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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I genuinely want to know what Jesse Q. Sutanto can't do. I've read the rest of her backlist besides this series thus far, and she has knocked it out of the park every single time? She continues to mother us all, my gawwwd!!! This middle-grade adventure and coming-of-age story had it all: angst, hope, bravery, friendship, and making decisions you are proud of!
After his older brother Jamie dies in a terrible tragedy, Theo inherits his brother's grieving fox spirit Kai, who mostly shapeshifts into a goldfish for most of the book. We get the rotating first-person POVs from Theo and Kai, and both of them are truly hilarious. I know that they are both grieving, and that this book covers such heavy content, but Theo and Kai's dynamic is so goofy.
Kai is hands down one of the funniest and most entertaining non-human sidekicks I have met lately! Kai is unimpressed by humans, not afraid to bluntly hurt your feelings, and needs you to KEEP UP! These two characters in close proximity as they venture on the quest that Jamie left behind are the standouts of this novel. Their dynamic, their inner thoughts, and the way they navigate this adventure kept me so invested! The quest is fun, sure, but these two characters were complex, growing, and so precious!
I loved the commentary on using cirth pendants to cast his spells (over the traditional way that his family uses) and how Theo felt pulled between his ethnic and national cultures. No matter what, generational differences are always going to hit hard when JQS writes it! Theo's journey as a first- or second-generation kid (I can't remember which, sorry!) translates so authentically and tenderly. So many kids from immigrant parents and grandparents will likely feel this is a bit representative of their own push and pull among cultures, especially during such a confusing time, middle school and high school!
I will absolutely continue the series & read anything JQS decides to bless us peasants with!
The audiobook narrators Caleb Yeng and Kimberley Wong were excellent; they were perfect for the roles of Theo and Kai!
I genuinely want to know what Jesse Q. Sutanto can't do. I've read the rest of her backlist besides this series thus far, and she has knocked it out of the park every single time? She continues to mother us all, my gawwwd!!! This middle-grade adventure and coming-of-age story had it all: angst, hope, bravery, friendship, and making decisions you are proud of!
After his older brother Jamie dies in a terrible tragedy, Theo inherits his brother's grieving fox spirit Kai, who mostly shapeshifts into a goldfish for most of the book. We get the rotating first-person POVs from Theo and Kai, and both of them are truly hilarious. I know that they are both grieving, and that this book covers such heavy content, but Theo and Kai's dynamic is so goofy.
Kai is hands down one of the funniest and most entertaining non-human sidekicks I have met lately! Kai is unimpressed by humans, not afraid to bluntly hurt your feelings, and needs you to KEEP UP! These two characters in close proximity as they venture on the quest that Jamie left behind are the standouts of this novel. Their dynamic, their inner thoughts, and the way they navigate this adventure kept me so invested! The quest is fun, sure, but these two characters were complex, growing, and so precious!
I loved the commentary on using cirth pendants to cast his spells (over the traditional way that his family uses) and how Theo felt pulled between his ethnic and national cultures. No matter what, generational differences are always going to hit hard when JQS writes it! Theo's journey as a first- or second-generation kid (I can't remember which, sorry!) translates so authentically and tenderly. So many kids from immigrant parents and grandparents will likely feel this is a bit representative of their own push and pull among cultures, especially during such a confusing time, middle school and high school!
I will absolutely continue the series & read anything JQS decides to bless us peasants with!
The audiobook narrators Caleb Yeng and Kimberley Wong were excellent; they were perfect for the roles of Theo and Kai!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Racism, Bullying, and Child death
katiemack's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a funny but often heartbreaking middle-grade fantasy novel about ancient Indo-Chinese spirits and what it means to be part of the Asian diaspora. The story is slow in parts, but Sutanto delves into the grief and emotional rendering that take place with the death of a family members. I also appreciated how sarcastic Kai--the fox spirit--is and how her relationship with Theo develops. The sense of adventure is prevalent throughout even in the more passive parts of the plotline and will engage readers.
This is a funny but often heartbreaking middle-grade fantasy novel about ancient Indo-Chinese spirits and what it means to be part of the Asian diaspora. The story is slow in parts, but Sutanto delves into the grief and emotional rendering that take place with the death of a family members. I also appreciated how sarcastic Kai--the fox spirit--is and how her relationship with Theo develops. The sense of adventure is prevalent throughout even in the more passive parts of the plotline and will engage readers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Child death
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