The story follows Lucy and Su as they go on this adventure of sorts to save her father who has been captured. This is your typical middle grade adventure novel, there was a call to action and the story follows the ensuing events. However, I would argue that this story goes beyond the cliché a bit. It blends historical events of the early 20th century (Fall of the Qing Dynasty and Russian Revolution), with folklore from China and Russia into this fantastical story. This is an absolutely fantastic read!


This was such a joy to read! It was breath of fresh air among everything else that I have read recently! Also kudos to the author for providing the glossary of mythical creatures from each folk tradition. It was a nice touch to have along with the explanations of each.
5/5

Thank you NetGalley and Earnshaw books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This book follows our main character Lucy, who got separated from her father during a russian war and sent to China for a better life. One day she gets a letter that her father is on the way to China so they can once again be together. Upon learning of the attack on the train and the capture of all the men, Lucy is distraught. In order to save Lucy's father, Lucy, Su, and a really old man named Vlad go on a mission.

I knew it was YA going into it, however, there are tons of YA books that I can read and enjoy. This just felt a little too young for me to actually enjoy. I think this book would have been better suited for a younger audience, as I felt it to be a little too immature for my taste. It was a good story, but I just didn't connect with the characters or the story. I guess that I was looking for a deeper connection to the story and its characters, but the story did not deliver. Overall, it was enjoyable but written more for ten-year-olds than for adults. I do recommend that someone pick it up for their kids, because it is a cute book, which involves perseverance and found family.

Overall, not a bad book at all, just was not for me!

4.5 rounded up to 5!
There is something so beautiful about a Middle-Grade book with a “found family” trope. It is also very refreshing to see an author who respects the younger generation by not writing at a lower level than they deserve. This book was written almost to a YA level with the plot. It leaves just enough intrigue to keep the reader yearning to finish it in a night and has enough historical folklore that might get a keen mind researching for more.

We see a strong contrast between the two main characters, Lucy and Su. Lucy is our protagonist: Russian, clever in her own right, and friendly. Su is her best friend. She is Chinese, determined, intelligent, and a fighter. They bond through turmoil and persevere on an adventure that potentially drives a wedge in their friendship.

Some cheesy parts were more than a little predictable, but regardless, this is a solid story for a young person who is eager to read, learn, and explore. I’ll be thoroughly suggesting it to my friends with children and the members of my library team. Thank you so much, NetGalley, for this ARC!

This is a fantastic middle-grade fairy tale adventure drawing on Russian and Chinese folk traditions. A refugee Russian girl is waiting for her father to join her in China after the Russian Revolution, only her father doesn't arrive, and it seems as if he has been captured by an evil warlord. So, she sets off to find him and rescue him, in a forest full of strange creatures. The story is inspired by one of the authors' ancestors, and a brief memoir section after the story shows images of some of the people who inspired the story's characters. I really enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to several people.

As a Russian girl living in China, if it weren’t for her best friend, Su, then Lucy would be totally isolated. She’s lived away from Russia and her father, but finally the day arrives when he will return. However, when Lucy waits at the train station, the unthinkable happens: young fighting men have been stolen and forced into the terrible army of the criminal warlord known as Taotie. A man named after a mythical creature of insatiable greed. 👹 Lucy knows her father has been taken, because he leaves behind a feather from the legendary firebird, a revered creature in Russian folklore, known for bringing good fortune. 🐦‍🔥

🥟 She sets out on an adventure across China to take him back, and is joined by not only her best friend, but a mysterious gangster whose precious horse has also been taken by Taotie. But even this man has secrets of his own. In a world full of mythical creatures and magic, who can Lucy trust?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As someone who has lived abroad in China I was so excited to read this book, and even more privileged to do so ahead of publication day!
This is a fast-paced adventurous story, but along the way you are introduced to famous Chinese poetry, as well as folklore from both China and Russia. 🇷🇺 ❤️ 🇨🇳
The blend of both cultures was wonderful to read, as were the vivid descriptions of scenery that popped-out on page. 👀

A particularly interesting touch was the authors connection to China, with Russian relatives fleeing to Harbin, a haven for many Russian refugees, before eventually relocating to America over time. The tribute to her grandfather, and her own years in China was so touching! 😊

I wish this book every success once it hits the shelves later this year!

Short, sweet, and very fun, this is an inventive blend of Russian and Chinese folklore! Definitely recommended for any fans of Russian fairy tales! Thank you to NetGalley and Earnshaw Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

SO GOOD. LOVED TO READ THIS AMAZING STORY. I RATED THIS BOOK 4 STARS. SO SO SO GOOD. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK ASAP.