The Durbar's Apprentice cover art

The Durbar's Apprentice

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The Durbar's Apprentice

By: Remington Blackstaff
Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
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About this listen

Seventeenth-century northern Nigeria. A royal messenger has died under suspicious circumstances. Tasked with investigating the death, a Durbar warrior and his young apprentice must endure trials of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice to solve the mystery and prevent the bitter rivalry between two kingdoms from descending into a bloody war.

©2022 Remington Blackstaff (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing African American Historical Mystery World Literature Fiction Royalty

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All stars
Most relevant
So rare to have an engaging non stereotypical story set in rich African history!
Action adventure novels are not usually my go-to genre, but this one is very well done.
In terms of style, I really enjoyed how it subtly told the story through different lenses, especially the one of young Isa who remind me of Ugwu from Half of the Yellow Sun.
It’s also refreshing how there are strong women, some warriors and this is portrayed as something common and not much fuss is made about it (which is historically accurate for some groups in that time).
This books does neither claim nor attempt to be a history lesson but yet it draws us into a world of forgotten times, one of proud beautiful African kingdoms we need to be reminded of and see much more of!
Can’t wait to read the sequel !!!!

Loved this! Like listening to a Movie

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This started off well, but did not amount to the sum of its parts. Anachronistic in parts (modern day dialogue and attitudes) - there's nothing unusual about female warriors in Hausaland, in fact they date all the way back at least to 15th and 16th centuries with Queen Amina of Zaria and Bhakwa of Turrunku, yet this was a thing of note in this novel. Likewise, the LGBTQ element with 2 females being together, this would not necessarily have been a major issue in those days. The writing style was good. It was the substance of the actual story that was lacking. Still it's great to read a novel set in those times and in that region, so bravo to the author for that.

Interesting premise

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