R&R Reads | Birth of a Dynasty: An Epic Fantasy Novel o...

Birth of a Dynasty: An Epic Fantasy Novel of Vengeance, Power, and Prophecy in a Land of Giants and Dark Magic Based on West African Legends―Perfect for Summer Reading

Chinaza Bado

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Combining the political intrigue of She Who Became the Sun with the gorgeous world-building of Children of Blood and Bone, Birth of a Dynasty is the start of a thrilling epic fantasy trilogy centered around three families’ fight for power in Ahkebulin, a land where magic is feared, giants are real, and prophecy holds sway.

We shall not forgive. We shall not forget. We will have our vengeance.

After witnessing the massacre of everyone he’s ever known and loved, M’Kuru Mukundi, the sole surviving member of the High Noble House Mukundi of Madada, vows revenge. M’kuru flees to a small village where he hides under the guise of farm boy Khalil Rausi… unaware that the real Khalil’s father is the bloodthirsty General of Zenzele army, and under the direction of the King’s scheming son, Prince Effiom, was responsible for the murder of M’kuru’s people.

When an imposter claiming to be M’kuru shows up in the village, the real M’kuru—now Khalil—must bide his time amongst his enemies, pretending to be everything that he hates in order to get vengeance.

In another part of the country where giants roam free, young Zikora Nnamani, the only daughter of Lord Nnamani, knows nothing of political intrigue—she wants little more than to be a fierce Seh Llinga warrior. But a well-known prophecy places too much potential power on her small shoulders, and—as far as Prince Effiom and the King know—she is the only living threat to their dynasty ruling forever.

However, when a messenger arrives to “invite” Zikora to stay at the palace, her family is not in a position to refuse. Before she is taken away, she begins The Rite of Blessing, a magical inheritance that she will need to learn how to use, but that may also bring the world one step closer to the completion of the prophecy that Prince Effiom so fears.

Between scheming ladies at court, backstabbing princes on the prowl, and paranoid kings, M’kuru and Zikora must do what they can, no matter how terrible, to save their people and claim vengeance for their families. But they are just two young people against an entire kingdom—and a prophecy destined to thwart their dreams—and the last thing they can do is trust anyone… even each other.

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Posts about this title from R&R Reads

R&R Reads\ \ Ebony\ \ • Jul 2 2025

96 BOOK RELEASES 💫

✨🍃UPDATE! 2025 Releases for the Back Half of 2025

There are definitely books I forgot and to them I say I’m so sorry Pookie😖

We Are Already Halfway Through 2025… anyway if you find any fault in this post get mad at Goodreads and Amazon not me …🥰

#books #bookreleases #romancebooks #fantasybooks #bookstagram

92 books

R&R Reads\ \ Ebony\ \ • Jul 1 2025

HAPPY JULY EVERY ONE!!

Book Releases and New Youtube Videos

24 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Bri's Book Nook\ \ Bri Le Fae\ \ • Jun 10

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[🍄Happy Humpday my froomies and friends 🍄\ \ It is Wednesday and we are halfway through the week! I hope things are going well for you lovelies!!! \ \ I open up a recent package and SCREAMED the moment I received it. After falling in love with Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado, I am so excited to be gifted the sequel, The Call of Crowns! \ \ Ahhhhhh! \ \

Wellness Wednesday

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Rachel Skye Reads\ \ Rachel\ \ • Aug 31 2025

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August 2025 reading wrap up

August 2025 reading wrap up: 7 books: 3 romantasy, 1 contemporary romance, 1 high fantasy, 1 dark academia, and 1 litfic 📖 #augustreadingwrapup #readingwrapup #bookrecommendations #booktok

7 books

Rachel Skye Reads\ \ Rachel\ \ • Aug 19 2025

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Voting is open in discord for Septembers book club pick! I’m attaching them below for you to check out. Remember, if you’re having trouble getting in to the bindery discord channel, leave a comment here or shoot me a DM in discord.

September Book Club Voting!

6 books

Bri's Book Nook\ \ Bri Le Fae\ \ • Aug 8 2025

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[There is something about an enthralling African epic fantasy that bring me great joy. On the levels of South of Midnight and Sinners with African magic and folklore woven in with the world building of The Priory of the Orange Tree and Game of Thrones, Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado is the first book within a magical trilogy that will not disappoint. \ \ Summary\ \

After witnessing the massacre of everyone he’s ever known and loved, M’Kuru Mukundi, the sole surviving member of the High Noble House Mukundi of Madada, vows revenge. M’kuru flees to a small village where he hides under the guise of farm boy Khalil Rausi… unaware that the real Khalil’s father is the bloodthirsty General of Zenzele army, and under the direction of the King’s scheming son, Prince Effiom, was responsible for the murder of M’kuru’s people. When an imposter claiming to be M’kuru shows up in the village, the real M’kuru—now Khalil—must bide his time amongst his enemies, pretending to be everything that he hates in order to get vengeance.\ \ In another part of the country where giants roam free, young Zikora Nnamani, the only daughter of Lord Nnamani, knows nothing of political intrigue—she wants little more than to be a fierce Seh Llinga warrior. But a well-known prophecy places too much potential power on her small shoulders, and—as far as Prince Effiom and the King know—she is the only living threat to their dynasty ruling forever. However, when a messenger arrives to “invite” Zikora to stay at the palace, her family is not in a position to refuse. Before she is taken away, she begins The Rite of Blessing, a magical inheritance that she will need to learn how to use, but that may also bring the world one step closer to the completion of the prophecy that Prince Effiom so fears.\ \ Between scheming ladies at court, backstabbing princes on the prowl, and paranoid kings, M’kuru and Zikora must do what they can, no matter how terrible, to save their people and claim vengeance for their families. But they are just two young people against an entire kingdom—and a prophecy destined to thwart their dreams—and the last thing they can do is trust anyone…even each other\ \ Vengeance And Magic\ \ We shall not forgive. We shall not forget. We will have our vengeance.\ \ The connection between M'kuru and Zikora is written before the two even meet. They are bonded by vengeance, the death of their siblings within the first chapter of the book, and by prophecy. In the prologue, we are introduced to a world that has fractured by the destruction of magic and unified by beneath the Zenzele dynasty. Each family swearing fealty and hoping to continue this "world of peace", until one is betrayed, the Mukundi family. \ \ We see within the first part of the narrative, M'kuru's journey to vengeance is a slow and calculated one, 3 years after his family's slaughter and him assuming the identity of Khalil. His desire to be bold and brash tests him constantly, but it is his sister's words that repeat in his head that stop him from making rash decisions.\ \ Not yet, Six, but soon. Soon you'll fight too, but for now you need to hide.\ \ M'kuru learns that vengeance is not one thing, done through brutality, but something that can be done through small actions, being in the right place at the right time, and remembering that hiding is sometimes the best way forward. \ \ For Zikora, she also wants to be seen as strong as well. She wants to be the best, defeating her brothers in archery and combat, hoping to train with the Seh Llinga Amazons. She is noticeably better with a bow than with a needle, or any of the things that young ladies are usually associated with. Her way of the world is now crushed at the learning of the death of her brother. She learns that proclamations in the public do not align with secret loyalties, and it is with her journey to the palace, she learns that not all plots are boisterous and she is not helpless despite the boundaries of her gender. Some are quiet and calculating and their is power in seeming helpless. \ \ Identity and Family\ \ ...That is who you are and that is who you will always be. They can never take that from you because it is in your blood!\ \ As within the diaspora of blackness, remembering who you are as well as your family line is of great importance, because it ties back to slavery. Names and the family ties are rooted as a cultural anchor and a name is never just a name. It is history, it is the narrative of a culture, it all is interwoven within the DNA of the black experience. Blackness is synonymous with resilience and power, and it is done through community and bonds. \ \ This hammering of "who are you" into M'kuru is prevalent from the beginning. From the first chapter, and it is a question that he is constantly asked from various people. Some to as a reminder, and others a test. It is a shame that he must be tested, as the fates of prophecy and the impending downfall for the oppressors play into his fate, but he adopts this personal to stay alive and in turn keep his family alive. \ \ On another note, speaking of family, there is a prophecy that surrounds his and Zikora's family, that they will raise a new dynasty upon coming together, and a war will swallow the world. While the prophecy is not at the forefront of their minds, it also sets the stage for these two characters to come together beyond the shared death and rise up to stake claim to what has been foretold. \ \ Final Thoughts\ \ From the moment I turned on this audiobook, I knew I was in for something epic. I usually shy away from epic fantasies, often settling into the more niche categories because the world building can get so vast to the point of losing myself into the story.\ \ It did not happen here.\ \ From the beginning, we are thrown into the fray of political war, rivaling Game of Thrones levels of deception. Bado does not shy away from the cruelties of war and the wrath of its oppressors, allowing us brief moments where we are inside of their heads. The one thing I loved was the way each individual storyline converged, bringing the narrative together and presenting a beautiful stepping stone into an epic fantasy series.\ \ I adore the weaving of African folklore and that we were able to grow with each of the characters and seeing how the world shapes them to be wise as well as strong in the wake of what is to come.](https://brilefae.binderybooks.com/item/RGhTUYqmqulYepKvcB6T/)

Fantasy Friday: Birth of a Dynasty

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The Inkborne Society\ \ Azhangia\ \ • Jul 30 2025

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I can’t believe another month has come and gone - time is really flying! Here are my thoughts on the 9 books I read in July:\ \ My Top 3 of the Month \ \ ⭐ 4.50 - Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir)\ \ Project Hail Mary was the perfect blend of humor, warmth, and science about a man who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of why or how he got there. I was tearing up during the final chapters and really did not expect this book to make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside. This story of hope, humanity, and unlikely friendship was an absolute delight, and the dialogue truly brings it to life. I highly recommend the audiobook - it's a fantastic experience, complete with different voices and sound effects!\ \ ⭐ 4.50 - Paladin’s Grace (T. Kingfisher)\ \ I have been looking for a good medieval romantasy, and Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher was everything I wanted it to be. It follows a broken paladin and a fugitive perfumer who find hope, love, and comfort in each other, and UGH my heart was so happy by the end of the story. Was it somewhat predictable? Yes, but I still enjoyed every minute of this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series!\ \ ⭐ 4.00 - To Clutch A Razor (Veronica Roth)\ \ When Among Crows was one of my surprise hits of last year, and I was so excited when I heard that Veronica Roth had written a sequel. I’ve always been drawn to stories about redemption, and Roth’s ability to explore that theme while blending rich Slavic folklore with modern urban fantasy in both When Among Crows and To Clutch A Razor was so fascinating to me. I didn’t love this sequel quite as much as the first book, but I thought it was a well-paced and immersive novella overall.\ \ \ \ ⭐ 4.00 - The Maid and the Crocodile (Jordan Ifueko)\ \ The Maid and the Crocodile is an African-inspired romantic standalone fantasy about a girl who accidentally binds herself to a powerful god known only as the Crocodile. I thought this was a very solid standalone fantasy overall with great disability rep, and loved the blend of African lore with the fairytale-like quality of the story (closest fairytale comp I can think of is Beauty and the Beast!). \ \ ⭐ 3.75 - The Last Tiger (Julia Riew and Brad Riew)\ \ The Last Tiger was an enjoyable read, and I especially appreciated how it drew inspiration from the authors’ grandparents’ stories during one of the darkest chapters in Korean history. Given that the writing style felt more middle grade than traditional YA, I’d recommend it to younger readers who are just getting into fantasy or anyone looking for a quick and accessible read. That said, it may not meet the expectations of more seasoned fantasy readers seeking a complex, upper YA Asian fantasy.\ \ ⭐3.75 - The White Book (Han Kang)\ \ Human Acts by Han Kang has been one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far, so I was eager to explore more of her work. The White Book offers a meditative reflection on grief through the prism of the color white, but it didn’t quite land with the emotional weight I was hoping for. Still, I’m glad I picked it up because Han Kang’s writing was beautiful as always.\ \ ⭐ 3.50 - Birth of a Dynasty (Chinaza Bado)\ \ Birth of a Dynasty had a spectacular start - the first chapter gripped me immediately, and I was so eager to see how all the political machinations would play out. However, the story soon started to drag, and I found myself struggling to stay invested in the plot. For a debut, it had some good things going for it (writing that flowed, interesting premise, etc.), but overall, this one wasn't quite the political fantasy I hoped it would be. \ \ ⭐3.50 - Embrace the Serpent (Sunya Mara)\ \ Sunya Mara makes some of the coolest videos out there (her editing skills are top tier and her book promo videos seriously feel like magic), so I went into this one really hoping to love it, but unfortunately the story didn’t leave a lasting impression. That said, I think fans of YA fantasy might still find a lot to enjoy here. If a synopsis involving a young jeweler’s apprentice caught in a perilous bargain with the mysterious Serpent King in a marriage of convenience piques your interest, I’d still suggest checking it out!\ \ ⭐3.00 - Tokyo Ueno Station (Yu Miri)\ \ The synopsis of Tokyo Ueno Station reminded me of the final scene of Miyazaki’s Grave of the Fireflies (one of the most heartbreaking and unforgettable films EVER) so I was eager to dive in. Unfortunately, the story wandered a bit too much for my taste, and I struggled to feel emotionally connected to the characters.\ \ I know I haven’t been very active on this Bindery page lately (been taking some time to sort through a few things in my personal life) but I’m hoping to post more regularly soon. I’m also planning to launch a Bindery book club focused on fantasy, dark academia and sci-fi by Asian authors, with the goal of getting it up and running by Q4 at the latest. Stay tuned, and hope you are all enjoying your summers! :) \ \ Join for free or login