THE CALABASH KING

A crown he never wanted. A power he cannot control. An empire he must save from the darkness it was built upon.
Prince Kato is known as the Fool-a charming wastrel who prefers gambling in the markets to studying courtly magic. His "luck" is a courtly joke, but it hides a dangerous, untamed power he dismisses.
When a horrific magical assassination shatters the royal line, the crown he never desired is thrust upon him. Branded a traitor and hunted by a cabal of sorcerers and conspirators, Kato must flee into the wilds with only a fierce royal guardswoman at his side.
To survive, he must embrace the wild magic within him and unlock the terrifying truth buried in his bloodline: the empire's blessed magic is a lie, built on a foundation of stolen power and dark sorcery.
From the bustling markets of a West African-inspired metropolis to haunted swamps whispering with forgotten spirits, Kato must evolve from a careless prince into a king who can master both light and shadow.
To save his kingdom, he must not just defeat the monsters at its gates-he must confront the serpent coiled around its very heart.
For fans of epic fantasy with rich African aesthetics, complex magic systems, and transformative journeys,
The Calabash King is a tale of betrayal, ancestral secrets, and the unexpected rise of a ruler who must balance the storm within to save his world.