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Caput Mundi: The Head of the World: Book 1: Enarii by B.R.Kang
Publisher: AP Creative LLC
Format Read: Hardcover
Number of pages: 270 pages
Publishing: March 1st, 2026
Source: Books Forward
Opening Lines: "Dark. So incredibly, frighteningly dark, yet the sun was warm on Niil's small, eleven-year-old hands."
Caput Mundi opens with Niil being seized by debt collectors, Marcus and Mira, who hope to force his absent father to repay what he owes. Having spent his life running and hiding from his father’s creditors, Niil is weary of the constant pursuit. Marcus and Mira bring him to Umbra, a city once devoted to mining Enarii—a rare liquid metal coveted throughout Caput Mundi. Enarii can be absorbed into the skin and reshaped into everyday objects such as combs, mallets, or scissors. Niil soon discovers he possesses a rare gift, the ability to draw Enarii to himself. Marcus however warns him to keep this talent hidden from outsiders but begins quietly training him to harness Enarii’s shape-shifting powers.
When a letter arrives suggesting Niil’s father may be in Caput Mundi, Marcus and Mira depart to search for him, leaving Niil behind in Umbra. Months pass without word, and just as Niil prepares to set out on his own, Ada arrives with devastating news—Marcus and Mira have perished in a fire. Determined to uncover the truth, Niil and Ada journey to Caput Mundi together, seeking both Niil’s parents and a mysterious woman whom Ada believes holds the key to her own parents’ deaths.
Caput Mundi is a middle grade action-adventure mystery set in an alternate Ancient Rome. According to the author's website it was inspired by a quote from W.C. Fields, "You are not what you're called, but what you answer to" and her desire to recapture the feelings of reading Harry Potter and designing her own world.
Umbra and Caput Mundi stand in stark contrast. Umbra, once a thriving mining town, was impacted by several environmental accidents that leeched toxins into its soil. Caput Mundi, by comparison, is a wealthy capital ruled by the Electus, or officers of the Capital and overseen by a constitutional monarchy under the Imperator. It is a city of opulence, where the full alchemic potential of Enarii is not only harnessed but fiercely coveted.
Out of this divide, a faction of dissenters known as Doubleyes emerged, intent on stealing Enarii and toppling Caput Mundi's rulers. Caught between these opposing forces, Niil and Ada face mounting questions, especially when Niil discovers that his mother may be the outlaw leading the Doubleyes and that Marcus and Mira could have been the traitors assisting her.
One of the stories greatest strengths lies in Niil and Ada's relentless pursuit of the truth, no matter where it leads. Their perseverance makes them a compelling duo, and I especially enjoyed watching their relationship evolve. Ada's initial suspicion of Niil gradually giving away to trust as they worked together to achieve their goals. The story wraps up satisfyingly while leaving space for the next installment in the series. Although the pacing felt a little slow at times for me, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Niil's and Ada's parents kept me engaged right through the final page.
**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the ARC hardcover in exchange for an honest review**
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