I loved this spooky, fantastical book! The Rise of Issa Igwe brought a solid balance of heart, scares and mystery and the worldbuilding really drew me into the Siren School. Issa is such a brave protagonist and young readers will find her relatable and cheer her on as she follows her journey. The portrayal of friendships and agency really made this story stand out. Readers are in for a treat with this one. Thank you Net Galley for the e-arc,

Delightfully creepy. Ghostly good fun. A school for magic like no other.

Despite a lifetime of breaking the rules, twelve-year-old Issa Igwe never expected to land in witch prison. At least that’s what she calls The Siren School outside of its hallowed halls. It’s actually the country’s most prestigious boarding school for magically gifted girls, and Issa’s parents insist that she attend . . . even though the school’s creepy history is the stuff of legend.

When a devastating loss overturns Issa’s world, Issa decides to break one of her new school’s biggest rules of all: she’s going to use bitter magic to turn back time. To succeed, she must snatch sleep-inducing feathers from the backs of magical creatures, sneak out while avoiding the Night Children—whoever they are—and even raise the dead. Her nighttime explorations bring the school’s darkest secrets to light, and reveal a new power within Issa herself. It turns out that a rule-breaker might be just what The Siren School needs to undo an ancient evil . . .

This spooky and delightfully magical middle grade companion novel to The Fall of the House of Tatterly introduces an indomitable heroine and an unforgettable school of magic based in hoodoo and Gullah Geechee culture.

My Take:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The 12-year-old protagonist deftly balances bravery and rebellion, avoiding the pitfall of becoming disagreeably headstrong. Although I was initially unaware that it was a companion to another book, my enjoyment was not hindered; rather, it piqued my interest in the companion volume. I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers exploring dark academia, especially as an introduction to the "spooky season."

This was a fantastic fantasy mystery and story of friendship. I really liked Issa in _The Fall of the House of Tatterly_ so seeing she was getting her own story, I was so excited. This was definitely rough at times with what Issa was going through, but I love the friendships and Issa coming into her own power and confidence.