Book One “Darkness”

A High-Stakes Action-Fantasy Adventure

The writing was terrific, ditto the plot all the way through. Lots of excitement, lots of great surprises all the way to the end, even when I thought he was home free! — Lew H.

Imaginative and Exciting — A True Classic

I really liked this book, and I kept thinking about “The Wizard of Oz” as I read it. There’s a main human character who finds courage and his non-human friend who realizes he has a heart. The story has a menacing wicked witch-like antagonist, and the clever mention of a tornado at the end made me chuckle. But even with these similarities, “Kumite: Darkness” is its own story, more dire and complex than the classic “Oz.” There’s a lot of action and I appreciate that this is not another mindless “save the world” superhero epic, but instead a very thoughtfully written story with emotional intimacy, a lot of imagination, and endless heart. — Sam Y.

Great Series!

Really fantastic youth adventure series… my son loved both stories in this series! — TJ M.

More than a Martial Arts Adventure — A Powerful Story about a Young Boy’s Courage

“Darkness” has far more heart beneath its action than I expected! What begins as a cool martial arts video game adventure quickly evolves into something much deeper, a story about grief, friendship, trust, courage, and forgiveness.

Chris Kelly is an engaging and highly relatable protagonist whose struggles feel very authentic. Following his journey into the virtual world of Kumite creates an exciting blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and action that reminded me of the movies and books I loved growing up.

The relationship between Chris and Laster is the true emotional core of the story. Laster isn’t just a “video game fighter,” he gradually becomes a layered, human-like character who helps guide Chris through some very difficult emotional challenges.

The world-building is imaginative, thrilling, and incredibly cinematic. The deadly competitions, cyberninjas, virtual realms, and eventual crossover into the real world all feel vivid, energetic, and visually exciting.

If you’re a fan of “Tron,” “The NeverEnding Story,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Ready Player One,” and other emotionally-driven fantasy & sci-fi adventures, I highly recommend “Darkness.” I can’t wait to read “Chaos!” — James R.

“Tron” Meets “Ready Player One” in the Best Way

I enjoyed the first book “Darkness” in the Kumite series. It gave me “Tron” meets “Ready Player One” vibes with the virtual world and action, but it also had an emotional side about healing and finding friendships in unexpected places. The character development was well done, and I felt connected to Chris throughout his journey. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, engaging, fantasy-adventure, and I’m looking forward to reading Book 2. — Lisa K.

The Story Immersed Both of Us

Got the book for my young nephew. He really liked how it was like “going into my games” (his words). I was looking for a present that he could enjoy without screens and this was it! Ended up reading it myself and saw why he liked it so much. “Darkness” has well developed characters and an engaging genuine story I think we can all relate to. So glad I found a good one. — John L.

A Great Sci-Fi Adventure for Children and Adults

I loved this book! This is a really fun read that young adults and even fully grown adults are sure to enjoy. It’s phenomenal worldbuilding along the lines of “Ready Player One” or “The Last Starfighter.” The characters are enjoyable and complex, there’s plenty of heart, and lots of action to keep you on your toes. Kumite would be a great introduction to sci-fi for kids who are interested in video games, aliens, and ninjas. I can’t wait to see where the series goes! — JP L.

Fun Action-Packed Read

You can feel the characters come alive in each scene. Can’t wait to check out the rest of the series. — Jay G.

Book Two “Chaos”

Book Two of Kumite Starts Off with a KABOOM!

This is a phenomenal sequel filled with cyberninjas, plasma explosions, and more! Book 2 of the series picks up where the last left off, with some new characters joining Chris in his adventures. Fans will definitely want to keep reading as this opens up the world to new possibilities and danger for our characters. This has everything you loved about the first installment: lots of action, great character development, and there are some added twists and turns to keep things interesting. Questions are answered, but there’s more mystery left for Chris to uncover. Fingers crossed it doesn’t take too long for Book 3 to hit the shelves! — JP L.

Great Series!

Great series for kids. Digital world meets action in a unique twist for young readers… — TJ M.

A Solid Second Book in the Series

I enjoyed the second book in the Kumite series. You got to know some of the other characters more, which made the story feel bigger and more connected. I also liked seeing the game characters interact more with the human world this time, rather than everything staying inside the game. It had a good balance of action and emotional moments, and overall, it kept me interested the whole way through. — Lisa K.

A Wild Ride — A Terrific Sequel!

“Chaos” is a wonderful follow-up to the first book and a perfect title. The author did a great job of continuing and resolving situations from the first story while creating unexpected and chaotic challenges for his characters. I like that the new human teens are smart and likeable with real insecurities and not annoying cliché stereotypes. Every new character has a purpose and critical story moment without robbing importance from the two core characters. It all just works. Simultaneous engaging story lines merge beautifully at the end for an epic finale. And like the first book, there’s tons of action, imagination, and heart, that gives this story its power. — Sam Y.

Read the First Kumite Book, You’ll Love this One!

What a wonderful follow-up to “Darkness!” It’s great to see the original characters growing closer and even the unexpected inclusion of a once-distanced father. This is a story about family as much as hyper-imaginative adventure. Really enjoyed how “Chaos” continues to merge earthly familiar environments with the fantastical, especially the scene with virtual reality forces battling it out at the high school stadium. As always, the rich descriptions and action-soaked dialogue draw you in and don’t let go. I’m looking forward to the next. — John L.