Tidesong by Wendy Xu (ARC Review)

Information

Goodreads: Tidesong
Series: None
Source: PR company for review
Publication Date: November 16, 2021

Official Summary

Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society, this is a magically heartwarming graphic novel about self-acceptance and friendship.

Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy—the best magic school in the realm—even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met.

Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.

Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t—beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?

Review

Tidesong by Wendy Xu is a whimsical graphic novel that has the feel of Kiki’s Delivery Service, but with dragons and a setting by the sea. The result is a story that ebbs and flows with protagonist Sophie’s struggles but ultimately will feel warm and familiar and cozy to readers.

The greatest struggle, I find, for many graphic novels is to create a complex story using limited words and space, and I do think Tidesong ultimately feels a bit sparse. There’s the main conflict of Sophie’s wanting to learn magic but then getting her magic tied up with a dragon’s and needing to sort it out so she can continue to practice for her audition for the esteemed magic academy she wants to attend, and there are side plots about Sophie’s family and Sophie’s own inner turmoil. It’s simply not as developed as I’d expect it all to be if the story were told in novel form. However, I don’t think it this will be an issue for the target audience of middle grade readers. As a child, I often imagined fuller stories into the books I read and was surprised to find as an adult that many of the books I loved so much seemed so short and simple. So I think young readers will absolutely fall in love with Tidesong and its world.

And the world has a lot to offer. In a brief space, and with the help of her gorgeous illustrations, Xu brings readers to a seaside town where Sophie’s family works magic and consorts with dragons. You can practically smell the salty air on the pages. I love the idea that Sophie’s magic is tied to water and that her family has a history of special magical traditions they have passed through the ages.

Finally, Xu ensures each character in the book has an arc, from Sophie who has to deal with learning magic in ways she didn’t expect, to Lir who has to come to terms with his memory loss and family problems, to Sophie’s extended family members who need to learn to let go of the past in order to truly see the present. The journey for each of them has up and downs but is a joy for readers to watch.

Tidesong is a book that is sure to delight readers and have them hoping Xu will return to this world with a sequel.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

Information

Goodreads: Rule of Wolves
Series: Nikolai Duology #2
Source: Library
Publication Date: 2021

Official Summary

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.

The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

Review

The ending of King of Scars left me disappointed, fearful that the sequel would retread old ground instead of moving forward with the story about a nation rebuilding. Few series seem to treat the aftermath of a war, preferring instead to close with the “happily ever after” of an enemy defeated. King of Scars feels novel in that it depicts a country unsure of the future after the collapse of the old regime. Though readers may be rooting for Nikolai to be king, the people of Ravka do not know him, nor are they sure they want the kind of future he represents. This uncertainty, this fragility is what makes the book so interesting. I was glad to discover that Rule of Wolves continues to explore the fraught relationships between people and nations, rather than trying to recreate the storyline of the Shadow and Bone trilogy.

Leigh Bardugo’s masterful storytelling is at its height here, as she weaves together the stories of several characters, each with their own hard choices to make. Nikolai is trying to keep a country together, even as he is torn apart by the monster instead. Zoya is trying to atone for following the Darkling by serving her country as its general. Nina is trying to lay her old lover to rest even as she glimpses the possibility of a future with another. Their stories intertwine along with several others, showing how the fate of a nation can rest in the hands of not only its leaders, but also the people who get swept up in events along the way. But, since this is Ravka, things only seem to get worse as the story progresses. The cliffhangers at the end of each chapter will lead readers breathless to know more, desperate to learn that everything turns out all right, after all.

Part of what I enjoy so much about Bardugo’s work is that is often offers the unexpected, upending tropes and refusing to fall into the patterns genre fiction so often embraces. Rule of Wolves is no different. While I predicted a few plot twists, others completely surprised me. This feels right, because leading a nation often means there are no easy answers. While the outcomes were largely satisfying, they did not feel trite. And they leave the door open for more exciting adventures to come.

My one main criticism of the work is one other fans may likely not share. I thought the cameos were overdone. While it is nice to see old favorites return, seeing them all in one book felt more than fan service than great storytelling, especially when some of these characters do not have a real reason to be mingling with each other. I understand, however, that many readers probably enjoyed these moments. And, really, they are too small a part of the book to really hinder my enjoyment.

Rule of Wolves is another stunning installment from Bardugo to the Grishaverse. Fans of Bardugo’s work will not want to miss out on this exciting adventure–especially as it seems to be setting up a future novel, maybe even the ones readers have been waiting for since Six of Crows.

How to Save a Queendom by Jessica Lawson (ARC Review)

Information

Goodreads: How to Save a Queendom
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher
Published: April 20, 2020

Official Summary

From critically acclaimed author Jessica Lawson comes a whimsical fantasy about an orphaned twelve-year-old girl who is called upon to save her queendom when she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket.

Life’s never been kind to twelve-year-old Stub. Orphaned and left in the care of the cruel Matron Tratte, Stub’s learned that the best way to keep the peace is to do as she’s told. No matter that she’s bullied and that her only friend is her pet chicken, Peck, Stub’s accepted the fact that her life just isn’t made for adventure. Then she finds a tiny wizard in her pocket.

Orlen, the royal wizard to Maradon’s queen, is magically bound to Stub. And it’s up to her to ferry Orlen back to Maradon Cross, the country’s capital, or else the delicate peace of the queendom will crumble under the power of an evil wizard queen. Suddenly Stub’s unexciting life is chock-full of adventure. But how can one orphan girl possibly save the entire queendom?

Review

How to Save a Queendom by Jessica Lawson is a rollicking middle-grade adventure that takes all the best parts of a fantasy quest, mixes them up, and presents a story sure to enthrall its readers. From the moment twelve-year-old orphan Stub appears, bullied by the tavern owner she’s apprenticed to, and finding solace only in her pet chicken, readers will know that this is a quirky tale that means to entertain. The appearance of a tiny, grumpy wizard, magically bound to Stub by accident, along with a chef’s apprentice who can’t seem to stop talking about food, only add to the delightful chaos. Will all three be forced to go on a journey together across the nation to stop an evil queen from taking over? Of course!

There’s something kind of irreverent about the way Lawson takes fantasy staples–orphans, wizards, dragons, and evil regents–and puts her own spin on them. The orphan holds no special secret powers, but she is plucky. The wizard is small and impotent. The dragon is somewhat beside the point. And the evil regent almost gets our pity. But, somehow, it all works. The presence of the tropes gives readers something familiar to hold on to. But the way Lawson subverts them makes the book feel not only unpredictable, but also fun.

The characters, along with the plot, are sure to delight. Readers will be sure to fall in love with the protagonist, Stub, who is forced to live in a chicken coop and put up with her mistress’s abuse. Over time, however, Stub finds her strength by learning to trust others and allow them to help her. She is joined by Orlen, a somewhat cranky wizard who is not always as good at spellcraft as he would like everyone to think, but who proves lovable nonetheless. And by Beamas, who provides much of the comic relief by babbling on about recipes and spices when he ought to be thinking about how is life is in danger. Together, they make an unlikely team to save a queendom, but, somehow, it works.

Readers who enjoy middle grade fantasy, fantasy quests, and quirky humor will be sure to love How to Save a Queendom. Its irreverent take on genre tropes, along with its unlikely heroes, prove an irresistibly charming combination.

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill

Information

Goodreads: The Tea Dragon Festival
Series: Tea Dragon #2
Source: Library
Publication Date: 2019

SummarY

Rinn dreams of becoming an apprentice cook but, for now, she is a gatherer.  Gathering is how she stumbles upon Aedhan, a dragon who was supposed to protect her village, but who fell asleep decades ago instead. Now Rinn must help Aedhan find his place in the community, while her uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel search for the beast who caused Aedhan’s enchanted slumber.  A companion book to The Tea Dragon Society.

Review

The Tea Dragon Festival is another dreamlike fantasy from Katie O’Neill, whose gentle story lines, measured pacing, and whimsically beautiful worlds make her work feel a little like a Hayao Miyazaki film.  She imagines a world where people are kind, all are welcomed, and inclusiveness is a matter of fact.  The drama comes, not from villainy, but rather from misunderstandings, doubt, and fear.  This is the drama of a life, where things that may seem small to some–finding one’s place in the community, learning what one wants to be when grown up–are acknowledged to be big things indeed.   All this combines to make a story filled with wonder, beauty, and hope–the kind of story that invites the reader to sink into it and rest.

The remarkable thing about O’Neill’s work is how easily the small matters of a community come to life and take on significance for the readers.  Many stories rely on fast-paced action, surprise twists, and plenty of violence to keep things interesting.  But The Tea Dragon Festival is simply the story of a girl and her new friend preparing for a festival.  The girl begins by seeking to help her new friend, and ends by being helped in turn.  There is a simple elegance to it, a naturalness that prevents the book from feeling didactic.  It just is.  And it raises the question of whether something so natural–kindness, friendship, support–could happen in our world as easily as it happens in Rinn’s.

Rinn’s world is perhaps so enticing because it is wondrous and whimsical and magical.  Rinn is not just any girl trying to find her calling in life.  She is a girl who raises tea dragons, who befriends actual dragons, who lives on a mountain that seems enchanted.  Perhaps it is not surprising that a simple story about her life could be interesting–everything about her life seems fantastic.  Yet something about Rinn seems like it could happen in our world, too.  After all, she has normal hopes and fears, a desire to belong, a need to be needed.  Her world may be extraordinary, but Rinn herself seems ordinary in the best way possible.

The Tea Dragon Festival will be a guaranteed hit for fans of The Tea Dragon Society.  But, as a companion book, it stands on its own and can easily be enjoyed by readers new to the series. With its whimsical world, sympathetic characters, and beautiful artwork, it is sure to enchant readers old and new alike.

Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Information

Goodreads: Shadow Scale
Series: Seraphina #2
Source: Library
Published: 2012

Summary

War has broken out between the dragons and now the humans must choose sides.  The kingdom of Gorredd has chosen to support the dragons who will uphold the human-dragon treaty.  But to win, they need the help of all the half-humans, half-dragons who have previously been hidden, often shunned and punished by their communities.  Seraphina has agreed to track down those of her kind.  But one of them is invading minds and she has the power to destroy everything Goredd has worked for.

Review

Shadow Scale gripped me far more than its predecessor Seraphina.  It moves beyond the palace walls and opens up the narrative to the larger world and the various ways half-dragons have survived.  Higher stakes, a larger cast, and more settings to explore simply make Shadow Scale more interesting.

I tend to be drawn to character-driven stories, so I was engrossed by a narrative in which Seraphina must fight a woman who can enter the minds of others.  The question of whether Seraphina could continue to protect her mind, as well as the question of which other characters could be trusted, added excitement to the tale.  This, coupled with how it never fell into the well-worn tropes of YA fantasy, made Shadow Scale a compelling read.  I wanted to know more because I never felt sure that I did know what would happen.

The characters won my heart, as well.  I loved seeing Seraphina finally open herself up to her friends and I loved seeing how other half-dragons lived both in Goredd and in other nations.  It was truly satisfying both to see some well-respected community members and to see Seraphina realize that she was no longer alone.  She set out to find a family and, even when she did not succeed, she still managed to bring people–and herself–a little bit of light.  I felt she deserved some of that after everything she had been through.

Shadow Scale is an original YA fantasy that is absolutely thrilling.  Everything from its characters to its plot conspires to make it the kind of book difficult to put down.  Fans of YA, of fantasy, and of dragons are advised to pick it up.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Information

Goodreads: Seraphina
Series: Seraphina #1
Source: Library
Published: 2012

Summary

The peace between dragons and humans is uneasy in Goredd.  Dragons take on human form and attend universities, but they are marked with bells and locked into gated communities at night–all to make the humans feel safer.  When a member of the royal family is found dead in a way that suggests a dragon culprit, tensions rise.  Seraphina Dombegh, a court musician and secret half-dragon, half-human, thinks she understands dragons well enough to help keep the peace.  But no one can know who she really is.

Review

I have been meaning to read Seraphina for years.  Fantasies with dragons are exactly my cup of tea, even if they have never turned into New York Times bestsellers.  Having finally read Seraphina, I am not entirely blown away, however.  The story is a solid fantasy with a compelling plot and a sympathetic protagonist.  It just could never live up to my expectations after I read Tess of the Road.

Writing a review for Seraphina is difficult because I have no strong emotions about the book.  I enjoyed reading it and often kept reading it long after I should have stopped.  However, it does not possess for me that ineffable “Wow!” factor.  I found Seraphina sympathetic, but not particularly interesting.  I liked the plot, but did not find it particularly amazing.  Nothing stood out for me.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.  A solid fantasy is still a good fantasy!  I am just a little baffled about how Seraphina became a bestseller over other fantasies equally as solid.  Perhaps fantasy fans just cannot resist a good dragon tale.

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

Information

Goodreads: Tess of the Road
Series: Tess of the Road #1
Source: Library
Published: 2018

Summary

Tess has given up everything to see her twin sister married, so perhaps it’s not surprising she loses it at the wedding.  With her family determined to send her to a nunnery, Tess takes off.  Her quigutl friend, a subspecies of dragon, gives her a mission, but Tess is walking simply to survive.

Review

“You will wander the dark places under the earth, but you will come back with the sun.”

In a market full of plot-driven narratives, Tess of the Road stands apart.  It is a quiet, carefully crafted story.  One that focuses on the inner thoughts of the protagonist and her hard-won growth from bitter alcoholic to a self-assured woman.  It is is one my favorite books of 2018 so far.

Other reviewers have mentioned that they think nothing happens in the story and are bored.  Nothing happens only if you consider character growth “nothing.”  For much of the story, Tess is walking, ostensibly to find a legendary creature her friend is positive exists, but mostly because she does not know what else to do.  She has no place at home, no place in the court, no one she feels who really understands or supports her.  She wants to choose her own life, but initially can only find the courage to choose to wake up each day and walk.  Her story is one of finding an ultimate destination.

Quiet, reflective books like this are rare in YA–and precisely why other reviewers are likely confused.  This is a fantasy novel, so where are the epic battles?  But Tess of the Road reminds us that epic battles take place each day.  The decision to move on, the decision to stop and really look, the decision to love–all these things can be the result of silent battles raging inside individuals.  These battles are not insignificant because invisible.  Rather, they can mean everything.

So if you’re looking for something different, if you’re looking for something beautiful, try Tess of the Road.  It ignores all the tropes of YA and, in the process, ends up telling a transcendent tale.

Mini Reviews (5)

Jack and Jill by Louisa may Alcott

It’s always a bit uncomfortable when you realized a book that was a childhood favorite has imperialistic undertones.  However, if you can get past that, Jack and Jill is in fine Alcott style.  It features a host of boys and girls busy pursuing their dreams, getting up (to us) old-fashioned entertainment, and even beginning to feel the first whispers of love.  I enjoy that, though the title focuses on two characters, their friends receive chapters of their own, making everyone feel chummy and sociable.  (I always thought it odd the March sisters didn’t really seem to have friends, aside from Annie Moffat.)  There’s no real plot here, just a year in the life of characters trying to do better and become better people.  It feels refreshingly wholesome and fans of Little Women will want to check out this story, as well.  (Source: Purchased) Four stars.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

For about half of the book, I could not get into the story because the authors so clearly think they and protagonist Doreen Green are funny–but I was not laughing.  Doreen just comes across as weird and awkward, and not always in an endearing sort of way.  The worst parts are the end notes, written (strangely) in first person, while the rest of the story is written in third person.  Doreen tries to be funny, but just isn’t.

The book is clearly meant to be fun and silly, so even the not-humorous parts are bizarre, with Squirrel Girl fighting a boy-villain and saving babies with the aid of squirrels.  Weird stuff happens like squirrels being held as ransom and zucchinis masquerading as the victims of villains.  I didn’t mind the weirdness–I assume that’s part of Squirrel Girl’s appeal for most people–but I disliked the forced jokes.  The best parts were the texts between Squirrel Girl and other Marvel heroes–these are actually amusing as they poke fun at the characters.  The rest of the story was not particularly memorable for me, except that I was pleasantly surprised that Doreen’s parents are present and actually care about her–a rarity in children’s literature.  The first in a series.  (Source: Library) Three Stars.

Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

I went into this volume believing it was another anthology of short stories featuring the intelligent Jeeves rescuing his employer’s friends from various awkward situations.  In fact, this is a novel dedicated to a series of difficulties: Bertie’s aunt needs money, his cousin broke off her engagement, and his friend is too shy to speak to the girl he loves.  Bertie is convinced he, and not Jeeves, will solve these crises and so ensues a series of mishaps only Bertie can create.  Readers will find themselves greatly entertained by the convoluted schemes and the mishaps they create.  This is Bertie and Jeeves in fine style.  If you’re looking for a light, comical story, look no farther.  (Source: Library) Four Stars.

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

I enjoyed the humor of the first book in the series, Dealing with Dragons, and the ways in which Wrede plays with fairy tale tropes.  Unfortunately, the sequel lacks the magic of the first book.  King Mendenbar comes across as whiny, Cimorene as rude, and the magician Telemain as annoying.  This is odd as I think they are supposed to come across as delightfully unconventional, spunky, and funny, respectively.  The plot is dull and consists mainly of Mendenbar and Cimorene never getting where they want to go and running into random characters who are meant to be amusing but failed to amuse me.  I miss the charm and wit of the first book.  (Source: Library) Three Stars.

Dragon’s Green by Scarlett Thomas

Information

Goodreads: Dragon’s Green
Series: Worldquake Series #1
Source: Library
Published: 2017

Summary

Effie Truelove is not sure magic really exists until her grandfather ends up in the hospital.  Then, suddenly, he is bequeathing his library to her as well as an assortment of magical objects.  But her father sells the books to a man Effie is not sure she can trust.  And thus she finds herself on an adventure to reclaim her inheritance and the truth about her birthright.

Review

Dragon’s Green is a fast-paced and exciting adventure story that feels wholly original in the realm of middle-grade fantasy.  It seems based on role-playing games, requiring the protagonist Effie to collect magical items (called boons) and bequeath them to her allies, who all possess different innate abilities and thus different titles (scholar, mage, healer, etc.).  Together, they form a team that  can defeat an evil book-destroying mage.

A lot of intriguing elements come together in the story to heighten the mystery and keep readers intrigued. The story begins with Effie’s grandfather dying under strange circumstances and leaving her only vague hints about what to do with the magic she never really knew existed.  From there, she and her friends have to piece together the rules of the magical world, before they inadvertently do something terribly wrong or terribly dangerous.  Dragons, princesses, goblins, and guardians all make their appearances, making the story a very satisfying fantasy experience.

Dragon’s Green is the first in a series, but it’s the kind of first that really makes you want to read the sequel.  The characters are sympathetic, the world intriguing, and the mystery thrilling.  I, for one, am excited by the possibility of going on another adventure with Effie and her friends.

A Dash of Dragon by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartowski

Information

Goodreads: A Dash of Dragon
Series: Dash of Dragon #1
Source: Library
Published: 2017

Summary

Lailu is the youngest chef to graduate from the academy in three hundred years and she has a plan to revolutionize the way people think about food.  She is a mystical chef, one who hunts and serves beasts like kraken and dragons.  But her master has made a deal with a loan shark and if their restaurant does not succeed, they’ll both end up in servitude for life.  Does Lailu have what it takes to navigate the underworld, match wits with a series of spies, defeat a cooking rival, and still prepare the perfect meal?

Review

At times, A Dash of Dragon feels a little like a clunky and convoluted mess.  Lailu, a thirteen-year-old Mystical Chef (one who serves meals made of monsters), finds herself caught up in a world where a loan shark holds power over local businesses, the elf mafia terrorizes the city, the scientists may or may not be engaged in deadly schemes, and the king is…too young to be relevant as his city lives in terror?  None of this is bad.  It’s all very exciting.  It’s just confusing that Lailu is dragged into it by the opposing sides.  Who really hires a thirteen-year-old to spy on other people?  Especially when they are already doing a better job of spying themselves?

Also unclear are the motivations of Lailu’s rival, Greg.  He is roughly the same age and has opened his own restaurant, which Lailu perceives as competition–even though the average city can surely sustain two restaurants quite comfortably.  He obviously has a crush on her, but also appears to be a little mean.  Whether or not he is really mean or not is left unanswered–read the sequel if you want to figure out what this guy’s deal is.

Indeed, read the sequel if you want any of your questions answered, because this book is more concerned with drama than it is with giving anyone clear or logical motivations.  Lailu, for instance, regularly forgets about really important things just to make the plot convenient and just as regularly tends to be wrong about the characters of essentially everyone she knows–again to drive the plot.  By the end, she has done a score of ridiculous things, like protecting the identify of a group of murderer/kidnappers.  Why?  Probably so they can show up in the sequel.  There is no other explanation.

And yet.  The book is quite entertaining.  I loved Lailu’s spunk.  I was intrigued by the elf mafia.  I thought the premise of a group of chefs who hunt and cook monsters original and exciting.  In short, I enjoyed the book.  And I want to read the sequel.  Not because I want to figure anything out–I’ll be surprised if book two makes any more sense than book one–but because I love traveling through the magical world built in A Dash of Dragon.