This was a delightful middle grade fantasy standalone! While the story follows a fairly formulaic narrative, the characters, motives, and plot were exciting at an appropriate pace for middle grade readers. I loved the quests involved, but I felt the lore and world building to be lacking. I would have loved more information and background on otherlings’ backgrounds and how their parents chose them or vice versa. We got a hint, but that is still a mystery I’m wondering about and could have provided more character development and emotional ties for the reader. 3.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook kids for the earc. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Which you can probably as I sadly rated this mediocre.

For me, this was a 2.75 stars. I’m beyond bummed about the book. The cover is gorgeous, and the plot had so much potential. For being a book with such high stakes, the tension and angst was not there. It was a quick read with a fast pace, but in this case, that’s not really a positive thing. Many aspects of the plot and characters needed to be developed more. The trials in the book were way too easily overcome. The plans worked too well. Everything just fell in place perfectly without any real setbacks. I found the writing to be alright. It was pretty straightforward. The characters on the other hand felt so flat and very unreal. They needed more development and time. The friendships seemed forced, and I felt like no emotions were shown well. If either the characters or plot were better, I think I would’ve enjoyed this way more.

A breath of mischief is such a wonderful whimsical middle grade fantasy novel! When Aria, a winding, loses her parent Wind, she sets off on a wondrous adventure. A quest that takes her and her griffin Gwyn all across their world. Little does she know just how this much her world will change once she completes her quest! This beautifully written book shows the tenacity and heart of the main character. I enjoyed every minute in it! Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for letting me read an early copy!

This is the story about a young girl named Aria. She grew up in a castle and was raised by the wind but one morning the wind has vanished. Along with Gwyn she has to go through few conquests to find Gwyn. I enjoyed my time reading this book for the most part. The adventures were fun to read about. but I thought the conquests were too straightforward. But overall, a good middle grade book. I'd recommend.

Rating : 3 out of 5
Blurbs :
Aria is raised by the Wind. She grew up in a castle, floating among the clouds with creatures of the air. She spends her days racing and soaring through the sky with her best friend, Gwyn, a young gryphling. At night, she falls asleep to the music of the Wind.

One morning, Aria is woken by a frantic Gwyn. The chimes are silent, there is not a breath of breeze, and their castle has settled on the ground. The Wind has vanished.

Aria and Gwyn go on a desperate search only to discover the Wind is being held captive by a sinister alchemist named Worton. To free the Wind, Aria and Gwyn must complete a series of trials to find and retrieve three magical talismans for Worton.

Nothing will keep Aria from rescuing the element who raised her—not a riddle, not a quest, not a race against time. Except Worton can't be trusted, and it's not just the Wind that needs saving...
Thoughts :
This is also a pretty solid middle grade book. Sadly, this feel flat for me. I still will recommend this book to other readers.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Five out of five stars.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids publishing for the ARC of this book.

I finished reading this just before I started going in and out of hospital with severe seizures after getting covid,

It left me thinking about it for a long time, because I really enjoyed the story and actually am obsessed with it.
I now have to buy it to get a re-read in, I'm pretty sure there's going to be more books after it too, which is super exciting for me. When I love a book I will read it over and over. I wonder where I can buy a soft cover copy to keep in my bag for reading when I; stuck in line somewhere.

A breath of Mischief by MarcyKate Connolly...

This is a story about Aria who is raised by the literal Wind. She grew up in a castle that was floating in the cloud. When her best friend, Gwyn, a young gryphling wakes her up and the wind is gone and the castle has fallen.
Together they must face trails and free The Wind, wherever they are, Along the way she will learn who she can and can't trust, proving herself a hero at heart.

This is a great book for kids and young adults alike, Even as an old man, I enjoyed this book and the adventures it takes you on, Would totally read this book again.

Breath of Mischief is an engaging read with a fun magical adventure, featuring Aria, a brave (and naive) girl that I think most readers will like.

I found that she was a pretty standard character and not much made her stand out. She’s cut off from humanity, living in the Wind’s castle, and is sent on an adventure by happenstance. While it was nice to see someone brave, there also wasn’t much that made Aria feel interesting.

I found the writing difficult to stay engaged with, but the plot was creative and had a decent pace. However, nothing really gripped my focus causing me to put Breath of Mischief down several times.

Overall, I found it enjoyable but it did feel like I was forcing myself into it at times.

3.5 stars.
MarcyKate Connolly's "A Breath of Mischief" is full of adventure, danger, friendship and courage.

Aria and her best friend Gwyn, a young gryphling, leave their home when the wind disappears. Ara was raised by the Wind, so its absence is scary. The two friends encounter numerous others, some of whom are also elemental-like beings like Ara. The worst person she meets on her travels is the alchemist Worton, who has trapped the Wind. Worton won't even let Aria speak to the Wind unless the two friends go on a quest to find three objects. It's dangerous, but the pair are ultimately successful and then have to deal with the bigger problem.

This is a fast-paced and fun story, and if I had read this when I was young, I would have loved it. Being older, I liked it, but had a few issues with it:

-The section of the story with the quests didn't hold my interest.

-I would have liked a little more background on Aria's relationship to the wind at the book's outset.

I did like, however, how Aria has to learn to ask for help.

Thank you to Netgalley and to SOURCEBOOKS Kids for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The cover of MarcyKate Connolly’s book A Breath of Mischief is what initially drew me to the story, and it really encompasses the feel of the book. A low stakes children's fantasy, it’s a sweet yet entertaining book that delivers exactly what’s promised in the synopsis.

Aria is a windling, adopted by the Wind and living in their castle with her young gryphiling (a.k.a. gryphon) companion Gwyn. She loves soaring through the clouds and interacting with all the other castle inhabitants. But one day when Wind goes missing (and her powers with it), Aria and Gwyn go looking for them and discover them in a cage. Striking a deal with their captor, Aria and Gwyn agree to complete three quests in exchange for Wind’s freedom - but will their word hold true, and will all of Aria and Gwyn’s efforts be for nought?

The worldbuilding of this story is really cool. I really enjoyed the idea of non-gendered sentient elements (Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth) and the ‘otherlings’ who they have adopted. These children all have companions, and they work to help their parental figures maintain the natural balance. For example, Terran, the adopted child of the Earth, regularly leaves dead branches and wood close to human civilizations so they won’t be tempted to come into the forest and cut down healthy living trees. I did notice how Aria’s journey emphasizes the negative effects of manipulating natural resources in the name of money and power. That was one of the biggest themes of the book, and the one that I think has the most potential to affect potential readers.

Some reviews mark this book as middle-grade, but I would actually mark the intended audience as young elementary school aged children. The length, for one, is much shorter than the average middle-grade novel. Nothing ever felt urgent over the course of the book; I wanted to feel the impetus and the determination when Aria and Gwyn were completing their challenges. I didn’t, sadly; any danger and happenings in the book left me feeling disconnected as a reader as opposed to invested in the story. I also wanted to see some actual difficulty in the challenges that they are facing, but Aria completed each task in front of her with surprising ease despite refusing help (even when it would have been sensible to ask for it).

Overall, A Breath of Mischief was a quick and easy fantasy read. Narrator Melissa Czyz added to the light-hearted whimsical tone of the book with her performance in the audiobook narration. Despite some of the faults I noticed, I would still recommend it to young elementary aged readers. I’m unsure if this is intended to be standalone or part of a series (I would lean towards standalone), but I think the ending allows for options either way.

Thank you to the author, the publisher Sourcebook Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of A Breath of Mischief. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

A gripping quest unfolds in this elemental adventure filled with magic and magical beasts. A Breath of Mischief is all about bravery and teamwork.

A story with great themes! ^^

Aria is a young girl who, behind a rescue story, will learn from her mistakes: she makes mistakes but bounces back and grows. These are great values to pass on to children, young and old alike!

I just regret that the world was not more developed, because it had potential.

In short, a nice discovery! ^^

A tale of making mistakes, owning up to them, and working hard to restore trust.

Aria is a windling, raised by the wind, and lives with her gryphling in a cloud castle. Everything is perfect until one day, the wind disappears. Aria and Gwyn set out to find her parent and end up on a quest that results in a terrible mistake. Can they undo their mistakes, regain the otherlings’ trust and free the wind before it’s too late?

A Breath of Mischief was a rescue story mixed with a coming-of-age theme. Aria makes mistakes, takes responsibility and learns from them. This book isn’t a full-on creation of a new magical world. It rather takes known legends and tales and embellishes them. It is full of elemental creatures that balance the natural world. Aria’s quests are exciting, and her emotional fight to free her parent is relatable.

Overall, I enjoyed the adventure of this book. I expected a little bit more, especially concerning Aria’s reflections on her quest. It should have rung alarm bells earlier on. I would have also liked to see more of Worton's capabilities with his newly gained powers. But that is just my opinion.

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A Breath of Mischief is a classic fantasy story for young readers telling of a quest to find a missing guardian. Aria is a young girl raised by the wind, who suddenly finds herself attempting to save the Wind from a man who gives her a classic riddle quest. Of course things are not as the seem, and the man most definitely does not have the best of intentions - but that’s for Aria and her companion Gwen to find out along the way.

As far as fantasy quest books this one hits every classic beat. It’s predictable and you can count on it to stay on the path. For adult readers this can be frustrating and make for a slow and tedious read, but I’m certain a younger reader will eat this up. It’s whimsical and told in a very removed style that reminded me a little bit of Lord of the Rings (but very simplified of course). The characters, while cleverly created and unique in style don’t give us much as far as emotional weight but the story moves fast enough that it probably isn’t necessary in the right audience’s hands.

The world is just a vehicle and the magic is plentiful but not explained out or complicated in any way - so ultimately this one is a simple moral quest story. To talk about it too much would spoil it in fact. I can’t say I recommend this for adult readers like myself who enjoy middle grade and younger, but I would say this could be a great jumping in point for young readers who enjoy fantasy and want a new read. So for your young kids - this is a great pick up.

This was an okay book for the lower end of middle grade readers. I found the plot interesting and well developed, but I just couldn’t get into the writing. It felt too juvenile and it jarred me so much that it was a struggle reading it. So this was not a hit fir me unfortunately.

As an adult reading this book I found myself saying "no, don't do it, it's a trap" to Aria quite a lot while she was trying to complete the quest. I think that kids will enjoy this book and will have a harder time seeing the trap that Aria is being led in to. I love that by the end of the book all the the otherlings have the same knowledge and I hope that the elements start sharing more information with them so things like this don't happen in the future. Overall, a fun, middle grade read.

Aria is a windly has been living with the wind for a long time. Her companion is Gwyn, a young half-eagle, half-lion gryphling. She loves her life as she gets to live in a floating castle seeing the world with Gwyn. One morning Gwyn awakens Aria as the floating castle is on the ground and there is no wind and can’t be summoned. Heading west to find the wind, she discovers that the wind is trapped by an evil alchemist. The alchemist will free the wind if Aria gets three magical talismans. It is three challenging quests that Aria will be helped by otherlings. When Aria succeeds in freeing Wind, she discovers that there is more that needs saving.

The high-stakes tension and worldbuilding is quirky. It is an appealing fantasy. I loved this fast paced magical story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is my first MarcyKate Connolly book so I went in blind and a tad bit anxious .This is book for fans of fantasy and magic that follows Aria who has to tap into her self to find courage and how friendship matters. The book follows Aria who with her friend Gwyn go on a quest to find The Wind. This was a thrilling read and exciting
adventure. I recommend it to fantasy readers and I absolutely want fantasy readers to read it.

“Aria is raised by the Wind. She grew up in a castle, floating among the clouds with creatures of the air. She spends her days racing and soaring through the sky with her best friend, Gwyn, a young gryphling. At night, she falls asleep to the music of the Wind. —“

The book really gave a pleasing and heartwarming feeling when reading it. It allows me to image the elements, the strong friendship and the courage behind every act she did. Such a suitable read for teens and children, it really tell and shows us a bit of life lesson in the stories (oh i love that so much)! Recommend this to everyone for a light reading!!

Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids for this e-arc in exchange for a honest review.

There are two kinds of middle-grade magic — books that are so magical, that even adults can’t put them down, and books that are magical for young readers, even if adults don’t love them. A Breath of Mischief falls into the latter category.

For example, some of the tasks Aria undertakes are fairly straightforward. As an adult, I would probably like some more twists. Kids, though, especially those who are just advancing into true novels, like some tasks to be clear. It doesn’t make the author’s approach wrong; it just means she knows her audience.

And MarcyKate Connolly does know her audience. She’s created a strong framework in which children’s imaginations are allowed to go wild.

In Aria, readers find a flawed but likeable protagonist who discovers more about her world and friendships than she ever thought possible.

A Breath of Mischief reads like a breath of fresh air. It’s a fast-moving fantasy that will likely appeal to a wide cross-section of middle readers, particularly those who are new to the fantasy genre.

Raised by the Wind, Aria grew up among the clouds and creatures of the air, flying with her best friend, Gwyn, a young gryphling. When the Wind vanishes and the castle is on the ground, Aria and Gwyn discover the Wind is being held captive by the alchemist Worton. To free the Wind, Aria and Gwyn must complete a series of trials to find and retrieve three magical talismans for Worton.

A Breath of Mischief is a book for elementary school students, and the quest to find the Wind is a big one. Aria is essentially trying to find a way to get back her kidnapped parent, a frightening and desperate situation. She meets children from the other elements and shares stories along her journey. In addition to Worton are adult bandits looking to steal whatever treasures they find, and have no qualms about taking things from a child. The items Aria must retrieve of course are fantastical ones from legend, with a week's time limit to get them and exchange them for the Wind. It's an intense journey for her, bringing her all over the world.

I enjoyed seeing the different children of the elements, and how they each had a companion as Aria did. The elements work together to maintain the balance of nature, which helps with all realms of life, from drawing up well water, growing food, or even starting a fire. Adults will realize there is a strong condemnation of the tendency to destroy natural resources for money woven into the story. Life must be in balance, and people work better together than alone and out of fear.