rated * * * * * (five stars)

In KRA by Aguidon, Kanoa's sleep was interrupted by the sharp screaming of a rook. When he rushed to the rook, he had no idea the chain of events his merciful act was about to set in motion. Before taking off into the sky, the rook gave Kanoa a shiny black marble. In the near distance, Kanoa saw a cottage and he was drawn to it. At the cottage, after a moment of hesitation, Kanoa was invited inside. As soon as the occupants of the cottage saw the shiny black marble, a frenzy of activity ensued as each person set out on what seemed to be a pre-planned mission. The lady of the cottage took the marble and headed to the village to meet with an elderly gentleman; a young man headed to the castle in the mountains to meet with the king; while another person rode a camel to the south across the dunes to meet with the head of a settlement. What is the mystery behind the shiny black marble that sparked such a frenzy of strange activity from everyone? And what are the intentions of the fearsome cloaked figure, and his companion the hawk, lurking in the shadows, watching their every move.

KRA by Aguidon is a one of a kind fantasy mystery. The story is delivered in a unique writing style that excluded any conversation and yet remains very interactive and compelling. This absence of conversation infused a serene and enchanted-like feel in the reading experience. The story takes place in an enthralling setting with vivid scenery as painted through Aguidon's captivating words. The diversity and depth of characters in KRA is a thing to remember. Each new character introduced is as unique as the last and adds a fresh layer of intrigue to the story. KRA comes to life through a combination of an original plot, captivating setting, and memorable characters all glued together with lots of mystery, suspense and intrigue.

rated * * * * * (five stars)

KRA by Aguidon is a fascinating story where a boy encounters a rook who gives him a shiny black marble that seems to be incredibly important. This in turn leads him to the dog, Bo, who becomes his trusty sidekick, and they encounter a Sultan and a King. Kanoa intends to give the marble to the King in a ceremony, but is unable to do so, and the second half of the book is comprised of a showdown with a pair of colossal giant brothers who kidnap a young girl named Luzette. They are trying to recover Luzette, the crown, and the marble, as well as battling against the evil giants.

This book caught me a little off guard in the first few chapters because it is told in third person format, present tense, and there is very little dialogue. Almost all of the dialogue is told in single word chunks, and most of the actual communication is told in narration rather than actual communication. At first this seemed off-putting, but the further I got into the story the more I actually enjoyed this style. It was perfect for the showdown with the giant and made the story feel like a folk-tale as much as an actual novel.The narration was very clean and the story is excellent, so even though it gets off to a rocky start it really hits its stride and reaches a great climax. The characters are cleverly created, and I think Bo was my favorite. There are also a number of excellent pictures that add to the overall feel.

KRA by Aguidon is a highly recommended read for anyone looking for a change of pace from a more traditional novel and who likes unique narration styles. Very interesting and entertaining story. I loved the pictures!