“Kenny and the Heiresses of Surith” by Joseph K. Adou

Kenny and the Heiresses of Surith

Joseph K. Adou
Mindstir Media, LLC (2024)
ISBN: 978-1963844450
Reviewed by Jennifer Bishop for Reader Views (09/2026)

What is there to do after college? What if you discovered that your mother was secretly a powerful sorceress whose life was taken when she was trying to save many others like her? Kenny and the Heiresses of Surith by Joseph K. Adou follows our main protagonist, Kenny, as he discovers his lineage and the bigger purpose his mother and father were fighting for. When his Godmother, Umba, finally reveals to him the truth of it all, she begins training him to use the powers of Suth. Will he be able to save the Listed? Or will the Odd Circle succeed in their plans?

This story had some really good bones to it. There was an interesting plot that ran deep into the past, but also had a lot to go forward with. We get to learn about some of the past battles through flashbacks and stories told by those who lived it. While Kenny is our main protagonist, we also get to see what some of the Odd Circle, the antagonists, are going through and planning at the same time. While the end purpose of the group is never fully clear, we do know that they have decided the Listed, those gifted by Surith with special abilities, should all be killed off. Adou did a great job at expressing that deep passion and devotion through the interactions with these characters.

Most of the story occurs in Massachusetts; however, we also have scenes in France, New Orleans, and a few other places across the world. There are also places called sanctuaries that some of the Listed can travel to when trying to find a safe place. These can only be accessed by the individual who creates them. They also vary depending on what that person sees as a safe place.

The magic system is quite complex in that I’m still not completely sure how it works. The Listed’s abilities range from being able to seduce anyone to levitation and portals. There are also protectors, men who can use the runes of Suth to have many of these abilities. And then there is the Odd Circle, who have concocted a mixture that, when injected, gives them these abilities as well. Through training and research, all three ways can become more powerful.

One thing I do want to mention is the layout of the writing. It was written in a play format: Adou begins each chapter by laying out some backstory and the scene, then the dialogue is formatted with the name of the person speaking and then their words. Every now and then, this is broken up with more background information to further our understanding of the story. We also get to see portraits of many of the characters, which was really neat!

Kenny and the Heiresses of Surith by Joseph K. Adou is a young adult fantasy that explores following those who came before us and helping those who can’t help themselves. There is quite a bit of cursing and violence in the book, although the violence is very rarely described in detail. There are mentions of torture, but none is on the page. As far as romance, there is only kissing on the page; all else is implied very vaguely. This book is for readers who like fantasy books set in our world. Especially if they like a lot of backstory and purpose in the main protagonist’s journey. The book is set up as if there will be more to the series; however, this one does have a solid ending.