"Life is dangerous. Embrace it — if you don't, you won't live."

I am very careful about comparing books to bestsellers and classics, because that can create unfair expectations for debut books. However, Animalia is very much meant for the audience that loves Harry Potter and prestigious types of magic schools. There are so many similarities between Animalia and Harry Potter, in fact, that I had a difficult time *not* comparing them, because the similarities truly aren't subtle. So if you've read Harry Potter, it's almost a given that you'll compare the two. However, it's not, by any means, a "copy" of Harry Potter.

That being said, I loved the framework of Animalia, and the characters were so special. It's a nail-biting story that keeps you flipping the pages late into the night, and it's perfect for winter time reading. My main reason for 3 stars is because the framework is absolutely there but the execution is a bit lacking. Animalia is a solid story, but I had to back up and re-read pages very often because scene transitions and setting discrepancies caught me off guard. The dialogue is also pretty choppy, and some character responses don't always make sense when they're talking to each other. As I said, the framework for the story is without a doubt 5 stars, which is why I finished the book, but I do wish a good developmental editor had their hands in this one because the issues that clogged the reading flow would've been easy fixes.

Overall, I will absolutely be following this author's future releases because I loved Sunday and her story. And I do recommend Animalia as a fun middle grade adventure set in the snowy North, but I was just disappointed that the writing flow kept jolting me out of the story.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've always really liked the premise of the MC enrolling in a prestigious school with magical elements. Plus, it gave off a YA dark academia vibe that I thought was interesting. This book sounded even more exciting in that there were animals involved. And I really did enjoy the parts focusing on the Animalia elements like their classes and school work and the Animalia compound.

However, besides those things, I didn't really love it. I think a lot of my problems with this book were because of the "voice" of the main character. I don't really like the main characters that think they're better/different/better because they aren't like everyone else, etc. I understand an author wanting to make the mc unique but it felt too juvenile. I also think a lot of the story happened through Sunday telling us what was happening instead of the author showing us, especially her feelings. There was so much internal strife that was just the main character saying what she thought out loud. I also didn't like any of the characters... I didn't care much for any of the interactions between them. There were some attempts at banter that I didn't hate. But, it wasn't great either. I think this book wanted to attempt a found family trope but it just didn't work.

Overall, I do think I would have enjoyed this book more when I was 13 and I did take into account that this was a debut book. I would try more by this author, but just could not connect with this book, unfortunately...

Hello Fellow Readers,

This was such an interesting take on the whole Fantasy/Magic school trope (even though we are told multiple times that Animalia is not magic). I found the world that Murphy built very interesting and couldn't wait to see how it's explored. Sunday was an interesting character, a child dealing with the death of her father, with a mother who muted her grief through addiction, all the while trying to make sure their candle shop stays afloat. While she is worried and scared to leave home, Sunday gets accepted into Svalbard a prestige school in Norway for their Animalia program, the same program that her father had been in. This is where the story picks up as there is a mystery at this new school that has Sunday suspicious and fighting her animalistic nature. I really hope there is a sequel as this can make a really interesting series. The mystery was predictable as I figured out the antagonist as soon as they were introduced, but that didn't bother me.

Overall, a curious ending that makes me hope for a sequel.

How to describe this novel? It's a hint of Hogwarts with a mystery. If it's a stand alone I want more. It was very good. It tells of how to be brave, kind, strong but also forgiving of self and others.

I really enjoyed the Scandinavian setting. This gives me Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts vibes and I really enjoyed it. The only negative is that there were some things that I wish had been explained further or we were given more information on. Otherwise it's a fun read. I really enjoyed Sunday as a character and the story was interesting.

It took me a while to get into this but once It did it flew by. I enjoy magical school tropes and this was such a great addition and the world-building was fresh and fun but not over-complicated for young readers. Can't wait to read more by this author!

Thankyou to Netgalley for an Arc of this book in exchange for a review! As a debut novel I thought this was super impressive I really liked the concept of this book which centred around our main character Sunday who finds herself being enrolled into a prestigious school which centres around individuals that have connections with animals. I found Sunday to be a really likeable character as well as the other side characters who had to learn and grow and I thought the setting was really immersive and you really feel like you’re a part of the story, overall 3.5 stars for me🤩⭐️

This book was awesome! The magic system was on top, the plot, the characters and the pace were pretty good. I loved the writing and the characters so much. I liked the mix of fantasy, adventure and mystery that the author adds and how the plot is developing.

The concept of this was so fun, I always love a middle grade magical school, and magical companions is even better! Unfortunately, I found a lot of the dialogue (and inner monologue) very cringy and unrealistic. Not because it was for kids - just because it didn't make sense. That stopped me from getting into the story at all.

💭 Animalia is a highly enjoyable new teen/ tween/ younger YA dark academia fantasy mystery and although I have seen a few reviews drawing parallels with several well known series that feature residential schools, I didn't feel like the similarities were that glaringly obvious, which as far as I'm concerned is a good thing.

Two things made me drop everything to read this. The first one was the setting being in Norway. Let's face it, aside from Jo Nesbø (or Ibsen, obviously), there isn't exactly a whole sub-genre dedicated to my country of origin, which I found really exciting.
Also, as a lifelong animal lover, the story's premise being based on a fantastic academic setting centred around the study and conservation of animals was not something I could pass on.

Reading a fantasy book that is set in a familiar place is a bit of a double edged sword. On one hand the familiarity is what attracts me to those books in the first place, but on the other, going in with a mental image of the place in question can create some confusion in cases where the story's backdrop deviates too much from the real world version. I found that in this book, the latter scenario applied to some extent, and once again I felt that some deeper research and detail around world building could have eased the confusion.
The story is told in present tense from Sunday, the 13- year old FMC’s PoV and as we all know, the emotions of 13 year olds can be a rollercoaster. This also applies to interpersonal relationships and I think partly due to this, there is a constant feeling of uncertainty around the people surrounding Sunday and her trust in those characters seems to shift very quickly, which left me feeling unsettled and uncertain about most people most of the time, but I also felt that this might have been the point. It’s been a LONG time since I was that age, but I suppose the expectation from readers is that just being a girl that age should be sufficient reason. I personally didn’t mind taking this at face value, but some additional depth would have given Sunday’s judgement greater weight.
Where this book excelled for me was in the originality of the story, the setting, particularly the vivid descriptions of environments such as the dean and professors’ offices and the Animalia compound, interactions between characters and their growth arcs. In fact, feelings and emotions are what drives quite a good percentage of the story, whilst giving the characters a well rounded context which made them interesting, created connection and kept me invested.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and I will definitely buy a copy for my children, who I'm sure will love it. Animalia is a celebration of our connection to animals and the power of nature, with a really thrilling and satisfying mystery that hinges on choices we have to make in order to grow into adulthood.

I am grateful to the Author and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this lovely book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, which I feel deserves a solid 3.5 stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for the arc♡ This review is mine and only mine.

There are A LOT of things that should be fixed and explqined further but the storyline of this book was really well thought!!♡
Firstly, I believe the author should improve her usage of words. Like just because she did not want to use curse words, she used 'blazes' & 'Ughh' & 'What the...'. I dont know it just felt awkward.
Moreover, Sunday is 13????,, Uhm, respectfully, no. She is too young for this story. 16 would perfectly. It was such a turn off for me.
I loved Alec. He was the cutest and I never for 1 second liked Viktor. While Alec was always by her side,Viktor was ready to leave her in the first occasion.
I also loved the cover so much♡

Animalia takes readers on a delightful journey through a whimsical Victorian-era world, blending middle-grade fantasy with intriguing steampunk elements. The novel's charm lies in its creative world-building and a captivating concept that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. While the mystery woven into the narrative proves to be somewhat predictable, the overall enjoyment is not compromised. The author's vivid descriptions and playful language create an immersive experience, making the story accessible and enjoyable for a young audience. Despite the predictability, the book leaves readers eager for future installments, promising further adventures in this enchanting and imaginative realm

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

4⭐️

TW: death of parent, use of drugs

First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC

“Animalia” is a middle grade/YA book with fantasy and mystery elements. Set in the Victorian-era world, the story takes place at Svalbard School, a prestigious school situated on a peninsula in Norway.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the setting as well as the characters; Sunday was a great protagonist and I loved the concept of Animalia and their strong bonds with animals. This was surely the most interesting aspect for me.

Unfortunately, I found the mystery a bit predictable, but I didn’t ruin the read for me.

I’m very curious about what could happen given the ending, and I will surely read the sequel if the author decides to continue this series.

On an icy peninsula in Norway, there is a school where select students from around the world are taught the secrets of the Victorian-era world.

An incredibly fun middle-grade steampunk fantasy with a healthy dose of mystery! Highly recommended!

This seems like a great fantasy book for young readers. While the school setting reminds me that of Hogwarts, it is unique in that the different houses, Apothecary, Warbringer, Machinist, Artisan, and Animalia, focuses on different interests and talents that the students of those houses can offer. The story follows Sunday Gråe who is much like her late father as she is accepted into Animalia just as he was. However, Svalbard School holds many secrets, and things do not seem right to Sunday as there are not nearly as many Animalia students and the ones that do remain start to go missing. Sunday has to face her dark past regarding her father's death while also figuring out the mysteries going on in the school.

The concept of the story and fast plot was interesting, but I found myself not able to engage much into the story. I found there to be a lot of repetition of character dialogue and Sunday's thoughts. The ending of who the "villain" ending up being was fairly predictable, but there were a few twists that I did not see coming.

A great fantastical school setting read, and I love that one of the main premises focused around animals.

Thank you NetGalley and Coco Studio for this ARC!

A Nordic version of Hogwarts which Sunday dreams of attending. As always, be careful what you wish for as Sunday finds herself battling human and not-so-human monsters. The Victorian setting was unique and several of the characters were quite interesting. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

A Delightful Read!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Animalia" by Shauna C. Murphy is a mesmerizing journey into a world where secrets and abilities intertwine with the enigmatic beauty of the Victorian era. This five-star novel invites readers to explore the Svalbard School, a place where students from across the globe are trained in various disciplines, each shrouded in its own mysteries.

Thirteen-year-old Sunday Gråe, a character you'll instantly root for, dreams of following in her late father's footsteps by studying Animalia—a unique discipline focused on harnessing the special abilities of animals. Her admission to the prestigious and secretive Svalbard School marks the beginning of her adventure, but it's also the start of something far more perilous.

As students mysteriously disappear, Sunday finds herself thrust into a dangerous puzzle. Her struggle to forgive herself for her father's tragic death becomes a central theme, hindering her use of Animalia's powers to uncover the truth behind the vanishing students. With her spirited friend Ori by her side, Sunday embarks on a quest to save her missing peers.

The novel brilliantly weaves an intricate plot filled with tension and suspense, and as Sunday investigates the locations of the abductions, the dark secrets of her own past and her father's demise come to the forefront. The narrative takes unexpected twists, leading to a thrilling climax.

"Animalia" is not just a gripping mystery but a tale of self-discovery and forgiveness. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and readers will be drawn into their struggles and triumphs. The author's skill in crafting this story and its emotional depth is truly commendable.

Shauna C. Murphy has delivered a work that seamlessly combines the allure of historical fiction with the intrigue of a compelling mystery, making it a must-read for young adults and mystery enthusiasts alike. "Animalia" is a captivating and imaginative journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

This was a wonderfully unique novel with interesting characters and a fast-paced plot. It kept me engaged from start to finish and I became so attached to the characters that I didn’t want the book to end. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a chance to read and review this book.