TJ Young & The Orishas

Series · 3 books · 2021-2025

By Antoine Bandele

Books in series

The Gatekeeper's Staff

An Old Gods Story

2021

Fourteen-year-old TJ grew up normal in a secret community of gifted diviners in the heart of modern-day Los Angeles. His powerful sister was ordained to lead his people into a new age of prosperity, but her mysterious death in Nigeria threatens to destroy the very foundations of TJ's world. Desperate to pick up where his sister left off and uncover the secrets behind her questionable death, TJ commits himself to unlocking the magical heritage that has always eluded him. So he enrolls in Camp Olosa-a remedial magic school for the divinely less-than-gifted in the humid swamps of New Orleans. But little does he know, TJ is destined to cross paths with powerful spirits of old thought lost to the orishas.

The Windweaver's Storm

An Old Gods Story

2022

Never make a deal with a deity. Promises with one are impossible to keep. TJ Young spent last summer fighting to unlock the secrets behind his sister's mysterious death but found himself battling the magic of the ancient Orishas instead. And some of the answers he sought came with a promise he may not be able to keep: to dismantle new human construction on the coastline of Lagos, Nigeria by the start of spring. But how does a teenager do away with decades of infrastructure in only half a year? He’ll need to enlist the help of new allies, mortal and immortal alike. And thankfully, after surviving the grueling magical curriculum of Camp Olosa, he’s now headed to the most prestigious magic school in West Africa: Ifa Academy for Tomorrow’s Diviners. But will that be enough as he prepares for what can only end in an all-out war between mortals and gods?

The Hero's Equinox

An Old Gods Story

2025

How do you break a god out of a cosmic prison? You bring a crew and a whole lot of magic. TJ Young never asked to be a hero. He’d much rather hang out with his friends, go to school, and maybe finally work up the courage to tell his best friend Manny how he feels. But life as a sixteen-year-old diviner doesn’t come with a handbook. After last year’s disaster—tidal waves, fallen skyscrapers, and scars he’ll carry forever—TJ just wants a break. But the chaos he helped unleash has caught the attention of the Court of All, a council of gods from across the realms. They’ve accused TJ and Shango of causing the death of the Norse god Thor. Now, TJ has no choice but to step up. With a heist to pull off and the fate of the world’s magical Ashe on the line, he gathers a crew of new and old allies—including the terrifying new headmistress and a sharp-shooting Orisha. But as TJ navigates the Frost Realm and even the dreams of gods, he realizes that saving Shango—and himself—might come at a price too high to pay. Can TJ pull off the rescue of a lifetime, or will he and his friends be trapped in a prison where no mortal—or god—has ever escaped? Find out in this young adult fantasy based on the mythology of West Africa, where TJ will encounter cosmic trials, unbreakable prisons, and the ancient secrets of the Orishas.

Author

Antoine Bandele

Author · 13 books

HOW I RATE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Very Profound and/or Entertaining. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed it. ⭐⭐⭐ It was okay. ⭐⭐ I didn't enjoy it. ⭐ I hated it. ABOUT ME ANTOINE BANDELE IS AN AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR IN AFRICAN LITERATURE. He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his girlfriend, where he produces work on YouTube for his own channel and others, such as JustKiddingFilms, Fanalysis, and more. During the summer he is a camp counselor. Whenever he has the time he’s writing his debut series: Tales from Esowon. SINCE 1990 ... I've been a creative kid, whether writing stories, drawing comics, or directing home movies. I remember the first time I thought I was a "published" author. My father took my brother and I to an office supply store, where we got our books (which were made out of wide-ruled notebook paper) laminated and copied. It felt so legit. In elementary school, I kept filling out more notebooks with my stories. I was even brave enough to share those stories with friends during recess. The underside of the playground slide became my own library, but the only inventory was my books. They were stories about kung fu fighting teenagers who were stuck in their own dreams (still might develop that one day), or fan fiction covering my favorite franchises. Growing up in Los Angeles, only a few miles from Hollywood, I started flirting with the film industry. This became my focus throughout my young adult years. I majored in Multimedia at California State University Northridge (though my diploma is still incomplete). That eventually got me on YouTube which (for most filmmakers in those early days) was the best place to archive and share your work. YouTube has turned into a different beast today, but I still seek out that sense of community it had among like-minded individuals. If there is one thing that encompasses my life so far, one theme, it would be the pursuit of art. Whether I'm writing, drawing, editing or otherwise (though I really wish I had a talent for music), I've always been drawn to crafting art. That's all I'm really about when it comes right down to the bare bones, everything stripped away. I'm fueled by creating make-believe, letting my imagination take me to wonderful worlds filled with characters who speak to my inner muse. So join me here on my small corner of the internet (a bit of an upgrade to the underside of a playground). I want to share my creativity with you.