Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc!

What a lovely little story :) The art is really fantastic, especially the colors and character designs. Each character had a unique look and feeling. Looking forward to recommending this to the library. ( )

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley/Edelweiss.)

Atana is a mermaid who lives by herself on an isolated island. She has no memory of her family, or how she came to be alone. She spends her days scavenging the wreckage that washes up on shore, hoping for a nice, fat crate of books to keep her entertained. Until.

Ren is a firebird. Her pack travels the galaxy, feeding on cosmic energy and searching for all the knowledge the universe has to offer. Raised on her aunt Ilo's fantastical stories of Earth, one night Ren strays from her pack and takes a nosedive straight into Earth - and Atana's life.

Together, the girls decide to leave Atana's island to explore the world. But their journey isn't without danger: creatures like them are pursued by humans called magic hunters. So when Her Majesty, the Witch Queen, extends an invitation to Atana and Ren, it seems too good to pass up. Stay at the Blue Palace, under her protection; in exchange, the Queen would like to study Atana, the first firebird to set foot on Earth in generations, in hopes that her magic might solve the worsening "disturbance in the magic cycle of earth." As for Atana, the Queen hopes that she'll agree to be an ambassador to the Merfolk Empire, which has taken an isolationist stance in the face of the looming magic crisis - not to mention a catastrophic prophecy involving Atana herself.

But are the Queen's intentions as benign as they seem?

And how can Atana reconcile the two parts of herself - human and mermaid - if she confines herself to land?

ATANA AND THE FIREBIRD is a charming book, perfect for children and adults alike (the recommended reading age is 8-12 years). If I was writing a blurb I'd peg it as "Isabel Greenberg with shades of THE DARK CRYSTAL." The artwork is lovely and whimsical and definitely brings to mind ONE HUNDRED NIGHTS OF HERO. Atana and Ren are truly magical, while the Witch Queen projects just the right amount of dread and menace.

Likewise, the storytelling is engaging as well - the plot is simple enough for younger readers to follow, yet engaging enough for adults. Part one of this duology ends on a satisfying note, wrapping up the main conflict of the first book, while also promising further adventure. ( )