Heroes of Havensong

November 1, 2022
Four young strangers from different corners of Haven must trust one another in order to save the world. A magic gold thread presents itself to each of them to follow into an outside world they have been taught to fear. Child soldier Shenli Zhao was forced into service to save his family's honor. Wren Barrow is a young witch whose Seer grandmother told her to find him. Blue (he has no other name) sacrificed everything for the people he loves and was transformed into a dragon. His rider, River Rowan, was to be the youngest Lead Harvester in the history of her people, until she was tied to Blue. War looms on the horizon, the dragons are asleep, and only the tweens working together can put things right. The novel pulls readers in from the beginning with well-thought-out worldbuilding that offers many surprises. Chapters from rotating perspectives give insight into each child and their different societies. Shenli was raised to hate magic and dragons; Wren's people have companion Magics. Dragons are a distant concept for Blue, who possesses no magic; River loves her garden of magical plants. Joining forces means lessons in rejecting the lies and mistrust that come from not understanding others' perspectives and learning to see strengths in those different than you. This emotionally resonant narrative set in a racially diverse world is well paced overall, though the heroes take a while to come together, making the end feel a bit rushed. Enchanting. (map) (Fantasy. 8-13)

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November 28, 2022
In Reyes’s ambitious fantasy debut, a series opener, four children must learn to trust one another after self-aware magic and gold threads of destiny bring them together to save the world. Blue, a dragon who was once a stable boy turned king, and his Rider, River, who never wanted to be bonded to a dragon, awaken from a decade-long hibernation to discover that the world is on the brink of war. Thirteen-year-old, tawny-skinned Shenli, in service to a cruel chancellor, balances his desire to protect his family with his yearning to rebel against corrupt royalty. According to her seer grandmother’s prophecy, brown-skinned 13-year-old Wren, hailing from a mysterious island of long-lived people, will bring all four tweens together; to do so, she must defy her people’s strictest laws while attempting to rein in her own erratic magic. In this complexly plotted adventure told in a nonlinear chronology, Reyes slowly weaves together seemingly disparate narrative threads—some of which take place over the course of several years—and often hints at long-hidden secrets tied to deeper worldbuilding, sowing excitement for the planned sequel. Character descriptions imply racial diversity throughout. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary and Media.

Starred review from November 1, 2022
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* In the aftermath of a war that fractured the realm of Haven, drove dragons close to extinction, and divided magical and nonmagical humans, the fates of four characters are intertwined: Blue, who has the magical ability to smell emotions and who, by an odd turn of events, goes from stable boy to king; River, who seeks to be Lead Harvester of the village and who greets Blue and reveals truths previously unknown to him; Wren, part of the Meraki people who are tied to companion Magics and who live side by side with dragons; and Shenli, a mainlander who must work for Chancellor Cudek as payment for his father's debts and who has been taught to despise magic and dragons. When Meraki island is put in danger, these four must come together to discover the truth about the chancellor and the ongoing war and find a way to heal the realm. Reyes has woven together a deeply magical world where fear smells like wood and oranges, hiccups warn of a great danger, and secrets are hidden in every realm. The rich narrative is full of unforgettable characters who have gone through loss and sadness but are the definition of hope and bravery. This enchanting novel is perfect for readers who love their fantasies with humor and cleverness. Highly recommended.

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