A review by hellocookie
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

adventurous fast-paced

 Vanya and the Wild Hunt is a treat for fantastical literary lovers of all ages! 

 

Sangu Mandanna balances the world wonderfully, and writes luscious prose that is fluid and easy to escape in. Everything is well paced and although time passes fairly quickly, it doesn’t feel too rushed for the age and audience. It has the feel of early Harry Potter without the baggage of a problematic author, and with exciting myths and mythological creatures to explore. 

 

Mandanna really solidified her place in the industry with her cozy hit, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, but she’s been around for quite a while writing a variety of stories from fantasy to sci-fi to shorts and middle-grade, and soon graphic novels too. Vanya and the Wild Hunt is about a young girl struggling with her newly diagnosed ADHD as well as her ability to talk to books…not to mention that she also discovers the existence of magic and realizes she has a gift for it too . It’s a LOT! But she quickly gets her bearings and settles into her new normal, making new friends along the way. 

 

My one complaint is that I didn’t realize this was the start of a new series, and I would’ve liked to know that in advance as I’ve been trying to read fewer of them and focus on standalones—but regardless of that, this was a fantastical and fun book that I enjoyed through and through.