Review of Matah Kagmi

Post by **Sharill Rasowo** » 15 Mar 2022, 08:56

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Matah Kagmi" by Joshua Hellahoomp Bennett.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Joshua Hellahoomp Bennett's Matah Kagmi follows a young boy named Herman as he finds extraordinary magic and experiences. Herman, his siblings, and his grandfather embark on a woodland excursion, where they encounter magical and fascinating creatures and events. They are constantly in danger, which they must conquer in order to survive. They stumble upon strange creatures such as talking animals and Bigfoot, to mention a few.

I admired Herman's family's closeness. I particularly enjoyed Herman's friendship with his siblings. It was amazing to witness how much they liked and admired each other. Mo, Herman's younger brother, was a force to be reckoned with. It was a delight to read about his adventures because he had a vivid imagination and a unique gift. I was curious to discover more about Henry, their enigmatic grandfather. It was fascinating to read about their joint adventures. Their parents, too, had intriguing mysteries they kept hidden from their children.

It was fascinating to learn about the mythos that the author constructed to help flesh out the plot. It was also fascinating to learn about the Matah Kagmi, sometimes known as Bigfoot, and other legends passed down through the generations. I believe the author did an excellent job of balancing the characters' backstories while maintaining the mystery. By the end of the novel, certain details about all of the characters are disclosed that were well foreshadowed at the start. The novel had a lot of action in it, which I really enjoyed. I was able to completely immerse myself in the story and empathize with the characters.

I didn't enjoy how the children in the book were always in peril. They were accompanied by their grandfather, but instead of protecting them, he seemed to have his own agenda. Throughout the novel, I was always worried, but I had to realize that it was all part of the adventure. In my opinion, the ending was a cliffhanger, and there was no indication that this was the first installment in a series. I believe the author should be more explicit about this, as otherwise people will be disappointed.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars because it was entertaining to read. Minor errors and typos were identified, but they did not detract from my enjoyment of the book and could easily be fixed with another round of editing. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and action stories, as it combines both.

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Matah Kagmi
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Post by **Pauline Parnell** » 17 Mar 2022, 06:28

The name "Matah Kagmi" is a bit deceiving as it sounds Japanese. Children's adventures are always intriguing as adults always want them to be safe and sound. It seems this book did not disappoint. Herman looks to be a mature young child. Thanks for the review.