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The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria
Phineas and Ferb meets the Despicable Me series in this “fanciful, humorous, and original” (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade debut from acclaimed author Adi Alsaid about a wannabe hero who lives in a goofily evil kingdom where nefarious schemes abound.
Welcome to Nefaria, where nearly every day the kingdom faces another evil scheme.
Most are harmless, though, so the citizens of Nefaria simply learn to live with the latest hijinks and go on with their lives. This includes Bobert Bougainvillea, who is much more concerned with the fact that he seems to be invisible. From the teachers in his school to his classmates, almost no one notices Bobert, no matter how visible he tries to be. Then everything changes when Bobert follows his classmates to a cursed gumball machine.
Before he knows it, Bobert is sucked into one of Nefaria’s most villainous evil schemes, a plot that has been a long time in the making—too long, in the evil wizard Matt’s opinion. And retreating into invisibility this time won’t do, not when Bobert is the only one with the drive, knowledge, and—if his newfound courage doesn’t fail him—bravery to foil Matt’s plan.
Welcome to Nefaria, where nearly every day the kingdom faces another evil scheme.
Most are harmless, though, so the citizens of Nefaria simply learn to live with the latest hijinks and go on with their lives. This includes Bobert Bougainvillea, who is much more concerned with the fact that he seems to be invisible. From the teachers in his school to his classmates, almost no one notices Bobert, no matter how visible he tries to be. Then everything changes when Bobert follows his classmates to a cursed gumball machine.
Before he knows it, Bobert is sucked into one of Nefaria’s most villainous evil schemes, a plot that has been a long time in the making—too long, in the evil wizard Matt’s opinion. And retreating into invisibility this time won’t do, not when Bobert is the only one with the drive, knowledge, and—if his newfound courage doesn’t fail him—bravery to foil Matt’s plan.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2023
6 people are currently reading
3226 people want to read
About the author
Adi Alsaid
29 books1,282 followersAdi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, where he now lives, writes, and spills hot sauce on things. He's the author of several YA novels including LET'S GET LOST, NEVER ALWAYS SOMETIMES, and NORTH OF HAPPY.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 15, 2024
This was such a strange, but interesting book. It's definitely not my brand of whimsical chaos, but I can understand why younger readers would enjoy it.
The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria opens with the strangest scenario as main character Bobert Bougainvillea seems to be invisible to the rest of his classmates. He lives in the land of Nefaria where the residents are used to evil plots/schemes. Unfortunately, Bobert finds himself caught up in one related to a wizard named Max who uses a cursed gumball machine to build his very own army of children.
What Worked: This book is strange. Think literary nonsense in the vain of something Roald Dahl or Lewis Carrol would create. For some odd reason that created a sense of familiarity that I haven't come across in middle grade in a while. From the wizards spells down to the descriptions of the world itself and the names of characters, every single element was strange, but it worked. Alsaid did some interesting things with Bobert in terms of his character development. Bobert is "invisible" to his classmates and feels as though it's all related to the curse, but Alsaid explores this idea that invisibility can be a two sided street where one may have to have the courage to interact and engage with peers instead of using that invisibility as a shield. Bobert questions himself quite a bit as he attempts to help stop Max, but each element that they encounter as a group helps build his confidence and allows him to see himself and others in a new light.
What Didn't Work: This book was SLOW at times which is surprising considering it had all of the elements of a fast paced book. I think that a lot of that is closely related to the fact that Alsaid didn't encompass a lot of action throughout the book. The world building was fun and the character development was top tier, but it left a little bit of a lack luster feeling when there wasn't enough tension/conflict.
Overall, this was a solid read and I would definitely recommend this for those who love whimsical fantasy.
The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria opens with the strangest scenario as main character Bobert Bougainvillea seems to be invisible to the rest of his classmates. He lives in the land of Nefaria where the residents are used to evil plots/schemes. Unfortunately, Bobert finds himself caught up in one related to a wizard named Max who uses a cursed gumball machine to build his very own army of children.
What Worked: This book is strange. Think literary nonsense in the vain of something Roald Dahl or Lewis Carrol would create. For some odd reason that created a sense of familiarity that I haven't come across in middle grade in a while. From the wizards spells down to the descriptions of the world itself and the names of characters, every single element was strange, but it worked. Alsaid did some interesting things with Bobert in terms of his character development. Bobert is "invisible" to his classmates and feels as though it's all related to the curse, but Alsaid explores this idea that invisibility can be a two sided street where one may have to have the courage to interact and engage with peers instead of using that invisibility as a shield. Bobert questions himself quite a bit as he attempts to help stop Max, but each element that they encounter as a group helps build his confidence and allows him to see himself and others in a new light.
What Didn't Work: This book was SLOW at times which is surprising considering it had all of the elements of a fast paced book. I think that a lot of that is closely related to the fact that Alsaid didn't encompass a lot of action throughout the book. The world building was fun and the character development was top tier, but it left a little bit of a lack luster feeling when there wasn't enough tension/conflict.
Overall, this was a solid read and I would definitely recommend this for those who love whimsical fantasy.
August 31, 2023
“You’re not to blame for someone else’s evil.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: kidnapping
This was a cute read! There were a lot of silly and fun elements like flying goats that made the book feel light hearted. On the other hand, there were also great underlying messages about being true to yourself and standing up for what you think is right. In terms of the plot, I felt that it was slow at times and could have benefitted from some more action. However, the writing was easy to follow and flowed nicely. I also enjoyed reading from the perspective of a variety of characters throughout the book.
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: kidnapping
This was a cute read! There were a lot of silly and fun elements like flying goats that made the book feel light hearted. On the other hand, there were also great underlying messages about being true to yourself and standing up for what you think is right. In terms of the plot, I felt that it was slow at times and could have benefitted from some more action. However, the writing was easy to follow and flowed nicely. I also enjoyed reading from the perspective of a variety of characters throughout the book.
September 9, 2023
It's got kiddos of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, evil wizards with usual names, and townspeople with non, evil schemes, plot twists, and an edge of your seat ending you'll be turning pages to discover, just hopefully faster than Bobert was capable of in a few of the chapters through no fault of his own, but I digress.
There's wordplay and witt, feelings galore, lessons to learn, mountains to climb, and kingdoms to fall, but through it all, it's a tale about friendship, and taking chances. It's a tale about letting people in as much as letting ourselves out. It's a reminder that we are all truly capable of extraordinary things, but whether they be good or evil is for our heart of hearts to determine. It's a story that just doesn't stop giving, and for that I am ever grateful, and hope you will be too!
*copy received for review; opinions are my own
There's wordplay and witt, feelings galore, lessons to learn, mountains to climb, and kingdoms to fall, but through it all, it's a tale about friendship, and taking chances. It's a tale about letting people in as much as letting ourselves out. It's a reminder that we are all truly capable of extraordinary things, but whether they be good or evil is for our heart of hearts to determine. It's a story that just doesn't stop giving, and for that I am ever grateful, and hope you will be too!
*copy received for review; opinions are my own
March 15, 2024
This was such a fun and imaginative middle grade read! This book was very well written and had a great fantasy story that I think young readers will love. The Bravest Warrior In Nefaria had great, likable characters and was full of whimsical moments, evil schemes, as well as relatable messages about loneliness and friendship. Overall this was a great book for middle grade readers.
Thank you Simon Kids for a copy of this book.
Thank you Simon Kids for a copy of this book.
September 7, 2023
What worked:
Bobert is a virtuous, kind young boy even though other characters treat him like he’s invisible. He doesn’t get angry with anyone and never acts out. He doesn’t push himself into other people’s business although he hopes to be invited into their conversations. Even when the children in Matt the Evil Wizard’s army are told to grab sleeping bags, Bobert thinks it’s fair to go last since the others have been there longer. He feels guilty if he causes discomfort to anyone else. Bobert’s primary motivation throughout the book is to be noticed by others, and hopefully become friends, but he never sacrifices his principles.
The author uses a weird conflict to provide humor to the plot. Matt the Evil Wizard is tired of not being respected and admired so he has an outlandish plan to take over Nefaria. He’ll create an army of kids because adult knights will never fight young children. It will be so easy! He casts spells on a gumball machine in the town to capture the kids and make others forget about them. He can’t have anyone looking for them while he waits months and years to seize enough to make his army. He’s accompanied by a sassy parrot and mangy cat but he finds that he may need more help to make his plan work.
The story uses alternating narratives that follow Bobert, Matt, and Candelabra, a popular girl from school. Candelabra’s storyline is curious because she is the only person who senses something is wrong. She blames herself for her sister’s demise from last year and that makes her sensitive to the possibility of evil schemes. Readers will need to wait to find out about that traumatic event. Candelabra doesn’t exactly remember Bobert but she finds evidence that he must have existed. Because of last year’s mistake, she’s unwilling to give up her search for him even when everybody else has serious doubts that anyone named Bobert ever lived in Nefaria. It's quite admirable for a character to be so determined to rescue a “stranger” that might not even exist.
What didn’t work as well:
The narrative may be zanier than some readers might like. Matt casts unusual spells like the gumball trap but his magic can’t keep armored children in his army from falling over and not being able to get up. The silliness of his scheme results in a conflict that never develops any tension or suspense. I wish the author had done more to add interest in the conflict as the story went on.
The final verdict:
Young readers will probably enjoy the daffy parts of the story and the focus on loneliness and friendship will resonate too. The conflict doesn’t feel overly serious so it doesn’t touch readers’ emotions as much as it might. However, it’s still a fun story and I recommend you give it a shot.
Bobert is a virtuous, kind young boy even though other characters treat him like he’s invisible. He doesn’t get angry with anyone and never acts out. He doesn’t push himself into other people’s business although he hopes to be invited into their conversations. Even when the children in Matt the Evil Wizard’s army are told to grab sleeping bags, Bobert thinks it’s fair to go last since the others have been there longer. He feels guilty if he causes discomfort to anyone else. Bobert’s primary motivation throughout the book is to be noticed by others, and hopefully become friends, but he never sacrifices his principles.
The author uses a weird conflict to provide humor to the plot. Matt the Evil Wizard is tired of not being respected and admired so he has an outlandish plan to take over Nefaria. He’ll create an army of kids because adult knights will never fight young children. It will be so easy! He casts spells on a gumball machine in the town to capture the kids and make others forget about them. He can’t have anyone looking for them while he waits months and years to seize enough to make his army. He’s accompanied by a sassy parrot and mangy cat but he finds that he may need more help to make his plan work.
The story uses alternating narratives that follow Bobert, Matt, and Candelabra, a popular girl from school. Candelabra’s storyline is curious because she is the only person who senses something is wrong. She blames herself for her sister’s demise from last year and that makes her sensitive to the possibility of evil schemes. Readers will need to wait to find out about that traumatic event. Candelabra doesn’t exactly remember Bobert but she finds evidence that he must have existed. Because of last year’s mistake, she’s unwilling to give up her search for him even when everybody else has serious doubts that anyone named Bobert ever lived in Nefaria. It's quite admirable for a character to be so determined to rescue a “stranger” that might not even exist.
What didn’t work as well:
The narrative may be zanier than some readers might like. Matt casts unusual spells like the gumball trap but his magic can’t keep armored children in his army from falling over and not being able to get up. The silliness of his scheme results in a conflict that never develops any tension or suspense. I wish the author had done more to add interest in the conflict as the story went on.
The final verdict:
Young readers will probably enjoy the daffy parts of the story and the focus on loneliness and friendship will resonate too. The conflict doesn’t feel overly serious so it doesn’t touch readers’ emotions as much as it might. However, it’s still a fun story and I recommend you give it a shot.
September 5, 2023
Whimsical imagination meets tension and action in this fun read, which promises evil schemes, awkward invisibility, and going beyond comfort zones.
Nefaria is an odd kingdom with flying goats, singing spiders, and daily emergencies surrounding quicksand. All of this is thanks to some citizens' desires to bend the world to their evil schemes...which never turn out to be as evil as planned. Like everyone else, Bobert isn't really phased by any of it. He has his own problems and just wishes he could find some friends, but it seems like he's invisible. Literally. Until he's not. When he finally finds friends, fate plans against him and has him disappearing into a gumball machine. Another villain has an evil scheme, but this time, that villain might succeed.
While the Phineas and Ferb promise wasn't really on mark, I did get Despicable Me vibes while caught up in this tale. The villain, Matt, has a round-about-way of being evil, but then, even Bobert and his friends tend to misstep here and there. There's a bumbling and oddness which is simply endearing and keeps the tale light and humorous despite some tenser action and high-ish stakes.
Bobert is an enjoyable character. He doesn't feel comfortable in his own skin and has no connection to anyone except for his parents. It's not clear why he's invisible (or if he truly is, at times), but it makes him easy to sympathize with, especially since he does try his best to make friends...or at least, be noticed. The characters around him have enough depth to make them interesting without heading in too deep to give way to boredom. It's a light, fast-paced, and imaginative read the entire way through.
There are some messages about not fitting in, making friendships, and learning to like ones self...as well as a look at what it means to be a hero or villain. But all of this flows seamlessly into the plot and lets the action maintain control. I did find myself reading this in one sitting and enjoying it quite a bit. There are several scene jumps, which leave some of the action to be assumed...something I've never run across before and am not sure what I think of it. But it works well enough not to leave any hiccups and does push the story along. The resolution came across a little hollow, but still wrapped up the tale quick and on a good note with lots of warmth.
It's a fun read from start to finish and will have readers smiling as they hope Bobert finds a way to save the day. I received a DRC and smiled the entire way through this read
Nefaria is an odd kingdom with flying goats, singing spiders, and daily emergencies surrounding quicksand. All of this is thanks to some citizens' desires to bend the world to their evil schemes...which never turn out to be as evil as planned. Like everyone else, Bobert isn't really phased by any of it. He has his own problems and just wishes he could find some friends, but it seems like he's invisible. Literally. Until he's not. When he finally finds friends, fate plans against him and has him disappearing into a gumball machine. Another villain has an evil scheme, but this time, that villain might succeed.
While the Phineas and Ferb promise wasn't really on mark, I did get Despicable Me vibes while caught up in this tale. The villain, Matt, has a round-about-way of being evil, but then, even Bobert and his friends tend to misstep here and there. There's a bumbling and oddness which is simply endearing and keeps the tale light and humorous despite some tenser action and high-ish stakes.
Bobert is an enjoyable character. He doesn't feel comfortable in his own skin and has no connection to anyone except for his parents. It's not clear why he's invisible (or if he truly is, at times), but it makes him easy to sympathize with, especially since he does try his best to make friends...or at least, be noticed. The characters around him have enough depth to make them interesting without heading in too deep to give way to boredom. It's a light, fast-paced, and imaginative read the entire way through.
There are some messages about not fitting in, making friendships, and learning to like ones self...as well as a look at what it means to be a hero or villain. But all of this flows seamlessly into the plot and lets the action maintain control. I did find myself reading this in one sitting and enjoying it quite a bit. There are several scene jumps, which leave some of the action to be assumed...something I've never run across before and am not sure what I think of it. But it works well enough not to leave any hiccups and does push the story along. The resolution came across a little hollow, but still wrapped up the tale quick and on a good note with lots of warmth.
It's a fun read from start to finish and will have readers smiling as they hope Bobert finds a way to save the day. I received a DRC and smiled the entire way through this read
October 11, 2024
"The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria" takes readers on a quirky adventure in a kingdom where evil schemes are an almost daily occurrence. The story follows Bobert Bougainvillea, a boy who feels invisible to everyone around him—until he stumbles into a cursed gumball machine that pulls him into one of Nefaria’s more serious and long-brewing evil plots. Now, with the fate of the kingdom at stake, Bobert must find the courage he didn’t know he had to stop the villainous wizard Matt.
This lighthearted fantasy plays on humorous names and amusing situations, making it an entertaining read for younger kids who enjoy whimsical stories. The character names, in particular, were a fun touch that added to the charm of the book. I can see its appeal for a younger audience.
One quote that stood out to me was: "If we start harming children in the name of the kingdom, the kingdom is worth nothing." It's a meaningful reminder that doing harm in the name of a greater good undermines that very good.
It’s a decent story with moments of humor and heart and younger readers will appreciate the humor and imaginative setting more than I ever could.
This lighthearted fantasy plays on humorous names and amusing situations, making it an entertaining read for younger kids who enjoy whimsical stories. The character names, in particular, were a fun touch that added to the charm of the book. I can see its appeal for a younger audience.
One quote that stood out to me was: "If we start harming children in the name of the kingdom, the kingdom is worth nothing." It's a meaningful reminder that doing harm in the name of a greater good undermines that very good.
It’s a decent story with moments of humor and heart and younger readers will appreciate the humor and imaginative setting more than I ever could.
January 4, 2024
This is definitely a "scary lite" fantasy, where the bad guy is a gross, stinky jerk of a wizard named Matt. I loved the humor of the names (one character is named Candelabra). Despite the efforts of the evil wizard Matt to take over the kingdom by force using an army of inept children, no one wants to fight/kill children, so the violence is minimal. But what I really liked was Bobert's efforts to be seen and make friends, and the related effort to be brave. The adults in the town were all useless and incompetent, leaving the brave resistance to Matt to the children. Lots of "middle grade" books these days are tending more towards teens, this definitely is appropriate even for advanced 3rd graders.
June 7, 2024
A group of kids must come together to defeat an evil wizard in their magical town.
This book stinks!!! It was literally painful to get through. I read in another review that the author is going for a Dr. Seuss/Roald Dahl quirky vibe, except it's really dumb and confusing. The names of the characters, the happenings in their magical village, the plot... all confusing and yet boring at the same time. I never cared about the characters or what was going to happen. The author just tried to do too much and none of it worked.
This book stinks!!! It was literally painful to get through. I read in another review that the author is going for a Dr. Seuss/Roald Dahl quirky vibe, except it's really dumb and confusing. The names of the characters, the happenings in their magical village, the plot... all confusing and yet boring at the same time. I never cared about the characters or what was going to happen. The author just tried to do too much and none of it worked.
August 23, 2023
This was the perfect bedtime read aloud! All three kiddos loved it (ages 8, 9, and 12). I even found myself cheering along Bobert and his new found friends as they tried to stop Evil Wizard Matt. For all the silliness (flying goats) and evil schemes there were heartfelt moments that made this book a favorite. It is also the perfect length to hold everyone’s attention at night!
January 27, 2024
This book was so sweet! It leaned into the whimsical fantasy I love, and I’m already thinking of all the kids in my life to whom I want to gift a copy. If you like Nimona, Adventure Time, Coraline, Ronald Dahl, etc. then this story will appeal to you as well. My friend Adi pulled off a magical story for kids and their families.
July 31, 2024
I would give it 2 stars, but kids might bump it up to three? This type of whimsical fantasy was just not for me. I felt like it was trying to hard to be funny. I did not connect with the characters or the story. Granted, I am not the target audience. I do think there are a group of middle grade readers that could enjoy this book.
September 11, 2023
This is everything I hope for in a children's book. The characters ring true. The world building is fantastic. The story is entertaining and well paced. And it's a little bit silly. Very pleased to have won this through Goodreads so that it crossed my path, and I can't wait to share it!
December 27, 2023
This is probably closer to a 3.5 but I’m rounding up because I had such a fun time reading this. I didn’t know what to expect going into this one, but I found myself relating to Bobert and liking him quite a bit.
January 10, 2025
An inventive and amusing tale of a land rife with nefariously evil schemes, inept and bumbling--though sometimes dangerous--adults, and heroic children who know what it is to feel invisible and learn what it means to be brave.
December 28, 2023
Well-written story!
February 17, 2024
Cute. That is the best way for me to describe this one. It is engaging and heartfelt, and I look forward to more from this author and series.
Want to read
June 21, 2024O
Read
August 30, 2025DNF
January 10, 2026
My kids (7 and 4) howled with laughter throughout the book. They loved the silliness and the humor, and were deeply invested in the story.
August 1, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Had a quirky Thomson's Dark Lord: The Early Years or Basye's Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, with touches of Riazi's The Gauntlet.
Had a quirky Thomson's Dark Lord: The Early Years or Basye's Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, with touches of Riazi's The Gauntlet.
March 31, 2024
This was a highly humorous book. I enjoyed the unique way the author formats the book. However, it was a little young for me. Still, cute! I suggest a 2-4 grade level or 7-9 age range.
-SnowSnowKitty
-SnowSnowKitty
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews