THE GATEKEEPER’S STAFF

by ANTOINE BANDELE

◦ READ OR LISTEN NOW ◦ GOODREADS ◦ WHAT ORISHA ARE YOU QUIZ ◦ ART

* OPTIONED FOR A MOTION PICTURE ADAPTATION

TJ Young has been surrounded by magic his entire life, yet he has never tapped into it… until now.

Fourteen-year-old TJ grew up normal in a secret community of gifted diviners in the heart of modern-day Los Angeles. His powerful sister was ordained to lead his people into a new age of prosperity, but her mysterious death in Nigeria threatens to destroy the very foundations of TJ’s world.

Desperate to pick up where his sister left off and uncover the secrets behind her questionable death, TJ commits himself to unlocking the magical heritage that has always eluded him. So he enrolls in Camp Olosa—a remedial magic school for the divinely less-than-gifted in the humid swamps of New Orleans.

But little does he know, TJ is destined to cross paths with powerful spirits of old thought lost to time: the Orishas.

Delve into this young adult fantasy based on the mythology of the West African gods, where TJ will encounter unlikely allies, tough-as-gatorhide instructors, and the ancient secrets of the Orishas.

 
 
 

PRAISE & ACCOLADES FOR THE GATEKEEPER’S STAFF

 
 

“If you know a pre-teen boy who loves magic and adventure, get him this book. If he’s Black, get him two copies.” -Equal opportunity reader blog

“Captivating. Percy Jackson meets Harry Potter meets West African mythos that is as entertaining as it is enriching. Magical in every sense.” -JULIA HOOVER, REEDSY DISCOVERY

 
 

“This should be up there right along the Percy Jackson series.” -MARIE REED, GOODREADS REVIEW

“The world-building was incredibly strong and the pacing was solid.” -LIFE OF A FEMALE BIBLIOPHILE BLOG

 
 

“I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a magical fantasy world book, but is tired of Harry Potter and needs a breath of fresh air … Kamau Fluker, Age: 15” -GOODREADS REVIEWER

 
 

“It was such a ride with the twists it took, and it felt like the perfect summer read. I legit laughed out loud at some of the banter — not a simple chuckle under my breath — but a true, close my eyes and let it happen, laugh.” -CM Lockhart, Melanin Library

 
 
 
 
 
 

"I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't looooove it since it's YA... but I was very pleasantly surprised with how much fun I had reading this and how much I enjoyed my time with it. Will continue the series with enthusiasm, for sure!" -Jashana, Booktube

"I really appreciated the focus on grief instead of treating it as a passing thought. Even the various reactions of characters to grief helped to show that there is no one way to grieve (which is huge!)." -R.L. McIntyre, author of The Assassin of Acreage