Seekers of the Wild Realm

March 15, 2020
Twelve-year-old Brynja lives in a small island town near the Wild Realm, which is home to a variety of magical plants and animals. Five Seekers serve as guardians of the Realm, maintaining the balance within it. Bryn wants to be a Seeker more than anything else in the world, both because she loves the creatures of the Realm and because the Realm will give her access to magical plants that can help her sickly little sister. However, only boys have ever become Seekers. Thus, when a Seeker retires and competitions are held to choose the next Seeker, Bryn is not allowed to train with the other competitors. Nonetheless, Bryn is eager to change how things have always been, and when Ari--her biggest rival--offers to train her in exchange for her help looking after a baby dragon, she cannot bring herself to refuse. In both setting and rendering of creatures, readers will find similarities to such big-screen properties as the How To Train Your Dragon series, though the plot is original if ultimately predictable. This island society is not racialized--all the human inhabitants have "light-brown skin" and "raven-black hair"--and the book's primary focus is on gender inequalities faced by women. The ending is not completely smooth, but Ott's fast-paced fantasy highlights the importance of persistence, especially with regard to changing society's (rather set) ways. An immersive and fun--if predictable--series opener. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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April 15, 2020
Grades 4-7 Twelve-year-old Bryn is determined to become a Seeker like her father before her. She knows that she would be the first woman to take on the role of explorer and protector of the magical Wild Realm, but she doesn't realize just how much resistance her set-in-its-ways community would have towards a female earning that title. When Bryn, considered too delicate, isn't allowed to train for the competition, she is furious until Ari, a quiet fellow competitor, offers to pass along the training to her in exchange for help caring for a young dragon that he has secretly squirreled away. Bryn hesitantly agrees, and the real adventure begins. It's a thrill to explore Ott's magical kingdom, and it's a particular delight to watch all of the relationships develop between the main characters; whether familial or friendly, they feel incredibly warm and true. Though its final revelations won't come as much of a surprise, this well-executed story offers a wonderfully imaginative world for young fantasy fans to dive into.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

May 25, 2020
Twelve-year-old Bryn’s greatest dream is to follow in her father’s footsteps as one of her village’s five Seekers, those responsible for protecting the Wild Realm—a magical region covering the far reaches of their island. That way, she can see the Realm’s marvels and retrieve the rare flowers that alleviate her younger sister’s coughing fits. When the Seekers announce a competition to replace a retiring member, Bryn is sure she has a shot, but no girl has ever held the position, and she’s swiftly prohibited from training. Ari, another competitor, comes to her with a bargain: if she helps him take care of the baby dragon he hatched, he’ll help her train. Even though only one can be Seeker, they soon become fast friends, which helps when the competition takes an unexpectedly dangerous turn. With this engaging series opener, Ott (Rules for Thieves) uses her fantastical setting to challenge the idea of restrictive gender roles—not only does Bryn wish to become the first female Seeker, Ari, an empath, is looked down upon by those with more physical talents. Sympathetic characters, clear stakes, and an interesting social structure offer layers to this enjoyable fantasy. Ages 8–12. Agent: Victoria Doherty Munro, Writers House.

July 1, 2020

Gr 4 Up-The first in this fantasy adventure series with a touch of feminism. Bryn's family lives in the valley. Above the village lies the Wild Realm, uninhabitable for humans but home to magical creatures. Seekers fly on the backs of dragons to collect the magical treasures that reside there. Bryn wants to be a Seeker, just like her late father. Bryn herself has magical powers with plants. When Seeker Oskar decides to retire, there will be a competition to replace him; this is what Bryn has been waiting for. But when she shows up for the first practice, the Head Seeker informs her that she's not allowed to train because she is a girl. Bryn decides to compete without the training. She discovers that Ari the Empath, one of the other contestants, has an unlawful dragon, and they find a way to help each other. A new wrinkle appears when the Vondur, an enemy clan who hunts dragons, begin showing up at the docks. Who let the Vondur in? And who was secretly trying to trade the dragon egg that Ari found and hatched? Set against the backdrop of the mystery is a story of two young people trying to be friends even as they compete against each other. The descriptions of the Realm are delightful, and the rounds of the tournament are equally entertaining as the duo figures out how to use their magic and deal with the creatures of the Realm. When the author writes that women don't have jobs, it might be helpful to clarify that they don't have jobs outside the home. The ending is a heartening demonstration of what can happen when people work together, and the mystery of the Vondur lends great suspense to the plot. VERDICT Recommended for all collections. A lovely story of friendship, empowerment, and the effectiveness of people working together.-Deanna McDaniel, Genoa M.S., OH

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