Epic and Kimura: Fear of the Unknown is the first book in the Epic and Kimura series by Robert Cumming. Caleb and Mila are siblings who just want to do their best, in school and in their martial arts competitions. Something they each struggle with in different ways. One day they receive a copy of the Enchiridion as a gift and they discover that virtue is about how you face your struggle and the choices that you make in the process. Using the magic coins they discovered in the back of the book they explore their virtue based powers even as they also realize that there is more going on in their world than they thought. Each of them must face their own choice about the type of power they have and the way they want to use, either for their own gain or for the betterment of those around them. In doing so they learn just how best to fight back against the darkness.
This was a pretty decent book and I enjoyed reading it. Mind you, I was a little surprised to see a book for younger readers that successfully incorporates stoic philosophy so I was impressed by that one. The story had just the right blend of adventure or action with slower paced sections about philosophy and choice and right and wrong. I have a feeling that it would draw younger readers in and keep them hooked pretty easily overall. The ending might be a little surprising but only because it differs pretty drastically from other similar stories and I am not going to tell you why. However, if you pay attention to the story itself and how it builds then you probably won’t be surprised by the ending. I did feel like the characters were overly optimistic and almost naive at times but considering this is a kids story I also feel somewhat relieved since so many stories for younger readers feel much darker. It was nice to read one that was more lighthearted, even if the themes were not. The book struck the right balance to be great for younger readers but also for teens as well. I felt like it was a little short at times and the story developed rather quickly because of it but again that may just be my personal preference for longer works. There were a few times I felt like things worked out too easily for Caleb and Mila and that their obstacles weren’t much of obstacles. The only ones that seemed to be major obstacles were their internal obstacles which created an interesting theme there. Still an enjoyable read and a book that I am happy to give four out of five stars.
This is a kids fantasy book that I would think is aimed at readers between 8 and 14 probably though it could easily be read by anyone with the reading level to do so. There wasn’t anything problematic in terms of content and even with the martial arts theme the violence was practically non-existent so that wouldn’t be an issue either. I can’t think of anything that would make it unsuitable for readers. If you know of any younger readers who might be interested this is a book and a series to keep your eye on. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments if you decide to try it out. This book was acquired through the Reedsy Discover program and you can find a copy of my review there as well.