3 out of 4 stars
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A Game of Princes by Raymond David presents a story that features the meeting and blending of two diverse worlds. Prince Kimbuwe of the kingdom of Afrotasia and the son to the reigning king, King Mbasa, has to prove himself in the game of princes also known as the Mbulwunga Game.
The constant frustration and pressure he receives from his father cause him to flee to California, in the US. His near-perfect shot helps him obtain a position in the California Angels basketball team under the guidance of Coach Andrea Carter, an ex-convict who is struggling to rewrite the wrongs of his past. Will King Mbasa ever find his son again and will he be able to convince his prodigal son to return to his kingdom of Afrotasia?
Every scene and page in the book is gripping. The twists and turns contained appear at every stage of the storyline which renders the plot unpredictable. The contrast between Prince Kimbuwe’s life in Afrotasia and the one he lives in California adds intrigue to the story. With no one realizing that he is a prince, Kimbuwe is able to live a relatively normal life in California unlike the one he leaves behind in Afrotasia. A bit of romance and jealousy is also included to spice up the plot. Kimbuwe falls for Kelly, Ryan Riley’s girlfriend who plays for the opposing team, the Miami Beasts.
I also liked that the main characters are well-designed and have striking pasts and flaws. Coach Andrea tries to put his past behind him and forge a successful career in basketball. Prince Kimbuwe, on the other hand, runs from his father to discover who he is and what lies beyond Afrotasia. Their journeys are not smooth, rather, they are marred by difficulties and challenges. Kimbuwe has to prove his father wrong and show him that he is good at something while Coach Andrea struggles to prove to the basketball fraternity and his fans that he is better than his past portrays him to be.
There are a number of grammatical errors in the text that mostly involve mixing up of tenses and also sentence construction issues. There are also too many coincidences in the book which makes the plot seem unrealistic. Still, I found A Game of Princes by Raymond David an engrossing read which could easily appeal to every reader with a love for African literature that contains a fusion of diverse cultures. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
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A Game Of Princes
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