all. There are powers. Legit, clan based, tribal powers. They aren't over used to the point where the story becomes about them. But aren't under used to where it feels like there is missed potential. There's a great balance in that it just is. And they're important.Secondly, the story geography is contained but the world is huge. It definitely feels like every character has a history and purpose without it being stated for every character. There's history and culture in the book which is amazing.The chapters are well written and didn't lag. The central characters have their own voices and you can honestly figure out who's speaking half the time without even paying attention to the names. And they feel real.Really this book is destined to be turned into a motion picture. It's that perfect for it.I'm pretty bad at writing reviews but really I had to come on an voice my love for it. Antoine is off to a great start and I'm really excited to pick up his future books which fall in the same world but tell entirely different journeys.This is going right alongside my other favorites and I think you'll love it too. I had no idea what a kishi even was before this. Now I need more.

I recently checked out The Kishi, a fantasy steeped in tribal culture and African mythology. I learned after reading it that it’s a debut novel for this author, and I have to say it is an impressive debut. It felt novel and fresh, a welcome departure from run-of-the-mill fantasy clichés. I give it a 7 out of 10; I’d give it an 8 if the characterization, pacing, and dialogue received some work. There were a couple stylistic things I would have changed, but overall, I did enjoy the book.Spoilers ahead!I enjoyed the hook, but did feel slightly ruffled by the deep investment in a POV character who was immediately killed. Having her friend killed shortly thereafter seemed a bit pointless. I would’ve preferred the book start off in the POV of Amana, the actual protagonist, especially since the entire rest of the book is in his voice. Having an introduction of the festival in the girls’ POV and then repeating everything about the festival and the murder in Amana’s POV seemed a little redundant, but overall it was a bood start to the book.We get snippets of Amana’s past through dream flashbacks…not bad, but a bit of a trope. Nightmares stemming from a past event aren’t usually so blatant. I’d love to see more of a horrific mess here—more of a sloppy, mutated, realistic dream. Inspired by the feelings he felt during the trauma, but not a play-by-play photocopy of said trauma. He did leave much up to interpretation with the first of the dream flashbacks, which was good for later plot points.One of the author’s strengths is the incorporation and explanation of the mysticism and spiritual mysteries. The plot revolves around the intricacies and moral conflicts of religion—it does this without resorting to nauseating overdependence on western religion [Evangelical Christianity and/or Catholicism]. Even in the sluggish parts, this was what made the book worth picking up.Having just read Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland, my innards churned at the first mention of religion. I’m so used to books introducing their Christian allegory religion, and then taking a nosedive from a decent story to a religious propaganda onslaught, which is then jammed down the reader’s throat like foie gras. Bandele, bless him, introduced the religions, explained how they differed between the tribes, stirred up spiritual dilemmas in the protag’s conscience, and then continued with the story. He didn't pull a C.S. Lewis wannabe and hide little snippets of plastic, Americanized Christian sayings into the text, in hopes that the reader will feel a euphoria of religious delight from the story, and will promptly run to a church to be baptized. Bandele merely explained it and let the reader feel whatever they wanted to feel. Which was perfect. That is exactly how you write a religious-conflict-based novel. Without making the reader want to projectile vomit everything they’ve ever eaten, and then throw the book into said pile of vomit. I actually enjoyed learning about the religions of the tribes in this book. Well done, Bandele.Around page 50, the pacing slowed; in my opinion, it slowed a little too much, given that it’s the first third, where the buildup of tension and mystery should flourish. In my opinion, it was weighed down by needless chatter and simplistic exposition. Perhaps the excess of dialogue is a cultural difference in storytelling, so I won’t judge too harshly. Even with this in mind, however, descriptions and dialogue tags should’ve been added. The story feels a bit hollow, as do the characters. By this point, the focus on all the characters has become 90% dialogue, 9% action, and 1% arc/internal motivations/personality. I would love to reread this book if the characters were developed more—“less talking, more monk stuff,” as it were.Wean off the excessive dialogue, especially alllllllllllllllllllll the unnecessary small talk and obvious bits. Use that space in the book to make the characters come alive. Make them vibrant. Believable. Unique. So able to leap off the page that you imagine sitting down and getting to know them. They’re good characters who have so much potential.I just need more.The last two thirds of the book were ridden in the same errors: Telling rather than showing. Simplistic, unimaginative language. Too much time spent on useless dialogue and repetition. Magical elements being introduced one after the other, without impacting the plot in any important way. Over time even those feel deflated and humdrum.There is a love interest which is initially lifelike, but devolves into an insipid, forced, sophomoric yawnfest, resulting in the girl, Nya, losing all her wits, bravery, intelligence, strength, and originality. Tension falls flat as Amana and Nya should’ve been attacked, after being chased for several chapters. But when they’re cornered, the kishi just vanish, leaving them ample time to make contrived chitchat.Thankfully, that lull only consumes a couple chapters. The pacing does quicken again. There are a few good plot twists as well near the end. During the climax, however, it’s hard to tell what’s happening due to the amount of dialogue, coupled with zero scene or character descriptions.What I loved:Originality of setting, characters, magical systems, and overall worldbuildingExcellent grammar, syntax, structureThe pacing and tension (aside from a couple lulls, the majority of the book was set up very well)The main character doesn't get the girl in the endHeld my attention the whole way through and was thus a very fast readSubverted expectations with several skillful plot twistsAll in all, it’s a great read and I would highly recommend it. Especially considering this is a debut for the author. It has a certain spark of originality that drew me in. I never disliked it or wanted to quit reading--I was a little disappointed to see a couple elements not be as fleshed out as they could be, but that could be more of a personal taste in books as well. I’m curious to see if his writing evolves over time. They’re great characters and great plot ideas. I’d love to see the story cleared of clutter, so it can truly shine.

I've literally just finished reading this book "Tales From Esowon The Kishi", and I enjoyed it immensely! It had me on the edge of my seat as I flipped through each chapter. Everything in this book this is so very vivid, it was as though I was seeing each scene and all the characters right in front of me! I've been looking for a book like this my whole life, and as a young African American woman, it feels so good to be reading a folktale story that is based in Africa! This story is truly filled with suspense, adventure, and all of the above and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it!

Haunted by his past, Amana arrives in Bajok hoping to meet a tribal elder, the only man who can help him to achieve redemption. Amana’s arrival coincides with the brutal slaying of a young girl. A newcomer, Amana is accused of the murder. To prove his innocence, Amana must find the murderer, a kishi—a spirit the villagers had thought they’d banished.Set in an alternate African world, the kishi—human-hyena shapeshifters—are based on Angolan folklore. The shifters (especially the way they shape-shift!), the African setting, the tribal customs and religions all make for a unique and immersive read. My guessing who one of the antagonists was early on in the story didn’t detract from my enjoyment. While there’s a developing romance between Amana and a fierce female warrior, it doesn’t slow the storytelling, and it provides the perfect vehicle for revealing some of Amana’s less than perfect past and the guilt he’s desperate to be absolved of. Watch out for a neat twist at the end of the story.I enjoyed The Kishi, and I look forward to reaching the second book in the Tales from Esowan series.

where to start...characters: breath-stoppingly written...story: engulfing!setting: perfectly world-built... i know nothing of angolan folklore but j never felt lost or confused or taken out of the story!emotional state: i'm a depressive and fantasy written by men has destroyed me with emotional manipulation in the past... there are character deaths, there is heartache, but it did not overwhelm or hurt me... it was part of the bslance of excitement and such...organic, not there just to make the reader cry...but yeah, i am off to buy/preorder more!

"The Kishi" it's a special book! Reading it will remain an experience that I have decided to carry in my heart due to its effect of reunification between my roots and me. The whole story is brilliantly written and so wonderfully captivating that you will go through a very hard time to put the book (in my case the kindle) down.Within its beautiful fictional settings, lays a factual African Spirituality explanation so accurate and rooted in the original Bantu beliefs of Southern Africa that I regained the connection to the various lessons my ancestors and elders would consistently try to pass on to us through folklore stories. I am very proud to be able to say that the stories of the two faced Kishi men who would lure women through their beauty while hiding a dark fatal side were a part of my childhood as well as all the moral lessons those stories carried and this book reflected all of it so well.The author took me back to my grandpa's feet where I used to experience the bizarre and alien story telling of the land where we belonged but had to be away from and at an young age while hearing about the kishis part of me was very glad to be far away. On another hand as a now grown african woman Bajok allowed me to envisioned my own precolonial Angola with all its great empires, magic, power, beliefs and meaningful rituals.I am extremely grateful for coming across this book and for having the chance to be absorbed in Amana's thrill of events from beginning to end. The striking illustrative narrative sticks with you and stays in your head. The characters amazingly built personalities, their beautiful names and every single situation and scenario created, teaches you or connects you to significant values and worthwhile principles of African spirituality that are worth to rehabilitate. It has been a privilege to go back in time, to be reminded and to restore values of my beliefs through such beautiful, catching and enlightening adventure. I cannot wait for the next Tale of Esowon!!

So I follow the author on YouTube and hearing his book was out i was interested to see how he writes.The story is good well pace with interesting colourful cha that you like, love and hate for the right reasons. The setting is well thought out and the thing I love the most is how magic is explained in the world. Not gonna lie a few things might go over your head but role with it or look back at the glossary in the back book to help.I can see the influences of the Authors liking of Avatar: TLA, Star Wars other things he has mentioned but he does well to make it his own.Looking forward to his next story ☺

This tale is full of the mystic, brings and sayings. Also had some creatures that make nightmares and a hero, a somewhat reluctant hero. The author tells a good tale for a first novel it is a great read and gets four stars from me