Book Review: Adventures in Diviniand by Nancy Olawale
Great creativity can be harnessed at any age, as proved by an exciting and wonderful new book from young aspiring writer, Nancy Olawale. Based in Worcestershire, England, Nancy has many hobbies and interests, including netball, music, the violin, psychology, drawing, and animation. Alongside all of this, and inspired through reading other adventure and fantasy stories, Nancy has crafted a novel ideal for children aged 9 to 14, and it was written when she was just 11 years old.
Adventures in Diviniand weaves fantasy, humour and adventure together with a strong sense of kindness and friendship. It is already available to buy from Amazon, and has gathered some admirable interest online since its self-publication back in 2021. It was also awarded a ‘Family Choice Award’ at Familychoiceawards.com. On reading the book, it’s easy to understand how the book has garnered so much interest, as the story itself is a joy to read from beginning to end.
Adventures in Diviniand tells the story of young Jessica Lilly Roberts, An ordinary girl who is flung into a not so ordinary adventure when she receives a mysterious pendant from her parents during a holiday trip. While taking part in a beach cleanup operation, Jess meets a kindred spirit in the form of Olivia, and a not so friendly face in the form of Harry. But this seemingly run-of-the-mill encounter is turned upside down when the three unlikely colleagues are transported to the strange and mysterious world of Diviniand, a magical and perilous realm, where wits and cunning are the only key to survival.
Jess and her new companions must find a way of working together if they are to endure the unpredictable and fantastical challenges of Diviniand. Along the way, they face deadly foes, avoid sinister traps, and are driven to choose their allies wisely. Jess must get to grips with the powers contained in her mysterious pendant, find a way to make her new friends coexist, and make the right decisions in order to save herself and everybody around her.
In this book, Nancy Olawale paints a vibrant and engaging world in the form of Diviniand, a world similar to everyday Earth in many respects, but where the boundaries of imagination and danger are limitless. The bizarre and fascinating characters of Diviniand come thick and fast, some of whom are more palatable than others. The three adventurers swiftly find a foe in the form of Axel, a ruthless soldier who along with his deadly army seeks to seize the pendant for their own cruel purposes. However, Jess and her fellow travellers also align themselves with a charming and misunderstood creature named Neenee, a small female member of the diveel race, who was ostracised by her own parents for simply being too ‘nice’. Neenee’s ability to hear the thoughts of humans is a fruitful tool in their quest for survival, and so one of many heartwarming friendships evolves across the chapters of this story.
Another engaging component of Adventures in Diviniand, also on the friendship front, is the relationship between the three main characters, Jess, Olivia and Harry. During the opening chapters, Harry is established as something of a bully, and a sore thumb in the group dynamic. To no surprise, he doesn't get along with Jess' new best friend, Olivia, meaning there is no shortage of disagreements and stern words exchanged between all three travellers during their trek. However, as Diviniand requires that they work together or perish, differences are steadily set aside and replaced with a growing sense of solidarity. The resulting character development, and positive change in personalities makes this journey inspiring and rewarding for all those reading.
To talk anymore about the story would be to ruin the surprises, so readers are encouraged to get hold of the book and find out for themselves what happens to Jess and her fellow travellers. Suffice to say that the writer of this book demonstrates a high level of talent and imagination across the breadth of her novel. The dialogue between characters is fluid and believable, and the description gone into the creation of Diviniand makes for a vivid experience for the young reader. Throughout the story, there is a wonderful balance of careful worldbuilding and quick -witted action that keeps audiences thoroughly immersed, whilst making sure they never get bored. The older-child target audience is in safe hands with Nancy’s writing, and are guaranteed an exciting trip that lasts all the way until the closing paragraph.
Adventures in Diviniand is a heck of a fun read, and a highly impressive display from a young promising writer who has written a piece of work especially catered towards her own age group. In the midst of its numerous thrills, spills and superbly crafted wonder, comes a story where the human spirit takes centre stage, and the characters become stronger and smarter through their respect and admiration for one another. This is a fantasy adventure done right, where heart, mystery and fun collide to make an irresistible rollercoaster. Nancy Olawale can certainly be proud of her work, as readers will certainly enjoy it, though this enjoyment may not be exclusive to the young; It is entirely possible that grown-ups will like it just as much.
Adventures in Diviniand is currently available in paperback and download at Amazon.
