Do you have a kid who hates change? They will understand Lydia. She loves her home in Mulberry Glen, where she lives with a philosopher, a fairy, a cook, and a pair of mischievous twins (a young boy and girl). Why would she ever want to grow up and leave this safe, cozy place?

Alas, she must. Lydia must start an apprenticeship if she wants to become an herbologist one day. (Lydia is like Jo March on the brink of going to New York.)

But before Lydia is assigned an apprenticeship, something else happens that forces her to leave even earlier than expected and not on safe, predictable terms.

There is a Darkness that's spreading from the forest of Tenebrae, and rumor has it that the only thing that can vanquish the darkness is a flower called Omni Res Mundi (Latin translation: "everything in the world").

Lydia teams up with some colorful characters to accomplish her mission and (maybe) vanquish the Darkness for good.

There is a great discussion here about what it takes to beat back "the dark." So many of us struggle with dark thoughts, depression, despair—and other people seem to be happy as clams, so why aren't we? How do you stop those dark thoughts from spreading and taking over? This is a timely topic but one that's as old as time, too.

This book offers an answer to this question, and I agree with the beautiful message. I hope that a lot of kids and young people take it to heart. It's the truth.

To parents of sensitive kids: Even though this book ventures into the darkness, it isn't dark, so approach it without fear.

As someone who isn't familiar with Latin, I hope they include a translation page somewhere in the front or back matter.

Thank you to Waxwing Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this beautiful book.

I really like all of the books written by Millie Florence they were really good.
she also wrote honey butter, lydia green of mylberry green.

4.5 ★ - (loved it, favorite!)

Spectacular!! This is one of the best pieces of middle grade fiction I've picked up in recent years and the first book I've read by the author. To say I'm impressed would be an understatement! Great worldbuilding (it was all so fascinating and prettyyy), heartfelt characters, a bit of Lord of the Rings vibes, subtle biblical themes... the prose?!! And the very best of autumnal feels!!! All of this along with the Latin (which was a really cool twist) and the herbology references (like arnica oil) which I understood somewhat as my mom is into homeopathy, made this super fun to read. There are sooo many favorite quotes tucked in this one little book, too many to fit them all in a review I'm afraid, but I may add some near release day ;)

And oh, the characters!!! Bravest Lydia, golden-retriever Livy, sharp Prehna, quiet Coran, kind Mrs. Castra, hilarious Quill, sweetest Terra, wise Pit— so many favorites! And I also liked the philosopher and the Z's though their antics got way out of hand, haha!

The second-guessing of characters and some of the twists at the end kept me on my toes; I didn't see some of the things coming even, which I don't often find in a middle grade. And I teared up over Coran recounting to Lydia that he was reunited as well as over Terra listening to Lydia confide in her ahhhh.

Which brings me to another point, the Darkness plot(?) was not only interesting but rather relatable. A lot of it reminded me of some of the things I've struggled with personally in my thoughts so I really connected with that, particularly in Lydia and Terra. It's a really good depiction of the battle of the mind and that, though things may sometimes resurface a little, it doesn't have to control you when you have the Light. And I should add, some of the Darkness bits may be a bit scary for some younger readers so I'd recommend reading some of the other reviews and the content warnings below first :)

I think there could have been a tad more buildup/picking-up-of-the-pace before the climax as the adventure meandered most of the story (which I really enjoyed) until it suddenly hit the summit, which actually the surprise works too, though my initial thought was it could have been a little more nuanced(?)... anywho. I do wish my eARC had included the illustrations mentioned! I know they must be gorgeous telling from the cover, the map, and the illustrator's other work which I discovered earlier this year.

That 'twas a lot of rambling ahahah but I suppose it shows how much I enjoyed this book! So. In conclusion? A charming fairytale destined to delight readers of all ages, this is one I'll be adding to my shelves!


CWs, or things that caught my attention: mentions/descriptions of nightmares, darkness taking over minds (sometimes seems like depression?), short descriptions of creepy beasts, lying, running away, "Oh, chamomile!" is used several times and a couple of variations elsewhere, eavesdropping, getting lost... I believe that was it?

What an absolutely cozy, and adventurous journey this story takes you on! I Loved the cozy vibes of Mulberry Glen, Millie's adventure that takes her out of her comfort zone to discover how beyond those comforts, there is so much joy, truth, and beauty to be found! A beautiful story that I highly recommend to young readers (3rd-6th grades), or a family read aloud!

What worked:
Lydia’s “family” is comprised of unrelated characters who share a deep affection for each other. The Z twins are mischievous characters, part elf and part human, who enjoy playing pranks on others and making boisterous entrances when they choose to appear. Their impulsiveness creates a conflict for Lydia that becomes the plot’s focus. Lydia loves her life in Mulberry Glen and she wants nothing to change. However, she’s at an age where she’s expected to apply for a mentorship but no one in Mulberry Glen shares her interest in herbs and plants. The Z twins’ poor judgment forces Lydia to leave home and she discovers the light and darkness beyond Mulberry Glen.
The Darkness is a legendary danger that’s already taken over a section of the forest called Tenebrae. No one who has entered Tenebrae has ever been seen again and Lydia fears its influence may be spreading. The Z twins notice her concerns and decide they’re going to enter the forest and stop the Darkness once and for all. The Darkness has relevance to readers as it represents despair and loss of hope. It slowly seeps into people’s minds until their depression leads to their demise. Lydia doesn’t know what eventually happens to those affected by the Darkness so readers are left to imagine the possibilities.
The author includes a couple of subplots to enhance Lydia’s search for the twins. She’s joined by a girl named Prehna who’s also looking for a mentoring partner. She doesn’t know what she wants to do but she offers to help Lydia while she’s figuring it out. They’re also joined by a boy named Coran who’s lost his parents to the Darkness. He’s unhappy with his current mentorship but Coran’s brother presents a more interesting story. Cole is a Ranger and he’s willing to do almost anything to save their parents from the Darkness. However, readers will be concerned when they learn Cole’s been secretly researching questionable, more mysterious aspects of the Darkness.
What didn’t work as well:
Lydia has Latin lessons every day and some other characters speak it too. The meanings of the words and phrases are easy to follow but it seems strange to use Latin as the language. It’s similar to authors using Spanish or French but Latin isn’t a language commonly spoken anymore. The conclusion to the plot is satisfying but the build-up to the climax might have been developed more.
The final verdict:
This creative story is entertaining with a powerful message of hope and positivity. The author leads readers through dark times and challenges to love and caring at the end. I recommend you give this book a shot.

This middle grade story was so so whimsical and sweet and fun. It tackles the anxieties around growing up which I think is something we can all relate to. Perfect for middle grade readers who like a cozy adventure story!

Thank you NetGalley and Waxwing Books for providing this free, Advanced E-Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 4 Stars.

This is a very charming middle-grade story for fans of light, fantastical worlds with colorful writing, lovable characters, and a very Alice-in-Wonderland-esque tone.

Lydia Green is an eleven-year-old girl residing in Mulberry Glen, a quaint and peaceful forest home, along with her mismatched family: a guardian fairy, a philosopher, a friend with a passion for cooking, and two trouble-making half-imps known as the Z’s.

Her own passion is one for herbs and medicine, but Lydia is afraid of growing up, moving away from the glen and becoming an apprentice to a trade, as all young children of her age do. But when news of a spreading darkness, having taken physical form in a shrouded forest known as Tenebrae—and finding residence within Lydia's own fretting mind—the Z’s take off on a foolish quest to stop it themselves. Now, Lydia sets out to save them, and with new friends at her side, she must learn to overcome her own darkness, or be Taken like so many others.

I absolutely loved this story. Something about the simplicity really spoke to me, as it's set in a mythical world without too much emphasis on magic or complicated world-building. It's a very short novel, and the story is a fairly straightforward tale of adventure. The writing is gorgeous, filled with a perfect balance of whimsy and sustenance, while the antagonist, a “darkness” both physical and symbolic, speaks to younger and older crowds. Overall, it has a profound theme about growing up and the anxieties that come with it, anxieties that hang around for the rest of our lives, and we have to keep looking for hope.

The weak point for me was the falling action, as the finale, though incredible and heart-warming in itself, came too abruptly. And in the resolution, I would've liked to see more closure and development in the characters that joined Lydia on her quest, instead of the sort of summarized happy ending that was provided.

This was an incredible read, and one I'd recommend to crowds young and old. It fits the category of wholesome bedtime story as well, and I could see this being a favorite of mine when I was much younger.

*3.5 stars

This was a short, simple, cute story with sweet characters, child-like whimsical prose, and themes that inspire hope and love. I think it would be good for any kid who loves a Light vs. Darkness story with a bit of a fairytale feel.