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A review by kvolution
Diana and the Island of No Return by Aisha Saeed
5.0
Diana and the Island of No Return is a middle grade novel (aimed at roughly ages 8 through 12 years old) that focuses on Diana of the Amazons (aka Wonder Woman). It is fast paced, thrilling, and has high stakes from the very first pages. This book is also solidly grounded in friendship. The three main characters - Diana, Sakina, and Augustus - work together to save both Augustus’s realm and Themyscira from a demon who has been paid to capture Diana. I finished this book, sad that it had ended, and absolutely thrilled to see that a sequel, Diana and the Underworld Odyssey, is already in the works.
I’m a sucker for anything Wonder Woman. From Greg Rucka's runs on the comic to Lauren Faust’s DC Super Hero Girls show, Diana is one of few female characters in mainstream comics that fulfills a specific need for me: she is super-strong and fundamentally invulnerable. The world, quite literally, cannot physically hurt her. When every day brings a new story of violence against marginalized people, Wonder Woman (alongside Captain Marvel and She-Hulk) is an icon of hope for me.
From the first page of this book, Saaed creates a richly textured world full of memorable characters, beautifully described settings, and eloquent explanations of the different services that each of the islands perform for the gods. The descriptions are perfect for a kid who is somewhere between third and fifth grade, clear and powerful without ever veering into overly wordy. The dialogue, similarly, is identifiable enough to be approachable to a kid while still maintaining a fantastical feel. This is no small feat, and I strongly applaud Saaed for her work here.
I received a free e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. You can read my full review at my website: https://flapyourhands.com/diana-island-no-return-review/
I’m a sucker for anything Wonder Woman. From Greg Rucka's runs on the comic to Lauren Faust’s DC Super Hero Girls show, Diana is one of few female characters in mainstream comics that fulfills a specific need for me: she is super-strong and fundamentally invulnerable. The world, quite literally, cannot physically hurt her. When every day brings a new story of violence against marginalized people, Wonder Woman (alongside Captain Marvel and She-Hulk) is an icon of hope for me.
From the first page of this book, Saaed creates a richly textured world full of memorable characters, beautifully described settings, and eloquent explanations of the different services that each of the islands perform for the gods. The descriptions are perfect for a kid who is somewhere between third and fifth grade, clear and powerful without ever veering into overly wordy. The dialogue, similarly, is identifiable enough to be approachable to a kid while still maintaining a fantastical feel. This is no small feat, and I strongly applaud Saaed for her work here.
I received a free e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. You can read my full review at my website: https://flapyourhands.com/diana-island-no-return-review/