A smart protagonist, a great secret, and a wonderful lesson. ( )

50 years after the end of the Great Wizard War, the only people left living are the people in Vittoria or are they?
I love Octavia, she is a straight shooter, who knows what she wants from life, isn't afraid to reach for her dreams, and she is open to new possibilities. The story was entertaining and kept me engaged throughout.

**Possible spoiler alert! If you know think of this comparison before you read it you might know what to expect. It reminded me of The Village by M. Night Shyamalan.** ( )

Monsters, magic and rich world building create a fantastical setting with more than a surprise or two.

From the very first page, the world building draws in with an intricate weaving, which is well-laid out and offers few holes or stumbling blocks. It is an original magical system, which creates a lovely background for all of the twists and turns along the way. The heroine, Octavia, is one to root for as she does her best to discover the truth of her world, and she faces more than a few, small dangers. She's determined, makes mistakes, and has a good moral compass.

There is quite a bit of imagination involved, although there are just as many familiar aspects in the fantastical end of things. It makes it an easy read to sink into and a fun world to discover right along with the heroine. To say that this is action-packed and quick-paced, though, isn't quite correct. The entire thing slowly begins, letting the world-building deepen, but I found myself skipping over more than a few paragraphs along the way. The middle didn't step-up on this end, either, although the ending does hold tension and grabs more than the rest of the tale.

It's an easy read with a fun fantasy world and interesting characters. Fantasy fans, who appreciate a well-rounded world, and don't mind the slower pacing, will enjoy it. I received an ARC through Netgalley and am giving this one a 3.5 while rounding up. ( )

A very classic middle grade fantasy adventure. There aren't many surprises in the story's destination, but it's an engaging, interesting, magical journey. ( )

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

This way-after-apocalypse fantasy for middle grade readers delves into deep, gritty subject matter in a fun, thoughtful way. Octavia is a girl who yearns to be a hunter of monsters like her dead sister. She lives in the last city to survive a war of devastating magic fifty years before—or so she has been told. When a hunting trip goes awry, she’s saved by a strange girl from a city that shouldn’t exist. Her concept of the world shatters, and she sets out to help her new friend—and find the truth.

Octavia is such a tenacious, relatable character. She does what’s right even when it’s difficult. The book addresses topics like war, death, loss, and the ways that adults can lie and manipulate, and it’s all done with nuance and care. I was truly impressed by how the book developed. ( )