Lionborn

Written by Sharique Zea

Ages 10+ | 228 Pages

Publisher: Sharique Zea (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-0682018-2-0

Publisher’s Book Summary: A Boy with Hidden Power. An Evil Sorcerer. Three Daring Trials to Test His Courage.

Fionn Hurley feels different. Worried his nightmares might be real, the twelve-year-old has visions of strange creatures and wakes up covered in mysterious marks that heal in a flash. But when a lion cub appears beside his reflection, the curious boy travels to a mystical land… and discovers he’s a Lionborn with powerful magic.

Fionn is shocked to hear an evil sorcerer wants him to bring back a dark overlord. But after finding a clue to defeating the wicked enchanter, the brave young hero discovers three perilous trials stand between him and victory.

With everyone out to get him, can Fionn embrace his abilities and save the people he loves?

If you like friendships full of courage, jaw-dropping surprises, and worlds bursting with magic, then step into Lionborn and let the adventure roar!

PURCHASE LINK

https://books2read.com/u/47poZL

This post is sponsored by Sharique Zea. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Guest Post

Saved By Passion

I know the title of this post might sound a little dramatic at first, but stay with me—it really is true.

I grew up in a family of educators, who nurtured my love of stories from an early age.As a child, I was enchanted by the magical worlds of Peter Pan, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Hobbit. Those worlds didn’t just entertain me—they shaped me. They sparked my imagination and showed me how magical worlds could reflect profound truths about our own.

Fantasy became my literary home. I adored the idea portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkien’s work that anything was possible, that courage could be found in the unlikeliest heroes, and that even the smallest person could change the course of the future. Storytelling grabbed hold of me early… and then, just as quickly, life tugged it out of my hands.

As I grew older, the real world demanded more of me. I chased degrees, one after another, determined to build a stable future. And while education is incredibly important—something I believe wholeheartedly—I lost track of what I loved. My passion slowly slipped to the bottom of my priority list. It turned into one of those things I kept promising myself I’d return to ‘one day’, like a favourite old tune I no longer paused long enough to hum. I told myself I’d return to it when life settled down, when things were easier, when I finally had the time. But that day never seemed to come.

So many of us convince ourselves that passion is a luxury, not a need. I fell into that trap too.

Then life threw one of those curveballs that knocked the wind out of me. My days blurred into nights, and everything felt like it had come to a standstill. I kept asking myself:What now? What do I do? It was one of those moments where you feel like you’re standing in the middle of your life but somehow not living any of it.

And in that stillness, I learnt something important: you can’t always dodge life’s hardships, but you can choose how you move through them. You can choose what anchors you. You can choose what brings you back to yourself.

For me, that anchor was my passion for storytelling.

Passion is funny like that. It’s wired into you, tucked deep inside, waiting patiently even when you’ve forgotten it. And when everything around me felt dark, that old spark lit up again. It wasn’t subtle either—it was loud, clear, and impossible to ignore. The message was simple: follow your passion.

That moment marked the beginning of LIONBORN.

Now, deciding to write a book wasn’t some graceful, confident leap. It was messy and terrifying. I kept asking myself:A book? Really? Who do you think you are? The idea thrilled me and scared me in equal measure. My mind teetered on the precipice of hope and fear, the pendulum swinging between the stuff of nightmares and dreams.

But then there was the blinking cursor on the screen—steady, patient, almost encouraging. It felt like an invitation. A gentle nudge saying,‘Go on. Try.’

And the very first thing that came to me wasn’t the story or the setting. It was my protagonist,Fionn. He came to me fully formed—timid, uncertain, and confused about things happening in his life. But I wanted him… no, I needed him to outgrow his fears and transform into someone filled with courage and determination.

I knew I wanted to write about friendship, bravery, perseverance, and resilience. I wanted to explore what it means to rise after falling, to keep going when everything feels impossible. And LIONBORNgave me the perfect canvas to do that. Inspired by adversities, I designed three trials for Fionn to test his courage.Witnessing his growth and seeing how much friendship and self-belief can change everything was truly a rewarding experience.

Passion has a way of helping you process emotions you don’t know how to name. It gives you a safe place to express yourself without judgement or pressure. Through LIONBORN, I found a way to channel everything I was feeling—fear, hope, confusion, determination—into Fionn’s journey. Each chapter pulled me a little further away from the shadows of my past and a little closer to myself. It was liberating. It was healing. It was exhilarating.

The world moves fast, sometimes too fast. We’re constantly juggling expectations, responsibilities, and the endless pressures of daily life. We work so hard to build a better future that we forget to live in the present. Passion reminds us to breathe. It reminds us that joy isn’t something to postpone.

We need to stop treating passion as a luxury and start seeing it as a necessity. It builds resilience. It fuels perseverance. It gives us something that belongs entirely to us—something no one can take away.

For me, passion became a lifeboat. When the waves got rough, it kept me afloat. And it continues to do so every day.

When life starts to feel a bit too heavy, lean into your passion, be a dreamer, and stay positive!

By Sharique Zea, author of Lionborn

About The Author Illustrator

Sharique Zea was born in Ranchi, Eastern India, into a family of educators. He is a chartered accountant.

His imagination took flight early, drawing him towards books and libraries. Entranced by worlds of smoke and dreams, he would spin fantastical tales as a child, a personal pastime that stayed with him even as he entered the world of finance in London.

He has kept his passion alive by creating stories whenever inspiration strikes, and although his day job crunches numbers, his heart beats for the magic of storytelling.

For more information, visit https://www.shariquezea.com/

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win one of 10 signed paperback copies of Lionborn by Sharique Zea. A grand prize winner will also receive a signed copy plus a $50 USD Amazon gift card to explore even more magical reads.

Lionborn: Book Giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, February 2, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of Lionborn

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 The Starlit Path Book Review and Instagram Reel about Lionborn

Thursday, February 5, 2026 @FroggyReadTeach Instagram Post about Lionborn

Friday, February 6, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Lionborn

Monday, February 9, 2026 @avainbookland Instagram Post about Lionborn

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Book List Featuring Lionborn

Thursday, February 12, 2026 Confessions of a Book Addict Book Spotlight on Lionborn

Friday, February 13, 2026 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Lionborn

Monday, February 16, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Author Interview with Sharique Zea

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of Lionborn

Thursday, February 19, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Lionborn

Friday, February 20, 2026 Sybrina’s Book Blog Guest Post about Lionborn

Monday, February 23, 2026 Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog Book Review of Lionborn

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Lionborn

Thursday, February 26, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Lionborn

Friday, February 27, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Sharique Zea