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A review by twicomb
Kingdom Riders by Shannon Eric Denton
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
How do I explain how much I love this book and this world? I NEED A SEQUEL IMMEDIATELY.
Ok, ok, listen up. Grok the mud toad is the cutest thing to come along since I don't-even-know-what. The bond between Kayla (the main character) and Grok is enviable. And wouldn't you rather ride an awesome, leaping, tongue-slurping MUD TOAD than some old dragon?? I know I sure would. Although to be fair, all the other riders' animals are super-cool too. Plus all the non-rider animals that inhabit the world and just amble around the pages, nonchalantly showing up to add even more magical verisimilitude to this already whimsically wonderful world. It makes me think of the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender (the original animated show).
The art is also top-notch. It's got enough detail that it doesn't feel like a lot of the bare-background comics being churned out now due to shortening timelines, but the linework and detailing is all well-chosen so it never feels busy or messy. And the lettering is spot-on throughout.
Characters - oh, the characters! Even the minor characters have personality quirks and unexpected moments. Kayla is endearing without being obnoxiously perfect (or obnoxiously imperfect in that sort of perfect way...you know what I'm talking about). She's hot-headed and a little full of herself, which is just what she needs to be in order to be able to pull this off.
Pull what off, you ask? GO READ THE BOOK. You can thank me afterward.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.
Ok, ok, listen up. Grok the mud toad is the cutest thing to come along since I don't-even-know-what. The bond between Kayla (the main character) and Grok is enviable. And wouldn't you rather ride an awesome, leaping, tongue-slurping MUD TOAD than some old dragon?? I know I sure would. Although to be fair, all the other riders' animals are super-cool too. Plus all the non-rider animals that inhabit the world and just amble around the pages, nonchalantly showing up to add even more magical verisimilitude to this already whimsically wonderful world. It makes me think of the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender (the original animated show).
The art is also top-notch. It's got enough detail that it doesn't feel like a lot of the bare-background comics being churned out now due to shortening timelines, but the linework and detailing is all well-chosen so it never feels busy or messy. And the lettering is spot-on throughout.
Characters - oh, the characters! Even the minor characters have personality quirks and unexpected moments. Kayla is endearing without being obnoxiously perfect (or obnoxiously imperfect in that sort of perfect way...you know what I'm talking about). She's hot-headed and a little full of herself, which is just what she needs to be in order to be able to pull this off.
Pull what off, you ask? GO READ THE BOOK. You can thank me afterward.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.