First off, thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for this early copy. I was happy I was able to have receive the book and audiobook for this. have to say this before I go into my review. I want to see this narrator get every attention she deserves. I absolutely love, love her voice!! She made the story come alive. Hands down one of the best narrator voices I have come across in a very long time.

Onwards to the review!

War is never easy, and for both the M’Kundi’s and The Nnamani’s, revenge is what drives them.

The story focuses on two children and how war is shaping M’Kuru and Zikora’s future. M’Kuru’s family was completely slaughtered, and now vengeance is what drives him to do what he has to do in order to save his family name. Meanwhile, Zikora is following her father’s wishes and really playing the political game, even at such a young age. I cannot give away too much but will say, fate and prophecy is key.

I think this is truly a start of a fantasy epic series. I can see how the comparisons to Game of a Thrones with the politics and violence that was portrayed. However, this story shouldn’t be read as a surface book. There are so many layers to this story.

The author really brings her inspirations from all the stories she has heard over the years from her parents who are from Nigeria, and she being of Nigerian descent.

As someone who didn’t grow up learning much about African cultures, I’m always in awe of how vibrant and deeply rooted the culture is when I encounter new stories in books like this.

I know I’ll never fully understand the depth of these traditions, but I’m grateful for how this story gave me a glimpse into a world built with so much history, resilience, and heart. I cannot wait for book 2!

irth of a Dynasty by Novel by Chinaza Bado (book cover is in image) is the first installment of a trilogy based on West African legends. Following the parallel journeys of Zikora Nnamani and Khalil Rausi, in this epic fantasy, take on an entire kingdom and the pull of prophecies in order to avenge the wrongs done to their families and fulfill their dreams.

I had the opportunity to listen to the ALC and read the eARC, and was able to easily switch between the two. The narration by Adenrele Ojo brings this epic adventure to life and was so engaging I finished the book audio in 2 days. Fans of Marlon James will love this book.

Thank you @harpervoyagerus, @avonbooks, @harperaudio and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date: Jul 29 2025
Rating: 5 Stars

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This book is well written! Captivating! An excellent way to do a debut novel. The world building is extraordinary and vividly depicted. I enjoyed the easy transition between the two points of view. The narrator did an incredible job in making the story come to life! Her depiction of the events was executed beautifully! The pacing is great not too long after the events but not right away either. Giving the story a chance to envelop the reader with some perspective on what happened leading to the events.I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy! The story line is well written, the plot is interesting and keeps you wanting more without pause. I will be reading this book again!

I need book 2 yesterday!

This is such a fun new twist to epic fantasy. I love that it is African-inspired and really drew me in so quickly. I was lucky to get an e-ARC and e-ALC at the same time. (Thank you Harper Collins & Net Galley).

This book is based on a prophecy that once the Nukundi and Nnamani families come together, it would be the end of their enemies, essentially and would bring their kingdoms much power.
This book touches upon political turmoil and rebellion, has multiple POVs, atrocities of war, etc.

M'Kuru, after surviving his family's massacre adopts the false identity of Khalil the bastard son of a general. While Zikora is summoned to live in the palace as a court lady at a very young age, but before she goes her father makes her undertake the Rite of Blessing, a magical inheritance rite that continues to protect her throughout her time at the palace (super amazing plot twist around this time!)

I love how the author made these characters super young and allows us to see them growing up and learning about the world around them and how to survive. I especially love Zikora and Khalil's grandfather. They are such great and well thought out characters and super funny.

I really recommend this book!

Wow! Im calling it now this book is going to be loved by many. The pages turn themselves. The political intrigue was next level. The story broke my heart at least 5 times but I could not put it down, reading well into the morning. The prophecy, the world building the vengeance?! This book hasn't even released yet and I have no clue how I am going to be able to wait for book 2. I will be screaming from the rooftops about this one. Absolutely 5 stars.

M'kuru and Zikora?! I can't wait to see their story unfold in book 2. I feel like a proud and anxious auntie waiting to see what they will do next. The world building and set up was perfect in my opinion. It definitely kept me intrigued, wasn't hard to follow. I felt like I had a firm grasp on the world. Im invested.

Rated 4.5 Stars

Birth of a Dynasty was such an amazing. It was so so good. I highly recommend it. I loved the world. I loved the culture and how it was infused into every aspect of it. Even though I found some aspects of it harsh I can't deny how compelling a read it was. The story was fire. It was filled with political machinations and intrigue, suspense and action at its finest. The characters were well drawn and complex. I loved the complexity of characters and the fact that the magic if I can call it that was spiritual in nature. This book was a true joy to read. It was interesting, intriguing and all around awesome. I loved it and cannot wait to read the rest of this trilogy. The narrator, Adenrele Ojo did a fantastic job bringing all the characters and dramatic elements of the story to life. I absolutely loved listening to her. Her accent and pronunciations were on point. I loved the way she did the characters. She had such a pleasant voice which made it so easy to listen to and follow along on this journey. I cannot wait to listen to her narrate the rest of the series.

The opening scene felt like experiencing the red wedding all over again. But hey at least most the characters all die before you get attached to them. (Unlike George RR Martin) Overall it was an entertaining fantasy world. There was a a lot of world building, stage setting and the political posturing/intrigue was deadly. I’m interested to see what comes next. The narrator did an amazing job bringing it to life.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon, Harper Voyager/Harper Audio for early copy for review*

This was a good start to a series. The beginning was very action packed and immediately I wanted revenge for M'kuru. I enjoyed the pacing as well and felt that the world building was well done. This is very much low fantasy so there isn't a magic system that you have to wrap your head around which really worked for this story. Really nicely done on explaining the clans as well. Based on the cover I did think the clans would be confusing.

I also had access to the audiobook as well and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I would love a full cast version because of the political elements in it, but I think the narrator was good at distinguishing voices.

After a prophecy tells of the fall of the Zenzele dynasty (400+ year reign) when two of the high Nobel houses come together, the second born prince sees an opportunity to seize power by wiping put one of the prophecized families. But the only legitimate son of the house of Mukundi survives the massacre and lies low — biding his time until he can extract his vengeance.

This is the first installment of what will clearly be an epic series. This book has beautiful world building, palace intrigue, and political power plays. It’s paced like an epics series (read: slow.) It’s laying of ground work and building backstory, but it’s done in a way that engages readers in the drama, if not the action.

I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

Reading this ARC felt like eating a healthy dinner and is definitely for our high fantasy crowd who value world building and deep character in community relations.

I must be out of practice because reading about this world felt like a wander through the dense dark wood. I had no clue the path we were on, but I enjoyed most of the journey. I have no doubt fellow readers will enjoy this for what it is, the kind of politic heavy fantasy you get lost inside.

There was almost too much and too little happening all at once in Birth of a Dynasty. Opening the story on a major conflict, I felt thrown into the chaos with no grasp on what was happening. The story and world building started to unravel as the novel went on but the pacing and unending dialogue had me in a tailspin.

I think listening to this on audio helped because if I'd been reading this in another format I would probably have DNFed, but the audio kept me invested enough to finish the story.

This is an epic fantasy with courtly drama, warring families, and political intrigue - no wonder it's marketed as being similar to Game of Thrones - but epic fantasy seems like an incredibly difficult genre to tackle and I felt like it wasn't investing enough for me to continue reading the series. For an entry into epic fantasy, I believe the author put a lot of effort into the story and it will most likely get better as the series progresses but I'm going to step away from reading further.

Wow. Wow, wow, just wow. This was a great start to a fantasy series and now I’m a little upset to have found this book so early on! Chinaza Bado’s writes incredible political world building.

It was great to read from the POV of so many different characters, to understand their motives and the moments that fuel them. I felt such a deep connection to many characters and I am now anxious to see how their plans and/or revenge plots carry them through the rest of the series. Seeing someone do something from someone else’s POV and then 2 chapters later understand why from that character was extremely satisfying.

The action in this book starts on page one. I immediately felt like I was grabbed by the hand and yanked into this world and I couldn’t (not that would’ve) stop running until this book was over.

Also I’m very excited to see how the prophecies woven into this story play out in the next books.

I listen to the audiobook and Adenrele Ojo had me hooked. They are extremely skilled at voicing different characters. There is a part where a character closes his eyes and remembers what different family members have told him, and Ojo does such an incredible job voicing each character that you know who wa speaking even without their names being mentioned again just based on the voice acting.


I am very appreciative to have received an ALC of this book from HarperAudio Adult, NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen! I really admire the theatrical approach the narrator took with this book however I believe it is best enjoyed as a second reading. I generally listen to audiobooks while doing tasks and I could not finish this book because I genuinely couldn’t decipher or understand what she was saying most of the time.

I felt that this book both accomplished nothing but yet still was compelling enough to finish reading it. The narrator was amazing and she really brought the story to life. The plot was confusing and felt like the book ended in a similar place to where it started.

This starts with a bang and I was immediately engaged. It's brutal and heartbreaking but makes you feel for M'kuru right away. This features a complex plot, courtly intrigue, and multiple POVs. Each POV holds a piece of the puzzle, but their storylines feel separate until the end. I was most interested in M'kuru/Khalil's POV chapters but you get the full story with the POVs being at different angles. The writing is mostly tell (as opposed to show). The synopsis made it sound like Khalil and Zikora would meet sooner, but they don't cross paths until close to the end. The audiobook narrator was AMAZING and really captured the emotions of every character, taking the story to the next level. This was a strong first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait to see where it goes in the next one!

CW: Blood, fire, snakes, animal death, death/murder, graphic violence, decapitation, sexual assault/rape, captivity, needles, child abuse, sexism, parental death, imprisonment, poison, war themes, alcohol, slavery, pregnancy, profanity, grief/loss

Birth of a Dynasty opens the door to an expansive, politically charged fantasy world teeming with intrigue, trauma, and transformation. Chinaza Bado’s debut installment masterfully blends the rich atmospheric tension of She Who Became the Sun with the immersive world-building of Children of Blood and Bone, setting the stage for an unforgettable trilogy.
Narrator Adenrele Ojo breathes life into this character-driven journey, her voice adding texture and emotional weight to every twist and betrayal. The pacing is slow—intentionally so—as it allows time for readers to fully absorb the multi-layered dynamics between three families vying for control in the brutal realm of Ahke. This isn’t a tale rushed for thrills; it’s a slow burn that gathers steam, building toward a sweeping crescendo that left me in awe.
Though deliberate in its rhythm, the story’s magic lies in how it unfurls with precision. Each character’s flaw, each whispered alliance, each emotional fracture contributes to the dynasty’s birth in stunning fashion. By the final chapter, what seemed methodical reveals itself as masterful—a slow dance that ends with fire and revelation.
As book one of the series, Birth of a Dynasty doesn’t just spark interest—it ignites the desire to follow these characters deeper into the storm. I’m eager to continue the adventure and see how justice, vengeance, and destiny evolve in the next installment.

Rate: 3.5

This story gives Game Of Throne vibes. You have some really good world building and imagery too. The characters are very interesting. Everyone has a motive and this book is very heavy on political intrigue.

This story starts off intense with a massacre. You also get to know about the prophecy. There's three families warring for power. You have seers and giants. The main characters I'm excited to see their growth. They both have a lot of potential. The MC has to hide in plain sight while the FMC gives off spoiled royalty I think she's very smart and knows how to play the game. With them being 12 there's a lot of room for character development.

The only things keeping me from giving this a higher review is the amount of pov chapters that really didn't seem all that necessary which to me made the pacing feel off. Still the narration was fantastic and the cover is stunning.

I'll absolutely continue the series as I'm very excited to see where it goes. Thank you Harper voyager and the nerd fam for the gifted audiobook.

My shelves are thick with Black-centered fantasy and romance where revenge, magic, and survival under oppressive systems (Blood Slaves, Red Rising, James, Legendborn, This Poison Heart) are the heartbeat of the story, so Birth of a Dynasty’s lethal court intrigue, prophecy-driven rebellion, and unflinching depiction of enslavement and massacre land squarely in my wheelhouse.

The promised gore and on-page rape echo the darkest moments you’ve rated 5-stars, and the slow burn you’ve repeatedly embraced in Green, Broken Clocks, and Gas Station Drug Money suggests I don't flinch from a deliberate build-up to cataclysm.

Yet this book’s explicitly West-African–inspired setting and giant lore pushed me past the mostly U.S.-centered or Euro-coded worlds I've loved, offering a chance to engage with cultural mythologies and identities I haven’t yet explored.

Phenomenal narration. Every character was given a distinct voice and accent, and although performed by a single narrator, it never felt like it.

“Above all else, choose vengeance.”

Honestly what a great first book for this series. We’re given insight into the characters histories, motives, and goals from the beginning and how they move forward to pursue them. It’s a vast continent of villages, leaders, and royals. Not bogged down with over the top descriptions, but enough to paint a vivid world.

I was expecting more of a fantasy, but as of now there is very little magic aside from a prophesy which is the driving force behind our origin stories.

This is so good. I’m not going to give a summary of the book because lots of other reviews have that and you can check the description. What I will tell you is that this epic fantasy series is going to be so cool! You should definitely read this book if that’s your jam.

I saw someone compare it to Game of Thrones and that’s totally accurate. An Africa-inspired Game of Thrones with some Black Panther vibes thrown in too (which I love so much). You have:
• Political intrigue
• Rebellion
• Prophecies
• Hidden identity
• An interesting magic element

My only complaints:
- I think we could have had a longer time lapse during the book to get the story moving for book 2. But I think how it ended could still make book 2 start strong.
- I understand the reasoning for the multiple POVs, but it was hard to follow. There are a TON of characters and they all have very ethnic names so I got lost sometimes on who was talking and what we were taking about.

The main characters are very interesting and I’m excited to see how they and the story develop going forward. I will definitely be reading book 2.

With regard to the audiobook specifically- it was great. Especially considering there is only one VA. She did a great job differentiating the characters and giving the audio depth.

I do have one lingering question that I don’t know if I’ll ever get the answer to… what the heck happened to the real Khalil?? Did I miss that? 😂

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the ALC. 🖤