You know the plot is going to have some surprising twists and a lot of unanswered questions after the first few minutes reading Caput Mundi. 11-year old Niil Terra is kidnapped by a couple who are trying to get a debt back from his father.

They take Niil to the severely damaged island of Umbra. With no word from Dad about accepting the demands of his captors, Niil begins to bond with this couple who treat him with respect.

He soon learns that he inherited a unique skill from his mother who four years ago left and never came back. Niil can attract and use Enarii, a magical liquid that can be formed to be anything you desire. Did you forget your shovel? No problem! Visualize the shovel you want and Emarii does the rest.

The next twist comes when his captors leave him alone for months. Niil eventually meets a tough minded 13-year-old girl named Ada and her cautious cousin Soes. The three take off for Caput Mundi to find answers to their questions about the events in this strange world. Could his mother be the leader of the the Doubleyes, a group trying to destroy Emarii. There’s one surprise after another including an evil plot for revenge.

Having heard from young readers about chapter length (“We only get 15 minutes of free reading time and I always hate when I can’t finish a chapter!“). Yes, these chapters are long here but fortunately they have scene breaks within each chapter giving you a place to pause your reading.

Overall, the story will have you changing your mind several times as to who is the one causing all the problems. The world building is fascinating and the engaging fantasy adventure in Caput Mundi will have you hoping for Book 2 as there are still a few plot twists unresolved.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 17, 2026 PAGES: 274

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

B.R. KANG is a 1.5-generation Korean-American, unapologetic foodie, Harvard alum, and constant daydreamer. Her debut novel, “Caput Mundi,” has been nearly twenty years in the making—rooted in what-ifs, countless revisions, hundreds of rejections, and a stubborn belief that good stories are worth fighting for. 

When she’s not writing, she’s in the kitchen experimenting with recipes or exploring flavors from around the world. Learn more about her and her work at CaputMundiBooks.com.

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