This is a fantasy based in Africa and talks about the mythology. Kadsa is on a journey of learning the dangers of dark magic and goes on an adventure to save the land from the darkness. On her journey she discovers what her destiny is. I loved the character development, but I do wish there was more tension and anticipation.

The Civilization is a unique read - it blends together sci-fi & fantasy with a pinch of mystery. There was a lot going on in this book : good vs evil, light vs dark, mortal vs immortal, a villain (and also a witch), talking animals, real world vs magical world. So many things that it seemed a bit clunky. It just didn't flow well to me.

I liked the relationship between Kadsa & Grandpa Edoje. She grew up with him & he told her so much about the magical world she came from. She wasn't appreciative of his stories but found them valuable later on. This shows throughout the story and helps her grow inro a courageous woman she was meant to be!

I feel like some aspects, such as Kadsa having a cell phone, could've been left out since it was mentioned maybe twice. To help with the clunkiness, I could see this being a duology to help with the many tropes that were introduced back to back.

I would've loved to learn more about Kadsa & her mother's relationship, other than the fact she didn't like Grandpa Edoje.

Thank you to NetGalley & Iskanchi Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

I really liked this book. Oh and I need to thank NetGalley for approving me to read this arc from iskanchi press. Kadsa was a great character to read, she was at times fearless but also knew when to be cautious of others, such as when dealing with Bokor. I did have a little trouble at some points feeling motivated to read the book, but that is mainly because magical realism is a little harder for me to connect to. Despite that, I loved how the two worlds connected and the accurate history inclusions about Africa. The King was not my favorite character, I just wish he stuck around in the book a bit longer and stood up to Bokor more. The pacing was pretty good and the plot was easy to understand and engage with. I liked the priestesses and how they interacted with Kadsa. I was getting a bit bored of Kadsa not understanding Maruati but I was pulled back into the book when the knowledge entity made it so she would be fluent in the language. I also really loved the Jakobi since they added a somewhat animal companion, but also not an animal exactly. I can’t wait for this book to be released and get to buy a copy of the physical version.

"The Civilization" is an awesome Africa-based YA fantasy that I can't wait to recommend to everyone. The story follows a girl searching for her magical homeland with her grandpa, only to discover a new realm and a mission to save him and break a curse. With great character development and just a touch of romance, it's a thrilling read despite wishing for more action in the big fight scenes.

4.5 stars rounded up!
The Civilization is a great Africa-based YA Fantasy that I will happily recommend to all my friends, family, and the random person walking by on the sidewalk. I enjoyed that there was a little bit of romance in the book, but that wasn’t what was driving the book or even what the characters were even worried about until everything was said and done. The character development was great and I found myself rooting for our main characters and deeply despising the enemy.

If I were to give any criticism, I would say that I wished we had more tension and action between the opposing forces, especially in the big fight scenes.

This is a story about a young girl, traveling Africa with her grandfather in search of what her grandfather claims is their magical homeland. Tired of the nomadic lifestyle and yearning for a normal life, she runs away in search of who she really is. her search is cut short when her grandpa is kidnapped and she sets off to find him, but finds herself is a different realm, the same world her grandpa told her about. Now, she has to not only find her grandpa, but break the curse on this foreign world.