A review by jackelz
Tidesong by Wendy Xu

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Tidesong is a magical story about self-acceptance, friendship, and familial expectations — inspired by Chinese mythology. 
 
This book did an excellent job showing how much pressure one feels trying to meet familial expectations. Sophie wanted to appease her mother and grandmother by being accepted to the Royal Magic Academy, the best magic school in the realm. She also wanted to prove she was worthy of Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan’s time. Lir was trying to live up to his father’s greatness as the King of the Southern Sea. 
 
As young lads still learning magic, I felt they had way too much pressure placed on them. Sophie had intrusive thoughts about not being good enough, and this was shown with angry red thought bubbles. 
 
Great-Aunt Lan was treating Sophie badly because of her strained relationship with her sister, and Lir’s father was treating Lir how his father treated him, showing the vicious cycle of intergenerational trauma. I appreciated how this was addressed, and how healthy boundaries were set using effective communication. 
 
Lir’s dragon form reminded me of Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon! The art — the seascapes, the dragons, everything — was so beautiful. 
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