Last Gate of the Emperor

Starred review from March 22, 2021
Inspired by the history and lore of Ethiopia, this cinematic space adventure introduces 12-year-old Yared Heywat as he fights to protect those he loves after learning stunning secrets about his world and himself. In the bustling city of Addis Prime, Yared, his uncle Moti, and bionic lioness Besa live under the radar, often moving suddenly, though Moti won’t explain why. It’s a lonely life, but rebellious Yared finds community and glory in an illegal augmented-reality game; he’s the number-two player, beaten only by a girl known as the Ibis. When Yared is forced to compete under his real name, Addis Prime is immediately swarmed by high-tech monsters and brutal soldiers—all of whom are looking for Yared. As Uncle Moti’s fables about the lost space empire of Axum and the evil Werari empire begin to come to life, Yared and rival-turned-ally Ibis fight to escape the city and uncover the truth about Yared’s family roots. In this fast-paced, Afrofuturist homage to Ethiopia, Mbalia (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky) and Ethiopian prince Makonnen craft an enthralling tale of resilience, family, and bravery that will entertain young sci-fi lovers. Ages 8–12. Agents: (for Mbalia) Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary; (for Makonnen) Jesseca Salky, Lyons & Salky Law.

April 15, 2021
Grades 5-8 This action-packed technothriller by best-selling author Mbalia and Makonnen, a descendent of the last emperor of Ethiopia, brings to life the bleak world of Addis Prime--a city strict and difficult to survive, with dilapidated technology, to boot. To escape his reality, Yared Heywat devotes much of his life to augmented-reality gaming, at which he excels, but after Yared logs into The Hunt for Kaleb's Obelisk with his true identity, his fun double life comes to an end as an unprecedented attack shakes the city to its core, and his only relative disappears. Readers will delight in Yared's puckish demeanor and perspective; his loyal bionic lioness, Besa; and the events that ensue as all of Yared's childhood stories come to life in a terrifying way, from dangerous monsters to mysterious floating realms. In this vivid, volatile Afrofuturist sf world, as Yared journeys to learn about himself and his spiraling environment, he must figure out whom to trust and how he is connected to all of the chaos.

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