Title: Quaking Soul (Hidden Mythics #1)
Author: Jennifer M. Zeiger
Publisher: Jennifer M Zeiger
Publication Date: November 30, 2020
Genre: YA, Fantasy
This was it. This was Na’rina’s chance to prove to her mother and the dryad Council she could navigate the mythic and human worlds. With night hanging over the city, all she needs to do is sneak in unseen, attend a mythic meeting, and report back. If only she knew who had called the meeting in the first place.
Na’rina’s a young Drydanda, destined to be Queen of the Dryads, or tree nymphs. Her world-fauns, nymphs, dwarves-hides in plain sight from the more populated human world. As long as they remain myth, they remain safe.
He’s come to warn them but he’s a wer-im, a werecat, who was banished centuries ago with the rest of his species for burning the dryad’s trees. But humans captured his leader and dozens of other mythical creatures as well. If the mythic world is to survive, he must forge alliances.
When Na’rina’s mother goes missing, she finds the violent, banished wer-im her only allies. She soon realizes that everything she’s been taught in preparation for leadership appears to be wrong. Who can Na’rina trust while attempting to keep the dryads alive in her mother’s absence? As she quickly discovers, the fate of the mythical world rests on her decisions.
Why This Book
Quaking Soul might have some of the best world building I’ve ever read, but it also has a brave young soul trying to prove herself. Na’rina is a young dryad meant to become the next Queen, so she hopes to prove herself by taking her mother’s place at an impromptu meeting, not knowing that her entire life is about to change. Not only does she end up discovering her mother has disappeared and she has to find her, but she has to team up with the banished wer-im and evade humans who would study creatures like them in order to do so. Of course she must be courageous, and the things she goes through makes her stronger at the end of the book, transforming her into something of a force.
Reviews
My review: “I love that, thinking back, she felt so innocent and almost child-like at the beginning, but definitely felt more like a force by the end. This is as much her journey as it is a story of figuring out why humans have been capturing mythic creatures. She’s helped along by some incredible characters, and must learn to trust, to lead. I felt her growth was both subtle and powerful. There aren’t any annoying leaps and bounds, but, instead, quiet shifts that show her potential and readiness so who she is at the end makes complete sense”
Bookish Beyond gave this 5 stars, saying “Although Na’rina carried a heavy burden throughout her journey, acting as a leader in her mother’s stead, she eventually managed to overcome her personal doubts and rose to the occasion spectacularly. Because of this, she has become one of my favourite fictional characters”
Purchase Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target | Walmart | Waterstones (UK) | imusic of Denmark | Books-A-Million | Google Books | Book Depository | Abe Books | Dymocks (Australia) | Jennifer M. Zeiger | Children’s Book World
Check out all the other books featured this month on The Curated Bookshelf.
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Thank you for this, Kat. It made my day to see Quaking Soul made your bookshelf this month!
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