posted on 28 Apr 2025

Soni and the Life Drinkers by Shiko Nguru, illustrated by Melissa McIndoe

I was captivated by the colourful but spooky cover of this book which gives a glimpse into a story about a feisty looking young girl doing battle with strangely possessed humans with glowing white eyes. As this is the third instalment in the Intasimi Warriors series, I was grateful for the helpful synopsis of previous adventures on the back cover and steeled myself for what promised to be an intriguing read:

‘What price would she have to pay to stop the Life Drinkers from draining Mr Lemayian’s life, and will saving his life come at the expense of her own?’

The story opens with a reassuringly normal exchange between twelve-year-old friends at Savanna Academy practising their dance routine in preparation for Vunja Mifupa, an annual dance competition for middle schools in Kenya. Soni comes across as an intense, rather bossy Dance Captain who is determined for her squad to win. 

In a recent interview, the author explains that it is important for her fictional characters to be multi- faceted. Readers need to recognise that every individual is complicated, and so not always likeable. In a similar way, we are encouraged to be aware of how the wider world can be beautiful and difficult at the same time.

When the other girls eventually go home to their families, Soni continues to dance and then reveals her extraordinary superpower to the reader. It seems that she is able to shoot supersonic air-balls out of her hands which help her to fly into the air like a rocket! She has inherited this and other powers from an ancestor and is part of a team of four special children known as the Intasimi Warriors: an ancient bloodline of Kenyan warriors who must work together to save the world from evil. 

At first Soni found it difficult to control her unusual power, but is now much more confident. She is alarmed to discover that she is being stalked by one of the terrifying monsters known as a ‘shiqq’ and only escapes harm when her mischievous younger brothers turn up.

I was also pleased to learn about the identity of Mr Lemayian, ‘a type of supernatural being’ who is mentor to the Warriors and is, rather conveniently, the headmaster of Savanna Academy. Worryingly, he has recently succumbed to the malign influence of a Life Drinker who achieve immortality by feeding on other beings. He is now so diminished that he is unable to work at the school and is fading fast.  

What follows is a roller-coaster, highly dangerous quest to save him. The four young warriors are armed with many useful magical skills including being able to talk to animals and undertake impressive research ( Xirsi) and being able to see visions of the past and future through her drawings (Mwikali).  Odwar is able to transform the shape of his own shadow into a mighty leopard and like Mwiikali, uses a charmed family heirloom to enhance his powers when needed. Despite all this impressive armoury they are confounded when they meet a hybrid creature who promises to help them save their beloved mentor. Can they trust her or is she trying to trick them?  What on Earth does it mean by choosing sides and needing to prepare for the ‘Final Battle?’ Could the beautiful bracelet that she gives to Soni be her own long awaited family heirloom, and if so, what is her connection to the hybrid?

Along the way, the four adventurers are forced to make many terrifying decisions as well as learning to work together to achieve their goal. Soni learns about her own mother’s dark secrets and how this changes, but strengthens their relationship.  It also complicates their quest, because they need to find her evil auntie who lives in far-away Mukuru. This is only one of the many twists and turns in this exciting story which you will need to experience for yourselves!

It is unusual to come across a children’s fantasy that is set in Nairobi and the underlying theme of East African mythology is also new to me. I am now interested to know more about this rich seam of folklore, hopefully younger readers will feel the same way. 

I strongly recommend this well written, action- packed story which is available in the UK on 1st May and in US and Canada from 6th May  from Lantana Publishing. You will be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop - who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Karen Argent

April 2025

 

@lantana_publishing
author: @shikonguru
illustrator: @melissamcindoe
#soniandthelifedrinkers #theintasimiwarriors