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Offset: Children of the Gulf
Magic is violent. No one understood this more than Kyle Harding, a young stick-licker from the Caribbean island of Bimshire, where miracles are sold every day. The problem is, each one comes with a burdensome debt.
As an obeah witch, Kyle's mother has built a massive debt which was passed on to her sons upon her death. And now Gulfsyde, a duo of brutal assassins notorious for leaving carnage in their wake, has come to collect.
With a past drenched in blood, fire and bodies, Gulfsyde aims to retire with one final kill. But Kyle has a little brother—Damien—to protect, and he will not lose any more family to the obeah trade. Though bus stops ignite, and devastating magical weapons form against him, Kyle defends his home with only the lowly sugarcane his mother left behind.
As an obeah witch, Kyle's mother has built a massive debt which was passed on to her sons upon her death. And now Gulfsyde, a duo of brutal assassins notorious for leaving carnage in their wake, has come to collect.
With a past drenched in blood, fire and bodies, Gulfsyde aims to retire with one final kill. But Kyle has a little brother—Damien—to protect, and he will not lose any more family to the obeah trade. Though bus stops ignite, and devastating magical weapons form against him, Kyle defends his home with only the lowly sugarcane his mother left behind.
- GenresFantasy
372 pages, Paperback
Published August 28, 2023
1684 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 28, 2025
3.75⭐️s. Roughly a year later I returned to the isle of Bimshire to see what Kyle Harding and his co-characters were up to in this the second book of the Offset series. I was greeted with another unique story that incorporated many aspects of bajan (Barbadian) life and folklore, some of which definitely can be related to regionally as well.
This second novel gives a small glimpse into the organization that is after Kyle, and his family and associates by extension. I wish it was a bigger glimpse as I still have questions but I’m hoping more will be revealed in subsequent books. As with the last book, the story within the story appealed to me a bit more as the children of the gulf truly captured my attention. The new characters surely brought the action, some I liked, some not so much. Definitely ended with a revelation or two that made me do a double take.
Sidebar: It was pretty cool making connections as to who inspired certain characters as the events unfolded.
The author again does well with his use of description to fully make scenes come alive. You truly felt like you were an onlooker as the story was told, especially so if you are a local and able to pinpoint where things were happening or who was involved. Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the naming of characters: Pel-Ting, Cut Up, Father Hoe, Bruggadown and my current favourite, Mix Drink. Caribbean nicknames are my absolute favourite because the backstory often times has the most ridiculous of origins. Though there were areas that I thought could use some work, I would definitely recommend this to regional readers, particularly younger readers who are fans of comics, fantasy and/ or anime. It’s a great form of representation sorely missing from older works, in a genre not usually tackled by regional authors.
This second novel gives a small glimpse into the organization that is after Kyle, and his family and associates by extension. I wish it was a bigger glimpse as I still have questions but I’m hoping more will be revealed in subsequent books. As with the last book, the story within the story appealed to me a bit more as the children of the gulf truly captured my attention. The new characters surely brought the action, some I liked, some not so much. Definitely ended with a revelation or two that made me do a double take.
Sidebar: It was pretty cool making connections as to who inspired certain characters as the events unfolded.
The author again does well with his use of description to fully make scenes come alive. You truly felt like you were an onlooker as the story was told, especially so if you are a local and able to pinpoint where things were happening or who was involved. Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the naming of characters: Pel-Ting, Cut Up, Father Hoe, Bruggadown and my current favourite, Mix Drink. Caribbean nicknames are my absolute favourite because the backstory often times has the most ridiculous of origins. Though there were areas that I thought could use some work, I would definitely recommend this to regional readers, particularly younger readers who are fans of comics, fantasy and/ or anime. It’s a great form of representation sorely missing from older works, in a genre not usually tackled by regional authors.
August 11, 2023
NetGalley ARC Educator 550974
I enjoyed this story. I had not read the first book so was a little lost. I quickly fell into the groove of the story. Some of the dialogue is in patois, which might be hard for some to understand. However I found it refreshing. I hope there will be another book and look forward to reading the first.
I enjoyed this story. I had not read the first book so was a little lost. I quickly fell into the groove of the story. Some of the dialogue is in patois, which might be hard for some to understand. However I found it refreshing. I hope there will be another book and look forward to reading the first.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews