Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Momo is off on another adventure with old friends and new while trying to figure out her new powers. It’s a good second book.
Rating: 4/5
In the second adventure with Momo Arashima, we get to see the "normalcy" of life after her world was turned upside down. Momo is one of the most human and realistic children's characters I've read in a while, struggling with the balance of emotions and desires with what needs to be done. A fantastic installment in this series!
I love this series so much. Everything about Momo and her adventures reminds me why and how I fell in love with fantasy. Once again Sugiura delivers a stunning array of characters and beings. Each beautifully written and with their own distinct voice in the story. The arcs of Momo and her main circle feel genuine and paced well. I love all the hidden messages and lessons in these books and even as a 36 year old adult feel that they do well in reminding me of the things that are truly important in life. This book was action packed and quick moving like the first and I don't feel like it ever lost its momentum right up to the last page. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Momo and her friends and how the rest of this story is going to play out!
Just like the first book, Misa Sugiura has created a fantastically fun novel that will appeal to young adults and has unstoppable friendship at the heart of the story. Picking up after the first book, Momo has reconnected with Danny and things should be alright, but they aren’t. Momo learns in this novel that she must work with new friends in order to save the day. Ultimately, it means working with mean girl Ryleigh and figuring out that they have more in common than they thought and tapping into her own powers to stand up for herself.
What makes the story so rich and fun is the lessons in friendship that Momo learns, standing up for yourself and also seeing things from others perspective. She learns that others might have problems of their own and that despite differences, she can be friends with those who are different from her. The story is as fun and full of rich cultural references as the first book.
If you loved the first book, “Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind, then you will love the sequel. I especially like the ending as it gives us the opening for a third book. I love that there is more to come because the story has been riveting so far. I believe young readers will love the story and enjoy the adventures of Momo, her friends and their unstoppable friendship.
This was a good read if you like middle grade fantasy based off mythology but I've come to realise that middle grade fiction very rarely works for me and therefore I won't be continuing with this series.
After having book one be on my list of top books I read last year, I was honored and thrilled to get an eARC of book two! It did not disappoint, with more adventure, heart, and humor, all woven together with beautifully adapted depictions of mythological beings and tales. Highly recommend to anyone who's looking to diversify their mythic fantasy collection!
This was another great adventure story by author Misa Sugiura!
Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun has all the excitement and adventure of the first book, while growing the magic of this world in an interesting way. I really enjoyed this middle grade novel, especially the friendships that grew between the main characters, and getting to know about side characters more.
This is an action packed adventure full of friendship and danger that weaves together folklore and the modern era! I loved coming back to Momo's story as she once again faces off against ancient kami and learns a little more about herself in the process. It was nice to see Momo work with new characters and see some familiar faces as she navigates saving the world while also handling the hurdles of friendship. The book also leaves off on a nice cliffhanger that has me already excited for the next book!
Just once I'd like to read a middle grade book where the main character doesn't have to befriend her bully. In books, they always have some sort of tragic back story to make readers realize that they don't mean to be a bully, and they aren't really a bad person, but that's not always true to life. Sometimes people just suck, and I'd like to see that represented sometime.
I liked that Momo finally acknowledges that it's okay to be angry sometimes and that she doesn't need to always push it down.
I'm eager to see where the next one goes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
This is a fantastic series with Japanese mythology including legends, yokai, and kami explanations. We learn along with Momo her origin and she goes from loser to amazing. This second volume is even more exciting as the first filled with action and keeps me turning the page for more. Apart from the adventures with the myth realms, the school scenes are always relatable and I feel like I would be Momo's best friend. I am so excited to keep reading this series and hope there will be more.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for the copy.
Momo Arashima is back for another adventure. This time she's in seventh grade and confronting all that seventh grade can bring for a human, let alone someone like Momo. But she finds her crew and they are off on another adventure. It's perfect for middle school readers as it included familiar conflicts and plenty of cultural intrigue. This is a series (I hope!) that will be timeless and enjoyable for a broad range of readers.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. Love the concept!
Action packed, full of life lessons, and perfect for the middle-grade reader, Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun is perfection. The story centers around Momo, who isn't the coolest in middle school. She's bullied a lot for being "different" and things have only started turning around for her as she's become friends again with her childhood best friend, Danny, after their last adventure, when she feels him getting pulled away again. Not wanting to be left on her own again, she follows him to a party she'd been excluded from. When disaster strikes and everyone at the party gets kidnapped by an evil spirit, Momo ends up on a quest to save them which includes a heist to steal the sacred Mirror of the Sun.
I really enjoyed the addition of the new characters in this one as well as the way the book weaves together mythology, adventure, and the difficulties of navigating friendships and being a middle school kid. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson - this series will not disappoint.
Thank you Netgalley for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was so happy to be able to read the second in this saga, I didn’t know there would be one so double yay. I love the character of Momo Arashima and everything she gets into, all the fantasy elements and also all the research it has me doing to learn about the real culture behind them!
Momo does it again. She does not do what would be traditionally done and thus she saves the day. She was a bit whiny at the beginning but I'm glad she came around and thus her adventure was better.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun is Momo Arashima’s second adventure, following the first installment last year. I enjoyed being back with these characters and continuing to explore Shinto mythology in an easily digestible way, while also exploring typical issues kids deal with as part of growing up.
Momo remains a relatable protagonist, and I felt for her as she dealt with her best friend Danny hanging out with her nemesis, Ryleigh, leading to jealousy and anger. But the magical adventure sees the two of them, along with Danny and Niko having to work together, which presents some compelling challenges, and leads to solid personal growth.
The adventure itself is as compelling as the first, and I continue to enjoy how the mythological aspects come into play on their journey. The story overall is action-packed and well-paced, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.
This was a solid second installment, and I hope there are more to come. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy middle grade fantasy-adventure books.
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's through NetGalley.
Book two in the series.
Momo, Danny and Niko face a new challenge when children start disappearing from around the world. Readers see this occur close to them when everyone at her arch-nemesis Ryleigh's birthday party. Everyone but Danny, Momo, Ryleigh and Jin disappear and the grownups are frozen. They quickly follow to see what happened and see the demon responsible. The five must learn to work together as a team to rescue the children, stop the demon and save the middle lands.
Sugiura reveals more about each character as the book unfolds so readers understand more about who they really are. Momo finds a way to battle her inner anger and take control of the rage monster inside her to save everyone from Tamamo-no-mae and her evil plans. I appreciate the way the author shows how human these kids are and how committed they are to becoming their best selves. The ending leads straight to the quest for the third Sacred Treasure.
Middle grade readers will devour this one and eagerly await the final book.
Thank you to PRH for providing me with an e-arc. I was excited to see how Momo's adventure continues after the events of book 1. With a larger cast of characters this adventure is all about the journey and I loved every minute of it especially the cliffhanger at the end! Will anxiously be awaiting the next book in the series to find out what happens next!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was another action packed and fun read! The kids realize along the way what’s important and to just be yourself. Momo realizes that she can’t let her anger take over yet she can’t just keep it inside. She realizes there is a balance to her anger.