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A review by thewordsdevourer
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
This was an enjoyable read. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is a rollicking adventure full of heart and wisdom, tactfully tackling its very relevant message and themes.
The fantasy setting is nothing new, but Symes-Smith uses it cleverfully to literally but also symbolically reflect the real world and explore the book's themes. The symbolism is perhaps my favorite thing about this novel: it elevates the story on technical, character and emotional levels. I also like how there are constant important information and revelations revealed throughout the book; it keeps things surprising and adds depth to the story. The characters and their individual arcs are great as well, each different, some with more privileges than others, yet all have been affected by Helston's rigid hierarchy and now band together to change the place for the better. Neal and his story are a favorite.
And while I mostly like how the characters are handled, I have minor qualms with Callie and Peran. For the former, they're overly brash at times, their impulsive actions without thought for consequences + initial dislike for all things remotely feminine are annoying. I wish we learned more about how they realized they were non-binary, especially as the concept should be almost alien in the rigid world of the story. It's also relevant to how others treat them, as I don't think repeatedly saying "I'm not a girl" -- even though outwardly they look like one -- to people who have never known of anything aside from the binary was helpful. It's like talking about astrophysics to a bunch of kids. I also think Peran could've been more nuanced. He's certainly evil through and through but the lack of nuance makes him a boring character, let alone the villain. The middle chunk of the book was a little repetitive as well, dragging the pacing.
Nevertheless, this is a fun yet wise book with a lot of heart, whose themes of family, courage and identity are precious. I'm happy that many young people will get to read this book, not only comforted by seeing it reflect themselves but also see how diverse the world truly is.
This was an enjoyable read. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is a rollicking adventure full of heart and wisdom, tactfully tackling its very relevant message and themes.
The fantasy setting is nothing new, but Symes-Smith uses it cleverfully to literally but also symbolically reflect the real world and explore the book's themes. The symbolism is perhaps my favorite thing about this novel: it elevates the story on technical, character and emotional levels. I also like how there are constant important information and revelations revealed throughout the book; it keeps things surprising and adds depth to the story. The characters and their individual arcs are great as well, each different, some with more privileges than others, yet all have been affected by Helston's rigid hierarchy and now band together to change the place for the better. Neal and his story are a favorite.
And while I mostly like how the characters are handled, I have minor qualms with Callie and Peran. For the former, they're overly brash at times, their impulsive actions without thought for consequences + initial dislike for all things remotely feminine are annoying. I wish we learned more about how they realized they were non-binary, especially as the concept should be almost alien in the rigid world of the story. It's also relevant to how others treat them, as I don't think repeatedly saying "I'm not a girl" -- even though outwardly they look like one -- to people who have never known of anything aside from the binary was helpful. It's like talking about astrophysics to a bunch of kids. I also think Peran could've been more nuanced. He's certainly evil through and through but the lack of nuance makes him a boring character, let alone the villain. The middle chunk of the book was a little repetitive as well, dragging the pacing.
Nevertheless, this is a fun yet wise book with a lot of heart, whose themes of family, courage and identity are precious. I'm happy that many young people will get to read this book, not only comforted by seeing it reflect themselves but also see how diverse the world truly is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Violence
Minor: Death and Grief