Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, while the blurb really interested me, I have been unable to get into the book.

Interesting story with a strong anti-discrimination message

I enjoyed this book. It is an interesting story that is well-told. The world-building and pacing are good and the protagonists are interesting. Contrarily, while the book has a strong anti-discrimination story, this is repeated frequently but not well-woven into the story so at times the book felt more like a lecture than a novel. Nonetheless, as a fantasy book, I liked it and I look forward to reading more of the series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

If your book is centered around fighting "racism"/speciesism by having your character prove their worth in a racist institution, you absolutely cannot:

Have a setting based in a fictional/fantasy colonial America
Mention slavery, causally, in passing, without remarking that it is a terrible institution that furthers racism
Hold the founding fathers in high reverence
Twist the founding fathers words so that they mean you when they say all men and tangentially mention that they must also mean slave men but they're trying not to alienate slave owners
Pretend that not trying to alienate slave owners is a neutral thing
Pretend that (the evils of capitalism) has nothing to do with racism
If your book has any form of slavery in it, I expect the book to be about your characters trying to eradicate it.

I have tried repeatedly but just simply cannot fall into this story... There's nothing wrong with it per se - I quite enjoyed the beginning, then started gradually losing interest until I finally put it down. Then picked it back up, tried again, and found the exact same thing happening - three times. There is a Harry Potter/Worst Witch/Charlie Bone feel to it - I liked that (it doesn't bother me when books feel like other books, as long as they also have their own merits), but it ultimately was not enough to pull me in to the story. The institutionalized species racism within The Tower/among so many of the human sorcerers (and human bullies) may have been the hiccup for me - the Calatian (i.e., magical animal) vs. human conflict was believable and relatable, that wasn't the issue. It was more that it dragged at the heels of the story for me, rendering it different than I expected it to be and much heavier as a result. I think this is a fine story, just not one for me right now. I have shifted it to my "Come Back To" list, largely on the strength of the characters, several of whom (most notably Emily and Kip and Patris) I quite liked and am curious to see develop further.

OK, so it's a "Harry Potter", but Harry Potter was a "Worst Witch" and that didn't do it any harm at all! Interesting world-building, the concept of magically-mutated animals trying to break through an informal apartheid system adds depth to the plot and characterisation. The central figures are sympathetically depicted, and it's hard not to root for the two young animals trying to break into a human-dominated magical society. I imagine YA readers will love it - I liked it, and I'm 66!

Great book!

This is set in an alternate magic world during early colonial American times. Kip is part of a part-human species that faces major human discrimination. I was amazed with how the book demonstrated how illogical hate can be, and how various people either accept it or fight it, but at the same time, it was wrapped up in a really great story.

I think this is a great read for anyone who has ever faced discrimination for their differences. I found myself identifying with Kip's struggles to understand & live with people who hate him - not because of anything he did, but because of where he comes from & what he looks like. Kip is a great example of someone who struggles to rise above those who think less of him, even when its his own people, who hate him for trying to better their own lives and bring about change.

Even if you yourself are not part of a minority group, this book is a major eye opener for how our actions affect those who are.

Aside from all that amazingness, (which was written so well, it felt more like a fantasy book than a lecture), this is a great book with a young guy learning cool magic, determining what makes a true friend, and trying to solve a great mystery. If you're not looking for a deep read on feminist or Calatian rights in colonial American times, or a glimpse into American revolutionary times, this is still an awesome magical fantasy.

I highly recommend this to ages 12+ & can't wait for the next one!

Quite well written, the world is excellently constructed and the characters are wonderfully developed. I enjoy the historical setting as well as the social struggle aspects to the story. Very much looking forward to more in this series.