Where the Black Flowers Bloom

November 15, 2022
Twelve-year-old orphan Asha is excited to know what her Telling Day will reveal. On the eve of their 13th birthday, each child born on the continent of Alkebulan is divinely marked with a symbol foretelling their life's path. When Asha's mark proves too mysterious even for her guardian, Suna, to interpret, she worries she'll never find her place in the world. Asha doesn't have long to ponder her worries, however, because soon after her Telling Day, her troupe of traveling entertainers is attacked by creatures under the command of sorcerer Shrike, a feathered foe ruling from his tower of black rock in the Burned Lands. Suna's dying advice to seek the Underground Kingdom where black flowers grow haunts Asha as she flees. Asha's journey through this enchanted land with faeries, crows that turn into warriors, and graceful talking gazelles is expertly plotted, unfolding organically as she picks up friends and allies along the way. Through these connections, Asha's own character begins to develop and blossom. One puzzle piece after another is masterfully presented in this well-paced adventure, clicking into place to ensure that readers have plenty of twists and turns to keep them intrigued until the very end. Even as Asha is wonderfully written, it's the shining cast of characters around her who give her space to grow and who keep the action moving. Asha and her community read Black; there is racial diversity in other parts of Alkebulan. A captivating quest for family, magic, and belonging. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 5, 2022
On the eve of Asha’s 13th birthday and Telling Day ceremony, which will reveal her life’s path, she wonders what mark the goddess Royal Lioness will reveal on her skin. Perhaps a wisdom knot like that adorning the neck of her caretaker, Suna? Or a war horn like Obo, leader of the traveling circus troupe that raised the young foundling? But the mark she receives—a baobab tree—isn’t known or understood as anything but an old and sacred symbol. Soon after Asha sees a bird-like shape in tea leaves, disaster strikes: a powerful sorcerer known as the Shrike sends Tokoloshe, birds that turn into shadowy men with beaks, to decimate the troupe and kill Suna, forcing Asha to flee in the night. Suna’s last words tell Asha to find the Underground Kingdom “where the black flowers bloom,” sending her on a quest alongside Obo, shape-shifting faerie changeling Sprix, and Suna’s warrior sister Rima. Traveling throughout the fantastical land of Alkebulan, the band seeks to help Asha discover the secrets of her heritage, an arcane power, and the truth of her destiny to stop a terrible evil. Inspired by African mythology and folklore, this lushly wrought hero’s journey by Smith (Gloom Town) touches deftly on themes of family, fate, forgiveness, and justice. Protagonists read as Black. Ages 8–12.

January 13, 2023

Gr 4-6-It is Telling Day, a ritual on Asha's 13th birthday in which a mark from the gods will appear on her body as a sign of her "true path in life." A baobab tree appears on Asha's back, baffling Madame S, the wise woman who cares for her, and more strange omens follow. When a shadowy flock of bird-men with an allegiance to the mysterious Shrike attack the camp looking for Asha, she sets off to find an underground kingdom where she hopes to uncover her destiny. Smith's latest tome fills a much-needed gap in middle grade fantasy novels, where invented kingdoms are often European-inspired. His elaborate worldbuilding will draw escapist readers in, and creatures inspired by African mythology add freshness and excitement to the story. A drawback is that the characters at times feel one-dimensional, and the novel rides the theme of destiny almost to a fault, as it feels like the characters never really have much choice in their path. Be warned that there are occasional scenes of fighting and war, and several characters die, but the descriptions are vague and graphic details are avoided. VERDICT Hand this to young readers seeking adventurous new fantasy, and who aren't quite ready for "Lord of the Rings."-Lindsay Loup

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 6, 2023
Grades 4-7 Orphaned, 12-year-old Asha has been raised by Madame S, roaming Alkebulan as part of the traveling carnival Madame owns. But when Madame tragically dies after mysterious creatures attack her, Asha discovers there's more to life than she ever imagined. What follows is Asha's spellbinding, energetic quest to fulfill Madame's final wish for the girl to find the Underground Kingdom. Asha's only clue is to look for where the "black flowers bloom," an image that becomes symbolic of Asha's journey as a Black girl coming into her own. Smith crafts an Afrocentric fantasy that sees his protagonist--initially disconnected from her roots and full of self-doubt--rise to the challenges life throws her way. Once in the Underground Kingdom, Asha battles its evil creatures and comes to realize that she's exactly where she's supposed to be. Fans of mythology-inspired adventures, such as Rena Barron's Maya and the Rising Dark (2020) and Jamar J. Perry's Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms (2022), will relish Asha's exploits as she blossoms into a protector in a harsh world.

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