Scan barcode
marieintheraw's review
4.0
While this story can feel a bit info-heavy at the beginning, but Rea as a character is a treat to follow. She is determined and stubborn and oh so relatable.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
nicolemhewitt's review
5.0
Check out this review and the author's Top Ten Addictions over on my blog, Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar is an exciting portal fantasy set in Darjeeling India and in a magical land that will fascinate kids of all ages! Rea has spent her life feeling "less than"---she doesn't make friends easily like her twin brother Rohan does, and even her mother seems to favor him. She feels invisible and unappreciated. But when her brother plans a secret midnight birthday cricket game and doesn't even invite her, she's had enough. She follows him and gets one shining moment of happiness before everything falls apart. When Rohan disappears and Rea's mother and grandmother start acting suspiciously, Rea decides to go on a quest to find him---only to find herself (and her only friend) transported to a dangerous magical land filled with paris (fairies) and other magical creatures. While there, Rea encounters an evil queen and unravels a series of secrets that connect Rea and her brother to her. There are plenty of surprises and magical roadblocks along the way!
I loved that this book starts out in India, and we really get a sense of life there. For example, Rea spends time on a tea plantation with her mother, in an Indian village visiting a fortune-teller, and playing cricket with her brother. Then, when she's transported to Aranthia, we encounter magical creatures that are specific to Indian folklore (I would have loved to have seen India reflected even more in the magical land, but that is just a personal preference). Kids will resonate with Rea's desire to be truly seen (who doesn't feel overlooked sometimes?) and will find inspiration in Rea's unconditional love of family and her discovery of true friendship.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own and no compensation was given.***
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar is an exciting portal fantasy set in Darjeeling India and in a magical land that will fascinate kids of all ages! Rea has spent her life feeling "less than"---she doesn't make friends easily like her twin brother Rohan does, and even her mother seems to favor him. She feels invisible and unappreciated. But when her brother plans a secret midnight birthday cricket game and doesn't even invite her, she's had enough. She follows him and gets one shining moment of happiness before everything falls apart. When Rohan disappears and Rea's mother and grandmother start acting suspiciously, Rea decides to go on a quest to find him---only to find herself (and her only friend) transported to a dangerous magical land filled with paris (fairies) and other magical creatures. While there, Rea encounters an evil queen and unravels a series of secrets that connect Rea and her brother to her. There are plenty of surprises and magical roadblocks along the way!
I loved that this book starts out in India, and we really get a sense of life there. For example, Rea spends time on a tea plantation with her mother, in an Indian village visiting a fortune-teller, and playing cricket with her brother. Then, when she's transported to Aranthia, we encounter magical creatures that are specific to Indian folklore (I would have loved to have seen India reflected even more in the magical land, but that is just a personal preference). Kids will resonate with Rea's desire to be truly seen (who doesn't feel overlooked sometimes?) and will find inspiration in Rea's unconditional love of family and her discovery of true friendship.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own and no compensation was given.***
hellocookie's review
5.0
A wonderful and magical book for fans of Narnia and putting a strong, willful young Indian girl and her family at the forefront of this journey.
lightqueer's review
4.0
what an incredible, moving read. i absolutely loved rea's journey both as a lost princess but also as a simple girl, trying to find her way in the world. i related to a lot of the problems rea has with her family on earth and found it so, so heartwarming to see her overcome her struggles. moreover, rohan's heroism was a true turning point in the novel for me. it didn't even feel like a middle grade fantasy anymore - i was, at 21 years old, completely enthralled.
jlynnreadsandwrites's review
4.0
Thank you to Mango and Marigold Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this fun adventure. I'm loving the middle grade adventure books with girls as the main characters. Something I would have been ecstatic to find as a kid.
Rea and her twin brother Rohan were always the closest of friends until Rohan decided to hang out with his school friends instead of Rea. While Rea is still interesting in unlocking the mystery around their father, who died when they were babies, Rohan has moved on to the things 12 year old boys care about, like cricket. Rea is hurt that she's been left behind but also doesn't want Rohan to see that it bothers her.
Despite the new tension in their relationship, when Rohan goes missing and Rea's mother acts as though he will never come back, Rea becomes determined to find him. Little does she know that finding her will lead her to another realm altogether where she will learn about herself and her family. In magical Astranthia, Rea will find a world entirely different from her own but where she just might belong.
Rea is bold and brave with big emotions. Many of her personality traits felt so familiar to me as a neurodivergent person. I don't know if the character is meant to be neurodivergent but she felt like she was. I think a lot of kids who feel out of place among their peers will see themselves in Rea. But the thing that sets her apart is that, even though she doesn't quite fit in and doesn't make friends easily, she also doesn't really mind. That mindset is one you don't see often in kids books and I really appreciated it.
I also loved that she had a friend all along and eventually realized it. Leela was such a sweet, loyal character willing to stand by Rea's side and be just as brave. I loved the opposites the two character's represented and the way they balanced each other. Rea has to work to understand how to be a good friend to Leela (another think I could relate to as a neurodivergent person) and it was great to see that play out in a book. To see Rea's journey as she learns to think beyond herself.
The villain... I'm kind of obsessed with her in the best way and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Queen Razya is *glamor* even as she's terror and I'm here for it.
There were times when I struggled to follow the dialogue meaning I wasn't sure who was speaking though I have to admit this could have been because of the way the ARC rendered on my Kindle. My only other criticism about the writing was that, at times, the action would seem to jump out from nowhere but if I were a kid reading this book I don't think that detail would bother me. Neither of these weaknesses are enough to drag down the story or stop it from being an engrossing adventure.
I really enjoyed this fun adventure. I'm loving the middle grade adventure books with girls as the main characters. Something I would have been ecstatic to find as a kid.
Rea and her twin brother Rohan were always the closest of friends until Rohan decided to hang out with his school friends instead of Rea. While Rea is still interesting in unlocking the mystery around their father, who died when they were babies, Rohan has moved on to the things 12 year old boys care about, like cricket. Rea is hurt that she's been left behind but also doesn't want Rohan to see that it bothers her.
Despite the new tension in their relationship, when Rohan goes missing and Rea's mother acts as though he will never come back, Rea becomes determined to find him. Little does she know that finding her will lead her to another realm altogether where she will learn about herself and her family. In magical Astranthia, Rea will find a world entirely different from her own but where she just might belong.
Rea is bold and brave with big emotions. Many of her personality traits felt so familiar to me as a neurodivergent person. I don't know if the character is meant to be neurodivergent but she felt like she was. I think a lot of kids who feel out of place among their peers will see themselves in Rea. But the thing that sets her apart is that, even though she doesn't quite fit in and doesn't make friends easily, she also doesn't really mind. That mindset is one you don't see often in kids books and I really appreciated it.
I also loved that she had a friend all along and eventually realized it. Leela was such a sweet, loyal character willing to stand by Rea's side and be just as brave. I loved the opposites the two character's represented and the way they balanced each other. Rea has to work to understand how to be a good friend to Leela (another think I could relate to as a neurodivergent person) and it was great to see that play out in a book. To see Rea's journey as she learns to think beyond herself.
The villain... I'm kind of obsessed with her in the best way and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Queen Razya is *glamor* even as she's terror and I'm here for it.
There were times when I struggled to follow the dialogue meaning I wasn't sure who was speaking though I have to admit this could have been because of the way the ARC rendered on my Kindle. My only other criticism about the writing was that, at times, the action would seem to jump out from nowhere but if I were a kid reading this book I don't think that detail would bother me. Neither of these weaknesses are enough to drag down the story or stop it from being an engrossing adventure.
mrs_bookdragon's review
5.0
3 things:
1-loved the character development of Rea
2-so much mystery
3-Astranthia!!!!
1-loved the character development of Rea
2-so much mystery
3-Astranthia!!!!
lookingforamandaa's review
4.0
The authors publicist reached out to me to see if I wanted to read an early copy of this book in exchange for a review. I’m so glad that I said yes. I love middle grade books, but I don’t seem to gravitate toward picking them up often. I always enjoy reading them. There’s just something so wholesome about middle grade stories (even the ones with serious topics) that I really love.
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar follows Rea who finds herself on a quest to find her missing brother. While on this quest, she discovers another world, a world where she and her brother are royalty. The story starts with Rea (who lives in India) being an angry young girl. She’s angry when she feels her Amma favoring her brother, Rohan. She’s angry when she feels her brother is distancing himself from her. She’s angry that Rohan doesn’t want to know more about their Baba. She doesn’t really have any friends. She’s really struggling with her negative feelings. I have to say that Rea’s growth away from this anger and her instinct to make selfish choices was so well done. The author did it in a way that was believable and really made the reader care for Rea.
The world building was also really well done. We are learning about this magical world right alongside Rea. I thought this world that had a sort of plant-based magic was so interesting. I think it was well enough explained to understand, but it wasn’t totally clear what the rules or limits of this magic was. We got a bit more clarity about that with the shadow magic that the queen uses. With the way this story ended, I definitely think we will get some clarity about that in the second book.
I loved all of the side characters. I really love Leela and the way she befriended Rea. I also liked Xee. He was a local to the magical world and showed Rea and Leela around. I liked that he was brave, but that didn’t make him impulsive. I think they were great supporting characters and I’m excited to see more of them in future books.
Overall, I really loved this story. I loved the setting of India and the bits of Indian culture we get to see before Rea discovers the magical world. I thought the world and the magic was so interesting and I really felt like I could root for all the characters.
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar follows Rea who finds herself on a quest to find her missing brother. While on this quest, she discovers another world, a world where she and her brother are royalty. The story starts with Rea (who lives in India) being an angry young girl. She’s angry when she feels her Amma favoring her brother, Rohan. She’s angry when she feels her brother is distancing himself from her. She’s angry that Rohan doesn’t want to know more about their Baba. She doesn’t really have any friends. She’s really struggling with her negative feelings. I have to say that Rea’s growth away from this anger and her instinct to make selfish choices was so well done. The author did it in a way that was believable and really made the reader care for Rea.
The world building was also really well done. We are learning about this magical world right alongside Rea. I thought this world that had a sort of plant-based magic was so interesting. I think it was well enough explained to understand, but it wasn’t totally clear what the rules or limits of this magic was. We got a bit more clarity about that with the shadow magic that the queen uses. With the way this story ended, I definitely think we will get some clarity about that in the second book.
I loved all of the side characters. I really love Leela and the way she befriended Rea. I also liked Xee. He was a local to the magical world and showed Rea and Leela around. I liked that he was brave, but that didn’t make him impulsive. I think they were great supporting characters and I’m excited to see more of them in future books.
Overall, I really loved this story. I loved the setting of India and the bits of Indian culture we get to see before Rea discovers the magical world. I thought the world and the magic was so interesting and I really felt like I could root for all the characters.
coramae's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5