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A review by ravensandpages
The Mossheart's Promise by Rebecca Mix
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins.
It has been a long time since I read a middle grade book, and after finishing The Mossheart's Promise, I can see it's been too long. I was absolutely enchanted from start to finish, and I am going to be on the edge of my seat until I can my hands on the sequel!
The Mossheart's Promise has echoes of my favorite series growing up, City of Ember chief among them, and follows a young fairy living in a rotting terrarium. Canary "Ary" Mossheart is nothing like her grandmother, the chosen hero who went down into the underground decades ago and brought back the cure for the plague terrorizing the fairy village of Terra - but even that had no effect on the mold slowly taking over everything. When the decay reaches her home and starts taking over her mother, Ary decides to descend into the underground herself and find a cure... only to find out her former "hero" grandmother knew the secret about their world and lied about it. Now, Ary only has a week to reach the bottom of the terrarium and set everyone free, or they'll be trapped forever.
This was a bittersweet story, with so many relevant parallels to the world our children have been left with, but it has a core of hope and love that I found quite touching. I especially loved the prevailing thread that Ary is no hero, and never should have been in a position to be a hero, but is brave and true regardless in the name of those she cares for. The Mossheart's Promise is a book of flawed characters, but I loved each and every one of them, especially Sootflank. I found this book charming and clever and tense in equal measure, and as already stated, I am beyond excited to see where the story goes next. I will absolutely be recommending this one far and wide.
It has been a long time since I read a middle grade book, and after finishing The Mossheart's Promise, I can see it's been too long. I was absolutely enchanted from start to finish, and I am going to be on the edge of my seat until I can my hands on the sequel!
The Mossheart's Promise has echoes of my favorite series growing up, City of Ember chief among them, and follows a young fairy living in a rotting terrarium. Canary "Ary" Mossheart is nothing like her grandmother, the chosen hero who went down into the underground decades ago and brought back the cure for the plague terrorizing the fairy village of Terra - but even that had no effect on the mold slowly taking over everything. When the decay reaches her home and starts taking over her mother, Ary decides to descend into the underground herself and find a cure... only to find out her former "hero" grandmother knew the secret about their world and lied about it. Now, Ary only has a week to reach the bottom of the terrarium and set everyone free, or they'll be trapped forever.
This was a bittersweet story, with so many relevant parallels to the world our children have been left with, but it has a core of hope and love that I found quite touching. I especially loved the prevailing thread that Ary is no hero, and never should have been in a position to be a hero, but is brave and true regardless in the name of those she cares for. The Mossheart's Promise is a book of flawed characters, but I loved each and every one of them, especially Sootflank. I found this book charming and clever and tense in equal measure, and as already stated, I am beyond excited to see where the story goes next. I will absolutely be recommending this one far and wide.