THE WALL OF CARDS

Writer

Eddie Otieno

Eddie Edwin Otieno is a Kenyan writer whose storytelling is inspired by the hidden histories, friendships, and everyday mysteries of Kisumu and beyond. Drawing from real-life experiences and the vibrant culture of his hometown, Eddie crafts fiction that explores the boundaries-both visible and invisible-that shape young lives. The Wall of Cards is his debut novel, reflecting his passion for stories that find hope and connection in unexpected places.
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THE WALL OF CARDS

friendship mystery secrets schoollife girl boardingschool genderbender african dualpov urbanlegends kenyan hiddentruths urbanlegend epistolary-novel comingofage,youngadultfriendsh boundaries kisumu

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Table of Contents Intro Comments (1)

When the world is split in two, what will it take to build a bridge?

The First Crack in the Wall

When the wall cracks, what escapes is more than whispers.

In the stillness of the night, truths are neither seen nor said—but known.

In the stillness of the night, truths are neither seen nor said—but known.

Some secrets echo louder than voices ever dare.

When boundaries blur, hearts remember what walls made them forget.

In the noise of everyone else, the quiet ones finally speak.

Every journalist starts with a question—and sometimes, a grudge.

Blue threads, old trails, and truths hidden in plain sight.

To find the truth, Seline must untangle more than letters.

Every answer from the Order has a price—and a warning.

When you chase secrets, sometimes they chase you back.

To fight shadows, you must first become one.

Messages folded in cranes carry more than code—they carry risk.

Betrayal blooms in the silence between glances and locked doors

The story writes itself, but the ending is still a choice.

Exonerated, but not free—truth has its own shadow

Secrets and thread trails by dusk’s edge.

A letter from the past reveals a future full of risks.

An invitation from the shadows—proof the Order is watching.

An invitation from the shadows—proof the Order is watching.

An invitation from the shadows—proof the Order is watching.

The boy behind the wall, and the letter he never sent.

A letter never sent. A moment never claimed.

Unmasking the Order, Exposing the Rituals, Reclaiming the Voice.

“Smoke, Shadows, and Sabotage”

Rumors bloom like bougainvillea, Mercy falters, and the girls turn shadows into power.

When truth is dangerous, silence becomes a weapon.

From shadowed loyalty to fearless truth.

THE WALL OF CARDS is a coming-of-age tale set in the heart of Kisumu, where the weathered stone wall separating Kisumu Girls’ and Kisumu Boys’ High Schools becomes both a literal and symbolic barrier. Through secret notes, hidden messages, and quiet acts of rebellion, students on both sides navigate friendship, longing, and the mysteries that bridge their divided worlds.
This story was born from the author’s own memories as a former student of Kisumu Boys’ High School, a place where invisible and visible walls shaped daily life and friendships. Eddie Edwin Otieno found himself reliving these stories in a new light during the Gen Z uprising of June 25, 2024, when Kenyan youths rose up across the nation to protest poor governance, ultimately forcing President Ruto to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
Inspired by the courage, unity, and hope of a new generation, Eddie weaves together personal nostalgia and the spirit of youthful resistance, creating a narrative that speaks to anyone who has ever searched for connection and meaning in the spaces between us.

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