Thanks to Netgalley for the eARCs of A Dragonbird in The Fern

Princess Jiara’s sister is murdered and before her sister’s spirit can find rest her murder must be solved. To find the killer before her sister's spirit turns violent, Jiara travels to a neighboring country to investigate by marrying that country’s king, her sister’s intended husband.

This was a great debut! The build up in romance was sweet, the mystery was intriguing, the world was well built and surprisingly expansive. It was fun to watch Jiara learn the culture and language and come to love her new husband and country. Recommend for all the YA Fantasy Romance lovers

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I made a dedicated youtube review for this book, but I'll post some highlights here about my likes and dislikes for this book.
Overall, I rated this book 3.5 stars - it was very enjoyable and a solid YA fantasy read with a romance subplot, a ton of political intrigue and a murder mystery page turner! This also reps disability/neurodivergency (specifically dyslexia) and LGBTQ+ couples. However, there were a few items I wished had been more fleshed out.
As I read, the world building wasn't as fleshed out as I prefer as a reader. We were given just enough to follow along with the plot, however, there were so many points of the faith/religion/lore/magic that could have been much more fleshed out/explained without going to the other extreme of too much. The writing style also lended to this as it wasn't descriptive enough to immerse myself in it - I prefer more explanation and a bit more descriptions to really immerse myself in the story. However, the writing style is very accessible and lends itself perfectly to a younger YA reader - it falls squarely in that category in terms of accessibility and ease of reading.
I also felt the character work was a bit thin, we didn't get to know the character deeper - to know their motivations, their full spectrum of challenges. I will say, the MC having dyslexia in a fantasy novel was new and fresh and something I haven't come across in a fantasy book before. I really enjoyed that aspect of the novel.
Something I mentioned in my video review was that I wish we had gone deeper into character background as well, especially the villain's background to really understand the motives, as the villainous character seemed far too simplistic for the story.
The story was very plot driven though - the reader gets dropped right into the story post-murder and the story flows from there. I was much more invested at the 50% mark and flew through the book at that time, but the first half is also very intriguing and quick moving. Definitely an intriguing action packed and fast paced novel!

*E-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

It is official: I absolutly adored this story! I have been slowly leaving YA and delving into new adult and adult fantasy. Maybe because of my age or just because I cannot connect to some themes, I don't know. But there appears to be a lack of new in YA fantasy. Dragonbird in the Fern is an exception to this.

Carefully constructed not only as a political fantasy but also as a murder mistery, its narrative about a dyslexical girl that becomes queen very young is an inspiration to everyone.

If you like YA fantasy - or even if it started losing its magic to you - I recommend you pick this one up. It has beauty, intrigue, danger and a female protagonist that is as brave as she is human, proving that working hard, failling and trying again is the way to move forward.

Great work of fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly, life got in the way for me to be able to finish this one. I got to read about half of this book before it was no longer available from NetGalley. I really enjoyed what I read, and I cannot wait to be able to buy a copy so I can finish it.

From what I read this was going to be a 5 star read. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy and a strong female protagonist.

When Princess Jiara’s sister is brutally murdered just before she is about to marry the king of a neighboring land in order to establish an alliance, Jiara accepts to marry in her sister’s place. Scilla, Jiara’s sister and now an Earthwalker, will not rest until her killer is apprehended. Jiara is tormented by communication difficulties, building conflict, her sister’s impatient and aggressive temperament, and traitors in her midst as she goes to an unfamiliar nation with her new husband and learns how to be a queen.

This is such a captivating and engaging narrative! I like how the author provides such a distinct image of each country in the scenario, which is unique and colourful. Jiara’s home and her spouse Raffa’s home are each stunning in their own right, with various cultures, beliefs, and ways of living and ruling represented. I like how the kingdoms are so distinct, yet their ideas and values are so similar. The author did an excellent job of bringing the setting to life and building a rich and intriguing universe.

The various religious beliefs and practices in each kingdom piqued my interest. A person cannot go on and live at peace in Jiara’s realm of Azzaria if their murder isn’t solved.

These Earthwalkers, like Scilla, are doomed to wander the globe, becoming increasingly aggressive and out of control until their deaths are solved. Jiara’s people pray to the gods in the same way as Raffa’s people do. Each kingdom has its own set of beliefs, yet they also value nature. Jiara demonstrates a strong bond with nature and the gods, which grows in importance as the narrative continues. I thought it was intriguing that her faith, along with her particular connection to nature, is one of the few things that gives this troubled heroine a feeling of balance and serenity.

There is a lot of mystery in this book, in addition to the fascinating characters and deep world-building. Jiara’s resolve to track out her sister’s killer takes her in unexpected ways, putting her loyalties, love, and kingdoms to the test. The suspense and political intrigue, as well as the persistent danger of Scilla’s presence, had me turning the pages. The mix of several threats makes for an interesting read.

Readers who enjoy standalone YA fantasy with vivid world-building and a well-developed and powerful protagonist will enjoy A Dragonbird in the Fern. There’s also romance!! Thank you very much to NetGalley, the publisher, and Laura Rueckert for providing me with a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

A Dragonbird in the Fern tells a beautiful story of a princess who struggles with dyslexia (something her society doesn’t know or understand) that leaves her feeling less than. On top of it her sister has been murdered and is an earthwalker who will not rest until her killer is found. Princess Jiara takes it upon herself to figure out this mystery and avoid her sisters wrath that is constantly escalating.

This debut from Laura Rueckert is fantastically written with beautiful world-building, and thorough character development in Jiara. I immediately fell in love with with, and rooted for Jiara. She has such a kind soul for everyone and everything but struggles with herself inwardly- it was heartbreaking and seeing her grow throughout the story was inspiring!

The arranged marriage trope was something I wasn’t too sure about at the start but goodness, it was done RIGHT, and it was done WELL.

This medium paced story is one I will love for a long time to come, and I cannot wait for more from Rueckert in the future. The ending to A Dragonbird in the Fern had me crying happy tears and the title to the book dawned on me as I finished up the epilogue in such a poetic way, my heart swelled. You must read this book if you love mysteries with a fantasy twist- you won’t be disappointed.

A Dragonbird in the Fern is a heart felt fantasy YA standalone be sure to take you by surprise.

I'll start right off by saying that the whole plot will not be the surprise. Her going after her sisters killer and who it ended up being was not that surprising. But that was the backdrop. The front and center was our Jiara.

Jiara, as the youngest princess, had always known what her place was going to be. She was betrothed to a royal of their country. Her brother was to become the king (with his male partner might I add) and her sister was to marry a prince from a neighbouring country to strengthen their alliance. She was fine with this. But when her sister is murdered all her own plans gets thrown with the wind when an offer of marriage comes from the hand of her sisters former bethrothed.

As a person Jiara would have preferred to have hidden away more. Both her older brother and sister had bigger responsibilites in the limelight. Jiara was fine with supporting her mother and later her brother. She's always felt stupid as studying never came easy for her. Especially writing and reading was hard.

While dyslexia is not named in the storythe author makes it clear in an authors note and through Jiara's description that it is that. Jiara is dyslectic. And when is the last time you came across that, in a YA fantasy at that. I liked how it was dealt with. It was more accepted at home but in a new country she has to learn a new language. And nobody listens to her prefered method of learning which is verbal with the visual items or handling along side. No she gets taught with written words. Jiara is a powerhouse and because she is determined she is learning through her own method by placing herself in situations where she has to learn the language with hands and feet. Its hard. But she does it. She learns that she is not stupid. She is very smart. And she can learn another language despite her disability because she knows what works best for her. I liked that.

Other elements I liked was how everyone was so aware of their duty. They would never go beyond that but at the same time they all still had their own desires. How Jiara was the wild child but that just seemed accepted. How Jiara found her sisters bethrothed attractive when she first met him. How her sister found peace so important that she went to make a secret alliance even before her marriage.

I also enjoyed seeing how adoption and succession of the throne was (small) topic). And the relationship between Jiara and Raffa. There was a willingness and trust between them that developed over time. Also how he was so adamant not to have sex before she was 18.

And of course there was her sisters ghost that haunted the family. I found it interesting to see how far her sisters ghost was able to travel. How Jiara wasn't angry with the ghost. How her understanding and emotions could sometimes sooth the ghost down. I thought it was an interesting addition to the story. Because so often in stories like these, the murdered party kind of gets forgotten along the way, until the end of course when they catch the murderer. That wasn't the case. There was a living embodiment of her sister right there. She never lost sight of that. But it wasn't revenge. She just wanted to make sure her sister could rest in peace.

Nearly every YA fantasy book I read is part of a series. And, while I love a long-format storyline, it can be frustrating for a reader to rip through a book, only to have to wait a year for the sequel. A Dragonbird in The Fern, by Laura Rueckert is the rare STAND-ALONE novel! Yes, you read that right. And given that, the author does a wondrous job of creating a folklore of spirits, and daemons that felt true to the book's universe. That, along with some wonderful characters, and a story that centers around the mystery of Scilla's death, makes for a very entertaining reading experience.

What I Liked:

World-building:

From the start of the book, the reader understands that this world is populated with spirits. Scilla, Jaira's sister, has been murdered. The belief among the characters is that if Scilla's killer is not found, her spirit will become a vengeful Earthwalker. This fearsome creature starts out as mildly annoying, tickling family members, or sometimes scratching them. However, as time goes by, if Scilla's killer is not found, she will become increasingly violent, possibly even murderous.

In King Raffer's society, they believe in Watchers. These are spirits of Air, Water, and Stone, who protect people. The characters wear amulets that represent these elements. If the Watchers deem you worthy, you get an "life" bonus. If you are about to die from an act of violence, the Watcher will save you...But only once.

Inclusion:

Given that this is a fantasy series, the author has free-reign to create this world. I appreciated that there were a variety of genders and sexual orientations.I There were gay characters who had the right to marry, and characters who were non-binary. I appreciated that the author put a spotlight on a married lesbian couple. Their relationship was really lovely.

Characters:

Jiara, the main character, is not one of those princesses who is instantly good at everything. In fact, much of the book centers around the fact that Jiara has dyslexia, which is making learning her husband's language a challenge! I could completely understand Jiara's feelings of frustration and embarrassment as she tries (and mostly fails) to learn Raffa's language.

King Raffa ia Jiara's husband. He is a very young, idealistic king (probably around age twenty), who feels he needs to prove himself among his people. This make him vulnerable to manipulation. He is so loyal to his friends, he cannot see when he is being taken advantage of.

Alder, Raffa's cousin, and Jiara's translator, is holding onto a secret. While he charms Jiara at first, she has such a tough time learning Raffa's language that she beings to wonder: is there something is off? Does her learning disability make it impossible for Jiara to learn a new language? Or, could Alder be deliberately teaching her the language wrong? And if he's doing such a thing, why?

Mystery:

One of the reasons that Jiara is so eager to marry Raffa is that Scilla's killer has face tattoos that suggest that her killer is one of Raffa's subjects. Unless Scilla's killer can be brought to justice, her sister will never be able to move on. I liked how Jiara pieces together who might have killed her sister, and also why it happened in the first place.

What I was Mixed About:

Although the author took great pains for the characters to wait until Jiara was eighteen to consummate their marriage, it was nevertheless kind of creepy. Arranged marriages among royalty is presented as a normal part of Jaira's universe. But I found it odd that the only qualms she had was guilt over taking her sister's fiancé.

A Dragonbird in the Fern was a fabulously epic tale of murder, love, and revenge.

The worldbuilding is phenomenal as readers are fully immersed within kingdoms brought to life by sharp writing and characters who were expertly penned to make you simultaneously love and strangle them all at the same time.

Princess Jiara's older sister Scilla has been murdered, and in the tradition of her kingdom, Scilla will roam the earth as an Earthwalker until her murder is solved and her death avenged. Scilla's betrothed, King Jaffar of Farnskager, comes to pay his respects and ensure that the agreement between kingdoms is maintained by requesting Jiara take her sister's place.

As if being thrust into the position of Queen to a foreign land wasn't taxing enough, Jiara is trying to appease a new husband while being plagued by communication issues because of her dyslexia, constantly attacked by her sister’s impatient and violent spirit, and trying to solve a murder while simultaneously preparing for the threat of war, with traitors in her midst.

Jiara is such a refreshing protagonist, she isn't the smartest or even the prettiest but she has bravado in spades. Jiara does not allow her grief to supersede her quest of finding her sister's killer, even if it means journeying to lands unknown, where her dyslexia makes learning the language, culture, and customs extremely struggling. To save her family from Scilla's vengeful spirit, Jiara would do anything.

King Raffar was such a novelty, I applaud the author for his iron-clad will and unwavering belief in his Kingdom's honor and customs. Rafar's customs dictate that marriage should only be allowed between persons 18 years and over and despite being married to Jiara who is 17, he does not allow any extra-marital affairs to take place

I enjoyed how the author celebrated family and its many iterations. Jiara, despite moving so far away from home, still holds strong to her beliefs and customs and her love for her family even her vengeful sister who is either trying to kill her or gentle caress her. Jiara and her husband Raffar have only been able to connect through a translator and yet, their bond increases in strength and love each day.

This truly exemplifies that love is a feeling than can transcend any barriers. Love can be felt through actions where words cannot.

As if I could not love this book anymore, there is an excellent representation for LGBTQIA, non-binary, trans community, those with learning disabilities and adoption as a healthy form of family.

The author has developed such an intriguing belief system, that despite having differences of customs between Kingdoms, there is unity in the overall belief of a higher power. The level of detail was just enough for readers to grasp the customs while not being overburdened.

I would recommend to those who enjoy Young Adult| Fantasy.

What an intriguing and refreshing fantasy story to read. Princess Jiara finds herself in an arranged marriage with King Raffar, where she needs to learn a new language but she has dyslexia, but this story is more than that, she wants to solve the murder of her sister, she will find herself in a world where war is brewing. The world-building is fantastic, the story is amazing and the romance side of it is a cherry on top. This is a standalone book, so if you love fantasy YA stories give this one a go, it's refreshing and quite good.

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed this book I don't really have anything to say about it, positive or negative. The writing was a bit stiff and it took me a bit to get into. It also took me a while to like Jiara but by then end of it I grew to like her character. I was hoping for more of a romance but due to the language barrier there was not much interaction. The interaction that was shown was cute and sweet but not enough for me to be invested in the relationship.
The murder mystery was done well.
This book personally was not fantastic but it was enjoyable.

I've had A Dragonbird in the Fern on my radar since last year, so was incredibly excited when I was approved for it on Netgalley. It's such a brilliant coming of age story with a fantastic heroine and a sweet romance arc, shocker, I loved it. Princess Jiara is still getting over the death of her older sister Scilla when her betrothed arrives and asks for Jiara's hand in marriage instead. Jiara is wary, not only because this was the man promised to her sister, but marrying him means moving to another country, one where she doesn't speak the language, and her dyslexia causes her to fear she will never be able to communicate with her husband to be. But that's not all Jiara should be worried about, rumours are the person who killed her sister is from the King's own country, and Jiara could be next on their list.

Jiara was such a fantastic character, she was strong willed and determined to find out what happened to her sister so that her spirit could finally rest in peace. Living with dyslexia has meant she has always struggled with the written language and she fears moving to Farnskager and having to learn a completely new and foreign language, but she will do it, to protect her kingdom and to help her sister. She constantly fights an internal battle between denying her growing feelings for her new husband, wanting to help him and her new kingdom, and wanting to find out who exactly killed her sister. Seeing her overcome her fears, learn the language and blossom into a just and fair ruler was such a great journey, and I just loved seeing her character grow throughout the story.

I loved the world building in this book! Jiara and the people of Azzaria believe that when a person is violently killed their spirit lingers, wanting justice for their death, and if justice doesn't come they can act out causing harm and sometimes death to those they loved in life. This was such a unique idea and I loved how the author wrote it into the story, seeing Jiara not only having to deal with moving to a new country with a completely different culture, but also having to deal with the spirit of her dead sister who desperately wants justice for her death. There were some violent scenes, but also some soft and sweet ones where you could tell Scilla knew she loved Jiara, and was sorry for the pain she was causing. In Farnskager they have a completely different belief system, they pray to the watchers, beings who bestow their blessings through the elements. To be chosen by a watcher, and given a token is a rare and Honorable gift, for the token has the ability to bring you back from death one time. Both these beliefs play a HUGE part in the story, but I can't really talk about them without giving away spoilers.

I felt that Jiara's dyslexia was dealt with brilliantly, we really feel for her in the first part of the book. She is terrified not only of moving to another country, but having to learn that language or face the inability of not being able to communicate with her husband and people. With no one knowing of dyslexia she faces constant criticism for her inability to learn the written language. There are times when she gets frustrated, wants to throw in the towel, but the more time she spends with her people the more she wants to communicate with them. She grows so much from a shy and naive girl to a Queen many of her people would follow.

As well as this being a fantasy story, we also have a murder mystery. Who exactly killed Jiara's sister? We spend a good portion of the book on this and I will admit to guessing the culprit early one, but it was still a shock when it was fully revealed. There are plenty of twists and turns, some slightly predictable and others that definitely threw me, but they made for a fast paced story that I struggled to put down. The romance was sweet and went at a nice slow pace. Jiara has always found the King of Farnskager attractive, but he was meant for her sister, and she spends a good portion of the book trying to overcome her feelings of betrayal and let herself love the man who clearly loves her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pace moves fast and the author builds a world I would quite happily go live in. The story is wrapped up nice and neat, but the author leaves just enough of an opening for further stories in that world, and I would definitely pick any up that were released.

This is about a dyslexic heroine who seeks justice for her murdered older sister. The hero is the older sister's fiancé who marries the heroine due to politics. The two fall in love amidst political upheaval, betrayal, language barriers, and other obstacles. What happens when the murderer of the older sibling turns his sight on the heroine? And will the ghost of the older sister ever get justice for her death?

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the world-setting. Though the book is in the heroine's viewpoint, it would have been nice to have at least small snippets of a couple of the other characters, like the hero. Overall this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more of the author's works in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

Thank you Flux and NetGalley for a copy of A Dragonbird in the Fern in exchange for an honest review!

Real Rating: 3.5/5

The Dragonbird in the Fern by Laura Rueckert is set in a world where vengeful ghosts who were murdered wreak havoc upon their living families until their killer is found. If justice is not met, deadly consequences ensues, in the form of deep gashes, split skin, and eventually death. After Princess Jiara’s sister dies, she has little time to find her sister’s killer, all while getting betrothed to the man she was supposed to marry in order to strengthen the alliance between two countries. Leaving her home to be a queen in a kingdom where she doesn’t know the language and there are few translators, all while trying to find her sister’s killer proves to be very difficult. And that’s not to mention that Jiara is dyslexic, making the language barrier even more fearsome and difficult for her to grasp.

The potential was there for this book to be a five star read, unfortunately, some things just fell flat. A killer ghost waiting for her justice and revenge seemed incredibly interesting but it felt like a smaller portion of the plot at times, and the urgency to find her sister’s killer just wasn’t there. This was especially odd since Jiara’s family back home would face the brunt of her sister’s rage while she almost put it in the back corner of her mind.

The strongest and most refreshing part about A Dragonbird in the Fern was the disability representation. In most fantasy novels, language barriers are not explored in depth, but here we delve into different cultures, languages and the effects of not knowing it, and on top of that, a main character with dyslexia. We see here that miscommunication and the inability to get one’s words across in a new land is detrimental to relationships. It was hard seeing Jiara struggle to learn this new language, but I thought it was tastefully done and empowering. However, because of the differences in language between the King and Jiara, their relationship felt odd at times and they didn’t have meaningful conversations.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book because of the disability representation and a refreshing take on the miscommunication trope.

"And I watched out the window, drinking in the view of the sea that would soon be only a memory."

A Dragonbird in the Fern by Laura Rueckert follows Princess Jiara as she sets out to find her sister, Scilla's murderer. Jiara also has the King, Raffar, by her side. They have met previously and seemed to connect, but he was older than her and engaged to her sister. Now engaged to the King, it brings her closer to Farnskag, where her sister's killer might be located or in hiding.

Princess Jiara is also struggling with trying to learn a new language, and she struggles with dyslexia, but those around her don't seem to understand. Jiara and Raffar seem to click almost instantly, even with a slight language barrier. I am grateful we get to see them grow closer together and how he upholds his values/traditions at all times.

My favorite part of this book was the bracelet scene after the wedding because it was so beautifully written, and it helps shape the start of several things. My only thing with this book was it took till about the 15% mark to get into the story. Then after that, the pacing got better, but also felt slowed at times while adjusting and learning about the world.

I look forward to reading more by the author in the future! I am glad we got to see the main character grow stronger and always thinking about her sister or trying to help her family. I definitely loved the romance aspect and the "arranged marriage" trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flux publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review Posted 8-3-21

Absolutely delightful! This was such a great fantasy read. I particularly loved the way dyslexia was woven into it in a natural way and not used as a plot device. Instead we get to see a disabled girl go on this incredible journey and have so much to root for. One of my favs this year. 5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the author, Laura Rueckert, for providing a copy of A Dragonbird in the Fern. I have reviewed honestly.

A Dragonbird in the Fern features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ Princess FMC
○ Arranged marriage
○ Language barriers
○ Dyslexic MC
○ Vengeful ghost/spirit
○ Gods (Watchers)
○ LGBTQ+ minor characters

My overall rating for A Dragonbird in the Fern is…

5 Stars!

What a powerful, rich and diverse debut! I honestly didn't want my time in this dazzling fantasy world to end! A Dragonbird in the Fern combined essences that were unique and mesmeric, the perfect qualities to complete a young adult fantasy tale. Jiara, our lead, is idealistic in every way, she's kind and selfless, but she not your typical and predictable princess. Jiara is dyslexic and I really loved how the author incorporated that into the story. Now, the romance was extremely light for what I'm used to, but I'm a sucker for an arranged marriage. Something else we don't see a lot of in written works is protagonists with a language barrier, and I really enjoyed the flavour this added to the book. I feel it's also important to note that Rueckert included LGBTQ+ minor characters in her book, which I love to see. Overall, I'm in awe of the talent this debut author has demonstrated and can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

What a gorgeous book! The intricate threads of worldbuilding, politics, and mystery are woven into something exciting and unique. With interesting vengeful ghosts and a compelling mystery, this is an excellent new fantasy.

This was great! I swear, I'm on a roll with my reading lately. Seems like one book after another is so good that I wonder if I'm getting soft... But then I think of all the things I truly liked about this book and how quickly I devoured it, and nope, not soft - this was just a great debut.

For those of you that don't already know, I'm an SLP. When I saw that there was a fantasy book that featured a main character with dyslexia, I immediately requested it. I'm looking for positive representation of speech & language disorders all the time and Jiara is DEFINITELY positive rep.

As a girl thrust into a new territory without knowing the language, she is given a tutor who teaches her through writing/reading instead of spoken language. Read alouds are a common accommodation made for kids with dyslexia since it makes it easier for them to understand and absorb information. I could feel Jiara's frustration as she not only had to learn an entirely new language, but learn through a method that was not conducive for her style of learning. SLP Elyse very much likes to see this kind of struggle in literature. I hope it exposes more people to how different brains work so that we all can realize that one way of teaching shouldn't be the only way of teaching.

But I digress.

The story itself was action-packed and I found myself really liking and rooting for Jiara and Raffar. They almost seemed to be the tamer and sweeter version of Daenerys & Khal Drogo. I also felt their relationship was written well because it was built from respect with a touch of lust instead of just insta-love.

I did wish that there was a bit more mystery in regards to the betrayal since it was revealed kind of quickly, but I still continued to enjoy the story because I didn't know what was going to happen next.

Such a pleasant surprise and I can't believe this was a debut! I'll definitely read whatever she puts out next.

*Thank you Flux Publishing and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


A Dragonbird in the Fern follows Princess Jiara as she takes the place in her recently deceased sister’s arranged marriage. The establishment of an alliance with the northern kingdom is vital in avoiding war with a neighbouring kingdom. Jiara’s family love her dearly and can’t bare the thought of Jiara moving so far away, especially while still morning the loss of the oldest princess. But as Princess Scilla’s vengeful ghost loses her sanity with each day her murder is left unsolved, her madness turns towards her loved ones, encouraging Jiara’s parents to place hope that Jiara will be safe from Scilla’s wrath far away in her husband’s kingdom.
I went into A Dragonbird in the Fern with the expectation of a mystery, shrouded in political espionage and a dabbling of the paranormal. But what I discovered was pleasantly deeper, more emotional and raised awareness for the learning disorder, dyslexia, without ever naming it yet was so well executed, it didn’t need to be.
Princess Jiara was written to be a strong, brave young woman with an unrivalled thirst to overcome her short fallings in order to best provide for her people as a new queen in a foreign country. With loving parent, a kind older brother and an adorable little brother whom everyone dotes on, one might expect Jiara to be a little naive to the world outside of her life in the royal palace. Yet, Jiara’s mother serves as an excellent role model as both a strong and fair monarch as well as an excellent mother. This is honestly refreshing as so many times the protagonist family has been cast as toxic or neglectful in order to toughen up the hero’s hide. This is further demonstrated as the king and queen don’t worry one bit that their royal line will end with their oldest son and will continue on with whichever child Prince Llandro and his husband will adopt in the future.
The vengeful ghost of Princess Scilla was both a terrifying and interesting touch. The longer a murdered victim’s family takes to avenge or uncover the truth, the further into insanity the ghost sinks until all the rage and madness is turned onto their own loved ones, turning it into a race against time to unmask the killer.
Leaving behind the ocean and her Azzaria kingdom of colourful silks, balmy nights and magnificent canals, Princess Jiara leaves with her new husband Raffar for the colder climate of the Farnskager kingdom far North. A whole new world with a different set of rules, a diverse religion, and a language already quite difficult without Jiara’s dyslexia hampering her progress.
The communication barrier between Raffar and Jiara meant the two had to get to know one another using other means and this part of the book was beautifully written. The romance between these two as they discovered a friendship that evolved over time was both realistic and a shining example of respect and understanding between two Royals of very different worlds.
Lastly, the danger of both Scilla’s unrestful spirit and the mysterious killer behind her murder brought an intriguing air of mystery fraught with danger when Jiara cannot be sure of who she can trust in a kingdom so different from her own.
A Dragonbird in the Fern is a standalone novel.
Laura Rueckert’s debut novel is one not to be missed and I highly recommend taking the time to read the Author’s Note at the end where Rueckert explains the inspiration behind writing a dyslexic protagonist moving to a country with an unfamiliar language, as well as some links you can follow to learn about dyslexia.