Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans

The first book in a fast-paced, witty, and big-hearted debut Afrofantasy trilogy about a twelve-year-old orphan named Adia, apprenticing in the kitchens at the prestigious Academy of Shamans. Adia discovers she has mysterious powers that she can't control, leading her to believe she may be an ogbanje, a demon-possessed child. She flees her village with her cat Bubbles, hoping to find answers at the Academy. There, she learns the kingdom's emperor is possessed by a powerful demon and is headed for the Academy. Adia allies with a snarky goddess, a 500-year-old warrior, and a soldier-in-training to travel through hidden realms, exorcise the emperor, and save her kingdom. Along the way, she must understand and harness her own powers to change the fate of her world.