phyllish
Written on Apr 9, 2020
My rating is 4.5 stars
Esme's Wish is the first story in a fantasy trilogy for young adults. Well-written with a compelling plot that drew me in; I wanted to know more and more as I followed Esme and her friends through the mysterious city of Esperance as she searched for answers about her mother's disappearance.
Dragons and dreams. Sirens and shadows. Cities with canals for streets and water that can be breathed like air. This lovely tale is filled with enchanting creatures and an adventure leading Esme through dangers and mysteries. While some of the creatures are familiar from myths and fables, some were not and the story is imaginative and interesting.
While written for a younger audience, the language is not dumbed down as if middle-schoolers don't know how to read, which delighted me to no end. Some of the words and language were terms I was not familiar with - some due to their use primarily in Australia and others simply because they aren't a part of my vocabulary. This delighted me as well!
Esme's Wish is very clean and with nothing I found objectionable or that would make me hesitate to share it with my young niece. While there was a fight resulting in the destruction of an enemy, it was detailed in a way that kept it from being gory or scary. There are references to mythology and gods - so if you prefer your child not reading stories with these things, do be aware.
I see that the second book in the series is already available and am looking forward to reading it. And can't wait for the final book to be released!
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."
