The second volume in a fantasy series inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology, this book picks up as Cameron Battle, his friend Aliyah, and his crush Zion are starting middle school, where a bully threatens to make Cameron’s life miserable. Cameron, however, is more concerned about getting back to the fabled land of Chidani to rescue his parents who are trapped there. He worries, though, that although he is the last Descendant of Chidani’s founders, he’s still missing part of his true power.
Without sharing too many spoilers, I’ll say only that the three friends end up back in Chidani, where they face a variety of obstacles (of which the titular Escape Trials are only part) and are caught up in the machinations of the gods. Cameron, despite being the “chosen one,” also discovers the shape and limits of his power, and finds that he cannot succeed without the help of his friends.
Some of the magical solutions feel a little too easy, and a few passages have awkward exposition, as when Cameron says to Zion, “Do you want our personal servants, Dabir, Amir, and Moro, to hear us?” These characters were introduced in the first book, so Zion knows them; there is no need to use their job title here. (It could have been put in a separate, non-dialogue sentence to remind readers of who they are.)
Nevertheless, there is plenty of action and energy in this sequel that readers should love, and important representation with an all-Black cast and two queer boys, Cameron and Zion, whose relationship deepens over the course of the book. Themes of friendship, Black history, coming into one’s power, grieving and letting go, and the importance of family, whether born or chosen, make this more than simply another adventure tale.
Fans of the first volume are likely to enjoy this one; those unfamiliar with it are advised to read it first, as it provides important backstory and motivations for many of the people and beings encountered here.
