WAR AMONG KINGDOMS: VOLUME ONE
In a time when kingdoms rose and fell under the weight of ambition and betrayal, War Among Kingdoms weaves the intertwined fates of rulers navigating political intrigue, familial conflict, and the chaos of war. Set in a richly imagined world inspired by the golden age of West Africa, the story begins with the Kingdom of Benin under the reign of King Akenzua, who seeks to restore peace to a fractured realm scarred by his father’s conquests. The tale shifts to Prince Nehikhare, a boy raised on tales of vengeance by his grandfather, King Akhigbe. Consumed by the desire to reclaim Benin’s dominance, Nehikhare secretly amasses followers and wages brutal raids against neighboring kingdoms, ultimately defying his father’s peaceful reign. When his rebellion is discovered, Akenzua banishes him, but Nehikhare’s survival and transformation into King Nehizena soon threaten the fragile stability of the region. At the heart of the story is Queen Nosaze, Akenzua’s daughter, who ascends the throne after her father’s death. Determined to protect her people and uphold her family’s legacy, Nosaze emerges as a formidable leader, forging alliances to defend the western kingdoms from a masked invader. Her journey becomes intertwined with King Sonni of Gao, an estranged ally harboring his own grudges, as they unite against a shared threat. As Nosaze and Sonni confront mounting challenges, rumors surface linking the masked invader to Nehikhare, shaking Nosaze’s resolve. The story crescendos in battles of epic proportions, including a brutal duel between Sonni and the ruthless King Piye, and the eventual confrontation with Nehikhare’s empire. Themes of loyalty, ambition, and the cost of vengeance drive the characters as they fight for survival and redemption in a world teetering on the edge of collapse.
