This is a great middle-grade fantasy adventure to shelf right next to Tamora Pierce! Well written, wonderful relatable characters, great descriptions. Cannot wait to see what adventures Ash and Splinter get up to next!

The world is complicated for Princess Ash, who is unsure of her place in the world, & Splinter, who wants to be a knight more than anything. Unfortunately, with war in the horizon, & a kidnapping, it only gets worse from here.

This was an absolutely delightful middle grade fantasy! The characters were really the highlight where our two main characters are passionate and curious children, who develop a lovely friendship while working together to save their kingdom. We also get some highly engaging secondary characters who were just as real and complicated as the main two.

The pacing was really great, and kept me engaged from the very first page. And I wouldn’t hesitate to pass this on to my nibling, as this story, in addition to just being a fun romp, also teaches some important lessons about responsibility, what strength truly means, and the unintended consequences even when you think you’re doing the right thing.

The world building was the only thing that fell a little bit flat for me. We get brief mentions of the war and a neighboring empire, but we are so focused on the characters that it feels a little shallow. I felt like we could have gone in depth a lot more, but that’s what sequels are for.

I was hooked, and I’d be delighted to read another book in this series, or whatever else comes next from Nijkamp.

Thanks to both NetGalley and Harper Children’s Books for this arc!

Princess Adelisa, Ash, returns to Calinor's capitol, Kestral's Haven, after 6 years away at school. Now, at 12, she returns to listen to hateful remarks of her being unfit because she is disabled - her joints like to dislocate so she uses braces to stabilize them and walks with a cane. Her kindness and intelligence, earns her an unwelcome squire, Splinter, a nonbinary who goes by she when all squires are meant to be male. It doesn't help that Prince Lucen, Ash's brother, is hateful to them both and bullies Splinter with the other squires to get her thrown out of training with her dreams of becming a knight shattered. Then, Ash gets kidnapped by enemy forces that Calinor is at war with, and Splinter will do whatever it takes to save her princess, like any knight should do. All the characters stand on their own and they learn and grow into themselves as the intrigue, danger, and adventure unfolds in the quest to save Ash. The worldbuilding is a little light, but with this being a series opener, there is room for the Calinor kingdom and the Fresian Empire to unfold. A wonderful medieval era read with many twists and turns that will leave readers eager for the next book.

Splinter & Ash will find a home in any library that serves adventure minded young people (and their care givers). Perfect for tween readers looking for "what's next" after Tamora Jones or Kelly Barnhill, and an equally exciting choice for caregivers who enjoy the works of Rebecca Yarros or Jennifer Armentrout and are looking for an age appropriate book to share their love of amazing, adaptable, and diverse fantasy characters with the young people in their lives.

The characters are distinct, each bringing their own motivation and perspective to the story, and the action moves quickly (though not always in the direction the reader expects) making this a great option for a young person who more often reads graphic novels as the twists and turns will carry them easily from the beautiful cover and engaging prologue through to the epilogue and the promise of more adventure to come. While Splinter, Ash, and their companions live in a world of castles and kingdoms, the challenges they face are not that far removed from the world of the reader and the lessons of inclusion and compassion they learn through their adventures are a gift for the reader as well. Thank you to NetGalley for access for this amazing arc.

This was a very sweet middle grade story that I think I would have adored when I was 10-12! Splinter and Ash are both great main characters, headstrong and very realistic for their age.

I liked the plot and worldbuilding - the author mentioned Tamora Pierce in her Author's note and I can absolutely see the inspiration from one of my all time favourite authors!!

I also loved the way that gender expression was discussed here for a young audience.

A charming romp! A good read for fans of authors like Tamora Pierce due to the humor and adventure, but this tale is not derivative in the least. It carves out a niche all of it's own. My only disappointment is that there aren't more- I want more tales in this universe!

I enjoyed the dynamics between Splinter and Ash. I liked how their friendship bloomed and how they helped lift each other up.
Ash is dealing with a lot being back in kingdom and learning how to live and be there.
I think her friendship with Splinter really helps her navigate a new normal and figuring out where she fits in.
A great middle grade read for those who love some medieval times feel, but also come for witty characters who are a lot like them. Trying to figure out where they fit in the world.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.