The story doesn’t quite end with a happily-ever-after. She’s willing to learn from her mistakes, give people a second chance and lean on their strengths. Amari may be a strong magician, but it isn’t just her powers that make her a great character.

While she initially keeps things from her friends, she lets them in on what’s happening in her life fairly early on. RELATED: Book Review: Spider-Man’s Social Dilemmaīoth younger and older readers will appreciate that Amari doesn’t do everything on her own. It takes a lot of talent to create such a despicable character and Alston’s work there impressed me. Every time Harlowe, the department’s director, appeared on the page my frustration at the realism grew exponentially. I especially appreciated the addition of The Department of Half-Truths and Full Cover-Ups, which felt incredibly and uncomfortably real in this magical setting. The Bureau itself was fully realized and I wish I could see it for real. I loved returning to Alston’s incredibly-built world. He deftly balances playful magic, high-stakes adventure and real-world issues like discrimination and misinformation. Alston doesn’t disappoint us with the sequel. The first book was a magical story emphasizing friendship, perseverance and self-confidence combined with literal Black Girl Magic and B.B. The challenge is mysterious and deadly, but the winner will determine the future of magician-kind – and the world.Īmari and the Great Game is a fantastic follow-up to 2020’s Amari and the Night Brothers. Amari knows she can’t let him win, and so the Great Game begins. When she refuses the crown, another magician with dangerous plans steps up. When the supernatural world once again blames magicians for their problems, the secretive League of Magicians reaches out to Amari to become their leader and clear their names. But the new Head Minister is dangerously anti-magician, her brother’s curse is worsening and a magical attack leaves the government literally frozen. Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a copy of Amari and the Great Game for an honest review!Īfter saving the entire supernatural world and becoming a junior agent, Amari Peters thought her second summer at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs would be easy.

Amari and the great game book