Review of Zari and the Citadel

[Anthony Ekemezie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Zari and the Citadel" by J.B. Kovacs.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Somewhere in New York, something unusual happened: a pregnant woman delivered a baby and disappeared without any trace, leaving baby Zari to her fate. Fortunately, she was adopted by a kind family. Zari and the Citadel by J.B. Kovacs is a fantasy thriller where readers go on a wild journey with Zari from the real world to the magical world.

Everything changed when Zari started having a series of strange dreams. At that time, her foster parents became ill with no chance of survival. Zari’s quest for knowledge brought her into contact with one of the six archons, Mythra Galanis. Luckily, her best friend, Rafi, a talented artist, was there to help. They were taken to Dunvale, a citadel for children of realm walkers. It was there that she found out about the terrible things her father did and how he started the war. She began to seek answers about her parents. The daring nature of Zari and her desire for extensive knowledge akin to that of her father were observed by the six archons, eliciting fear from the surrounding people. Zari claims she is nothing like him. Will she find out the answers she seeks and prove everyone wrong about her? Or will she eventually turn out to be like her father? Wouldn’t you like to find out?

This book appealed to me for several reasons, one of which was the fact that it was full of mystery and adventure. I also loved the author’s detailed writing style, as it allowed me to visualize the magical scenes vividly, making this book fun to read. The narrative was told in the third person. Despite being fictional, all the characters were realistic. The author was creative with the names of the characters, giving this book a unique touch.

Although this book was interesting and engaging, something diminished my overall enjoyment. Firstly, I felt that the different subjects the children studied at the Citadel were a bit complex for their age. Additionally, they think and behave like adults, causing me to constantly remind myself that these were children. I wonder if this book has a second part because there were so many questions left unanswered, making the story incomplete.

I found no errors while reading this book. It seems exceptionally well-edited. I also enjoyed the amazing adventures this book took me through. I rate Zari and the Citadel by J.B. Kovacs 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star because of the complaint stated in the paragraph above. Young adults who love to read about magic and adventure would take a liking to this book. It can also be read to children, as it contains no profane language.

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Zari and the Citadel
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[Jessica Uchechi Azuka]

Zari was born in special occasions and it's no surprise that she grew up to be a special being. I hope she finds the answers she needs. I'm looking forward to reading this book. Amazing review.

[Conshelle Dwight William]

"Zari and the Citadel" by J.B. Kovacs sounds like a thrilling fantasy adventure! The blend of mystery, magic, and personal discovery must make it a page-turner. I can see why the complexity of the subjects and characters' behavior might seem a bit off, but it's fascinating nonetheless. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[Mokhantso Letsela]

After reading the first 2 lines of this revieI thought, "Ooh, magic," and I was hooked. The book sounds like something I woukd enjoy because I love magic, adventure, and coming of age books. And because the review is so drtailed, I felt like I was reading the acual book or watching a movie adaptation of it. Thank you for a wonderful review.

[Sameeha Ismail]

Thank you for your thoughtful review of "Zari and the Citadel"! I'm glad to hear that the mystery and adventure elements appealed to you. Along with that, your appreciation for the detailed writing style and the vivid visualization of magical scenes makes me think that the book will be worth my time.

[NetMassimo]

I might be old for this novel but I'm curious about Zari's origins and its merits far overweigh its flaws. Thank you for your great review!