Supernatural Investigations series

All you need to know about

SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATIONS

Author: B.B. Alston 

Look, when a snotty brat at school mocks you that your brother is dead, it can't be wrong to put her in her place and just push her onto her butt, right? 

Apparently, it is wrong, when you're a poor girl studying in an expensive school under a scholarship, and some conceited hellions would take every opportunity to remind you of your status. 

But Amari Peters was never the type to back away from a fight.

Which is probably what led to her being suspended and having her scholarship revoked, while Emily Grant got away with nothing but a warning. 

But Amari's life had never been easy, especially since her brother Quinton had disappeared. Quinton was the golden boy of their neighbourhood, with extraordinary academic achievements and a really bright future ahead, but a few months after he had joined this top-secret job, Quinton had gone missing, leaving Amari and her mother all alone without anybody else to help them. 

And Amari couldn't understand why the police weren't taking it more seriously! They told her mom that Quinton had been unemployed when he definitely wasn't, and had automatically assumed that he had been involved in criminal activities and was now dead. But her brother wasn't that type of person. He was out there somewhere, Amari could feel it. And she would be the one to bring him back. 

But when she discovered a ticking briefcase in her brother's wardrobe that contained an invitation for her, it looked like she finally had a shot at uncovering the truth. There was far more to Quinton than anyone had thought, for he had left her a nomination for summer tryouts at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. There was a whole new magical world out there, with monsters, dragons, dwarves, yetis and every other stuff of the legends, a whole new world for Amari to explore and learn everything about.

Thus ensues a new journey, and a new life for Amari Peters, as she joins the Bureau as a trainee. She was far outmatched as the only one who didn't grow up with the knowledge of the Bureau and the magical world, but being the outcast wasn't something new to her. But it seemed as if coping with this new world would be easier than she had expected.

Amari had come to the Bureau to discover her brother's whereabouts, but it seemed as if she had a special place in this world. She had great potential, far exceeding even her brother's, and she was destined for great things. She was far more powerful than she knew, and this power was something to marvel at, and also fear. 

As her new powers make her both infamous and immensely lonely, Amari is nevertheless determined to not stray from her path to finding her brother. But when unknown powers start stirring, it seems she might have her job cut out. 

Closest friends turn into enemies, and elements far beyond Amari's understanding are at play. Amidst all this turmoil, will she be able to find her brother and return home? 

ALL BOOKS IN ORDER

• Amari and the Night Brothers 
• Amari and the Great Game
• Amari and the Despicable Wonders
• Book#4 (untitled)
• Book#5

Although the series was originally meant to be a trilogy, it has been extended to a quintet. The latest book of the series, Amari and the Despicable Wonders, was released on 27th August 2024. Details regarding books 4 and 5 have not been disclosed as of now. 

 

My Comments 

Many readers my age probably favour young adult books, but my favourite genre has always been middle-grade fantasy fiction. I'd always thought that I would grow out of it at some point, but seems like I haven't grown up yet. I honestly can't decide whether it is a good or a bad thing. 

But I'm a person who doesn't believe in the age category that is attributed to some books. I'm never one to shy away from reading books that are perhaps for younger kids. I still read Enid Blyton books, they'll remain my favourite books of all time, and they're for 8-year-olds.

But recently, I had been reading way too many young adult dark fantasy books, so when I started Amari and the Night Brothers, it almost felt like I was returning home. I had an excellent feeling about this book. The cover was pretty, the plot was intriguing and the protagonist seemed interesting. I decided to give it a shot. 

While this book is best suited for readers aged 10-12 to 16, I think one of the best things that this book symbolises is the disturbing issue of racism. The main character, Amari Peters, is a young black girl, living in a housing project neighbourhood. Her mother is a single working mom, and their family isn't well off. And when Quinton goes missing, it is immediately assumed that he was a no-good delinquent. His investigation wasn't given much importance, and although I may not know much about the matter of racism, I presume that it is still present. 

And I love how a middle-grade book highlighted that issue. While I am of a different nationality, I still got to learn something when I read this book. 

Okay, moving on to the other aspects of this series. To give you a clearer picture, imagine Men in Black, but with teenagers.

That's pretty much it. I found this series refreshing and lighthearted, equal parts wondrous and riveting. Amari was your typical sassy and bold teen, with bucketloads of courage and confidence. She was determined and driven, and I loved it.

I think the only flaw was that I almost guessed one of the biggest twists in the book, which was a little disappointing. But as I said, one of the twists. There were several others that took me aback. 

I had a great time reading this book. Although I felt like I enjoyed Book 1 more than I did Book 2, I have no doubt that the upcoming book would be just as amazing, if not better. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!